Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt - Deluxe Edition

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #15, 293-294

by J.M. DeMatteis, Stan Lee, Richard Howell

Collects Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #15 And #293-294; Web Of Spider-Man (1985) #31-32; Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #131-132; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #128; Amazing Spider-Man: Soul Of The Hunter; What If? (1989) #17; And Material From Sensational Spider-Man Annual ’96, Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #634-637 And What The--?! #3.

One of Spider-Man’s greatest stories is re-presented in one deluxe package as J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck craft the ultimate tale of revenge! Kraven the Hunter has stalked and killed every animal known to man. But there is one beast that has eluded him. One quarry that has mocked him at every turn: the wall-crawling web-slinger known as Spider-Man. In his last hunt, Kraven will prove he is the Spider’s master — by defeating him, burying him…and becoming him! Plus: DeMatteis and Zeck’s soul-searching sequel! Kraven’s dazzling debut! And more!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Spider Man, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2018

About the author

Also Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally

Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.

Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.

Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.

Reviews

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some stories that stand the test of time. I recall reading this series when I was younger and was glad to get this collected volume. It collects the entire "Kraven's Last Hunt" story arc, it also has a selection of the original stories introducing Kraven and one extra, and poor, story about Kraven and his hunting fetish.

But the star of the show is the first and original story. Considering the time, 1987 or 1988, this was a rather dark story. It is well written. Kraven has decided to achieve a form of apotheosis and hunts down Spiderman. He traps the comatose Parker and takes over as Spiderman. In time Parker makes his way from the grave for the penultimate conflict.

A great story that has aged well. Even the artwork is quite good considering the time. A dark and complicated story that sheds new light on what drives Kraven. A wonderful collection for any Spiderman fan.

[Akshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

🕷️ DIRT, DISSOLUTION, AND THE WHITE OF THE BURIAL SHROUD 🕷️


In 1987, J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck broke the unspoken covenant of superhero publishing: they let the villain win completely in chapter one, buried Peter Parker alive beneath six feet of muddy earth, and turned a colorful Silver Age costumed hunter into the subject of an agonizing, Dostoevskian meditation on death, honor, and sanity.




"They say the spider is a creature of venom and shadows. But I have worn his skin. I have tasted his terror. And I am the hunter no longer."




⚰️ The Vibe Check:
If the existential decay and hallucinatory psychological torment of Crime and Punishment collided directly with the claustrophobic dread of Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial, scored to William Blake's rhythmic poetry and executed through the shadow-drenched noir grit of peak 1980s Marvel, you would get Kraven's Last Hunt. It is operatic, suffocating, and brutally poetic.




📖 The Deep-Dive & Narrative Canvas:
Spanning six issues across three separate monthly titles (Web of Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man), the story bypasses typical comic action to mount a sustained psychological assault:

The Defeat and Premature Burial: Aging big-game hunter Sergei Kravinoff—dying, losing his mind to modern urban chaos, and haunted by his aristocratic Russian heritage—finally captures Spider-Man. Instead of gloating, he shoots him with a tranquilizer rifle, buries him alive in a cemetery vault, and declares himself victorious over his defining nemesis.
Becoming the Beast: Kraven dons Peter's black cloth suit and patrols New York as a sadistic, ruthless vigilante to prove total spiritual superiority. To demonstrate his triumph over Peter, Kraven hunts down and single-handedly savages the sewer-dwelling cannibal mutant Vermin, a creature Peter had previously required Captain America's assistance to survive.
The Resurrection: Peter spends two full weeks trapped beneath the earth, fighting his way through hallucinations of mortality, guilt, and his newfound marriage to Mary Jane Watson, clawing his way out of the grave through sheer human willpower to confront a man who no longer views him as an enemy, but as a solved equation.




DeMatteis structures the arc not around standard superhero confrontations, but around profound spiritual contrasts: Kraven's cold, nihilistic pursuit of transcendent mastery versus Peter's messy, warm, and stubbornly grounded humanity.




🔥 Why This Run Remains Immortal:

Mike Zeck & Bob McLeod's Visual Atmosphere: The heavy inks, persistent rainstorms, tombstones, and grotesque subterranean sewer channels turn New York into a literal purgatory. Zeck's iconic splash panel of Spider-Man erupting out of the muddy grave under lightning is one of the most powerful visual metaphors for rebirth in sequential art.
Lyrical, Psychological Stream-of-Consciousness: DeMatteis abandons conventional comic narration for fragmented, rhythmic monologues inspired by William Blake's The Tyger. You aren't merely reading about Kraven's madness; you are trapped inside his deteriorating, aristocratic psyche.
The Subversion of the Villain's Motive: Kraven isn't robbing banks or trying to conquer the world; he is chasing an internal peace that his violent life has permanently denied him. The final resolution of his arc remains one of the most controversial, haunting, and permanent character conclusions Marvel ever committed to print.





