Kraven the Hunter

For the character's son, see Kraven the Hunter (Alyosha Kravinoff). For the character's daughter, see Kraven the Hunter (Ana Kravinoff).
Kraven the Hunter

Kraven the Hunter, as depicted by John Romita, Sr.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #15 (August 1964)
Created by Stan Lee
Steve Ditko
In-story information
Alter ego Sergei Nikolaevich Kravinoff
Team affiliations Sinister Six
Kravinoff Family
"Avengers" (1959)
Notable aliases Spider-Man
Abilities Olympic-level athlete
Gifted tactician, hunter and hand-to-hand combatant
Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, senses and reflexes
Longevity

Kraven the Hunter (Sergei Kravinoff) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is one of Spider-Man's frequent enemies. He is the half-brother of Dmitri Smerdyakov, better known as the Chameleon. In 2009, Kraven was ranked as IGN's 53rd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[1]

Publication history

The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 (August 1964), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko.[2] Though he would occasionally appear in other characters' titles, he was most frequently used as a Spider-Man foe. He is killed off in the acclaimed 1987 storyline by J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck, and Bob McLeod, "Kraven's Last Hunt". Although generally considered to be the definitive Kraven the Hunter story, the story originally had a completely different character in Kraven's role. Writer DeMatteis recounted:

As I was getting ready to work on the story, I was sitting in my office and looking through a Marvel Universe Handbook and came across the entry for Kraven the Hunter. To this day, I don’t know if this was something that was established in continuity, or if whoever was writing the Handbook entry made it up, but they mentioned that Kraven was Russian. For me, a total Dostoyevsky fanatic, the idea that Kraven was Russian and had the same tortured, Russian soul that the great Dostoyevsky characters had, unlocked this door in my head and suddenly I had a new understanding of this character. I thought about Kraven and the forces that had driven him to be who and what he was. This was a character I had never had any interest in whatsoever. I always thought he was one of the stupidest Spider-Man villains ever, but suddenly I had this whole new take on the character.[3]

Despite Kraven the Hunter being one of Spider-Man's most long-standing archenemies, DeMatteis claims that none of Marvel's editorial staff objected to the proposal to have him killed in the story.[3] Kraven later returns as a ghost in the graphic novel Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunter, also by DeMatteis, Zeck, and McLeod. DeMatteis also wrote "Kraven's First Hunt" for The Sensational Spider-Man Annual '96, a retelling of The Amazing Spider-Man #15 which incorporated several DeMatteis retcons, such as that Kraven was abusive towards the Chameleon.

Fictional character biography

Kraven's real name is Sergei Kravinoff. He is a Russian immigrant, the son of an aristocrat who fled to the United States with his family in 1917 after the Russian nobility was decimated by the February Revolution and subsequent collapse of the reign of Tsar Nicholas II.

Kraven is a maniacal big game hunter who seeks to defeat Spider-Man to prove that he is the greatest hunter in the world. Unlike other hunters, he typically disdains the use of guns or bow and arrows, preferring to take down large dangerous animals with his bare hands. He also lives by a code of honor of sorts, choosing to hunt his game fairly. He consumes a mystical serum to give himself enhanced strength and dramatically slow the aging process. Kraven was trained as a hunter largely by a mysterious man named Gregor, a mercenary who battled Ka-Zar. Kraven was at one point lover of the voodoo priestess Calypso.[4]

He is contacted by his half-brother, the Chameleon, to defeat Spider-Man. He leads Spider-Man to Central Park with the help of Chameleon, who disguises himself as Kraven to use himself as a decoy while the real Kraven ambushes the hero. However, despite Kraven having weakened Spider-Man with a poisonous dart, Spider-Man prevails in the end. Spider-Man proves a frustrating quarry because Kraven continually underestimates the superhero's resourcefulness.[5]

Kraven becomes a founding member of the Sinister Six when he accepts Doctor Octopus' offer to form a team to fight Spider-Man where they capture Aunt May and Betty Brant. He attacks Spider-Man in Central Park with three tigers. Spider-Man easily fights off the attackers and secures the next clue to where Aunt May and Betty Brant are being held. After Aunt May and Betty Brant are rescued, Kraven the Hunter and the rest of the Sinister Six are arrested by the police.[6]

