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Spider-Man: One-Shots
Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter
In this sequel to the classic Kraven's Last Hunt, the web-slinger faces his greatest challenge: decline to fight Kraven, and he risks losing his own humanity.
Fight for Kraven and lose...and risk forfeiting his own soul.
J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod combine their talents to bring you a tale even more shattering than their original work on Last Hunt.
An nothing will ever be the same again.
Fight for Kraven and lose...and risk forfeiting his own soul.
J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod combine their talents to bring you a tale even more shattering than their original work on Last Hunt.
An nothing will ever be the same again.
47 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
J.M. DeMatteis
1,910 books236 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 28, 2022
2.5 stars
Unnecessary cash-in sequel that pales against its much superior predecessor. DeMatteis, Zeck and McLeod were jobbing this one.
Unnecessary cash-in sequel that pales against its much superior predecessor. DeMatteis, Zeck and McLeod were jobbing this one.
July 21, 2018
Soul of the Hunter, the sequel to the legendary Kraven's Last Hunt, is nothing more than a cheap way for Marvel to both market off its predecessor's success while simultaneously condemning its dark themes. As a sequel to one of the best Spider-Man stories ever told, people were bound to pick this one-shot up to see how the story continues. It worked, because I bought into it. Additionally, since the ending to Kraven's Last Hunt was so dark and depressing, Marvel felt the need to appease the upset parents whose children had just read a comic book involving real-life themes such as death and insanity. So in case you were too dim to know this on your own, Soul of the Hunter sought to inform its readers that suicide is, in fact, very bad and should not be looked at as being honorable. Gee, what a revolutionary thought, thanks for sharing that!
So here's the basic plot: Kraven's cursed soul haunts Spidey into somehow rescuing him from eternal suffering because of his actions in Kraven's Last Hunt. What a way to ruin such a cool villain. Basically, take what made Kraven so imposing, dangerous, and worthy an adversary to Spider-Man, then strip it all away and leave behind nothing more than a pathetic husk of the character we just got to know in the last graphic novel. Way to go, you made Kraven a top five best Spidey villain into an absurdly mediocre one. Definitely not a necessary sequel in the least, especially considering how excellent its predecessor was by comparison.
I did kind of appreciate how Spider-Man came to terms with the fact that he can't possibly save everyone, Kraven included; it's a harsh reality that our hero has to face as part of his character development. Regardless, this one-shot isn't worth reading for that modicum of character development alone. You're far better off pretending that this thing doesn't exist – trust me.
A word of advice: if a great graphic novel has a sequel or prequel, it's probably not going to be as good as the original off of which it was based. Prequels like Before Watchmen, and sequels like The Dark Knight Strikes Again serve as prime examples on when to quit while you're ahead. You can add Soul of the Hunter to that list, because Kraven's Last Hunt was better off being a stand-alone graphic novel without a sequel to taint its legacy.
So here's the basic plot: Kraven's cursed soul haunts Spidey into somehow rescuing him from eternal suffering because of his actions in Kraven's Last Hunt. What a way to ruin such a cool villain. Basically, take what made Kraven so imposing, dangerous, and worthy an adversary to Spider-Man, then strip it all away and leave behind nothing more than a pathetic husk of the character we just got to know in the last graphic novel. Way to go, you made Kraven a top five best Spidey villain into an absurdly mediocre one. Definitely not a necessary sequel in the least, especially considering how excellent its predecessor was by comparison.
I did kind of appreciate how Spider-Man came to terms with the fact that he can't possibly save everyone, Kraven included; it's a harsh reality that our hero has to face as part of his character development. Regardless, this one-shot isn't worth reading for that modicum of character development alone. You're far better off pretending that this thing doesn't exist – trust me.
A word of advice: if a great graphic novel has a sequel or prequel, it's probably not going to be as good as the original off of which it was based. Prequels like Before Watchmen, and sequels like The Dark Knight Strikes Again serve as prime examples on when to quit while you're ahead. You can add Soul of the Hunter to that list, because Kraven's Last Hunt was better off being a stand-alone graphic novel without a sequel to taint its legacy.
