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The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #293-294
The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt
Writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck craft the ultimate tale of revenge in this groundbreaking and legendary collection! 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. And to prove that he is the hero's master, he will pull on his costume and become him... after he shoots and buries him six feet under! Collects Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
193 people are currently reading
7654 people want to read
About the author
J.M. DeMatteis
1,906 books230 followersAlso 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 767 reviews
December 23, 2014
Definitely one of the strongest stories involving Spider-Man
This edition collects the storyline formally known as “Fearful Symmetry: Kraven’s Last Hunt”, originally published in “Web of Spider-Man #31 & 32, Amazing Spider-Man #293 & 294 and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131 & 132.
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Illustrator: Mike Zeck
Letterer: Rick Parker (I wanted to highlight him too, since his work in lettering on this particular storyline was superb.)
READER-SENSE TINGLING! I WANTED TO READ THIS!
Spyder! Spyder! Burning bright, in the forests of the night, what immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful… symmetry?
I knew about the existence of this particular storyline since many years ago, even I read in some guide book about Spider-Man where it was featured in the Top10 of the best stories about the character, but honestly I got really impressed (and my curiosity exploded) when I read a promotional magazine about the 75 years of Marvel (obviously counting since its days as Timely Comics) where in a poll list where fans voted for the Marvel’s 75 favorites storylines and/or single issues and Kraven’s Last Hunt got the #3 spot!!!
It was a list featuring material from all Marvel universe and Kraven’s Last Hunt was surpassed only by Civil War and The Death of Gwen Stacy.
So, until then, I was aware about its importance of this story, inside of the titles of Spider-Man but I was amazed (pun intended but with respect) when this tale got a so high position in that poll involving the entire Marvel universe.
I wanted to read that story!
Of course, any voted list or any published list will be polemic and questioned until Ragnarok, but still, it was clear that Kraven´s Last Hunt was something worthy to read and curiously enough I found a TPB on the local comic book store so I decided that it was time to meet this story.
STOP!... AND READ THE INTRODUCTION!
Stories have lives of their own
(quoted from the TPB’s Introduction written by J.M. DeMatteis, the author of the story)
I don’t know if you use to read the introduction on the TPB’s editions. I do it and not always they are something any of value, but if you ever decide to read this story and you get this same edition, please, read the introduction.
You will realize that it’s worthy of your time.
Besides informing the many times that DeMatteis tried that editors (from Marvel and even DC) would pick the premise of his story to be used on several characters like Wonder Man and Batman, finally to land with your friendly neighborhood web-crawler, also the introduction is a beautiful tribute to the life that any good story has, a life so vivid that in many times the writers hardly have any control over them but only barely able to put them in paper just like they wanted to exist.
THE SPIDER, THE HUNTER AND THE VERMIN
My triumph frightens you, doesn’t it?
Since I read the run of The Saga of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, I have kept saying: “There aren’t bad characters, only bad writers.”
Nowadays anybody can say how cool is Swamp Thing, but back then, like more than 30 years ago, nobody was giving a damn about Swamp Thing. Sure, even Len Wein did a fair job (Hey! This guy created Wolverine!) but it was clear that Swamp Thing wasn’t anything that readers were running to buy at the newsstands, but when Alan Moore got control of the title... and BAM!... Swamp Thing became the founding stone of what would be Vertigo Comics later.
J.M. DeMatteis planned to use a whole new villain for this story, which wasn’t so odd if you think in similar storylines where a new villain is able to beat a relevant superhero like Doomsday and Bane were able to do against Superman and Batman.
It’s clear why is easier to use a whole new villain to avoid the raging fans questioning why the heck certain known villain was able to beat the hero if that villain isn’t as cool or powerful than their favorite ones.
You never will please the masses.
So, I celebrate the “balls” of J.M. DeMatteis of choosing of a kinda minor villain like Kraven, the Hunter as the focus of this powerful story.
Sure, Kraven, the Hunter is known member of the rogues’ gallery of Spidey, but I am sure that anybody doing their own Top10 of favorite villains or merely mentioning the most powerful criminals of Spider-Man’s titles, when you have heavy weights like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Mysterio, Lizard, Scorpion, etc… before the publication of this story, it would be likely that many fans would omit to Kraven.
Not anymore.
And if you think that in the mix, DeMatteis include Vermin to the formula, you could be sure that something unique will be done.
Anybody can write something entertained even great if you use Venom...
...but Kraven and Vermin? You need to be a writer, a good writer to build something like this here.
Even I think that the story is a statement why the super-heroes are always able to win (and survive) in the comic book reality, since over there, the super-villains didn’t work or react like the real life criminals.
The super-villains tend to overwork their plans along with their tactics to trap or to kill the heroes.
When a simple bullet can do the job.
And if you think, “well sure, Spider-Man isn’t bulletproof but there are other super-heroes invulnerable to bullets”.
Another mistake.
Not always you have to point the bullet to the primary target to do the wished damage. Nobody is an island. Always there is someone close.
A simple bullet can do the job.
And that’s the most frightening thing of real life.
Force-fielded jails mounted on rockets into the sun, giant hourglasses full of quicksand, moving cutting blades over platforms above of erupting volcanoes, etc... Nothing of the sort is so effective, so deadly and so frightening like a simple bullet.
A bullet, a coffin and a corpse.
A simple formula to put fear into the heart of even the bravest hero.
And when it’s done by a villain like Kraven, an experienced trained hunter, but still a man without any metahuman powers, the whole concept got even more frightening.
That’s the beauty of Kraven’s Last Hunt.
That’s the power of this story.
This edition collects the storyline formally known as “Fearful Symmetry: Kraven’s Last Hunt”, originally published in “Web of Spider-Man #31 & 32, Amazing Spider-Man #293 & 294 and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131 & 132.
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Illustrator: Mike Zeck
Letterer: Rick Parker (I wanted to highlight him too, since his work in lettering on this particular storyline was superb.)
READER-SENSE TINGLING! I WANTED TO READ THIS!
Spyder! Spyder! Burning bright, in the forests of the night, what immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful… symmetry?
I knew about the existence of this particular storyline since many years ago, even I read in some guide book about Spider-Man where it was featured in the Top10 of the best stories about the character, but honestly I got really impressed (and my curiosity exploded) when I read a promotional magazine about the 75 years of Marvel (obviously counting since its days as Timely Comics) where in a poll list where fans voted for the Marvel’s 75 favorites storylines and/or single issues and Kraven’s Last Hunt got the #3 spot!!!
It was a list featuring material from all Marvel universe and Kraven’s Last Hunt was surpassed only by Civil War and The Death of Gwen Stacy.
So, until then, I was aware about its importance of this story, inside of the titles of Spider-Man but I was amazed (pun intended but with respect) when this tale got a so high position in that poll involving the entire Marvel universe.
I wanted to read that story!
Of course, any voted list or any published list will be polemic and questioned until Ragnarok, but still, it was clear that Kraven´s Last Hunt was something worthy to read and curiously enough I found a TPB on the local comic book store so I decided that it was time to meet this story.
STOP!... AND READ THE INTRODUCTION!
