Warning: Contains spoilers for The Ultimate Spider-Man #13! “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is one of the most iconic Spider-Man Storylines to date. It’s hard-hitting, has heavy action, and is incredibly dramatic, not to mention shockingly dark. As the name suggests, 1987’s “Kraven’s Last Hunt” features Kraven the HunterWho decided to stop at nothing to prove that he is superior to Spider-Man. And now, history is repeating itself in the Ultimate Universe, as Marvel is remaking the iconic “Kraven’s Last Hunt” for a new generation.
In Marvel Comics’ solicitation for Ultimate Spider-Man #13 by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Chechhetto, fans are given a first look at the upcoming issue, including the cover art (by series artist Marco Chechchetto) and the official description.
KRAVEN’S MOST DANGEROUS GAME! The Evil Six are all hunting Spider-Man and the Green Goblin for their ringleader, Kingpin – and this time, Kraven has the upper hand in this love letter to “Kraven’s Last Hunt”!
The cover alone tells fans everything they need to know about what to expect in this issue, as Spider-Man and the Green Goblin are literally being watched by Kraven the Hunter, whose presence is looming and seemingly omnipresent. While that alone doesn’t exactly make the book a ‘new Kraven the Hunter’ (as there is certainly more than just one Kraven the Hunter storyline in Marvel Comics), the description connects the dots by calling the new book a “Love Letter to “Kraven’s Last Hunt”“.
Differences and similarities between Kraven’s ‘last’ and final dog of Spider-Man
Kraven’s New Ultimate Universe Hunt will stand on its own
In the original “Kraven’s Last Hunt”, Kraven the Hunter wanted to prove once and for all that he could not only defeat Spider-Man by hunting him, but that he could take his place afterwards and become an even better ‘Spider-Man’. ‘ Like the original. So, Kraven shot Spider-Man with a powerful sedative, buried him alive, put on Spidey’s suit to become a violent and murderous version of the wall-crawler, and then promptly retired. Kraven just wanted to prove that he could do all these things, and once he did, he gave up hunting permanently by taking his own life.
The biggest takeaway from “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is How much of a threat Kraven really is to Spider-ManWhich is assured what this upcoming issue of Ultimate Spider-Man will emulate. However, regarding the specific plot points, the new story will undoubtedly take its own course. Ultimate Kraven isn’t hunting Spider-Man for his own satisfaction, he’s doing it as part of a twisted competition against the other members of the Sinister Six at the request of the Kingpin. So while the new story may be a ‘love letter’ to Kraven’s Last Hunt, it will still stand on its own.
Ultimate Universe’s ‘Kraven vs Spider-Man’ Could Be Even More Twisted Than ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt’
Kraven’s hunting method in the final universe is sadistic
Kraven was relatively merciful in “Kraven’s Last Hunt”, as he only transferred Spider-Man just to prove his superiority. In the Ultimate Universe, however, it is revealed that Kraven only hunts his prey when they are in pairs, killing one and capturing the other with the intention of keeping that one alive in a twisted zoo. That means when he goes up against Spider-Man and Green Goblin, one of them may die while the other spends the rest of their lives in Kraven’s zoo which is seemingly filled with animals and humans alike – living trophies of Kraven’s hunts.
It’s hard to imagine a fate worse than being buried alive for Spider-Man to endure, but being held prisoner in a twisted zoo for the amusement of a deadly opponent is definitely comparable. However, regardless of whether Spider-Man Meet the grim fate, the Ultimate Universe’s love letter to “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is sure to become one of the greatest Kraven the Hunter storylines in Marvel Comics, just like the original.
Ultimate Spider-Man #13 by Marvel Comics is available January 15, 2025.