January 24, 2020
Forse spinti dalla dirigenza Marvel dell'epoca, forse dal successo de Speciale L'Uomo Ragno: L'Ultima Caccia di Kraven DeMatteis e Zeck si sono fatti trascinare in questo sequel/epilogo che onestamente, non è proprio riuscito ed è totalmente dimenticabile. Anzi, meglio non conoscerne l'esistenza per non rovinare il bel ricordo di quell'ottima storia (per alcuni, ma non per me, capolavoro) che è Speciale L'Uomo Ragno: L'Ultima Caccia di Kraven.
November 16, 2020
See my mini review in Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt
December 29, 2024
An examination of faith and trauma… and Spider-Man.
October 17, 2025
KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT really only lacked for one thing - it doesn't even pretend to address the TRAUMA of Peter's experience. I mean, yeah, we see Peter freaking out over the experience, but it's just left there. Triumphing over Vermin doesn't really take it away.
I sort of look at this book like Mary Jane does - Peter's mind finding a way to process the horror and grief of what he experienced, and in that context, I don't mind it very much. I'd probably give it three stars.
Little note here: SOUL OF THE HUNTER is quite literally the first comic book I ever bought. My friend had described KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT to me, and when I saw this in a shop (while on a school trip!), I bought it thinking it was LAST HUNT. It wasn't, obviously, but I was new enough to superhero comics that I still enjoyed it. Coming back to it thirty-five years later, and having a LOT more J.M. DeMatteis comics, there is one thing in the script that really grates on me. Once, I like J.M.'s "more pure than pure" narrative flourishes, but now, after having read MOONSHADOW, BROOKLYN DREAMS, and seemingly dozens of other books that use those phrases over and over and over again, it just feels lazy and tired. It might've been better to let Zeck and McLeod (still impactful illustrators, even on this lesser sequel) carry the vibe of Peter's feelings.
I sort of look at this book like Mary Jane does - Peter's mind finding a way to process the horror and grief of what he experienced, and in that context, I don't mind it very much. I'd probably give it three stars.
Little note here: SOUL OF THE HUNTER is quite literally the first comic book I ever bought. My friend had described KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT to me, and when I saw this in a shop (while on a school trip!), I bought it thinking it was LAST HUNT. It wasn't, obviously, but I was new enough to superhero comics that I still enjoyed it. Coming back to it thirty-five years later, and having a LOT more J.M. DeMatteis comics, there is one thing in the script that really grates on me. Once, I like J.M.'s "more pure than pure" narrative flourishes, but now, after having read MOONSHADOW, BROOKLYN DREAMS, and seemingly dozens of other books that use those phrases over and over and over again, it just feels lazy and tired. It might've been better to let Zeck and McLeod (still impactful illustrators, even on this lesser sequel) carry the vibe of Peter's feelings.
December 27, 2023
How do you follow up one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time without tarnishing the legacy of what made the original story so great? It helps to gather the original creative team. And then have them walk a very thin tightrope. Is it perfect? No. It is FAR cry from the original. But I think my opinion on this story has softened significantly on this re-read. Yes, much of my original criticism that it being a blatant cash grab done after the story was beginning to achieve 'classic' status. (Which yes, as surprising only took five years.) However, the story, is well crafted and has a lot of heart. It is simply not as good as the original. It is not completely character breaking as certain other Spider-Man stories that shall remain Brand New Day.
February 23, 2026
You people are crazy. This is a spectacular epilogue to Kraven's Last Hunt. The art and exploration of Peter's feelings after those traumatic events was perfect. I loved how spiritual it got and how this was more focused on Peter's journey in relation to Kraven's. KLH is a great story but it's more of a Kraven story than a Spider-Man one. This one is firmly planted in Peter's perspective and forces him to have empathy for one of his worst enemies.