Determined to end his life as he becomes older, frustrated with his failing health and continuing failure to defeat Spider-Man, Kraven sets out a final hunt for Spider-Man. After capturing Spider-Man, he shoots him with a coma-inducing drug and buries him alive on his estate.[7] To complete his victory, he attempts to become Spider-Man's clear superior by impersonating him in a brutal vigilante campaign and capturing Vermin, the one foe Spider-Man had never been able to defeat on his own (Their last battle requiring Captain America's assistance).[8]

After Spider-Man emerges from his grave two weeks later, Kraven explains his actions to him and sets Vermin free, reaffirming to Kraven that his foe is an honourable man. Spider-Man goes after Vermin to prevent his killing again, giving Kraven the opportunity to leave a final confession of his crimes against Spider-Man and then commit suicide.[9] Because of his suicide, his soul is unable to find rest until Spider-Man confronts his risen corpse on Kraven's behalf.[10]

Kraven is resurrected from the dead by Sasha Kravinoff and the Kraven family with a ritual using the blood of Spider-Man.[11] He is shown to now be explosively psychopathic and cold towards his family, beating his son and daughter and expressing little attention towards his wife. After being stabbed by his daughter Ana, Sergei recovers stating that Sasha restored him with corrupted blood which he calls "unlife". They pull off the mask of the corpse of Spider-Man hung in their mantel and discover that Kaine is in Spider-Man's costume.[12] Spider-Man, in his black suit, confronts Kraven and the rest of the Kravinoff Family. Spider-Man is tempted to kill Kraven, but he refuses to do so when he is reminded by Julia Carpenter (who has inherited the powers of Madame Web after her death) that committing murder in not in his moral code.

Following their defeat by Spider-Man, Kraven and his family escape to the Savage Land. While there, Kraven brutally kills Sasha (who complained that Kraven would have to hunt them to prove their place in the Kravinoff family) and euthanizes Vladimir. Alyosha flees in disgust afterwards. Kraven and Ana discuss rebuilding the Kravinoff family, which leads to Ana running off to hunt Alyosha to prove herself worthy to Kraven and rebuild the Kravinoff family.[13]

It was later revealed that back in the 1950s, Kraven the Hunter was a member of Nick Fury's Avengers alongside Dominic Fortune I, Dum Dum Dugan, Namora, Silver Sable, Sabretooth, and Ulysses Bloodstone, tracking a stolen version of the Super-Soldier Serum combined with the Infinity Formula that had been stolen by a group of Nazis attempting to create their own Captain America.[14]

While he is in the Savage Land, Venom lands in the area on an unrelated mission from the federal government. Mistaking him to be Spider-Man, Kraven attacks him and gains the upper hand before Venom escapes.[15]

When their identities became fractured after a temporary separation, the Hulk discovers that Bruce Banner had hired Kraven to find the lost city of Sasquatches. Although Hulk was uninterested with helping the Sasquatches deal with Kraven, he changes his mind and beats up Kraven the Hunter.[16]

Kaine in the alias of Scarlet Spider later encountered Kraven the Hunter who was dressed as Scarlet Spider in order to torment him.[17] With the help of Ana, Kraven kidnapped Kaine's friends in order to motivate the Scarlet Spider fight him. In the end, Kaine delivered Kraven a fatal blow in the chest, which paralyzed his heart. But using the same attack, Kaine brought him back to life supposedly still breaking the curse. Following the fight, both Kravens disappeared.[18]

Kraven, still claiming to be cursed, next battles Squirrel Girl at Empire State University, having earned her ire by lashing out at the local squirrels, including Tippy-Toe. Kraven departs when Squirrel Girl informs him of the existence of sea monsters like Giganto and challenges him to hunt them, instead of limiting himself to going after the same prey he did prior to his resurrection.[19]

