Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 17 review

The beginning of Marvel’s latest Spider-Man epic is a sequel to “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” perhaps too much of one for its own good.

Amazing Spider-Man No. 17 (LGY No. 818)

“Hunted, Part 1”

Writer: Nick Spencer

Penciler: Humberto Ramos

Inker: Victor Olazaba

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Covers: Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado; Leinel Francis Yu and Sunny Gho (Connecting variant); Cory Smith and Andres Mossa

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When you first open Amazing Spider-Man No. 17, your first reaction may likely be something like, “Did somebody slip in the wrong comic book pages by mistake?” Soon, however, you realize these aren’t reprinted pages from Web of Spider-Man No. 31, the first chapter of “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” Even though it stylistically resembles Mike Zeck’s art and J.M. DeMatteis use of captions as interior monologue, it’s definitely not their work. It’s a facsimile of that classic work, and that’s exactly the problem.

Credit: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 17

…this first chapter of…”Hunted” straddles a very fine line between a homage to “Kraven’s Last Hunt” and an outright imitation…And that’s a shame because, lurking underneath…are the seeds for an engaging, suspenseful revenge tale with solid character work.

See, this first chapter of Nick Spencer and Humberto Ramos’ “Hunted” straddles a very fine line between a homage to “Kraven’s Last Hunt” and an outright imitation. It’s not just that the art emulates, if not outright copies, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod’s imagery; the very narrative makes deliberate callbacks to “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” A naked Kraven prowls about his trophy room, tired of life and of living. Ever-present rain falls down over the dark, urban sprawl of New York. Spider-Man, wracked by illness, feels an impending sense of dread as the sound of jungle drums. By the time the comic ends, Spidey’s even wearing his black costume again.

Spider-Man also makes assumptions about Kraven based on his past encounters with him, including those events depicted in “Kraven Last Hunt.” Yet this, too, is also borrowed from that very same story. Even the very themes of youth vs. experience, mortality, failure, and living a life unfulfilled are pounded throughout like the sounds of jungle drums overwhelming Spidey’s senses. This goes beyond the occasional nostalgic note and into the realm of virtually telling the same story that gives sequels such a bad name.

Credit: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 17

And that’s a shame because, lurking underneath the blatant “Kraven’s Last Hunt” references are the seeds for an engaging, suspenseful revenge tale with solid character work. That Kraven has become so despondent to point of letting surrogates–including his younger “son”–doing his hunt for him feels like a natural outgrowth of who he is. Having this hunt involve other animal-themed characters besides Spider-Man makes this feel larger in scope. That Peter Parker not only must rescue Black Cat and Billy Connors but also possibly Mary Jane ratchets up the tension even more.

Spencer also leaves room for a little mystery. While all the particulars of Kraven’s plan appear to be place, his real plan remains unknown. If Kraven wishes to kill Spider-Man himself, or force Spider-Man to kill him, why put him in a place where various super-villains and would-be hunters could potentially do this? Or could it be that, in keeping with what happened with his “sons,” Kraven is weeding out the weak, those undeserving of being “hunters” and “totems,” just to take on Spider-Man after he’s been worn down? Whatever it is, there’s enough of a hook to keep readers interested in what will happen next.

Even Kraven Jr., despite being a literal clone, serves a legitimate narrative purpose. Just as Spidey was defeated by an older, more experienced, more world-weary Kraven in “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” he’s defeated by a younger, stronger, faster version of Kraven who still has everything to live for. Kraven has had many an offspring over the years in the comics, and this comic makes a very good case that this new Kraven is, by far, the best of his “children.”

Also, for as much as the comic apes “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” that the art team of Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado were able to recapture the look and feel of that story does take some genuine talent. There are also some great and properly used silent panels that help underscore the seriousness of the situation. More than anything, this an atmospheric comic, almost noir-like with its thick, deliberately placed shadows and sharp lighting.

Credit: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 17

…no amount of cleverly placed Easter Eggs or innovations of tales from yesteryear do great stories make. Hopefully, at least, harkening back to “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is out of [Nick] Spencer and [Humberto] Ramos’ system as “Hunted” moves forward.

