Kraven's Last Hunt

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The story emerged after DeMatteis reworked a rejected Batman pitch involving a hero rising from the grave. He shifted the concept to Spider-Man, making Peter and Mary Jane's marriage the emotional core while introducing Vermin, a character co-created with Zeck. Editor Jim Salicrup expanded the plot from a single title into a crossover across all three Spider-Man series to maximize impact. Before drawing interiors, Mike Zeck created all six covers, noting that the iconic "Resurrection" image for Web of Spider-Man #32 was the obvious choice: "If an issue has a scene with the title hero rising from his own grave, it's like receiving the number-one gift on your Christmas list!" The narrative explores Kraven's belief that he can be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker, contrasting Kraven's dark persona with Peter's enduring humanity and love for Mary Jane.

In Their Own Story

Kraven shoots Spider-Man with a tranquilizer rifle and buries him alive. Donning the Spider-Man costume, Kraven brutalizes criminals, subverting the hero's no-killing rule until he captures Vermin, a monster who previously required Captain America's help to defeat. Two weeks later, Peter revives, digs out of his grave, and rejects visions of an animalistic "spider," reaffirming his identity as a human driven by love for Mary Jane. He confronts Kraven, who refuses to fight, having already won by replacing Spider-Man. To prove final superiority, Kraven releases Vermin to battle the weakened hero. While Peter hunts Vermin, Kraven reflects on his peace and commits suicide with his rifle, leaving photographic proof of his crimes to clear Spider-Man's name. The saga ends as Spider-Man defeats Vermin and lures him to police custody, while Kraven is buried in a grave he had been digging throughout the story.

Reader's Guide

DeMatteis later wrote "Soul of the Hunter" (1992) to address reader concerns that the original story glorified suicide. In this sequel, Spider-Man encounters Kraven's ghost and an apparition of Death, learning that Kraven's soul cannot find peace due to his self-inflicted death. After confronting Kraven's corpse in the grave, Spider-Man frees the hunter's spirit. The main storyline was collected in a trade paperback less than two years after its 1987 release and has been reprinted numerous times. In 1994, DeMatteis adapted his rejected Batman/Joker concept into "Going Sane" for DC. Kraven remained retired from publication until 2009, though the character's legacy expanded through "Grim Hunt," where a ritual involving Spider-Man and Kaine resulted in Kraven being reborn as an immortal entity who can only die by Spider-Man's hand.

Did You Know?

• The original comics never printed a title for the storyline; covers simply labeled it "a 6-part saga."
• Mike Zeck drew all six covers before creating any interior art, starting with the iconic "Resurrection" cover for Web of Spider-Man #32.
• Early trade paperback editions included "Fearful Symmetry" in the title, but later versions dropped it entirely.
• Kraven the Hunter was retired from publication until 2009 following his suicide in the story.