Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Spider-Man #13Marvel Comics' new Kraven is so cool, it makes me even angrier at Sony Pictures' recent flop with theKraven the Huntermovie. As seen in Marvel’s newUltimate Spider-Manseries, the new Ultimate Kraven is a member of Wilson Fisk’s Sinister Six, serving as his lieutenants ruling over New York’s various boroughs. However, Kraven alone succeeds where his allies have failed, successfully capturing Spider-Man and the Green Goblin with plans of his own.
Despite receiving orders to bring the vigilante duo to Fisk, it seems as though Kraven intends to hunt Peter Parker and Harry Osborn himself. Capturing and drugging them both, bothSpider-Man and Green Goblinhave been missing for weeks, having been systematically broken down and meticulously studied by their captor.Now,Ultimate Spider-Man #13reveals the time for Kraven to begin his hunt, using Mole Man’s subterranean Savage Land as a brutal hunting ground:
Although he’s yet to have even picked up a spear,it’s hard not to find this new Ultimate Kraven extremely terrifying as he prepares to achieve nothing less than a hunt worthy of his skill and timein this latest issue ofUltimate Spider-Manby writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Checchetto.
Ultimate Kraven’s Hunt Has Barely Even Begun, And He’s So Scary
As Psychologically Formidable As He Is Physical
Revealing his prizes to hisSinister Six allies Mysterio and Mole Manover a final meal before the main event, Kraven confirms he’s learned several secrets and crucial truths about Spider-Man and Green Goblin using a variety of techniques such as torture, sedation, and other drugs, all while keeping them under his control via bomb collars. As such, he now knows all about Harry Osborn and his wife, Gwen Stacy.Likewise, Kraven also knows that Spider-Man is Peter Parker, husband to Mary Jane Watson-Parker, and the father of Richard and May Parker.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)
Using their loved ones against them, Peter and Harry are given no choice but to play Kraven’s game and participate in his hunt. With the issue ending withSpider-Man and the Green Goblin dropped into the Savage Landand Peter quickly having to fight a velociraptor with his bare hands, one has to admire just how scary this new Kraven is before he’s even begun to stalk his prey.The physical threat of Kraven hasn’t even been shown yet in this series, and I’m already impressed by his villainy though his psychological brutality.
Past issues have also revealed that the “Hunter of Staten Island” always hunts in pairs, killing one as a trophy and preserving the other. As such, one has to wonder which hero will be which. Furthermore, it will also be interesting to know if Kraven’s game will have a cost when and if Kingpin finds out The Hunter kept Spider-Man and the Green Goblin for himself.
The Movie Kraven Looks Even Worse Next To This New Version
He’s So Much Better, And A True Villain
Keeping that in mind, it does make the recentKraven the Huntermovie all the more frustrating.Despite having solid casting with Aaron-Taylor Johnson in the titular role, the writing and plot was incredibly sub-par (like most of Sony Pictures' Marvel offerings beyond their MCUSpider-Manand animatedSpider-Versemovies). Likewise, Sony apparently felt the need to make Kraven more of an anti-hero rather than an outright villain. To that end,it’s very exciting to see such an intense and dark Kraven the Hunter being given the justice and spotlight he deserves on the page thanks to Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe.