Stories have lives of their own
(quoted from the TPB’s Introduction written by J.M. DeMatteis, the author of the story)
I don’t know if you use to read the introduction on the TPB’s editions. I do it and not always they are something any of value, but if you ever decide to read this story and you get this same edition, please, read the introduction.
You will realize that it’s worthy of your time.
Besides informing the many times that DeMatteis tried that editors (from Marvel and even DC) would pick the premise of his story to be used on several characters like Wonder Man and Batman, finally to land with your friendly neighborhood web-crawler, also the introduction is a beautiful tribute to the life that any good story has, a life so vivid that in many times the writers hardly have any control over them but only barely able to put them in paper just like they wanted to exist.
THE SPIDER, THE HUNTER AND THE VERMIN
My triumph frightens you, doesn’t it?
Since I read the run of The Saga of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, I have kept saying: “There aren’t bad characters, only bad writers.”
Nowadays anybody can say how cool is Swamp Thing, but back then, like more than 30 years ago, nobody was giving a damn about Swamp Thing. Sure, even Len Wein did a fair job (Hey! This guy created Wolverine!) but it was clear that Swamp Thing wasn’t anything that readers were running to buy at the newsstands, but when Alan Moore got control of the title... and BAM!... Swamp Thing became the founding stone of what would be Vertigo Comics later.
J.M. DeMatteis planned to use a whole new villain for this story, which wasn’t so odd if you think in similar storylines where a new villain is able to beat a relevant superhero like Doomsday and Bane were able to do against Superman and Batman.
It’s clear why is easier to use a whole new villain to avoid the raging fans questioning why the heck certain known villain was able to beat the hero if that villain isn’t as cool or powerful than their favorite ones.
You never will please the masses.
So, I celebrate the “balls” of J.M. DeMatteis of choosing of a kinda minor villain like Kraven, the Hunter as the focus of this powerful story.
Sure, Kraven, the Hunter is known member of the rogues’ gallery of Spidey, but I am sure that anybody doing their own Top10 of favorite villains or merely mentioning the most powerful criminals of Spider-Man’s titles, when you have heavy weights like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Mysterio, Lizard, Scorpion, etc… before the publication of this story, it would be likely that many fans would omit to Kraven.
Not anymore.
And if you think that in the mix, DeMatteis include Vermin to the formula, you could be sure that something unique will be done.
Anybody can write something entertained even great if you use Venom...
...but Kraven and Vermin? You need to be a writer, a good writer to build something like this here.
Even I think that the story is a statement why the super-heroes are always able to win (and survive) in the comic book reality, since over there, the super-villains didn’t work or react like the real life criminals.
The super-villains tend to overwork their plans along with their tactics to trap or to kill the heroes.
When a simple bullet can do the job.
And if you think, “well sure, Spider-Man isn’t bulletproof but there are other super-heroes invulnerable to bullets”.
Another mistake.
Not always you have to point the bullet to the primary target to do the wished damage. Nobody is an island. Always there is someone close.
A simple bullet can do the job.
And that’s the most frightening thing of real life.
Force-fielded jails mounted on rockets into the sun, giant hourglasses full of quicksand, moving cutting blades over platforms above of erupting volcanoes, etc... Nothing of the sort is so effective, so deadly and so frightening like a simple bullet.
A bullet, a coffin and a corpse.
A simple formula to put fear into the heart of even the bravest hero.
And when it’s done by a villain like Kraven, an experienced trained hunter, but still a man without any metahuman powers, the whole concept got even more frightening.
That’s the beauty of Kraven’s Last Hunt.
That’s the power of this story.
May 16, 2023
Kraven the Hunter, aware that he's getting too old for this shit, decides to go out with a bang. He drugs Spider-Man, beats the shit out of him, and buries him alive. Kraven, dressed as Spidey, goes on a rampage to prove he's better than Spider-Man, until Spider-Man digs his way out of the grave...
The great thing about Marvel Unlimited is that you can finally catch up on some of the epic stories you missed when you were a kid. This one was pretty bad ass.
In some ways, Kraven's Last Hunt is the precursor for Superior Spider-Man. Kraven gets Spidey out of the way and goes on to show what kind of Spider-Man he'd make and then Peter gets to clean up the mess, such as dealing with Vermin and explaining why it looks like Spidey murdered some people. Also, there's Peter dealing with exhaustion and claustrophobia for being buried alive for two weeks...
Kraven's Last Hunt actually holds up fairly well. The art is better than most of the art from the time period and the writing is actually some of the best Marvel had in the 1980's. Kraven has his finest hour and then Spider-Man has one of his. There are a couple moments in this storyline that remind me of Spider-Man lifting that giant hunk of machinery off of himself during the Ditko run. It shows what Spider-Man is all about.
There are some quintessential Spider-Man tales everyone Spider-Fan should read. This is one of them. Four out of five stars.
The 2023 reread: This was part of a lot I won on Shopgoodwill so I figured it was time to read it again. I'm a bigger fan of both the story and the art the second time through. I like that JMS has Spidey reliving the trauma of being buried alive for two weeks rather than have him shake it off and go kick some ass. Kraven punching his own ticket makes a lot of sense since he felt he had nothing left to prove at the end of a lifetime dedicated to being the best. It's dark and weird for a Spider-Man story but it's more of a Kraven the Hunter story anyway. I'm bumping this up to five stars.
The great thing about Marvel Unlimited is that you can finally catch up on some of the epic stories you missed when you were a kid. This one was pretty bad ass.
In some ways, Kraven's Last Hunt is the precursor for Superior Spider-Man. Kraven gets Spidey out of the way and goes on to show what kind of Spider-Man he'd make and then Peter gets to clean up the mess, such as dealing with Vermin and explaining why it looks like Spidey murdered some people. Also, there's Peter dealing with exhaustion and claustrophobia for being buried alive for two weeks...
Kraven's Last Hunt actually holds up fairly well. The art is better than most of the art from the time period and the writing is actually some of the best Marvel had in the 1980's. Kraven has his finest hour and then Spider-Man has one of his. There are a couple moments in this storyline that remind me of Spider-Man lifting that giant hunk of machinery off of himself during the Ditko run. It shows what Spider-Man is all about.
There are some quintessential Spider-Man tales everyone Spider-Fan should read. This is one of them. Four out of five stars.
The 2023 reread: This was part of a lot I won on Shopgoodwill so I figured it was time to read it again. I'm a bigger fan of both the story and the art the second time through. I like that JMS has Spidey reliving the trauma of being buried alive for two weeks rather than have him shake it off and go kick some ass. Kraven punching his own ticket makes a lot of sense since he felt he had nothing left to prove at the end of a lifetime dedicated to being the best. It's dark and weird for a Spider-Man story but it's more of a Kraven the Hunter story anyway. I'm bumping this up to five stars.
August 21, 2024
That creepy image of Spider-Man in his black costume rising from his own grave is enough to tell you that this won’t be your typical Spider-Man story. On its cover alone, this makes it an easy choice for my Halloween 2011 read number 2.
This is a perfect melding of story and art, all beautifully done, from J. M. DeMatteis dark, psychological script, to Mike Zeck’s lush pencils and colors and Bob McLeod’s bold inks. What results is something sublime that I am at a loss for words. Multiple readings would no doubt help this work reveal its secrets to me in time.