December 1, 2020
Disappointing sequel, with a shaken from being buried alive Peter Parker still dealing with the nightmarish experience. This coda to the classic “Kraven’s Last Hunt” storyline comes from the same creators, but wanders off into the realm of the metaphysical with Spidey fighting a zombie Kraven to allow his soul a chance to be set free from his miserable life on Earth. Um ... say wha-?
November 22, 2023
To be honest I never read Kraven's Last Hunt and I don't even remember much about Kraven in general, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this surprisingly dark and supernatural story. It's not very...Spider-Man-y, I guess, but it worked for me.
December 17, 2023
Kesinlikle gerekli bir kitap Kraven'in Son Avı yarım kalmıştır demiyorum AMA lan bu Örümcek Adam 2 hafta toprağın altında gömülü kaldı nasıl atlattı onu? Diye sorduysanız kendinize bir göz atılabilir.Kısa bir sayı zaten.
November 6, 2024
Que HQ INCRIVEL
PQP
Umas das melhores histórias do DeMatteis
Peter com PTS dps de ser enterrado por Kraven e sendo confrontado por seu passado
O que ele achava que era seus pecados era na verdade sua força
Peter e Mj são o melhor casal da ficção
Não tem como
Eles são perfeitos
PQP
Umas das melhores histórias do DeMatteis
Peter com PTS dps de ser enterrado por Kraven e sendo confrontado por seu passado
O que ele achava que era seus pecados era na verdade sua força
Peter e Mj são o melhor casal da ficção
Não tem como
Eles são perfeitos
April 2, 2020
Really enjoyed the art, story, and overall flow of this graphic novel.
October 1, 2020
Interesante, pero me deja un sabor extraño este epilogo, que si bien era necesario, no me queda claro a que se enfrenta en el cementerio.
August 20, 2022
ART- 4
STORY - 4
STORY - 4
July 2, 2023
It's nowhere near as good as the masterpiece that is Kraven's Last Hunt, but I still thought it was a worthy sequel/follow-up tale!
November 25, 2016
1992's Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter prestige format one-shot serves as a sequel of sorts to the acclaimed Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt storyline that ran through the regular Spider-Man titles a few years earlier.
In Soul of the Hunter, Peter Parker is still haunted by the events of Kraven's Last Hunt, namely his being buried alive for two weeks and Kraven's subsequent suicide. In addition to Peter's internal torment, he is visited by none other than Kraven's ghost, seeking some form of forgiveness and absolution.
Personally, I think revisiting this classic storyline was a bad idea, but there are ways to make it work. If the book dealt strictly with Peter's internal struggle, then it might have made more sense (though as a comic it might have been a bit too boring). By adding the supernatural elements (Spidey vs. Kraven's moldering corpse under the watchful eye of a spectral Grim Reaper), it just muddies the issue. The end result has Peter coming to terms with his ordeal and death in general, but from a reader's point of view the ending was unsatisfactory and didn't seem to resolve anything.
The fact that the book boasts artwork by Mike Zech should have been its saving grace. Instead, Zeck's artwork seems uninspired, especially compared to his mood-setting work on the original Kraven's Last Hunt issues. Some of his panels had an almost Watchmen-like quality, but the action scenes in particular seemed lifeless.
Overall, Soul of the Hunter is a disappointing follow-up to a classic storyline. Like Frank Millers ill-advised Dark Knight Strikes Again, it reinforces the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
In Soul of the Hunter, Peter Parker is still haunted by the events of Kraven's Last Hunt, namely his being buried alive for two weeks and Kraven's subsequent suicide. In addition to Peter's internal torment, he is visited by none other than Kraven's ghost, seeking some form of forgiveness and absolution.
Personally, I think revisiting this classic storyline was a bad idea, but there are ways to make it work. If the book dealt strictly with Peter's internal struggle, then it might have made more sense (though as a comic it might have been a bit too boring). By adding the supernatural elements (Spidey vs. Kraven's moldering corpse under the watchful eye of a spectral Grim Reaper), it just muddies the issue. The end result has Peter coming to terms with his ordeal and death in general, but from a reader's point of view the ending was unsatisfactory and didn't seem to resolve anything.
