Kraven's Last Hunt
Encyclopedia
"Kraven's Last Hunt" is a comic book
storyline by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck
published in 1987, featuring the final battle between Marvel Comics characters Kraven the Hunter
and Spider-Man
. The story took place in Web of Spider-Man
#31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man
#293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132.
The story has two themes that occur repeatedly: Kraven frequently saying to himself, "They said my mother was insane." with the last time being just before he commits suicide; as well as a version of the chorus of William Blake
's poem The Tyger
: "Spyder, spyder burning bright! In the forests of the night what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
He roams New York, brutally attacking criminals, including coincidently, a group of thugs assaulting Mary Jane Watson
(the wife of Spider-Man/Peter Parker). The culmination of these activities is Kraven's successful unarmed capture of the supervillain, Vermin
, whom Spider-Man needed the help of Captain America
to defeat. After two weeks, Spider-Man revives from the effects of the tranquilizer dart Kraven shot him with, and manages to dig his way out of the grave. When Spider-Man confronts Kraven, the hunter does not fight back, considering himself the victor and his final point made.
Kraven then releases Vermin, who attacks Spider-Man, thinking him to the be the one who so brutally beat him before. Vermin is able to defeat Spider-Man, but Kraven intervenes before Vermin can kill him. He allows Vermin to go free, and tells Spider-man he can pursue him if he desires, but that Kraven's hunting days have ended. While Spider-Man goes after Vermin, Kraven retires to his home, reminiscing about his past and the peace he now feels, and commits suicide
with a shotgun. Spider-Man catches up with Vermin and is able to outwit him, then goes home to his wife and recovers.
graphic novel
titled Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter (ISBN 0-87135-942-1), written again by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck, with inks by Bob McLeod. In this story, Spider-Man is confronted by Kraven's ghost. Unsure what to make of this apparition, Spider-Man goes to Kraven's grave, where he sees an apparition that appears to be Death
. Death tells Spider-Man that he and Kraven share a spiritual bond, and that Kraven's soul cannot find the peace it craves because of Kraven's suicide. Spider-Man is then forced to confront Kraven's body from the grave. Spider-Man appears to be ready to submit to allowing himself to be dragged down with the body, but then fights back and makes his way back to the surface. Having done so, he has freed Kraven's soul and allowed it to find its final rest.
teammate, Mysterio
, attempts to drive Daredevil
insane as his last grand scheme when he discovers that he is dying of a brain tumour due to the chemicals he has used to create his equipment; much like Kraven attempted to prove his superiority over his nemesis before his death, Mysterio seeks to defeat Daredevil (Being uninterested in defeating the current Spider-Man as it is merely a clone
rather than the real one) to 'prove' himself as a villain. After failing to provoke Daredevil into killing him or an innocent baby despite an elaborate plot involving the supernatural attacking Murdock as he is entrusted with the protection of the second coming of Christ, as well as Mysterio being indirectly responsible for the death of Daredevil's lover Karen Page
, Mysterio shoots himself, noting grimly to Daredevil that he stole this move from Kraven.
, Kraven uses real bullets instead of tranquilizers, thus killing Spider-Man and assuming his place. Eventually, at the request of Mary Jane
, Daredevil
, Captain America, and the Human Torch
all confront Kraven, who eventually returns to Spider-Man's grave, digs him up, and though not directly shown, it is implied he consumes portions of Peter's body to gain his strength. Afterward, Mary Jane holds a press conference to attempt to clear Peter's name of Kraven's time as Spider-Man, with the issue ending on the note that Mary Jane has a lot of work ahead of her.
An issue of Marvel's satire series What The--?!
spoofed "Kraven's Last Hunt" as "Raven's Last Hunt." The spoof featured the character's animal likeness, Raven the Hunter, as well as that of Spider-Man, Spider-Ham
.
sacrifices himself to save Peter, resulting in Kraven being reborn as an immortal 'unlife' who can only die by Spider-Man's hand.
and a trade paperback
over the years. A new Marvel Premiere Hardcover edition of this story was released in March 2007 (ISBN 0-7851-2330-X).