This is an essential comics read. You don’t have to be a Spider-Man fan to appreciate it. It stands on its own merits. This is a tale that has aged gracefully, although the character mythos has seen a lot of changes since the initial publication of this book.
This is a perfect melding of story and art, all beautifully done, from J. M. DeMatteis dark, psychological script, to Mike Zeck’s lush pencils and colors and Bob McLeod’s bold inks. What results is something sublime that I am at a loss for words. Multiple readings would no doubt help this work reveal its secrets to me in time.
This is an essential comics read. You don’t have to be a Spider-Man fan to appreciate it. It stands on its own merits. This is a tale that has aged gracefully, although the character mythos has seen a lot of changes since the initial publication of this book.
October 14, 2021
"There is no Spider-Man. He's a mask, a myth, a lie. Oh, sure - it'd be great if just putting on a costume could miraculously change the man underneath, but it can't. I'm not Spider-Man. I'm just . . . Peter Parker." -- the thoughts of Peter Parker, a.k.a Spider-Man, on pages 13-14
A nostalgia re-read, I remember being shocked and then rocked back on my psychic heels when first encountering this storyline in the summer of '87. (I was only twelve years old at the time, and it was far more graphic in nature than any previous superhero-involved tale that I can remember reading.) A brief synopsis - Spider-Man's longtime nemesis Kraven the Hunter appears to experience a severe psychotic break and resorts to some truly disturbing actions to smear and then vanquish our friendly neighborhood web-slinger. And I'm not joking when I say disturbing - readers with arachnophobia or murophobia (fear of spiders and rats, respectively) will likely want to flee to the hills after witnessing certain disgusting moments, and the tone of the plot pinballs between mostly psychological but also a bit of splatterific horror. Thankfully, there is that indelible scene of Spider-Man triumphantly rising from a would-be grave - on a requisite dark and stormy night, with a perfectly-timed thunder strike - to save his sullied reputation and make things right again. This was a wily and exceptional way to mark (at the time of publication) the silver anniversary of Marvel Comics' flagship character.
A nostalgia re-read, I remember being shocked and then rocked back on my psychic heels when first encountering this storyline in the summer of '87. (I was only twelve years old at the time, and it was far more graphic in nature than any previous superhero-involved tale that I can remember reading.) A brief synopsis - Spider-Man's longtime nemesis Kraven the Hunter appears to experience a severe psychotic break and resorts to some truly disturbing actions to smear and then vanquish our friendly neighborhood web-slinger. And I'm not joking when I say disturbing - readers with arachnophobia or murophobia (fear of spiders and rats, respectively) will likely want to flee to the hills after witnessing certain disgusting moments, and the tone of the plot pinballs between mostly psychological but also a bit of splatterific horror. Thankfully, there is that indelible scene of Spider-Man triumphantly rising from a would-be grave - on a requisite dark and stormy night, with a perfectly-timed thunder strike - to save his sullied reputation and make things right again. This was a wily and exceptional way to mark (at the time of publication) the silver anniversary of Marvel Comics' flagship character.
October 14, 2021
This is one of those iconic Spider-Man stories, every Spidey fan should check out. Long-time Spider-Man villain Kraven the Hunter is going off the deep-end. He drugs Spider-Man and dresses up as him, brutally beating up muggers and capturing Vermin, a rat-man coming up from the sewers to eat people. Did I mention this story is twisted and dark? It's got people being eaten by swarms of rats and people covered in spiders, so if you have musophobia or arachnophopia, you may want to skip this. I still find the culmination of this story shocking.
The story is really powered by the art. Mick Zeck's art is fantastic, really setting the macabre, horror tone of the story. He was one of the best artists working at Marvel in the 80's and this story showcases why.
The story is really powered by the art. Mick Zeck's art is fantastic, really setting the macabre, horror tone of the story. He was one of the best artists working at Marvel in the 80's and this story showcases why.
December 16, 2022
The iconic Spider-Man story, from the gritty 80s back when that was still an original take. J.M. DeMatteis was always one of my favorite superhero writers, who never seemed to get as much literary esteem as the British Vertigo-esque authors yet is still able to add such poetic quality to these fantasy tales. In Kraven's Last Hunt, the admittedly silly eponymous super-villain is taken very seriously as he goes mad and finally defeats his archenemy. Unlike latter crossover events, it holds up consistently with one voice as each chapter is strikingly illustrated by Mike Zeck. Recommend this to everyone, as there's little continuity to worry about and story is the most important aspect. There are few superhero graphic novels as good as this these days...
January 4, 2013
Kraven, a long-time Spidey villain, decides that he will hunt Spider-man as apparently Spider-man is the last creature he's been looking to defeat. But he also wants to prove that he’s a better Spider-man than Spider-man – for some reason.
That's pretty much the set-up but with a title like "Kraven's Last Hunt", something decisive is likely to happen like a death of sorts and seeing as the cover has Spidey climbing out of a grave, I'm guessing it's not him who pops it.
So here follows a review with some 25 year old spoilers:
How familiar are you with Kraven? If the answer is "who?" chances are you won't be exactly impressed by his introduction in this book as J. M. DeMatteis doesn't spend much time on his character except for a brief backstory at the start where we find out he's a Russian nobleman exiled from his homeland who likes hunting a lot. Because there's very little of Spider-man in the book, this is the character we're left with who we're supposed to relate to, empathise with, etc. Except Kraven's a loony who eats spiders "to gain their strength!", is obsessed with "honour" for his family and sees him accomplishing this honour by killing a guy who dresses in a black Spider-man outfit (in this book Spidey's outfit is trés emo-black!). We're supposed to care about this guy? It's a very shallow character portrait.
After "killing" Spidey, Kraven becomes Spider-man for a while(!) by killing criminals instead of stringing them up with web fluid which in his mind makes him a better man because...? Also he doesn't have web shooters or can climb on walls so I don't see how he's Spider-man at all, he just has the outfit.
Then there's the third main character, Vermin, who's an obscure villain that's a rat/human experiment gone wrong who murders/eats women at night. In a previous story arc Spidey and Cap spent an entire book taking down this character; his inclusion in this book is simply for Kraven to defeat him as easily as he did Spidey thus making him “better” than Spider-man (what a dumb character!). But really Kraven defeats both characters far too easily to convincingly claim that he’s a “better” anything, it’s just plotted in this contrived fashion to give the character some validation before getting rid of him.
Spider-man's barely in this book so be prepared for a lot of boring Kraven and Vermin stuff before getting to Spidey's appearances. But when he does appear, it doesn't seem to be the real Spider-man. For instance, the first issue where Kraven defeats him? No way would Spider-man be defeated by a D-list villain so easily! And when he punches Kraven in the face? Kraven's head should've come off. How many times have we seen Spidey do incredible things because of his super-strength? Punching Kraven, an ordinary human with no powers, full force in the face like he does should've killed him.