Still, this is a comic illustrated by Ramos. For every ounce of energy he puts into his illustrations, there are tons of visual distractions. Every time Spider-Man swings, one of his legs seems amputated. The Black Cat’s face and chest are larger than her anorexic appendages. Both Kraven’s hands are as larger has their heads. Figures shown from the side are at eye-level even as the rest of the scene is shown from a birds-eye point-of-view. Artistic quirks like these are enough to take one out of the story completely, detracting from its dark, foreboding overtones.

The first chapter of “Hunted” is, indeed excellent, but it leans too much on “Kraven’s Last Hunt” for its own good. It doesn’t have too; if anything, doing so hurts it. While an appeal to one’s nostalgia may be standard practice in modern comics, but it also suggests a lack of creativity if not desperation. For no amount of cleverly placed Easter Eggs or innovations of tales from yesteryear do great stories make. Hopefully, at least, harkening back to “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is out of Spencer and Ramos’ system as “Hunted” moves forward.

Stillanerd’s Score: 4 out of 5

Next. Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 16 review. dark

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (with encroaching spoilers)

Credit: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 No. 17

So because his “son” has tribal tattoos, Kraven has to have some too? Although the art makes those “leopard spots” on his shoulder and bicep look like burns.
“Only the Spider can kill me, the curse said.” But wasn’t that curse lifted when Kaine temporarily killed Kraven in Scarlet Spider‘s “Into the Grave”? Or are we supposed to just pretend that story never happened because “reasons”?
Why is MJ with Dr. Conners and Billy? Oh wait, that’s Martha Connors before she became half-woman, half-reptilian clone. Unless there’s something about MJ we don’t know.
Nice to know that Peter “Great Power comes Great Responsibility” Parker’s initial reaction to Taskmaster and Black Ant capturing animal-theme super villains was essentially, “Oh well, nothing I need to worry about.”
If Black Cat has freckles, as shown in the flashbacks, how come she doesn’t have them in the present day?
“[Black Cat’s message] was garbled, hard to understand…” Really? Because it seemed pretty clear and lucid Spidey heard that message in Amazing Spider-Man No. 16. Also, if it was “garbled” and “hard to understand,” how does Spidey still know about what Felicia said in that message?
So is Billy a teenager or is he eight-years-old? Because he sure acts like he’s eight given the way he’s crying for his mom.
“…wearing my kind as a coat.” Um, just because you dress up as a feline, Felicia, doesn’t actually make you one. Also, way to scare Billy even more with your “boots” crack after comforting him.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve seen North by Northwest–” Ah, nice subtle reference to “The Daydreamers” (Amazing Spider-Man No. 246] in which Black Cat imagined Spider-Man was Cary Grant. Though one would think To Catch A Thief would be her favorite Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant film.
Hmm…does that green smoke look a lot like Mysterio’s gas to anyone?
“–I was born in that darkness!” Great, now everyone will picture Kraven Jr.’s voice sounding like Tom Hardy’s Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. Plus it doesn’t make sense as he was really born in a test tube.
Arcade, don’t you know anything? “Red Bull gives you wings” not horns. No wonder Man Bull gave you a wedgie when you suggested he be their mascot.
Really, comic? A solid black page. You really had to take up an entire page just to show that Spider-Man was unconscious?
Well, looks like Kraven also knows Peter Parker is Spider-Man now, what with him changing his outfit while he was asleep.
Oh, Panda-Mania did get captured after all! Glad to see Kraven didn’t neglect any bad villains.
Hold on, if Toad is there, how come Sabretooth, Beast, Wild Child, Wolfsbane, Sasquatch or all the other animal-based mutants aren’t “taking part” in this “Great hunt,” too?
Boy, that must be a humiliating way for these d-list baddies to potentially die–getting mowed down by Kraven Iron Man bots, complete with their own handle bar mustaches.

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Now that we’ve seen part one of “Hunted,” do you think it was worth the wait? Did it rely too much on “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” or did you appreciate the callbacks? Also, do you think what Spider-Man saw happen to MJ was a hallucination or a premonition? If the later, who do you think was behind the attack? Finally, what do you think is Kraven’s real purpose behind his latest hunt?

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