Carson Knowles was a veteran who returned home without applause. His job had been passed on, and his wife left him with their son. He barely got by as a deliveryman and found out his son was killed by phone. After his car was stripped for parts and a mugger accosted him, Knowles snapped and beat the man nearly to death. Seeking to destroy the city that treated him so badly, Carson Knowles ran as a dark horse candidate for mayor on his father's name and political connections. He also created a second identity as Black Spectre, beating and blackmailing the local precinct boss to support Knowles. In a fight with Moon Knight, his mask slipped, but Moon Knight was unable to convince anyone that Mayoral Candidate Knowles and Black Spectre were one and the same. Eventually, Moon Knight defeated Black Spectre in public and his assistant Marlene Alraune uncovered Knowles corrupt plans for the city in his political office.
He was released from prison years later but was constantly challenged by his co-workers and a corrupt probation officer. He succumbed to the trappings of his former life as the Black Spectre and decided to get his revenge on Moon Knight by killing his victims and carving a crescent shape into their forehead, thus implicating Moon Knight. He stole Stark nanotechnology and infected a group of citizens celebrating the 50-State Initiative. Just as he injected himself with the nanobots that would allow him to control all those affected, Moon Knight knocked him off a building. He appeared to die on impact.
Ryan Trent was constantly undermined, having his decisions throughout his life continuously questioned. Even after he joined the NYPD, he didn't feel he was good enough.
When Moon Knight returned to New York City as a consultant for Detective Flint, Flint's preference over the vigilante caused Trent to finally break, and slowly descend into madness as he became obsessed with Moon Knight. Ryan began training himself, as well as he investigated about Moon Knight by interrogating former allies of him disguised as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
Using Carson Knowles, the Black Spectre, as an inspiration, Ryan aims to replace Moon Knight, believing that if he replaced Moon Knight and revealed himself to Flint, he would get be respected and get a promotion. In order to become even more similar to Moon Knight, who worked alone and had no ties to anybody, Trent murdered his wife. Now armed with equipment and a costume, Trent donned the mantle of Black Spectre and began attacking people and peeling their faces while yelling for Moon Knight.
With Moon Knight's car finally arriving at his location, Black Spectre activated three I.E.D. planted in cars nearby to explode Moon Knight's car. Only two of them went off, but this was enough to destroy the vehicle. Black Spectre got out of the building he was hiding, expecting to find Moon Knight's corpse among the ruins. However, Moon Knight arrived at the scene using his glider.
Before the fight could get started, Trent proclaimed that he was going to kill Moon Knight so he could be loved. Then, the third I.E.D. went off and exploded next to Black Spectre and injured him. When Trent was asked who was he supposed to be, he presented himself as Black Spectre. Moon Knight ripped off his mask and explained to him and he didn't want to be loved, because all those close to him suffered and died, and that because he worked alone he had always won. He then left Black Spectre and departed.
Known Versions:
Black Spectre (Carson Knowles)
Black Spectre (Ryan Trent)
