10 Most Inappropriate Marvel Comics Storylines Ever
8. Moon Knight's Homophobic Slurs
Moon Knight has recently become one of the newest heroes to grace the screens of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and though the series on the whole may have underwhelmed slightly, fans are excited about Oscar Isaac's portrayal of Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and of course Jake Lockley.
The character's early days in the comics however were far more problematic, in particular thanks to the treatment of one character. Merkins was a valet for the rich playboy Steven Grant, a far cry from the MCU version of the character, who was verbally abused by the so-called hero of the story.
Back in the mid-70s, as part of a Marvel Spotlight to see if Moon Knight could carry his own series, Merkins was introduced. He was one of the franchise's first characters written to be gay, and he was treated atrociously for it. As if this wasn't bad enough, it was Moon Knight himself that led the way.
The character was ultimately spying on Steven for a villain known as Conquer-Lord, however while trying to get answers out of him, Grant used several homophobic slurs that are simply not okay. Looking back now it's embarrassing that this was ever acceptable and that Marvel ever actually depicted a hero as willing to say these things.