⚠️ A Note for the Vault:

Oppressive Psychological Bleakness: The narrative spends significant time inside the wet, pitch-black coffin with Peter and the filthy, terrified mind of Vermin. Readers looking for the wisecracking, lighthearted neighborhood Spider-Man will find zero comfort here; it is relentlessly grim from opening splash to final grave.
Repetitive Monologue Cadence: The poetic, chant-like prose style recurs across all six chapters. While magnificent for setting mood, the deliberate repetition of symbolic phrases ("Spider, spider, burning bright...") can occasionally feel overly theatrical if read in one rapid sitting.






⭐️ THE VERDICT:

Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt is not merely one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever told; it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns as a defining pillar of the 1980s comic deconstruction movement. J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck elevated a second-tier pulp hunter into an unforgettable tragic figure and gave Peter Parker his most grueling, transcendent resurrection. An absolute masterpiece of the medium.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars - The Crown Jewel of Spider-Man Noir)

[Judah Radd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving this only 3 stars because I didn’t really like the main story. J.M. DeMatteis get’s really hung up on the whole “this is high art” thing, and I don’t think the actual substance justifies all of the dreamy, poetic shit. It seems kind of pretentious.

If it was just “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” this would be 1 star... but luckily this is a Deluxe Edition, and there are a bunch of other, better stories that I actually liked.

The original Kraven story written from Lee/Ditko and it’s a pleasure to read on these bright glossy pages.

We also have a cool Spiderman/Captain America team up story with the repulsive Vermin.

Soul of the Hunter is kind of a dreary story about Spiderman coming to terms with the events of Kraven’s Last Hunt. Nothing really special there, besides some outstanding artwork.

There’s a Kraven story (Kraven’s First Hunt) that basically retells the Lee/Ditko story with attractive, modern art and a focus on Kraven’s character. I enjoyed it.

The last one worth reading is “Hunting The Hunter,” which was surprisingly decent. It’s Kaine vs Kraven.

Then we have a “What If?” (Booooring) and one of those stupid satirical stories. You can just skip them. Trust me.

Overall, this is worth flipping through at the library, but you probably shouldn’t buy it. People say it’s one of the best Spiderman books ever... they’re straight up wrong. It’s ok.

[Shabani Kasongo · Rating 2 out of 5]

was looking up stuff to read then saw this on the list and was like why...why is this highly recommended, why, the list lost credibility as soon as i saw this. it was/still is so boring besides the fact spider man dies for a few days .i dont get it how is this shii a classic

[Ángel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Menudo comicazo increíble, precioso y currao y sobretodo distinto. Sabía que era guay pero no me imaginaba que tanto 😍😵‍💫

[Zach Parris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still place this as one of the best Spider-Man stories ever. DeMatteis' ability to carry the reader into the characters' heads and understand their feelings and beliefs is an incredibly strong part of that placement. While Kraven is one of Spidey's oldest villains, he is, at least visually, one of the funnier looking ones. Beyond his strength, speed and fighting skills, there isn't much too him. DeMatteis plays up his need for a challenging an honorable hunt, deriving that from his upbringing, all of which add dimension to his character.

Zeck's art is outstanding as well. There is some "muddiness" to the image in this particular collection. I'm not sure if it is a new coloring or what.

This Deluxe edition contains some helpful extras:
Amazing Spider-Man #15 - reprinting the first appearance of Kraven. It's pretty standard Stan Lee stuff for the time, scripting over Ditko's artwork

Marvel Team-Up #128 - this is with Captain America and contains Spidey's first time meeting Vermin, and is referenced in the main story (also written by DeMatteis)

Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter - created by the same team (DeMatteis and Zeck) and acts as an epilogue. The highlight here is Peter having to psychologically deal with what happened to him in Kraven's Last Hunt. It's much more realistic, him going through PTSD type symptoms. I had a little bit of an issue with how DeMatteis "resolved" it, but after reading some of the other back-up material you understand the point of this particular story: Marvel wanted to make sure they further explain that Kraven's suicide is not a good thing

From this point, the extras aren't that interesting:
The Sensational Spider-Man Annual 96 - Basically a retelling of Amazing Spider-Man #15, Kraven's origin. The original issue had what felt like gaps in the story, and this attempts to "flesh out" the original one and also plays up the relationship between Kraven and Chameleon. The art was a big turn-off, a little too cartoony. Otherwise it would have made a perfect prologue.

Back-up stories from Amazing Spider-Man 634-637 - This is just a story between Kraven and Kaine, a clone of Spider-Man. Nothing exceptional.

What If..Kraven the Hunter had killed Spider-Man - Pretty standard What If..? stuff

What The--? - Didn't read it but look pretty standard for that title as well.