In the end it didn't feel like a very substantial story and everything that lead Kraven to book his place on the bullet train felt very contrived. It's like wish-fulfilment for the villain before rubbing him out of the Marvel U. I was even hoping for a "and it was all a dream" kind of ending. We did see Kraven doing a load of hallucinatory drugs at the start, and it would explain how he was able to defeat Spidey and Vermin so easily. "Kraven's Last Hunt" isn't nearly as brilliant as others would suggest. It's not a very good Spider-man book and feels more like a bonkers acid trip. Definitely not something I would single out as a "classic".
That's pretty much the set-up but with a title like "Kraven's Last Hunt", something decisive is likely to happen like a death of sorts and seeing as the cover has Spidey climbing out of a grave, I'm guessing it's not him who pops it.
So here follows a review with some 25 year old spoilers:
How familiar are you with Kraven? If the answer is "who?" chances are you won't be exactly impressed by his introduction in this book as J. M. DeMatteis doesn't spend much time on his character except for a brief backstory at the start where we find out he's a Russian nobleman exiled from his homeland who likes hunting a lot. Because there's very little of Spider-man in the book, this is the character we're left with who we're supposed to relate to, empathise with, etc. Except Kraven's a loony who eats spiders "to gain their strength!", is obsessed with "honour" for his family and sees him accomplishing this honour by killing a guy who dresses in a black Spider-man outfit (in this book Spidey's outfit is trés emo-black!). We're supposed to care about this guy? It's a very shallow character portrait.
After "killing" Spidey, Kraven becomes Spider-man for a while(!) by killing criminals instead of stringing them up with web fluid which in his mind makes him a better man because...? Also he doesn't have web shooters or can climb on walls so I don't see how he's Spider-man at all, he just has the outfit.
Then there's the third main character, Vermin, who's an obscure villain that's a rat/human experiment gone wrong who murders/eats women at night. In a previous story arc Spidey and Cap spent an entire book taking down this character; his inclusion in this book is simply for Kraven to defeat him as easily as he did Spidey thus making him “better” than Spider-man (what a dumb character!). But really Kraven defeats both characters far too easily to convincingly claim that he’s a “better” anything, it’s just plotted in this contrived fashion to give the character some validation before getting rid of him.
Spider-man's barely in this book so be prepared for a lot of boring Kraven and Vermin stuff before getting to Spidey's appearances. But when he does appear, it doesn't seem to be the real Spider-man. For instance, the first issue where Kraven defeats him? No way would Spider-man be defeated by a D-list villain so easily! And when he punches Kraven in the face? Kraven's head should've come off. How many times have we seen Spidey do incredible things because of his super-strength? Punching Kraven, an ordinary human with no powers, full force in the face like he does should've killed him.
In the end it didn't feel like a very substantial story and everything that lead Kraven to book his place on the bullet train felt very contrived. It's like wish-fulfilment for the villain before rubbing him out of the Marvel U. I was even hoping for a "and it was all a dream" kind of ending. We did see Kraven doing a load of hallucinatory drugs at the start, and it would explain how he was able to defeat Spidey and Vermin so easily. "Kraven's Last Hunt" isn't nearly as brilliant as others would suggest. It's not a very good Spider-man book and feels more like a bonkers acid trip. Definitely not something I would single out as a "classic".
December 27, 2024
I'm just here for the nude, spider-covered Kraven content.
October 19, 2025
گاهی اوقات کمیک بوکهایی منتشر میشن که باعث میشن نگاهها به کمیک از یه اثر صرفا سرگرمکننده به اثری هنری و قابل تامل تغییر کنه؛ از آثار الن مور گرفته تا فرانک میلر. این سری داستان از مجموعه اسپایدرمن قطعا یکی از اوناست. به معنی واقعی کلمه مجذوب شده بودم. به طوری که با وجود خستگی و کار زیاد در روز آتی، کل سری رو پشت هم در انتهای شب خوندم و لذت بردم.
داستان نسبت به موارد معمول مجموعه، درونمایه جدیتر و تاریکتری داره. با اینکه پایه داستان رو میدونستم، اما رویکرد حاکم در اون باز هم برام تازه و غیر قابل پیشبینی بود. در عین سادگی روایت و نبود پیچیدگی ظاهری، داستان به بهترین شکل ممکن به شخصیت ها، درگیری شون با زندگی و از همه بیشتر، درگیری های درونی شون می پردازه و کاری میکنه که نگاه مخاطب نسبت به خیلی از اونها، بسیار تغییر کنه. با اینکه شاید برخی تحولات و تغییر ها کمی شتاب زده بنظر برسن؛ اما برای بستر کمیک بوک که چالشها و محدودیتهای خودش رو داره، واقعا عالی کار شدن و در نهایت، اثر خودش رو به بهترین شکل برجا میذاره. شخصیت کریون که قبل این کسی اصلا اهمیتی بهش نمیداد، از بعد این سری تبدیل به یکی از پیچیدهترین و خاصترین شخصیت های منفی مجموعه شد که نشون میده نویسنده خوب، چقدر میتونه یک داستان یا شخصیت رو متحول کنه. از لحاظ بصری، سبک کلاسیک حاکم بر کار هست. در عین سادگی، تصاویر واقعا زیبا کار شدن و سلسله تصاویر به شکل بسیار معنادار و جذابی، طراحی و تنظیم شدن و به زیبایی به روایت سینماتیک داستان کمک کردن؛ به طوری که گاهی اوقات با کمترین دیالوگ، تصویر به خوبی داستان رو داره به تنهایی روایت میکنه.
به طور معمول، من کلا از کمیک بوک های قدیمی تر کمتر لذت میبردم. اما تو این چند وقت اخیر، چند مورد به معنی واقعی کلمه بهم نشون دادن که یه دلیلی پشت کلاسیک بودن برخی آثار وجود داره؛ این سری هم قطعا یکی از اون موارد محسوب میشه.
داستان نسبت به موارد معمول مجموعه، درونمایه جدیتر و تاریکتری داره. با اینکه پایه داستان رو میدونستم، اما رویکرد حاکم در اون باز هم برام تازه و غیر قابل پیشبینی بود. در عین سادگی روایت و نبود پیچیدگی ظاهری، داستان به بهترین شکل ممکن به شخصیت ها، درگیری شون با زندگی و از همه بیشتر، درگیری های درونی شون می پردازه و کاری میکنه که نگاه مخاطب نسبت به خیلی از اونها، بسیار تغییر کنه. با اینکه شاید برخی تحولات و تغییر ها کمی شتاب زده بنظر برسن؛ اما برای بستر کمیک بوک که چالشها و محدودیتهای خودش رو داره، واقعا عالی کار شدن و در نهایت، اثر خودش رو به بهترین شکل برجا میذاره. شخصیت کریون که قبل این کسی اصلا اهمیتی بهش نمیداد، از بعد این سری تبدیل به یکی از پیچیدهترین و خاصترین شخصیت های منفی مجموعه شد که نشون میده نویسنده خوب، چقدر میتونه یک داستان یا شخصیت رو متحول کنه. از لحاظ بصری، سبک کلاسیک حاکم بر کار هست. در عین سادگی، تصاویر واقعا زیبا کار شدن و سلسله تصاویر به شکل بسیار معنادار و جذابی، طراحی و تنظیم شدن و به زیبایی به روایت سینماتیک داستان کمک کردن؛ به طوری که گاهی اوقات با کمترین دیالوگ، تصویر به خوبی داستان رو داره به تنهایی روایت میکنه.