Kraven's First Hunt was collected in a hardcover
entitled Spider-Man: Kraven's First Hunt (ISBN 0785132163).
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
storyline by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck
Mike Zeck
Mike Zeck is an American comic book illustrator.-Biography:Zeck was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania to Michael and Kathryn Jean Zeck...
published in 1987, featuring the final battle between Marvel Comics characters Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Kraven's name is Sergei Kravinoff. He also appears as Xraven, with white-grey skin and red eyes, possessing the powers of X-Men. He is the half-brother of Dmitri...
and Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. The story took place in Web of Spider-Man
Web of Spider-Man
Web of Spider-Man is the name of two different monthly comic book series starring Spider-Man that have been published by Marvel Comics since 1985, the first volume of which ran for 129 issues between 1985 and 1995, and the second of which ran for 12 issues between 2009 and 2010.-Volume 1:The first...
#31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132.
The story has two themes that occur repeatedly: Kraven frequently saying to himself, "They said my mother was insane." with the last time being just before he commits suicide; as well as a version of the chorus of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
's poem The Tyger
The Tyger
"The Tyger" is a poem by the English poet William Blake. It was published as part of his collection Songs of Experience in 1794 . It is one of Blake's best-known and most analyzed poems...
: "Spyder, spyder burning bright! In the forests of the night what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
Story
In "Kraven's Last Hunt", the supervillain hunter's aggravation with his inability to run the superhero down has destroyed his sanity. He hatches a final scheme that actually defeats Spider-Man, and seemingly and uncharacteristically shoots him dead. Kraven then buries him, and donning a copy of Spider-Man's costume, seeks to prove himself superior at his adversary's former activities.He roams New York, brutally attacking criminals, including coincidently, a group of thugs assaulting Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
(the wife of Spider-Man/Peter Parker). The culmination of these activities is Kraven's successful unarmed capture of the supervillain, Vermin
Vermin (comics)
Vermin is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. The character's first appearance was in Captain America #272 .-Fictional character biography:...
, whom Spider-Man needed the help of Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
to defeat. After two weeks, Spider-Man revives from the effects of the tranquilizer dart Kraven shot him with, and manages to dig his way out of the grave. When Spider-Man confronts Kraven, the hunter does not fight back, considering himself the victor and his final point made.
Kraven then releases Vermin, who attacks Spider-Man, thinking him to the be the one who so brutally beat him before. Vermin is able to defeat Spider-Man, but Kraven intervenes before Vermin can kill him. He allows Vermin to go free, and tells Spider-man he can pursue him if he desires, but that Kraven's hunting days have ended. While Spider-Man goes after Vermin, Kraven retires to his home, reminiscing about his past and the peace he now feels, and commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
with a shotgun. Spider-Man catches up with Vermin and is able to outwit him, then goes home to his wife and recovers.
Soul of the Hunter
Due to the success of this story, a sequel of sorts was published in August 1992 as a 48-page prestige formatPrestige format
Prestige format is a term coined by DC Comics and later came into wider use to refer to a square-bound comic book with cardstock covers. A prestige format comic book is usually longer than a normal, stapled 32-page comic...
graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
titled Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter (ISBN 0-87135-942-1), written again by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck, with inks by Bob McLeod. In this story, Spider-Man is confronted by Kraven's ghost. Unsure what to make of this apparition, Spider-Man goes to Kraven's grave, where he sees an apparition that appears to be Death
Death (Marvel Comics)
Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional...
. Death tells Spider-Man that he and Kraven share a spiritual bond, and that Kraven's soul cannot find the peace it craves because of Kraven's suicide. Spider-Man is then forced to confront Kraven's body from the grave. Spider-Man appears to be ready to submit to allowing himself to be dragged down with the body, but then fights back and makes his way back to the surface. Having done so, he has freed Kraven's soul and allowed it to find its final rest.
