Marvel has revealed the official power level of Taegukgi – South Korea’s answer to Superman, and the leader of Tiger Division – as he goes head-to-head with Moon Knight. But with so much raw power at his disposal, the question isn’t how Marc Spector can win their Contest of Chaos fight, but how he can survive it. Marvel’s Contest of Chaos event stretches across its 2023 annuals, with heroes such as Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, and Iron Man facing off in pitched battles – their usual inhibitions stripped away by Agatha Harkness’ magic. However, even in this clash of the titans, Moon Knight has drawn the short straw in going up against Taegukgi.
In a preview of Jed MacKay, Creees Lee, Arif Prianto, and Cory Petit’s Moon Knight Annual 2023, Agatha engineers the title bout between Marc Spector’s nocturnal vigilante and Tae-Won Oh’s god-level superhuman. Indeed, Marvel uses the opportunity to brand Taegukgi an “S-Class superhuman,” confirming his place in the highest tier of Marvel power. MacKay and Joey Vazquez’s 2021 Black Cat Annual #1 hinted that Taegukgi is on par with the Sentry, possessing an almost infinite level of physical strength, however this was presented as speculation on the part of Felicia Hardy. Here, however, the powerful sorcerer Agatha Harkness speaks with far more authority, and places Taegukgi in Marvel’s highest strength range, alongside Blue Marvel and the Sentry – each of who have beaten the Hulk unconscious in fair fights.
Taegukgi Joins Sentry and the Hulk as an S-Class Superhuman
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A former criminal, Taegukgi was empowered by the Asgardian artifact known as the Psylot Gem, gaining similar powers to DC’s Superman, including flight, superstrength, enhanced durability, destructive eye-beams, and slow-aging. Taegukgi responded to his new power by becoming a true hero, and committing himself to saving all those who need his help. Acting as the leader and conscience of South Korea’s Tiger Division team, he’s a powerhouse with very few equals and no betters – certainly not Moon Knight.
How Can Moon Knight Survive Fighting Taegukgi?
So far in the Contest of Chaos, Agatha has used her magic to pit hero against hero, offering some surprisingly definitive victories. Human Torch has taken on Ghost Rider and Iron Man has taken on Storm, with Captain Marvel vs Cyclops, Venom vs Deadpool, and Spider-Gwen vs Taegukgi’s teammate White Fox still to come, culminating in Avengers Annual #1 on September 27. While the winners are being whisked away by Agatha, the losers are left in the dust, and yet it’s still not clear why Agatha needs the victors, or why she’s choosing them through one-on-one bouts. Easily the most head-scratching match-up, Moon Knight vs Taegukgi is no contest in terms of strength, however the Contest of Chaos has no rules of conduct, suggesting there may be some way for Moon Knight to triumph. The preview ends with the two entering a Chaos Zone, with glowing purple rocks which may turn out to be Taegukgi’s version of Kryptonite.
A new entry to Marvel canon – only debuting in 2021 – Taegukgi has yet to become as famous among fans as Hulk or the Sentry, but Marvel has repeatedly made efforts to hammer home just how powerful he is. Moon Knight Annual 2023 continues that trend, officially branding Taegukgi an S-Class hero, and prompting readers to wonder what Marc Spector could possibly do to walk away from their clash unscathed.
Moon Knight Annual 2023 #1 is out August 30 from Marvel Comics.
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