به طور معمول، من کلا از کمیک بوک های قدیمی تر کمتر لذت میبردم. اما تو این چند وقت اخیر، چند مورد به معنی واقعی کلمه بهم نشون دادن که یه دلیلی پشت کلاسیک بودن برخی آثار وجود داره؛ این سری هم قطعا یکی از اون موارد محسوب میشه.
June 11, 2008
I only inked and embellished this book over pencil art by Mike Zeck, but it's one of my best jobs, and the story is very good as well.
April 27, 2022
The moral conflict between being a villain but acting as the hero protagonist brings about an interesting introspection into Kraven's character. It's this inner fight that tries to carry the whole story on its back, and it does an okay job at illustrating the struggle. Unfortunately, this is one of those stories that suffers somewhat if the reader has a pre-existing expetation due to the books status as a 'must read'. It didn't quite reach the levels I was expecting, and I didn't find myself too invested in the story or the characters. Interesting, but something that could have been executed in a far more engaging way. Sorry, Spidey fans!
March 23, 2022
Uno de los grandes títulos de Spiderman, y de esos el más oscuro sin duda. Partiendo de una historia que en inicio estaba escrita para Batman y que por entonces no interesó a DC, tenemos aquí a un personaje, Kraven, que siempre ha estado en la lista de villanos menores del trepamuros. Kraven decide restaurar el honor que cree haber perdido venciendo a su rival imbatible y poniéndose luego en su lugar para demostrar que puede ser mejor que Spiderman.
Esta historia está muy bien narrada, y aunque nuestro vecino favorito no sale mucho físicamente está siempre presente en la obra. Icónica es la imagen de, como también lo es el final de la obra.
Si tengo que ponerle un pero, el color de la edición que tengo quita algo de lustre, pero es una edición antigua, no sé si en las nuevas reediciones eso se ha corregido.
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One of the best Spiderman stories, and of those the darkest without a doubt. Starting from a story that was originally written for Batman and that at the time did not interest DC, we have here a character, Kraven, who has always been on the list of minor wallcrawler villains. Kraven decides to restore the honor he thinks he has lost by defeating his unbeatable enemy and then putting himself in his place to prove that he can be better than Spiderman.
This story is very well narrated, and although our favorite neighbor does not appear physically much, he is always present in the story. Iconic is the image of , as is the end of the story.
If I have to put a but, the color of the edition that I have takes away some of the luster, but it is an old edition, I do not know if in the new reissues that has been corrected.
Esta historia está muy bien narrada, y aunque nuestro vecino favorito no sale mucho físicamente está siempre presente en la obra. Icónica es la imagen de, como también lo es el final de la obra.
Si tengo que ponerle un pero, el color de la edición que tengo quita algo de lustre, pero es una edición antigua, no sé si en las nuevas reediciones eso se ha corregido.
--------------------
One of the best Spiderman stories, and of those the darkest without a doubt. Starting from a story that was originally written for Batman and that at the time did not interest DC, we have here a character, Kraven, who has always been on the list of minor wallcrawler villains. Kraven decides to restore the honor he thinks he has lost by defeating his unbeatable enemy and then putting himself in his place to prove that he can be better than Spiderman.
This story is very well narrated, and although our favorite neighbor does not appear physically much, he is always present in the story. Iconic is the image of , as is the end of the story.
If I have to put a but, the color of the edition that I have takes away some of the luster, but it is an old edition, I do not know if in the new reissues that has been corrected.
September 13, 2017
Esta review puede contener spoilers
Historia atípica donde se aplica la regla inversa, el villano gana.
Kraven el cazador parece estar atravesando sus últimos días y ejecuta su máxima aspiración, una demostración personal de lo que resultó imposible para él y todos. Vencer al enemigo.
El estilo del cómic casi sin diálogos, narrado en gran parte en voz en off hace que el lector sienta a través de los pensamientos de los personajes. Gran historia.
Historia atípica donde se aplica la regla inversa, el villano gana.
Kraven el cazador parece estar atravesando sus últimos días y ejecuta su máxima aspiración, una demostración personal de lo que resultó imposible para él y todos. Vencer al enemigo.
El estilo del cómic casi sin diálogos, narrado en gran parte en voz en off hace que el lector sienta a través de los pensamientos de los personajes. Gran historia.
May 7, 2012
This is a story were one of Spider-man villains drugs him, buries him alive for two weeks and then takes it upon himself to dress up as Spider-man and fight crime while he is high as a kite. It's as awesome as it sounds and it's one of the greatest Spider-man stories ever.
Kraven is a well established rogue for Spider-man. I wouldn't say he is A-list like Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, but he's middle B-list material. I think his problem was that no writer had really done anything interesting with him before this point. He has hunted and killed creatures of all kinds all over the world, but he has never defeated Spider-man up to this point. Instead of killing Spider-man, which he reveals later in the story he could have easily done, he drugs him to the point of unconsciousness and buries him alive. You have to remember that this is decades before Kill Bill, so this was a new and, perhaps, even more terrifying concept. Whilst Spider-man is in the ground, Kraven then decides to take a lot of drugs himself, dress up as Spider-man and go out into the streets of New York and beat up thugs. It's also interesting that this was at a time were Spider-man was donning his black costume, which is now regarded as a darker period in his life.
The art is pretty great and holds up really well against modern comics. Mike Zeck uses panels in a unique way for building suspense and adding to the creepiness throughout this story, especially in the Vermin scenes. He's also great at drawing facial expressions, which helps show the anger of the characters throughout the third act.
It's definitely worth a read, even if you're not a die-hard Spider-man fan.
Kraven is a well established rogue for Spider-man. I wouldn't say he is A-list like Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, but he's middle B-list material. I think his problem was that no writer had really done anything interesting with him before this point. He has hunted and killed creatures of all kinds all over the world, but he has never defeated Spider-man up to this point. Instead of killing Spider-man, which he reveals later in the story he could have easily done, he drugs him to the point of unconsciousness and buries him alive. You have to remember that this is decades before Kill Bill, so this was a new and, perhaps, even more terrifying concept. Whilst Spider-man is in the ground, Kraven then decides to take a lot of drugs himself, dress up as Spider-man and go out into the streets of New York and beat up thugs. It's also interesting that this was at a time were Spider-man was donning his black costume, which is now regarded as a darker period in his life.
The art is pretty great and holds up really well against modern comics. Mike Zeck uses panels in a unique way for building suspense and adding to the creepiness throughout this story, especially in the Vermin scenes. He's also great at drawing facial expressions, which helps show the anger of the characters throughout the third act.
It's definitely worth a read, even if you're not a die-hard Spider-man fan.
March 5, 2015
Why is Kraven so tortured by the spider figure? Everything in here revolves around that, but it is never explained, and how does he come in terms with it? and why did he wear the Spiderman suit?
