Is Kraven the Hunter a villain? (What is Kraven the Hunter’s origin story?)

Kraven the Hunter teaches us that villains aren’t born – they’re made.

When it comes to superpowered foes that keep our favorite Marvel heroes on their toes, Spider-Man certainly doesn’t have a shortage. His line-up of arch-enemies is rich with fascinating, dynamic characters who manage to match, if not sometimes exceed, the wall-crawler in their unique quirks and skills.

From the vengeance-seeking symbiote Venom to the mischievous illusionist Mysterio, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man sure has his hands full.

But there’s one name in Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery that distinguishes itself from the rest: Kraven the Hunter. Not an alien symbiote, not a disgruntled scientist, but a man with an insatiable passion for the hunt. This year, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) is bringing Kraven, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, out from the pages of the comics and onto the silver screen.

Let’s take a sneak peek into the origin story of this very interesting character as laid out by the comics.

I DO NOT recommend this trailer for children!

Kraven the Hunter origin story: The Aristocrat turned Hunter 

Kraven the Hunter, born Sergei Kravinoff, was the son of Russian aristocrat Nikolai Kravinoff (who will be played by now-titled Official Superhero Dad Russell Crowe). Despite his father’s noble lineage, the tides of history ripped the crown off Sergei’s head before he could wear it. With the abolition of Russian nobility after the establishment of the Soviet Union, Sergei and his family were forced to find refuge in America. But instead of lamenting the loss, Sergei decided to carve his own path to greatness: through hunting.

It wasn’t long before this pastime evolved into an obsession, as Sergei’s thirst for thrill pushed him to hunt big game with his bare hands. However, the thrill of the hunt was never enough. Sergei craved for more — something or someone who would offer a genuine challenge to his hunting prowess.

As fate would have it, the object of Sergei’s fascination was none other than Spider-Man himself. Inspired by his half-brother Chameleon, a recurring adversary of Spider-Man, Sergei decided that hunting down Spider-Man would be the ultimate testament to his prowess. Thus, Kraven the Hunter was born.

Kraven wasn’t one to take up a task unprepared. He enlisted the help of his lover, Calypso, a voodoo priestess who supplied him with an elixir that granted him superhuman abilities. Powered by a combination of superhuman durability, speed, strength, and expert hunting skills, Kraven was more than ready to take on Spider-Man.

Is Kraven the Hunter a villain?

The hunt for Spider-Man became Kraven’s life’s mission. He attacked Spider-Man multiple times, sometimes on his own, sometimes as part of the Sinister Six. However, every defeat pushed him further toward the brink of sanity. The obsession grew so intense that he even donned Spider-Man’s suit on several occasions, trying to convince himself and the world that he was a better Spider-Man. Did anyone ever hug him as a child? Maybe he just needed a hug!

Kraven’s life took an increasingly tragic turn. Despite fathering many children, including 87 clones, his obsession led him to hunt down most of them, alongside his son, the Last Son of Kraven. Ultimately, it was his own hand that ended his life, symbolically dressed as Spider-Man. Oof.

As Spider-Man’s nemesis, Kraven the Hunter was not just a skilled and formidable adversary. His tragic life story and relentless obsession with proving himself as the ultimate hunter etched him into the minds of comic book readers as one of the most unforgettable Marvel villains.

With the upcoming release of Kraven the Hunter, we can expect to delve deeper into the twisted psyche of this complicated character. But one thing is for certain – depending on what Sony does with his origin story for the big screen, the Spider-Man Universe is about to get even more interesting.

Kraven the Hunter comes out on October 6, 2023.