Moon Knight’s final episode had no choice but to pack in a ton of action. In the end, Marc Spector/Steven Grant spare Arthur Harrow and decide to return to a chill (maybe?) life under the London sky. But the character who really delivers something exciting is Layla. In the final Moon Knight episode, Layla El-Faouly becomes what can only be the hero known as the Scarlet Scarab, thanks to our favorite hippo goddess Taweret. (We saw this coming, by the way.) But, who is the Scarlet Scarab? And what could this mean for Layla’s future, both in the MCU and in other parts of the Marvel world? Let’s dig into it a bit more.
Layla El-Faouly’s Scarlet Scarab Arrives in Marvel Comics
Excitingly, the MCU’s version of Layla El-Faouly’s Scarlet Scarab in the MCU is coming to Marvel Comics. The Scarlet Scarab has been in Marvel’s comics before, but not in this incarnation. Layla El-Faouly’s Scarlet Scarab will debut in Moon Knight #25 before heading into a limited series titled Moon Knight: City of the Dead.
Moon Knight: City of the Dead‘s writer David Pepose shared with IGN, “I couldn’t be more excited to be writing Layla El-Faouly’s debut as the all-new Scarlet Scarab! Layla has been such a fun character to adapt — she knows Marc better than almost anyone, and that tension is going to spark some spectacular fireworks on this otherworldly adventure. From diehard Moon Knight readers to fans of the Disney+ show, we’re going to have something for everyone in this series, as the Fist of Khonshu is pushed to his absolute limits in Moon Knight: City of the Dead!
Here’s more about what we can expect from this MCU-based hero based on her adventures in the series.
Layla El-Faouly’s Scarlet Scarab in the MCU
As we see throughout the MCU’s Moon Knight series, Layla El-Faouly doesn’t care about having superpowers. In fact, she’s pretty damn good at using her combat skills and wit to get out of sticky situations. But, Layla and Tarawet have to join forces to create another avatar of an Egyptian god in order to bind Ammit. And, like a phoenix rising from the rubble, Layla emerges as the Scarlet Scarab. Well, the show doesn’t spell this out. But Layla’s costume tells us everything we need to know about her heroic transformation.
Moon Knight switches up the character of the Scarlet Scarab from the comics, obviously. The Scarlet Scarab is the alter ego of Abdul Faoul (a.k.a the deceased father of Layla in the TV series). In the comics, Abdul Faoul is an Egyptian superhero who fights with the Invaders against Nazis during WWII. It’s not clear how this Scarlet Scarab journey will continue for Layla in the MCU. But for now, we’re excited to see the Ruby Scarab symbol and the wing-like features of the costume make an appearance in the Marvel series. And we especially love seeing Layla don them as she appears to absolutely rescue Marc and Steven and lead the charge in binding Ammit.
Honestly, for someone who didn’t want this to happen, Layla seems like she will keep her hero powers and continue being the Scarlet Scarab past the events of Moon Knight. Will we see the Scarlet Scarab again in the MCU? Now that’s a question that needs an answer…one that we probably won’t get any time soon. Maybe she will show up for a crossover in the future.
People may have mixed feelings about what’s happening in Phase Four overall, including Moon Knight’s run. However, no one can deny that Marvel is doing a great job bringing a variety of heroes to life. It’s an honor with a dash of daunting excitement…at least, that’s how May Calamawy describes it in a recent Marvel interview.
I had to really sit with it and be like, I cannot represent every Arab woman or every Egyptian woman…I just hope that all Arab women can watch that and feel like a Super Hero, and that they have that space on that big scale. I hope that the people who can relate to Layla feel seen and excited, and people who don’t, that’s OK. There’s space for everyone. I’m just the first. There’s many more that can come. It’s an honor. It’s an honor just to be able to represent or to be Middle Eastern, and shine a light on that region.
Let’s hope this revelation of the Scarlet Scarab won’t be the last time we see Layla El-Faouly as a hero.
Originally published on May 4, 2022.
