Marvel Just Subtly Criticized Indiana Jones’ Heroics

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Indiana Jones is often viewed as a hero for stealing sacred artifacts for money or fame, but Marvel just subtly criticized his actions in Moon Knight.

Warning! SPOILERS for Moon Knight episode 3.

Marvel subtly criticized Indiana Jones’ heroics during Moon Knight episode 3. There are many moving parts to the story Marvel Studios is telling in Moon Knight, as Egyptian gods, Moon Knight’s identities, and a globe-trotting adventure are all key pieces of the series . Audiences have watched Moon Knight’s Marc Spector/Steven Grant work with Layla to stop Arthur Harrow from resurrecting Ammit, which meant finding her tomb. In many ways, Moon Knight emulates the Indiana Jones franchise with its treasure hunting storyline, but that didn’t stop Marvel from throwing Harrison Ford’s archeologist some shade.

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Although it was not as clear when the show first started, Moon Knight’s comparisons to an Indiana Jones-like adventure make more sense after episode 3. Moon Knight’s treasure hunting was previously teased through the golden beetle scarab, but the show stopped short of showing how he obtained it in the first place. Now, Moon Knight and Layla’s trip to Egypt to find relics pointing them in the direction of Ammit’s tomb feels much more similar to an Indiana Jones adventure, as there is an exotic location, puzzles, untrustworthy figures, and a complicated romance. However, before this adventure truly began, Marvel subtly criticized Indiana Jones’ methods of heroism.

Related: Why Indiana Jones Never Kills The Main Villains In Any Of The Films

Moon Knight episode 3 begins with Layla getting a fake passport to travel to Egypt, and the ethics of her adventures are brought into question. However, Layla is quick to remind her forger that all of the items she steals were previously stolen from their original cultures, which she says people often forget. Layla does admit that she’s profited from her thieving ways occasionally, but it seems that she’s more interested in preserving the artifacts and possibly even reuniting them with where they came from originally. Marvel subtly criticized Indiana Jones’ view of artifacts through this moment, as he is often portrayed as being a “hero” for stealing items for a good payday and/or so they can live in a museum instead of with their original cultures.

Although the Indiana Jones movies are quite beloved, there has been a rise in criticism in recent years over Harrison Ford’s character’s actions. There are many who believe that Indiana Jones is guilty of a form of colonialism, as these sacred items are kept away from their original cultures. In doing so, these items that Indiana Jones steals become the property of someone else, sometimes ending up in Raiders of the Lost Ark’s warehouse. There seemingly isn’t any thought given about what they mean to the natives of wherever the treasure came from. To be fair, Indiana doesn’t always act in this way, as Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom sees him return the Sankara Stones to their original home.

Now that even Moon Knight subtly criticized Disney and Lucasfilm’s famous archaeologist, the upcoming release of Indiana Jones 5 and its story is worth keeping an eye on. The film could potentially address this criticism of Indiana Jones’ heroics, either by having him work to return some of his previously stolen relics or by giving him a different mission that doesn’t involve stealing from another culture. If so, Indiana Jones coming to understand the importance that artifacts have to their original cultures could be a fascinating way to presumably end his story.

More: Indiana Jones 5’s Best Ending Would Copy No Time To Die

Moon Knight releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.

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About The Author Cooper Hood (5636 Articles Published)

Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Cooper’s love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn’t until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. When he isn’t writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection – because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper.

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