This is usually listed as one of spider-man´s best stories, and it has a couple of interesting things, but in the end it seems to be a lot about nothing. The small flashbacks make this story interesting, and in general it has a fast pace, but there are many gaps in the whole thing. I had seen Kraven in one of spider-man´s cartoons, and more recently in the video game Shattered Dimensions (cool videogame by the way). There, he is an OK character, but here he just seems to be on drugs the whole time with no real explanaition of what he´s doing or why he is doing it.
Another thing I found interesting is that the whole story is told though the reflections of Kraven, Vermin, Spider-man and Mary Jane. There isn´t much dialog between characters, these inner thoughts lead the whole thing and in general seem well written. The thoughts that MJ has when Peter goes missing show a lot of frustration I really liked that. Then, Mary Jane goes out looking for him, when she finds him, she realizes it`s not really him but someone disguised as him. I think this would`ve turned her insane, this could`ve been an interesting part of the story, about someone trying to be strong when the one she loves goes missing on his quest for justice.
After that, a really strange hallucination awakes Peter (really, what was all that for?) after two weeks, TWO WEEKS! When they finally meet again MJ does not seem to be worried at all, and she accepts him like if nothing had happened! They are both in such a good that they decide to get the party started (come on! he was buried for two weeks, he is weak, he hasn´t had a bath, the guy must smell like a corpse! yet, they continued their romance), that was lame. They don´t talk at all about what MJ has just gone through. Meh.
After the showdown with Kraven and Vermin, Kraven decides to take his own life, I like how that scene got portrayed, but there doesn´t seem to be a real explanation on how he found that peace.
In the end, thanks to a nice confession that Kraven left, everything goes back to normal, just as it was when we started.
I recently read that this story was intended for batman and the joker ( and Killer Croc or Man-Bat I guess). I don´t know how that cuod´ve worked, but this is full of gaps and I don`t know how it has reached such a high spot in spider-man´s top stories.
I still belive that Spider-man is a GREAT character, but I want to find the stories where it shows. Any suggestions?
This is usually listed as one of spider-man´s best stories, and it has a couple of interesting things, but in the end it seems to be a lot about nothing. The small flashbacks make this story interesting, and in general it has a fast pace, but there are many gaps in the whole thing. I had seen Kraven in one of spider-man´s cartoons, and more recently in the video game Shattered Dimensions (cool videogame by the way). There, he is an OK character, but here he just seems to be on drugs the whole time with no real explanaition of what he´s doing or why he is doing it.
Another thing I found interesting is that the whole story is told though the reflections of Kraven, Vermin, Spider-man and Mary Jane. There isn´t much dialog between characters, these inner thoughts lead the whole thing and in general seem well written. The thoughts that MJ has when Peter goes missing show a lot of frustration I really liked that. Then, Mary Jane goes out looking for him, when she finds him, she realizes it`s not really him but someone disguised as him. I think this would`ve turned her insane, this could`ve been an interesting part of the story, about someone trying to be strong when the one she loves goes missing on his quest for justice.
After that, a really strange hallucination awakes Peter (really, what was all that for?) after two weeks, TWO WEEKS! When they finally meet again MJ does not seem to be worried at all, and she accepts him like if nothing had happened! They are both in such a good that they decide to get the party started (come on! he was buried for two weeks, he is weak, he hasn´t had a bath, the guy must smell like a corpse! yet, they continued their romance), that was lame. They don´t talk at all about what MJ has just gone through. Meh.
After the showdown with Kraven and Vermin, Kraven decides to take his own life, I like how that scene got portrayed, but there doesn´t seem to be a real explanation on how he found that peace.
In the end, thanks to a nice confession that Kraven left, everything goes back to normal, just as it was when we started.
I recently read that this story was intended for batman and the joker ( and Killer Croc or Man-Bat I guess). I don´t know how that cuod´ve worked, but this is full of gaps and I don`t know how it has reached such a high spot in spider-man´s top stories.
I still belive that Spider-man is a GREAT character, but I want to find the stories where it shows. Any suggestions?
January 5, 2022
This was like poetry in comic book form.
Kraven is at his best here, and honestly I haven't read a better version of him by any other writer. Not that Kraven was ever written in any way that would excite anyone or interest that much besides a typical villain, but here, he's taking the role of the protagonist and just by the way he talks and the decisions he makes, he's clearly a depressed man who he only wants to prove something to himself and then be done with everything in his life.
This one is one of the comics that I knew it was a "big deal" and a must for Spider-Man reads, but I had no idea that I'd like it that much.
Highly recommended for Spidey fans!
Kraven is at his best here, and honestly I haven't read a better version of him by any other writer. Not that Kraven was ever written in any way that would excite anyone or interest that much besides a typical villain, but here, he's taking the role of the protagonist and just by the way he talks and the decisions he makes, he's clearly a depressed man who he only wants to prove something to himself and then be done with everything in his life.
This one is one of the comics that I knew it was a "big deal" and a must for Spider-Man reads, but I had no idea that I'd like it that much.
Highly recommended for Spidey fans!
July 22, 2024
Mike Zeck's artwork is pretty good - especially for a late 80s Marvel book.
I wasn't sold on the story. Kraven kills Spider-man and takes his costume to become a more ruthless Spider-man. It's interesting to see what a more villainous super-hero can do, a concept that's been beaten to death in more recent times so I'll try not to hold that against this book.
I liked that the author has Spider-Man deal with the trauma of being buried alive.
I'm not clear on Kraven's motivation here. It doesn't make a ton of sense to me. With excerpts from William Blake's The Tyger - the book feels more moody and poetic than narrative.
I wasn't sold on the story. Kraven kills Spider-man and takes his costume to become a more ruthless Spider-man. It's interesting to see what a more villainous super-hero can do, a concept that's been beaten to death in more recent times so I'll try not to hold that against this book.
I liked that the author has Spider-Man deal with the trauma of being buried alive.
I'm not clear on Kraven's motivation here. It doesn't make a ton of sense to me. With excerpts from William Blake's The Tyger - the book feels more moody and poetic than narrative.
November 24, 2014
Great Spider-Man story. A dark Spider-Man story. Spider-Man gets defeated and tormented by Kraven the Hunter. He burries him alive and steals his identity, giving Spider-Man a bad name by being far more violent than ol' Webhead is. He also sets Vermin loose on the world.
This all is part of Kraven's plan to die happily after defeating and replacing Spider-Man, becoming his superior in everything.
I liked the art, it made me bump the Secret Wars omnibi to the top of my omnibus wishlist, because of Mike Zeck being the artist on Kraven's Last Hunt as well as on the first Secret Wars story. Seeing the spiders gathering on Spider-Man's grave, with the climax being Spider-Man bursting out of his grave. It's a powerful image.
If you're a Spider-Man fan and haven't read this one yet. You're missing out. It's considered one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever written.
And with good reason.
This all is part of Kraven's plan to die happily after defeating and replacing Spider-Man, becoming his superior in everything.
I liked the art, it made me bump the Secret Wars omnibi to the top of my omnibus wishlist, because of Mike Zeck being the artist on Kraven's Last Hunt as well as on the first Secret Wars story. Seeing the spiders gathering on Spider-Man's grave, with the climax being Spider-Man bursting out of his grave. It's a powerful image.