During the Avengers: Standoff! storyline, Kraven the Hunter was incarcerated at Pleasant Hill which happens to be the most unlikely prison. He rallied some of his fellow inmates to help him find Kobik and bring her to Baron Helmut Zemo.[20]

Kraven's legacy

Kraven has also had two sons take up his role:

Xraven

It was revealed during 2009's X-Men/Spider-Man crossover that years earlier, Kraven made a deal with Mister Sinister. He and the Blob tracked down the X-Men, and they fought the united forces of Spider-Man and the original X-Men. Kraven fled after a short battle, but not before wounding each member of the X-Men. Kraven returned to Sinister, with genetic samples from Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel, and Beast. Furthermore, Sinister requested a sample of his DNA.[22]

Years later, after the death of Kraven, an ex-Morlock who had kept his powers post M-Day named Joe Buggs was murdered by a mysterious mutant hunter. His friend Ed (who had lost his powers) went to the X-Men for help. He claimed that the man who killed Buggs was Kraven the Hunter. Although they were skeptical about Kraven's apparent resurrection, the X-Men called on the help of Spider-Man, who had battled Kraven many times over the years. After discussing the battle that they had with Kraven years ago, and the fact that he had given samples of the X-Men's DNA to Sinister for cloning, the lights went out on the wing where they were located. The hunter attacked, and quickly dispatched Colossus but was held at bay by Spider-Man's webbing. He broke free, claiming his name is Xraven.

The X-Men quickly realize that Xraven has all of the powers of the original X-Men, and he was able to defeat Cyclops and Shadowcat, holding her hostage, giving the ultimatum that he would kill her if they did not surrender. Spider-Man insulted Xraven, claiming that Kraven would never threaten a helpless girl. Xraven was momentarily fazed by his comment, but attacked again, claiming that he is the "favored one". Cyclops realizes Xraven's weakness and tells him that Mister Sinister sees him as nothing but a pawn. He tells Xraven to read his mind, in order for him to see the kind of a man Sinister really is. After Xraven sees Cyclops' memories, he flees but the X-Men become aware of the fact that he was able to get DNA samples from Shadowcat, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine.

Returning to Mister Sinister with the samples, Mister Sinister tells him that he planned to clone a new generation of mutants, and that he would unite all mutantkind. After seeing what Sinister's real intentions were in Cyclops' memories, Xraven destroys the samples, claiming that Mister Sinister would breed slaves as opposed to warriors, and Xraven attacks him. Although it is clear that Mister Sinister survived his confrontation with Xraven, it is currently unknown whether Xraven survived.[23]

The Xraven clone possesses the combined powers of the original X-Men, as well as Kraven the Hunter's fighting techniques, strength, and agility. His telepathic powers are able to block Spider-Man's spider sense, as well as Wolverine's heightened senses. His increased stamina makes it possible for him to be teleported by Nightcrawler repeatedly without suffering from fatigue. He has pale, white-grey skin, red eyes and no hair. Xraven also had a black diamond-shaped mark on his forehead, similar to the one on Mister Sinister.

Powers and abilities

By regularly ingesting the potion made from the various unnamed jungle herbs, Kraven grants himself a number of abilities including sufficient superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes to make him a physical threat to Spider-Man, though these powers are not as developed as those possessed by Spider-Man. Kraven's body is also more durable and more resistant to certain forms of injury than the body of a normal human. He can withstand great impact forces, such as falling from several stories or being repeatedly struck by a superhumanly strong opponent, that would severely injure or kill a normal human, with little to no injury to himself. The effects of the potion have dramatically altered Kraven's aging process to the point that he has aged little, if at all, over several decades. Despite being over 70 years of age, he has the physical appearance of a 30-year-old man.

The potion enhances Kraven's sight, hearing, and smell to superhuman levels, adding to his already impressive tracking skills. He can see farther, and with much greater clarity, than a normal human. His hearing is similarly enhanced, enabling him to detect sounds which an ordinary human cannot, or sounds that a normal human could detect, but at much greater distances. Kraven can use his sense of smell to track a target by scent, much as some animals do, even if the scent has been somewhat eroded by natural factors.

