I read the graphic novel Kraven's Last Hunt when I was a teenager. It blew me away and still stands as one of my all time favorite Spider-man stories. I also thought it was a very impactful story in it's own right. Reading up on it's history and controversy I thought it was a story known by all comic fans. But I was surprised when interviewing artists for my own comic book that very few of them had ever read it. I know it's a graphic novel with spandex super-heroes but it's a super-hero story that delves into deep physchological territory and covers themes that I felt were very mature and profound.
Kraven's Last Hunt was published in 1987 by Marvel. It was written by J. M. DeMatteis. Mike Zeck did the pencils and is often credited with J. M. DeMatteis as being an equal in the creative drive and feel of the story. The story has a definite moody and dark feel and look to it which was very pronounced especially for a Spider-man tale. It's why I was mentioning it as a reference to artists for my own Wolf's Howl storyline. Bob McLeod did the inks with Rick Parker doing the lettering. Bob Sharen, Janet Jackson, and Mike Zeck provided the coloring.
Like I said Kraven's Last Hunt was very influential for me because it was a super-hero story with many deep psychological layers. It showed me that you could tell a very mature, profound and deeply emotional story while still having people running around in costumes and doing battle with each other in typical superhero comic book format. What's more the story also showed me that you didn't need to have gruesome sequences and a lot of brutal events to still tell a dark and powerful story that could be appreciated by adults. These were all elements that I took to hard in my own story crafting.
The comic can easily be taken as simply a battle between Spider-man and one of his foes who is clearly delusional. But you can also take it as a rich character study on the effects of loneliness, love, strength of will and heart, as well as the devastating affects of obsession and self-hatred. This is how I personally like to enjoy it.
Kraven's Last Hunt tells the story of Kraven, one of Spider-man's early foes who was always kind of a joke villain. He never really seemed to be all that dangerous like the Green Goblin or the Kingpin. He was just a nutty Russian hunter who was obsessed with big game hunting and somehow got the idea in his head that Spider-man being like a human-spider was the ultimate big game to hunt and his greatest challenge as a hunter. But in the hands of J. M DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and company that idea of Spider-man being the ultimate prize for an obsessed hunter became much darker and serious. In Kraven's Last Hunt we learn that Kraven is a very troubled individual with a lot of demons. He has come to see Spider-man as the epitome of these demons and that through conquering him Kraven believes he can find release from his tortured existence. How this plays out takes us down some surprising and deep journeys of the soul. Spider-man, Mary Jane, Kraven, and Vermin each are affected by the actions of Kraven and it takes them to some dark places that they must face. How each character faces this darkness and how they ultimately emerge speaks to the make-up and strength of each character. For some the results are tragic, others inspiring but for all life changing.
Ironically J. M. DeMatteis pitched the overall concept of Kraven's Last Hunt with different characters to both DC and Marvel several times before it was finally accepted as a Spider-man story by Marvel. But even then it wasn't until the script writing began that through chance Kraven and Vermin were added to the story. Like all greats the universe helped with little winks of coincidence and tokens of inspiration to make a truly astounding work of art. Kraven's Last Hunt is somewhat controversial because of a suicide taking place in the story but I think the suicide speaks to the hopelessness that people can face when their darkness has eaten away at everything they are. I think it's a story to help people face their darkness and seek help rather than let it consume them. I recommend Kraven's Last Hunt for any Spider-man fan, comic book fan, and for anyone interested in deep psychological stories about hope in the face of darkness.
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