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt by J. M. DeMatteis is a glimpse in to the psyche of Kraven the Hunter and one of the more disturbing Spider-Man tales ever to be written. Penned back in 1987, it is a good tale to pick up to go along with the current Spider-Man storyline. Kraven has been absent from the Marvel universe for sometime and Kraven's Last Hunt shows just how disturbing the character truly is.

Kraven the Hunter has stalked and killed every animal known and only one has ever escaped him. The enhanced superhero known as Spider-Man. This is something that Kraven's pride cannot deal with and he launches his greatest quest yet, to hunt and kill the Spider-Man. He hunts the webslinger down and shoots him with a tranquilizer. Kraven then buries Spider-Man alive. But this is not enough to quench Kraven's thirst. The Hunter then dons the web-slinger's costume and roams the streets as Spider-Man, brutally beating criminals with a violent frenzy that the Spider-Man would never do. Kraven goes after Vermin, a cannibal murderer that Spider-Man needed Captain America's help to defeat. Kraven captures Vermin, proving to himself that he is a better hero than Spider-Man ever was.

During Kraven's reign of terror as Spider-Man, the real Spider-Man works himself out of the grave he was imprisoned in and goes in search of Kraven. But when he finds him, Spider-Man also finds Vermin who Kraven sets free. Knowing the horror that Vermin poses, Spider-Man goes after the cannibal and Kraven retires to his home, having proven his worth as a hunter, having proven in his mind that he is a better Spider-Man than Spider-Man ever was. He then proceeds to kill himself. Spider-Man goes home to try and recover from Kraven's last hunt.

Wow, so much to digest in this storyline and so much going on. It is considered one of Spider-Man's best books but I don't think I can really agree with this summation. It is perhaps one of the best books that have Kraven as the antagonist, but I think it doesn't really serve the character well. His obsession with Spider-Man is what drives him. Too prove himself the best. But once he does it, he feels his life has no longer any worth? How about the litany of other superheroes to go after. Mutants and Avengers and Super Criminals. Also, what is up with Spider-Man's costume. It is the black costume and it just allows Kraven to put it on? How does that work? After all, isn't it the Venom symbiote?

What the story lacks is a stronger back story. Something to enhance the reasons behind Kraven's Hunt. Why is Spider-Man so important? Questions that the new hunt may answer.

Kraven is mad. That is evident. He is also skilled and without empathy. Marvel could have done far more with this character than just turn him into a fanboy with a school girl crush on Peter Parker. He could have been Spider-Man's greatest enemy and someone who until recently, had been forgotten.

[Adam Spanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic, and has not tarnished with time. The deluxe edition of the book includes some of Marvel's later attempts to revive Kraven/ capture the magic of the original, and they fall quite short. Its a good lesson of letting masterpieces like this to rest. Essential reading.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kraven just isn't an interesting enough villain to command this much time in a compilation. Some dark themes but not what i am looking for in a spidey adventure.

[Bharat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quintessential spider-man story. It would be 3 stars if it was just kraven's last hunt, but the sequel with Spider-Man's PTSD gnawing away at him in the wake of those previous events ups the ante to 5. This is Spider-Man at his best, acknowledging with not words but deeds that "with great power comes great responsibility."

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much to say about this story. It is dark, drug-fueled, and a thematic meditation. It gets to the heart of Spider-Man, and of Kraven the Hunter. It is, very simply, about the conflict between man and beast.

Its execution, however, is anything but simple. The inner dialogue is broken up into opposing perspectives. A third character becomes integral to how things play out. The whole story is framed by slow, solemn gravedigging. There's seemingly endless rain, and storms, and fear. It's exceptional comics storytelling.

The art by Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod, and Ian Tetrault is grimy, textured perfection. The action is everything you've come to expect from a Spidey story. The emotion conveyed is so incredibly palpable, from turmoil and madness to sorrow and resignation. Everyone and everything is dramatically lit, and framed by shadows.

This deluxe edition also includes the origin story of Kraven by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, along with a few other tales that round out the character, so it's perfect for those who aren't so familiar with him.

Kraven's Last Hunt is undoubtedly one of the most raw and inward-looking stories ever created in Marvel's superhero universe, and if that's what you're seeking it will not disappoint in the least.

[Max Martin-Udry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cool edition. It contains so much context and extra stuff around the main-event-6-issues. Overall a very enriching experience to read. I took it out from the library and would buy it in a heartbeat.

However, comparing “Kraven’s Last Hunt” to DC’s mid-eighties output, I find it pretty lacking. The art is straight-up pretty bad, and the blow-up for this book makes some pages very blurry. Without the sequel graphic novel unpacking it, its crazy that Kraven blows his f****ng brains out. With the sequel though, it’s actually a pretty compelling look at suicide. The panel with the pillar of souls is incredible.