If you're a Spider-Man fan and haven't read this one yet. You're missing out. It's considered one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever written.
And with good reason.
June 27, 2010
3.0 stars. One of the best Spider-man story arcs of all time. Kraven the Hunter is portrayed very well as a gifted, talented individual whose personal demons and psychological problems have led him to focus on Spidey as the cause of everything that has gone wrong in his life. A very good story-line and one I remember liking very much. Recommended!!!
July 31, 2018
Czytane ponownie po latach.
Myślę, że to bardzo charakterystyczne, że moją ulubioną opowieścią o Spider-Manie jest ta napisana z punktu widzenia kogoś zupełnie innego, do tego jeszcze jego przeciwnika. Cały tom to tak naprawdę zagłębienie się w psychikę Kravena Łowcy, gdzie poznajemy jego historię, kompleksy, neurozy. To jest niesamowite. Do tego tom poszerza znacząco mitologię Spider-Mana i robi to nawet lepiej niż "Powrót do domu", gdzie wyłuszcza się całą teorię Spider-Mana jako totemu. Ale "Powrót do domu" opowiada o tym, jak działa totemiczna siła, podczas gdy "Ostatnie łowy Kravena" pokazują jak ona działa i na tym polega siła tego tomu. Chociaż mało mu Spider-Mana w Spider-Manie (jest Pająk, Kraven i Vermin), to wciąż mój ulubiony tom. Do tego związek Petera i MJ nabiera tutaj głębi - troski MJ, to, że wprost mówi, że bycie w związku z Peterem bywa traumatyczne, jest świetnie, realistycznie przedstawione. MJ błąkająca się po mieście, bo Peter nie wrócił do domu i ona nie wie, co się z nim dzieje, wiele wnosi do ujęcia tej postaci.
Bardzo lubię też wizualną stronę tego tomu. Te kadry kopania grobu w deszczu, te pająki gromadzące się na nagrobku Petera, to praktycznie gotycka konwencja, oddana z intensywnością, jaką dotąd widziałam tylko w Gotham. To byłaby świetna ekranizacja, coś w stylu "Kruka" z 1994 roku, coś, co chciałabym zobaczyć. No i Spider-Man w jednym z moich ulubionych kostiumów <3 I parafraza wiersza Blake'a (idzie do fika).
Myślę, że to bardzo charakterystyczne, że moją ulubioną opowieścią o Spider-Manie jest ta napisana z punktu widzenia kogoś zupełnie innego, do tego jeszcze jego przeciwnika. Cały tom to tak naprawdę zagłębienie się w psychikę Kravena Łowcy, gdzie poznajemy jego historię, kompleksy, neurozy. To jest niesamowite. Do tego tom poszerza znacząco mitologię Spider-Mana i robi to nawet lepiej niż "Powrót do domu", gdzie wyłuszcza się całą teorię Spider-Mana jako totemu. Ale "Powrót do domu" opowiada o tym, jak działa totemiczna siła, podczas gdy "Ostatnie łowy Kravena" pokazują jak ona działa i na tym polega siła tego tomu. Chociaż mało mu Spider-Mana w Spider-Manie (jest Pająk, Kraven i Vermin), to wciąż mój ulubiony tom. Do tego związek Petera i MJ nabiera tutaj głębi - troski MJ, to, że wprost mówi, że bycie w związku z Peterem bywa traumatyczne, jest świetnie, realistycznie przedstawione. MJ błąkająca się po mieście, bo Peter nie wrócił do domu i ona nie wie, co się z nim dzieje, wiele wnosi do ujęcia tej postaci.
Bardzo lubię też wizualną stronę tego tomu. Te kadry kopania grobu w deszczu, te pająki gromadzące się na nagrobku Petera, to praktycznie gotycka konwencja, oddana z intensywnością, jaką dotąd widziałam tylko w Gotham. To byłaby świetna ekranizacja, coś w stylu "Kruka" z 1994 roku, coś, co chciałabym zobaczyć. No i Spider-Man w jednym z moich ulubionych kostiumów <3 I parafraza wiersza Blake'a (idzie do fika).
Read
March 13, 2022Kraven is tripping out on ayahuasca-type shit and still one-up Spiderman at every turn. This is a nightmarish version of Spiderman's world, for sure, and almost unpredictable in how it will play out. Well written. Action oriented. Very good.
March 17, 2025
3.5/5 Stars
Individual issues rated below -
(In the proper reading order of the story)
Part 1 "Coffin"
Web of Spider-Man #31: 3.5/5
Part 2 "Crawling"
The Amazing Spider-Man #293: 3/5
Part 3 "Descent"
The Spectacular Spider-Man #131: 3.5/5
Part 4 "Resurrection"
Web of Spider-Man #32: 4/5
Part 5 "Thunder"
The Amazing Spider-Man #294: 4/5
Part 6 "Ascending"
The Spectacular Spider-Man #132: 4/5
Individual issues rated below -
(In the proper reading order of the story)
Part 1 "Coffin"
Web of Spider-Man #31: 3.5/5
Part 2 "Crawling"
The Amazing Spider-Man #293: 3/5
Part 3 "Descent"
The Spectacular Spider-Man #131: 3.5/5
Part 4 "Resurrection"
Web of Spider-Man #32: 4/5
Part 5 "Thunder"
The Amazing Spider-Man #294: 4/5
Part 6 "Ascending"
The Spectacular Spider-Man #132: 4/5
March 26, 2019
Creo que nunca había leído un trabajo de DeMatteis en solitario, y me hallo sorprendido de su buen hacer dramático en esta obra. Podría decir que es demasiado cinematográfica para mi gusto y que tarda un poco en arrancar, pero sigue siendo una historia muy distinta a las que Spider-Man suele tener, y una muy buena.
Veo que este Mike Zeck está a millones de años luz del mediocre trabajo que hizo en las Guerras Secretas. No sé a qué factores específicos puede deberse, pero me alegro de ello. El entintado de Bob McLeod es, como siempre, excelente, formando ambos un dibujo que le viene al dedo a la oscuridad/locura de la historia que narran.
Lectura recomendada para los fans del arácnido al menos una vez en la vida.
PD: Joe Quesada es un inútil por decir que era imposible contar buenas historias con Peter Parker casado. Esta obra demuestra todo lo contrario.
Veo que este Mike Zeck está a millones de años luz del mediocre trabajo que hizo en las Guerras Secretas. No sé a qué factores específicos puede deberse, pero me alegro de ello. El entintado de Bob McLeod es, como siempre, excelente, formando ambos un dibujo que le viene al dedo a la oscuridad/locura de la historia que narran.
Lectura recomendada para los fans del arácnido al menos una vez en la vida.
PD: Joe Quesada es un inútil por decir que era imposible contar buenas historias con Peter Parker casado. Esta obra demuestra todo lo contrario.
September 15, 2023
Been wanting to pick this up for a while and I’m glad I finally got found to reading this. Taking a not so popular villain and really delving deep into the character made for a really interesting and entertaining story that still surprisingly holds up well today.
January 19, 2020
One of those comics that elevates the genre. It's like an epic poem or Shakespearean tragedy in comic form.