Even without his superhuman powers, Kraven is an Olympic-level athlete, and a gifted tactician, hunter and hand-to-hand combatant. He also has great knowledge of pressure points, both in the anatomy of humans and in many animals. He can strike at these nerve clusters with pinpoint accuracy, allowing him to incapacitate more-powerful opponents or animals. He is familiar with many exotic poisons and tranquilizers, which he often uses during his hunts.

Due to a flaw in the ceremony that resurrected him, Kraven was given "the unlife... the eternal curse", as he discovered when his daughter stabbed him through the heart. According to Kraven, he can now only die by Spider-Man's hand. However, this curse was apparently broken when Kaine temporarily killed Kraven by stopping his heart and then restarting it with the same move.

Other versions

Marvel 1602

The dimension's Kraven, known as Karnov is a member of the Sinister Sextet, the dimension's Sinister Six. The Web Warriors (Alternate versions of Spider-Man) visited the 1602 Universe to deal with the Sinister Sextet and apprehended the villains.

Marvel Noir

In Spider-Man Noir, Kraven is depicted as a former animal trainer in a circus that was taken by Norman Osborn, a mob boss known as "The Goblin", as one of his hitmen and collectors. He was killed when a mass of man-eating spiders covered his body and started eating him. His final act was to kill Osborn when his mangled spider-ridden corpse lands on him thus spreading the mini man-eaters.[24]

Marvel Zombies

Kraven is seen on Marvel Zombies: Evil Evolution attacking the Marvel Apes along with other zombies, often hungry for human (or in this case, ape) flesh. He also makes a brief cameo appearance on Marvel Zombies: Dead Days when the zombie Sinister Six attack Wolverine and Magneto. It is later revealed that he was actually infected by the Earth-Z zombie Sentry, thereby spreading the infection all over the dimension.

Marvel Zombies Return

In the first issue, he is seen with his Sinister Six teammates terrorizing Empire State University after the Kingpin hires them to distract a heist. When a zombified Spider-Man next comes to the dimension, he was zombified by the Zombie Spider-Man after he violently rips out his throat, as Spider-Man's efforts to resist his hunger were overwhelmed by the unique scent of Kraven's various jungle potions. As he next devours Peter's friends alongside the undead Sinister Six, the very-angry Zombie Spider Man next kills him for that overwhelming thing they started to do.

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel series, Sergei Kravinoff is an Australian and the host of his own TV reality show. In the TV show, he hunts down dangerous animals, and intends to hunt and kill Spider-Man on live television in order to boost his ratings (after his first fight with Doctor Octopus attacking Justin Hammer's NY facility). He is arrested after being knocked out with a single punch by the superhero (who was trying to help two people out of an overturned car)[25] and his show is canceled.[26]

In the Ultimate Six story arc, Kraven genetically tampers with his DNA, allowing him to become a gruesome werewolf-like monster with large hands and feet, claw-like fingers, enlarged red veins, darker skin, fang-like teeth and berserk-like feral behavior. Kraven is taken in S.H.I.E.L.D. confinement after being taken down by the Ultimates for tampering with his DNA. Kraven eventually escapes with other Spider-Man villains. They capture Spider-Man, tie him up, unmask him, humiliate him, and blackmail him into joining them. Kraven helps with the attack on the White House through he is electrocuted by a lightning bolt from Thor when he tries to attack Peter.[27]

He is last seen in another S.H.I.E.L.D. containment facility surrounded by soldiers, while claiming that he was under mind control.

Alongside the rest of the Ultimate Six, Kraven (who is back to his human state) plays a role in "The Death of Spider-Man" storyline. Norman Osborn breaks him and the rest out of the Triskelion and after their escape, Osborn informs them that God wishes for them to kill Peter Parker.[28] Elijah Stern gives Kraven a set of blasters and knives.[29] When Electro is shot by Aunt May, an electric surge knocks out Kraven, Sandman, and Vulture.[30]

What The--?!