Still, as much as i have reservations about this story, it has kinda hooked me into reading spider-man comics. The tone is this sort of intoxicating soapy thing that really sticks with you. It’s also funny to see DeMatteis absolutely body Stan Lee as a writer in rewriting Amazing Spider-Man 15, even though the art is very 1996 (derogatory).

[Jurij Fedorov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kraven has a last hunt. That's it basically. The story is told via flashbacks and then current time all mixed up. The battles are extremely simplified. Drawings are nice and text high quality for a moment. Then it just starts repeating. All lines repeat 5 times over. We get intro to the story constantly. We get the same flashback panels. The fights are frankly mainly set up with a side holding back in all battles.

If you remove the repetition 20% of the comic disappears. I like the R rated nature where it doesn't actually show anything yet it's quite macabre. And Kraven is insane here which is cool. Yet he really doesn't need to repeat his points. The overall story is extremely basic. I did read it all and enjoyed enough small moments. But it feels pointless.

[Louie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, here is the thing about Deluxe Editions from Marvel- Yes, they include the story arc advertised on the cover, but they also include some added material, usually (hopefully) related to the main story. Thankfully this one has added content that compliments the 6 issues that make up Kraven's Last Hunt. Such as, Kraven's first appearance, a later issue that dealt with the fall out of Kraven's death on Peter, and a What If? Kraven actually killed Spider-Man, etc. – One Deluxe Edition that was the most egregious examples of superfluous added content was the Days of Future Past, which was a two issue story, that they somehow ballooned into a nearly 400 page hardcover. /rant

[Sean Aleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the unfortunate mistake of reading this backwards. I used the Marvel Unlimited app to read but read it by series according to Wikipedia. My bad.

However, this is truly one of his greatest stories. The internal dialogue from the character's, as well as the exchanging dialogue is so well-written and intense. I never really cared for Kraven, and I still think he's underwhelming compared to most of Spidey's villains, but now I totally get why he is a threat at all.

Fantastically written by J. M. DeMatteis and wonderful art by Mike Zeck.

[Mark Dubovec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kraven the Hunter has long been one of my favorite Spider-Man villains (how long before he pops up in a live-action movie?). "Kraven's Last Hunt" not only probes Kraven's complex psychological depths, but in doing so, it reveals Spider-Man's greatest strength: he is a hero because he is a man, not just a super-powered being, which is what Kraven comes to understand. Also, Vermin is genuinely creepy yet sympathetic as the "monster" villain.

[Andrew Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very dense, psychological story. Definitely merits multiple readings. The rest of the deluxe edition is a mixed bag. The first appearance of Kraven was great. The reimagined version added some interesting insight, but was overall unnecessary. I didn't care for the story with Kaine or the "What The..." I did enjoy the follow-up story and the "What If..."

[Matthew McCauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main story is a 5/5. Really great Spidey story that to me has held up incredibly over time. Some of the supporting stories at the end weren't my favorite which is why overall I'm giving it a 4/5.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kravens Last Hunt is one of my favorite Spider-Man tales of all time. I'd give it 5 stars but while some of the extra issues here are great, some are mediocre...I'm not sure how necessary the rehash of their first meeting was, for example, when the original first meeting was also included.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a single Spiderman comic. In fact, Spiderman is not at all my favorite superhero but I was gifted this book because it promised to be dark and eerie. And that it was! It's a compilation of several Spiderman originals and reimaginings and I enjoyed quite a few of them. My favorites were the Kraven's Last Hunt, Kraven's First Hunt, and the original Spiderman vs Kraven the Hunter.

[Barry Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning art, but I've never really loved this story as much as I wanted to. I do enjoy a darker Spidey tale but this one is a bit overwrought for me. The brief write-ups at the end of this 2022 release are pretty cool.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

The main story is fantastic of course, and it’s nice reading the origin of Kraven, too. The downside is several stories are TOO repetitious. Overall a decent read though.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark tale from the Spiderman Universe that covers some heavy topics and delivers a deep message at the end. I can see why Kraven's Last Hunt is considered one of the best Spiderman stories of all time.

[Grant Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love those 7 classic stories by DeMatteis! All others are okay.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far my favorite Spidey story - why isn't this a movie yet?

[Club S0da · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fantastic, this story and the direct follow-up. Probably my favorite Spiderman story.

[Dean Thackray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashamed to have to say that today was the first time reading this brilliant story but happy I did 🙌

[Lucas Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Court mais efficace. Les meilleures histoires de spider-man ne sont pas les plus extravagantes mais les plus simples. Une magnifique histoire, dans la veine de la mort de jean dewolff.

[Javier Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

De las mejores historias que he leído en un cómic.