March 11, 2021
Tak jsem si přečetl Kraven's Last Hunt a je to asi nejdivnější Spidey jakýho jsem kdy četl. Neuvěřitelně mě bavily vnitřní monology postav na kterých je vlastně celý příběh postavený a jak zkoumá různé pohledy v čemž je jeho velká síla.
Ale nemůžu se ubránit dojmu, že na pár místech DeMatteis spíš jenom plácá na efekt než, že by skutečně měl co sdělit. Co je tady každopádně neoddiskutovatelné, že kresba je boží, krásný barvy, výborný vizuál a na pár místech nádherný panelování.
Ačkoliv trochu cítím v autorovi potřebu napsat svůj vlastní Dark Knight Returns nic to nemění na tom, že jde o psychologicky zajímavé dílo.
Ale nemůžu se ubránit dojmu, že na pár místech DeMatteis spíš jenom plácá na efekt než, že by skutečně měl co sdělit. Co je tady každopádně neoddiskutovatelné, že kresba je boží, krásný barvy, výborný vizuál a na pár místech nádherný panelování.
Ačkoliv trochu cítím v autorovi potřebu napsat svůj vlastní Dark Knight Returns nic to nemění na tom, že jde o psychologicky zajímavé dílo.
March 13, 2021
Three and a half stars.
It had been a long time since I had read a good Spidey story : )
It had been a long time since I had read a good Spidey story : )
June 29, 2016
Incredible. Absolutely incredible. So far, this may be the best comic I have ever read (although, after finishing this I began reading "Marvels," and that may become my favorite due to how stellar it has been thus far).
If you are a Spider-Man fan, this is an absolute necessity. If you like Marvel in general, you owe it to yourself to check out "Kraven's Last Hunt."
Without giving anything away that isn't told in the blurb on the Amazon page, Kraven the Hunter kills Spider-Man, buries him, and takes the mantle of being Spider-Man up for himself. Strange that this is not a spoiler, yes? Well, it isn't. Not at all. There is a reason that is essentially the same as all the other short descriptions for this book: So much more happens. In fact, while that is the inciting event, the story itself feels as if it has little to do with it, taking that plot (which, I imagine, Superior Spider-Man--a run I have not read hitherto, but have heard great things about--owes its basic idea to, if nothing else) and weaving a spectacular and psychological tale of self-hatred, love, and overcoming that which is feared. Both Peter Parker and Sergei Kravinoff are wonderfully complex characters, and this is one of the best examples of that. Not only that, Mary Jane Watson is given more than a few moments to show just how wonderful a character she is.
The more I think about "Kraven's Last Hunt," the more I love it. I tend not to reread anything but my favorite stories, but I have a feeling I will reread this at least a few more times throughout my lifetime. If you haven't already, read "Kraven's Last Hunt!"
If you are a Spider-Man fan, this is an absolute necessity. If you like Marvel in general, you owe it to yourself to check out "Kraven's Last Hunt."
Without giving anything away that isn't told in the blurb on the Amazon page, Kraven the Hunter kills Spider-Man, buries him, and takes the mantle of being Spider-Man up for himself. Strange that this is not a spoiler, yes? Well, it isn't. Not at all. There is a reason that is essentially the same as all the other short descriptions for this book: So much more happens. In fact, while that is the inciting event, the story itself feels as if it has little to do with it, taking that plot (which, I imagine, Superior Spider-Man--a run I have not read hitherto, but have heard great things about--owes its basic idea to, if nothing else) and weaving a spectacular and psychological tale of self-hatred, love, and overcoming that which is feared. Both Peter Parker and Sergei Kravinoff are wonderfully complex characters, and this is one of the best examples of that. Not only that, Mary Jane Watson is given more than a few moments to show just how wonderful a character she is.
The more I think about "Kraven's Last Hunt," the more I love it. I tend not to reread anything but my favorite stories, but I have a feeling I will reread this at least a few more times throughout my lifetime. If you haven't already, read "Kraven's Last Hunt!"
June 25, 2017
This is some creepy shit. Voices in heads, messages from drug-addled hallucinations, undercurrents of rage and other dark thoughts. Kraven decides(?) to off Spider-man, goes and does it, doesn't do it right.
Even despite the Wikipedia article documenting that this story was in DeMatteis' head long before Dark Knight and Watchmen, it's hard not to see the parallels - parallel light and dark inner monologues are the obvious stylistic choice that seems to have emerged spontaneously across creators in this era (or maybe JMD did crib that layout from his heir).
Creepy. Sewer-dwelling rat-man? Shambling spider-beast made of spiders? Insanity bubbling at the surface of a trained mind?
Kraven takes the journey of a lifetime, from hating his opponent to understanding him to respecting him, and finally to . The natural progression, amirite? The inner monologue for either Spidey or Kraven is nuts in a kinda forced way, and when both of them suffer from it, it takes the form of affectation - or at least, forced experiment on the writer's part.
I can't say I loved it, but it sure is a monumental story from the 80's, and it definitely left a mark on the Marvel universe.
I hated everything about the vermin story though, and devoting the final issue of this mini to the final confrontation between Spidey and Vermin was...ugh. The constant whining from Vermin, the allusions to Gollum (muttering, outbursts, lives in dark most underground, feeds on live animals), I don't need any more reminders of work life man, I just don't.
Even despite the Wikipedia article documenting that this story was in DeMatteis' head long before Dark Knight and Watchmen, it's hard not to see the parallels - parallel light and dark inner monologues are the obvious stylistic choice that seems to have emerged spontaneously across creators in this era (or maybe JMD did crib that layout from his heir).
Creepy. Sewer-dwelling rat-man? Shambling spider-beast made of spiders? Insanity bubbling at the surface of a trained mind?
Kraven takes the journey of a lifetime, from hating his opponent to understanding him to respecting him, and finally to . The natural progression, amirite? The inner monologue for either Spidey or Kraven is nuts in a kinda forced way, and when both of them suffer from it, it takes the form of affectation - or at least, forced experiment on the writer's part.
I can't say I loved it, but it sure is a monumental story from the 80's, and it definitely left a mark on the Marvel universe.
I hated everything about the vermin story though, and devoting the final issue of this mini to the final confrontation between Spidey and Vermin was...ugh. The constant whining from Vermin, the allusions to Gollum (muttering, outbursts, lives in dark most underground, feeds on live animals), I don't need any more reminders of work life man, I just don't.
May 10, 2014
Spidey was a hero of my youth. His naïve optimism and freewheeling attitude appealed to me before real life had a chance to stuff it's bitter little realities down my throat. I will always have a soft spot for him, but I typically don't read much Amazing these days. Kraven's Last Hunt was a surprise for me. Bought it at a discount because I had never read the story and many have recommended it. It was certainly more to my tastes. Somber and dark, it's unique in the Spider-Man stories I've read. Dated, but not unbearably so. Gave a little more depth to a Kraven. Historically he's sort of a tool that got his ass kicked on the regular and always seemed a little to one dimensional to me. This story added some much needed depth to him as a villain. Turns out he's a certifiable nut. The art is probably the best I've seen from Zeck. His stuff doesn't typically do much for me so that's saying something. Probably worth a read if your a Spidey fan.
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