| "Kraven's Last Hunt" | |||
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Cover of The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1, 294 (Nov, 1987).Art by Mike Zeck. |
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| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||
| Publication date | October – November 1987 | ||
| Genre | Crossover | ||
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| Main character(s) | Spider-Man Kraven the Hunter Vermin |
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| Creative team | |||
| Writer(s) | J. M. DeMatteis | ||
| Penciller(s) | Mike Zeck | ||
| Inker(s) | Bob McLeod | ||
| Letterer(s) | Rick Parker | ||
| Colorist(s) | Bob Sharen Janet Jackson Mike Zeck |
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| Collected editions | |||
| Premiere Hardcover | ISBN 0-7851-2330-X | ||
"Kraven's Last Hunt" (also known as "Fearful Symmetry") is a comic book storyline by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck published in 1987, featuring the final battle between Marvel Comics characters Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Man. The story took place in Web of Spider-Man #31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man #293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132.
The story has two themes that occur repeatedly: Kraven frequently saying to himself, "They said my mother was insane." with the last time being just before he commits suicide; as well as a version of the chorus of William Blake's poem The Tyger: "Spyder, spyder burning bright! In the forests of the night what immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
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In "Kraven's Last Hunt", the supervillain hunter's aggravation with his inability to run the superhero down has destroyed his sanity. He hatches a final scheme that actually defeats Spider-Man, and seemingly and uncharacteristically shoots him dead. Kraven then buries him, and donning a copy of Spider-Man's costume, seeks to prove himself superior at his adversary's former activities.
He roams New York, brutally attacking criminals, including coincidently, a group of thugs assaulting Mary Jane Watson (the wife of Spider-Man/Peter Parker). The culmination of these activities is Kraven's successful unarmed capture of the supervillain, Vermin, whom Spider-Man needed the help of Captain America to defeat. After two weeks, Spider-Man revives from the effects of the tranquilizer dart Kraven shot him with, and manages to dig his way out of the grave. When Spider-Man confronts Kraven, the hunter does not fight back, considering himself the victor and his final point made.
Kraven then releases Vermin, who attacks Spider-Man, thinking him to the be the one who so brutally beat him before. Vermin is able to defeat Spider-Man, but Kraven intervenes before Vermin can kill him. He allows Vermin to go free, and tells Spider-man he can pursue him if he desires, but that Kraven's hunting days have ended. While Spider-Man goes after Vermin, Kraven retires to his home, reminiscing about his past and the peace he now feels, and commits suicide with a shotgun. Spider-Man catches up with Vermin and is able to outwit him, then goes home to his wife and recovers.
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.
During the storyline Guardian Devil, Kraven's old Sinister Six teammate, Mysterio, attempts to drive Daredevil insane as his last grand scheme when he discovers that he is dying of a brain tumour due to the chemicals he has used to create his equipment; much like Kraven attempted to prove his superiority over his nemesis before his death, Mysterio seeks to defeat Daredevil (Being uninterested in defeating the current Spider-Man as it is merely a clone rather than the real one) to 'prove' himself as a villain. After failing to provoke Daredevil into killing him or an innocent baby despite an elaborate plot involving the supernatural attacking Murdock as he is entrusted with the protection of the second coming of Christ, as well as Mysterio being indirectly responsible for the death of Daredevil's lover Karen Page, Mysterio shoots himself, noting grimly to Daredevil that he stole this move from Kraven.
In issue #17 (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. Afterward, 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.
An issue of Marvel's satire series What The--?! spoofed "Kraven's Last Hunt" as "Raven's Last Hunt." The spoof featured the character's animal likeness, Raven the Hunter, as well as that of Spider-Man, Spider-Ham.
Kraven's First Hunt is the title of two unconnected stories: a retelling of Kraven's first appearance (as originally seen in The Amazing Spider-Man #15), in Sensational Spider-Man Annual '96 by J.M. DeMatteis; and the debut of Kraven's teenage daughter, Ana Tatiana Kravinoff, in Amazing Spider-Man #565-567, who attempts to capture Spider-Man in a similar manner to Kraven in "Kraven's Last Hunt".[1] This leads into the later story Grim Hunt, where Kraven's family attempt to resurrect him by sacrificing Spider-Man in an elaborate ritual, only for the ritual to be contaminated when Spider-Man's clone Kaine sacrifices himself to save Peter, resulting in Kraven being reborn as an immortal 'unlife' who can only die by Spider-Man's hand.
Kraven's Last Hunt 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).
Kraven's First Hunt was collected in a hardcover entitled Spider-Man: Kraven's First Hunt (ISBN 0785132163).