Kraven Triumphant; A Kraven’s Last Hunt Review

So here we are again fellow Web-Heads, and I have recently gotten the chance to review: Kraven’s Last Hunt (Also known as it’s original name: Fearful Symmetry), I promise I wont spoil any juicy details but I’ll give everyone a quick run down. If you haven’t read Kraven’s Last Hunt I highly recommend it. It’s widely considered Spider-Man’s darkest story (or at least one of them) and it’s absolutely jaw dropping! It’s so good!

So Kraven’s Last Hunt starts off a black suited Spidey is swinging around (in an absolute down pour no less), no this isn’t the Venom Symbiote! But after ridding himself of the parasite from outer space. Peter would often wear his own costume ‘made by hand’ copy of the black suit. Normally donning that version for a more down in the dumps story, or just in general when he would feel bad. Mary Jane would later be attacked by Venom and put an end to the dark side web swinging, out of fear and memories that it brought.

Around this time the people in Peter’s life that have passed away while on his watch have started to wear his sanity down. Who would die next? Him? Mary Jane, his just married wife? What about Aunt May. The thought of dying brought Peter to his knees. He could barely go on. He began getting sloppy, and slowed down. People at this point also were terrified at this point of Spider-Man, who was he? Was he friend or foe? Was he the bogey man? Or just a man living among them? All sorts of just down right negativity.

In some other place – Sergei Kravinoff also called Kraven the Hunter, was planning to complete his dying wish. Trade places with Spider-Man, become the Spider. Prove to the world he was superior (yes, Otto Octavius, my friend you are beyond late on this whole Superior Spider-Man act), Kraven knew he was at odds, that his powers were failing, and he was soon to perish. Instead of accepting Death. Karven cornered the run down and depressed Peter one night, and perused him across the rooftops. Peter found out a bit too late that Kraven was using a rifle (completely out of character for the Hunter who uses Honor in the hunt), trusting in his instincts, Peter failed to dodge a net that was made out of with material that not even he could break apart. Before then taking a bullet and dying. Peter was then buried in Kraven’s own backyard, and Kraven adopted the persona for Spider-Man, becoming one with The Spider for the spider was the key. Rather than the man who donned a costume to do good. He took herbs and drugs and completely shrugged off the Hunter status and ran around for two weeks as Spider-Man.

Mary Jane, for those two weeks was basically in the position most wives are when their husbands put on a badge, or go to war even. Will I ever see my husband again, and is he going to die on the line of duty? Why does he do what he does? When Peter is supposed to show up to help her move her stuff into their shared apartment and doesn’t show up. She does the logical thing and panics. For two weeks she doesn’t know where Peter is at, and finally decides he’s dead.

Kraven has done well as Spider-Man even though there’s reports of Spider-Man turning to murder, and mayhem. Instead of freaking out like they do when it’s Otto. The police simply dismiss it as: one less creep on the street. Reports come in that Spider-Man has gone insane. Technically they aren’t terribly far off, but while looking for Peter one night. Mary Jane runs into a group of Creeps who call her names, and say they want to see her, and that she should show them what she’s got. Naturally she runs away, but they follow. Only to be saved by Kraven’s idea of Spider-Man, instantly realizing either Peter has gone insane, or that wasn’t Peter.

Reports come in that a half man half rat creature who goes by the name Vermin is terrorizing the city at that time as well, trying to prove that it doesn’t have to be scared anymore, and that Spider-Man (and the not shown here Captain America) aren’t his tormentors anymore. He feasts on people, and also…nasty enough licks people that remind him of his mom. Because he was changed into this, he didn’t start off a monster. Science gone wrong made him this way, it’s a really tragic tale.

Spider-Man ends up waking up in his coffin, remember I said Pete had died? It was just a tranquilizer dart, I just really wanted to scare everyone who read this!!  – He then digs himself out calling out one simple phrase: “Mary Jane…I love you.”, then it was set the fight among three powers begins. The good guy, who does what he can but ultimately doubts himself, and his role in things. The misunderstood and often abused creature of the night. The bad guy that tries to achieve what could never have been done before, finally achieving his life dream.

This all explodes in a huge finale that I will not spoil, and with a turn so tight you’ll be shocked for weeks.

In closing what makes Kraven’s Last Hunt so good in my own mind? It’s the fact that Kraven win’s by being  Spidey, but it’s not the Spidey we all know and love. Kraven thinks Spider-Man is a creature controlling a man, a creature that he must defeat, and he actually does win in many aspects, given the title I’ve chosen. But Kraven fails to see that there’s no creature that takes over a man. It’s not about power, or glory, or any of that. It’s about doing what’s right. Anyone can be Spider-Man, but not everyone can do it in the right ways. With the right mindset. There’s only one Peter Parker. Kraven doesn’t ever get that. It’s ultimately his downfall.

What makes Kraven’s Last Hunt so good? It’s the fact Kraven in essence wins, he’s beaten Spider-Man at his own game, but still lacks the proper idea of what Spider-Man really is. Only becoming what his mind let’s him be.

It’s the lessons taught, the story we can love. It’s the ideas and topics, and how it humanizes these characters that before was never possible and today is long forgotten. It’s good story telling, incredible art work. It’s just a darn good story. Check it out if you want a good time.

Kraven’s Last Hunt is: Web of Spider-Man #31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man #293-294, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132

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