Kraven's Last Hunt
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Kraven's Last Hunt (also known as Fearful Symmetry) is an acclaimed comic book story by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck published in 1987, featuring the final battle between Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Man. The story took place in Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132.
This story has been collected as a hardcover and a trade paperback over the years.
A new Marvel Premiere Hardcover edition of this story was released in March 2007 (ISBN 0-7851-2330-X).
In Kraven's Last Hunt, the supervillain hunter's aggravation with his inability to run the superhero down further destroyed his sanity. With that, he hatched a scheme that actually defeated Spider-Man, and seemingly and uncharacteristically shot him dead. Kraven then buried him.
After this, Kraven donned a copy of Spider-Man's costume and sought to prove that he was superior at his enemy's activities. This culminated with his successful singlehanded capture of a minor supervillain, Vermin, whom Spider-Man needed the help of Captain America to defeat. After that triumph, Spider-Man revived from the tranquilizer dart he was actually shot with and dug his way out of the grave. Kraven greeted him and explained that he had made his point about defeating his enemy. Then he released Vermin and told Spider-Man to pursue him. At this point, having no further purpose, Kraven committed suicide while Spider-Man captured the villain on his own.
[edit] Soul Of The Hunter
Due to the success of this story, a sequel of sorts was published in August 1992 as a 48-page prestige format graphic novel titled Amazing Spider-Man: Soul Of The Hunter (ISBN 0-87135-942-1), written again by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck, with inks by Bob McLeod. In this story, Spider-Man is confronted by Kraven's ghost. Unsure what to make of this apparition, Spider-Man goes to Kraven's grave, where he sees an apparition that appears to be Death. Death tells Spider-Man that he and Kraven share a spiritual bond, and that Kraven's soul cannot find the peace it craves because of Kraven's suicide. Spider-Man is then forced to confront Kraven's body from the grave. Spider-Man appears to be ready to submit to allowing himself to be dragged down with the body, but then fights back and makes his way back to the surface. Having done so, he has freed Kraven's soul and allowed it to find its final rest.
[edit] What If?
In issue #19 (second series, September 1990) of the marvel alternative history title, What If?, Kraven uses real bullets instead of tranquilizers, thus killing Spider-Man and assuming his place. Eventually, at the request of Mary Jane, Daredevil, Captain America, and the Human Torch all confront Kraven, who eventually returns to Spider-Man's grave, digs him up, and though not directly shown, it is implied he consumes portions of Peter's body to gain his strength. Afterwards, Mary Jane holds a press conference to attempt to clear Peter's name of Kraven's time as Spider-Man, with the issue ending on the note that Mary Jane has a lot of work ahead of her.
[edit] Trivia
In a later Daredevil storyline, Kraven's old teammate in the Sinister Six, Mysterio, having failed to drive Daredevil to kill him before he dies of his brain tumor, picks up a machine-gun and, in a move that he admits is taken from Kraven, shoots himself in the head.