In What The--?! #3 Kraven appears as a raven called Raven the Hunter.[31]

2004-05 Marvel Age Spider-Man

In this rendition, Kraven is a hunter from a TV show and claims he will kill Spider-Man when paid by the Chameleon. He defeated Spider-Man once and injured his arm, but Spider-Man barely escapes. When he and the Chameleon fight Spider-Man, he defeats both of them and calls the police.

Earth-001

On Earth-001 during the Spider-Verse storyline, Kravinoff (a man that resembles Kraven the Hunter) is a member of the Hounds who are servants of Verna of the Inheritors. He accompanies Verna and the other Hounds when they head to Earth-1610 to hunt Miles Morales.[32] He is killed by the Superior Spider-Man, and his allies Spider-Punk and Assassin Spider-Man.[33]

Earth-803

On Earth-803 set as well during the Spider-Verse storyline, he appears as member of the "Six Men of Sinestry" battling Lady Spider.

In other media

Television

Kraven the Hunter in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Film

Video games

Newspaper

Theater

Models

See also

References

  1. Kraven The Hunter is number 53, IGN.
  2. Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1960s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 26. ISBN 978-0756692360. [Stan] Lee and [Steve] Ditko's newest villain, Kraven the Hunter, debuted in this issue.
  3. 1 2 Johnson, Dan (August 2009). "In Our Sights: Kraven's Last Hunt". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (35): 3–9.
  4. Daredevil #310
  5. The Amazing Spider-Man #15
  6. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
  7. Web of Spider-Man #31
  8. The Amazing Spider-Man #293, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131
  9. The Amazing Spider-Man #294
  10. J. M. Dematteis (w), Mike Zeck (p), Bob McLeod (i). "Soul Of The Hunter!" Amazing Spider-Man: Soul Of The Hunter 1 (1992), Marvel Comics
  11. The Amazing Spider-Man #635
  12. The Amazing Spider-Man #636
  13. The Amazing Spider-Man #637
  14. New Avengers vol. 2 #10
  15. Venom vol. 3 #3
  16. Incredible Hulk vol. 3 #11
  17. Scarlet Spider vol. 2 #21
  18. Scarlet Spider vol. 2 #23
  19. Ryan North (w), Erica Henderson (p), Erica Henderson (i). The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 (7 January 2015), United States: Marvel Comics
  20. Captain America: Sam Wilson #8
  21. Spider-Man's Get Kraven #1-6 (2002-2003)
  22. "Comic Books | Comics". Marvel.com. 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  23. "X-Men/Spider-Man (2008)". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  24. Spider-Man Noir #1–4 (2008–2009)
  25. Ultimate Spider-Man #21
  26. Ultimate Spider-Man #22
  27. Ultimate Six #1–7
  28. Ultimate Spider-Man #156 (2009)
  29. Ultimate Spider-Man #158
  30. Ultimate Spider-Man #159
  31. What The--" #3 (October 1, 1988)
  32. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #9
  33. Dan Slott (w), Olivier Coipel (p), Wade von Grawbadger (i). "Spider-Verse Part Two: Superior Force" The Amazing Spider-Man v3, #10 (19 November 2014), United States: Marvel Comics
  34. "Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter". Comicscontinuum.com. 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  35. "Ultimate Spider-Man Season 2 Premieres Jan. 21". Marvel.com. December 26, 2012.
  36. "Amazing Spider-Man 2 Exclusive: Marc Webb Interested In Kraven The Hunter As A Villain". Comic Book. May 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-04.Stillanerd (April 21, 2015). "Sony’s Amazing Spider-Man Franchise Plans, Part One: The Sequels". Spider-Man Crawl Space.
  37. "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Interview: Meghan Morgan". Uk.gamespot.com. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  38. http://www.capcom-unity.com/number6/blog/2011/08/26/umvc3_costume_inspiration_blog?pg=2
  39. "The Amazing Spider-Man". Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  40. "Kraven the Hunter, character in Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark". Abouttheartists.com. 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  41. "Spider-Man Model Kit". Retrieved 2012-10-24.

External links

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