Guardian Devil
During the storyline Guardian Devil, Kraven's old Sinister SixSinister Six
The Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, drawn from Spider-Man's rogues gallery. The original incarnation of the group was organized by Doctor Octopus, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 ....
teammate, Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
, attempts to drive Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
insane as his last grand scheme when he discovers that he is dying of a brain tumour due to the chemicals he has used to create his equipment; much like Kraven attempted to prove his superiority over his nemesis before his death, Mysterio seeks to defeat Daredevil (Being uninterested in defeating the current Spider-Man as it is merely a clone
Ben Reilly
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly is a fictional character in the . He is a clone of Peter Parker , and is prominent in the "Clone Saga" story arc...
rather than the real one) to 'prove' himself as a villain. After failing to provoke Daredevil into killing him or an innocent baby despite an elaborate plot involving the supernatural attacking Murdock as he is entrusted with the protection of the second coming of Christ, as well as Mysterio being indirectly responsible for the death of Daredevil's lover Karen Page
Karen Page
Karen Page is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' Daredevil series created by writer Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett. She first appeared in Daredevil #1 .-Character overview:...
, Mysterio shoots himself, noting grimly to Daredevil that he stole this move from Kraven.
What If? and What The--?!
In issue #17 (second series, September 1990) of the Marvel alternative history title, What If?What If (comics)
What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters...
, Kraven uses real bullets instead of tranquilizers, thus killing Spider-Man and assuming his place. Eventually, at the request of Mary Jane
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
, Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
, Captain America, and the Human Torch
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
all confront Kraven, who eventually returns to Spider-Man's grave, digs him up, and though not directly shown, it is implied he consumes portions of Peter's body to gain his strength. Afterward, Mary Jane holds a press conference to attempt to clear Peter's name of Kraven's time as Spider-Man, with the issue ending on the note that Mary Jane has a lot of work ahead of her.
An issue of Marvel's satire series What The--?!
What The--?!
What The--?! was a Marvel Comics comic book series parodying the Marvel Universe, similar in vein to the 1960s series Not Brand Echh. It was billed as, "The Marvel mag of mirth and mayhem!" The series ran for 26 issues from August 1988 through Winter 1993, with issue #26 being a "Fall Special"...
spoofed "Kraven's Last Hunt" as "Raven's Last Hunt." The spoof featured the character's animal likeness, Raven the Hunter, as well as that of Spider-Man, Spider-Ham
Spider-Ham
Spider-Ham is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic funny animal parody of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man, created by Tom DeFalco and Mark Armstrong....
.
Kraven's First Hunt & Grim Hunt
Kraven's First Hunt is the title of two unconnected stories: a retelling of Kraven's first appearance (as originally seen in The Amazing Spider-Man #15), in Sensational Spider-Man Annual '96 by J.M. DeMatteis; and the debut of Kraven's teenage daughter, Ana Tatiana Kravinoff, in Amazing Spider-Man #565-567, who attempts to capture Spider-Man in a similar manner to Kraven in "Kraven's Last Hunt". This leads into the later story Grim Hunt, where Kraven's family attempt to resurrect him by sacrificing Spider-Man in an elaborate ritual, only for the ritual to be contaminated when Spider-Man's clone KaineKaine
Kaine is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain and antihero who serves as both an ally and an enemy of Spider-Man. He first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #119, and is the Jackal's first failed attempt at cloning Peter Parker...
sacrifices himself to save Peter, resulting in Kraven being reborn as an immortal 'unlife' who can only die by Spider-Man's hand.
Collected editions
Kraven's Last Hunt has been collected as a hardcoverHardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
and a trade paperback
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
over the years. A new Marvel Premiere Hardcover edition of this story was released in March 2007 (ISBN 0-7851-2330-X).
Kraven's First Hunt was collected in a hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
entitled Spider-Man: Kraven's First Hunt (ISBN 0785132163).