The fact that the book boasts artwork by Mike Zech should have been its saving grace. Instead, Zeck's artwork seems uninspired, especially compared to his mood-setting work on the original Kraven's Last Hunt issues. Some of his panels had an almost Watchmen-like quality, but the action scenes in particular seemed lifeless.
Overall, Soul of the Hunter is a disappointing follow-up to a classic storyline. Like Frank Millers ill-advised Dark Knight Strikes Again, it reinforces the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
February 3, 2025
'Soul of the Hunter' is the often-overlooked, long-out-of-print sequel to the classic 'Kraven’s Last Hunt'. Written five years after the original, it reunites the same creative team as they revisit the characters and themes of their first collaboration—this time with the explicit goal of addressing some of its more controversial aspects.
As noted in the afterword of 'Kraven’s Last Hunt', while that story was both a critical and commercial success, it sparked debate among readers who believed it glorified suicide. DeMatteis felt a responsibility to clarify that Kraven’s actions were not "honourable" but rather the result of profound mental instability. 'Soul of the Hunter' serves as his direct response to this interpretation, making its message unmistakably clear.
However, the fact that this follow-up faded into obscurity suggests that such a clarification may have been unnecessary. 'Kraven’s Last Hunt', read in good faith, already conveys its intended themes without ambiguity. And while the five-year gap saw noticeable growth in the creative team’s technical skills, 'Soul of the Hunter' ultimately falls short of the haunting brilliance of its predecessor. It lacks the same narrative weight and, in retrospect, feels somewhat redundant.
That said, if you’re curious about the emotional aftermath of one of Spider-Man’s darkest moments, this is still a worthwhile read—especially given the relatively low price it usually commands. Just don’t expect anything close to the classic that came before it.
As noted in the afterword of 'Kraven’s Last Hunt', while that story was both a critical and commercial success, it sparked debate among readers who believed it glorified suicide. DeMatteis felt a responsibility to clarify that Kraven’s actions were not "honourable" but rather the result of profound mental instability. 'Soul of the Hunter' serves as his direct response to this interpretation, making its message unmistakably clear.
However, the fact that this follow-up faded into obscurity suggests that such a clarification may have been unnecessary. 'Kraven’s Last Hunt', read in good faith, already conveys its intended themes without ambiguity. And while the five-year gap saw noticeable growth in the creative team’s technical skills, 'Soul of the Hunter' ultimately falls short of the haunting brilliance of its predecessor. It lacks the same narrative weight and, in retrospect, feels somewhat redundant.
That said, if you’re curious about the emotional aftermath of one of Spider-Man’s darkest moments, this is still a worthwhile read—especially given the relatively low price it usually commands. Just don’t expect anything close to the classic that came before it.
July 15, 2024
Ou eu estou louco, ou eu li uma Hq diferente dos outros.
É uma história muito boa, abordando um tema mais sombrio, místico, e extremamente interessante. Ao invés de lutas genéricas, envolve os traumas do Peter e as consequências da "Última Caçada".
Ela mostra um desfecho para Kraven, satisfatório, porém desnecessário considerando que isso já havia sido feito anteriormente, o que provavelmente é o principal motivo de algumas pessoas não gostarem; mesmo assim, eu acho subestimada.
É uma história muito boa, abordando um tema mais sombrio, místico, e extremamente interessante. Ao invés de lutas genéricas, envolve os traumas do Peter e as consequências da "Última Caçada".
Ela mostra um desfecho para Kraven, satisfatório, porém desnecessário considerando que isso já havia sido feito anteriormente, o que provavelmente é o principal motivo de algumas pessoas não gostarem; mesmo assim, eu acho subestimada.
April 27, 2015
A Very intense story! A must read for any Spider-Man fan!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews