By d. emerson eddy — When I was a kid, the general store near me primarily only carried DC Comics, along with some horror reprints and the odd television or toy tie-in comic. If I wanted a Marvel comic (out side of licensed fare like Transformers or He-Man), I had to go with my parents in to town when they went shopping for groceries. This limited me pretty much to The Mighty Thor or the occasional Incredible Hulk, but I was generally fine with my DC stuff.

We later moved in to the city in 1987, and it led me to the newfangled idea of a dedicated comic shop, with independent publications, the Marvel Comics line, and all manner of other weird stuff I could want. But beyond that, I was introduced to a previously foreign concept — the back issue. Among those, my eye was caught by a bundle of what was labelled “The Hot Sold Out Story That Changed Spider-Man's Life.”

It was the single issues of the recently ended Kraven's Last Hunt by JM DeMatteis, Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod, Ian Tetrault, and Rick Parker. Web of Spider-Man #31 — with Spider-Man in his black suit, netted and staring down the barrel of a gun, on the cover and the title “The Coffin” — was  on top. I was hooked.

Although I don't think it was my first Spider-Man comic (I had inherited some from my mother and uncles, and I watched the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends cartoon), it is the first one I vividly remember. I still consider it to be not just one of the best Spider-Man stories, but a great story outright that I highly recommend to any and all readers. Published across all three of the ongoing Spider-Man titles at the time, Kraven's Last Hunt carried on the similar tradition from Batman: Year One and Watchmen, taking a more mature, darker look at superheroes.

In the story, Kraven wanted one last crack at Spider-Man before he died. To complicate matters, Peter Parker was a bit off his game after the recent death of his friend and sometime nemesis, Ned Leeds, as well as another two-bit hood. Writer JM DeMatteis used those complications, Peter's demons, and Kraven's drive/neurosis to tell a fairly deep psychological story through narration boxes, giving a deep insight into all of the characters involved. It's fairly impressive in terms of the different voices that DeMatteis gives to the characters, the motivation of family and country to Kraven, and something darker and deadlier when we get to Kraven's other quarry, Vermin.

With the narration boxes focusing on the characters' internal monologue, the artwork from Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod, and Ian Tetrault takes off on a different track, telling the core story of the action and violence inherent in Kraven's unhinged assault. The pacing, layouts, panel transitions, repeated imagery, and character designs from Zeck are exquisite. Even without DeMatteis' narration, this is a lush, rich story with some incredible diversions into Peter Parker's fears as well as the nightmare that he experiences at the hands of Kraven.

The edition I have here (the deluxe edition) features the recolored artwork by Zeck and Tetrault that I believe first appeared when the story arc was collected as Fearful Symmetry. It uses a bit more impressionistic colors and alternate lighting to create mood and atmosphere than the original from Janet Jackson in the individual issues (you can see the original colors also in the Epic Collection). It helps immerse the reader into the somewhat off-kilter — and in some cases deranged — internal narration from the characters. 

Likewise the boxes for Rick Parker's impressive and varied fonts for each individual character cleaned up a bit and refined from the original's use of more primary colors. I still really quite enjoy the style used for Vermin and the balloon-less nightmare font we see a few times.

Overall, I think that Kraven's Last Hunt was another turning point in '80s experimentation with the superhero genre and a high point for the medium. DeMatteis, Zeck, McLeod, Tetrault, and Parker showed the depth that you could show in these characters and deliver a truly enthralling, at times disturbing, psychological thriller. It also stands as a story with a lasting impact, as it inspired many further Spider-Man tales.

Also, I do personally recommend the Kraven’s Last Hunt Deluxe Edition. It contains not only the six-part Kraven's Last Hunt story, but the epilogue OGN, Soul of the Hunter, as well as Kraven's first appearance, a couple of stories referenced in story-arc itself, a sort of prequel from DeMatteis and Shawn McManus, and the back-ups that DeMatteis and Max Fiumara did for one of the sequels. 

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt
Writer: JM DeMatteis
Penciller: Mike Zeck
Inker: Bob McLeod
Colorists: Mike Zeck & Ian Tetrault
Letterers: Rick Parker
Publisher: Marvel Comics
One of Spider-Man’s greatest stories is re-presented in one deluxe package as J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck craft the ultimate tale of revenge! Kraven the Hunter has stalked and killed every animal known to man. But there is one beast that has eluded him. One quarry that has mocked him at every turn: the wall-crawling web-slinger known as Spider-Man. In his last hunt, Kraven will prove he is the Spider’s master — by defeating him, burying him…and becoming him! Plus: DeMatteis and Zeck’s soul-searching sequel! Kraven’s dazzling debut! And more!
Release Date: February 3 2021 (New Marvel Select Edition) | June 23 1987 – August 18 1987 (Original Story-Arc)
Price: $10.99 | Also available as the Deluxe Edition ($16.99) and in The Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Kraven's Last Hunt ($19.99)
Read It Digitally: Spider-Man - Kraven’s Last Hunt | Spider-Man - Kraven’s Last Hunt Deluxe Edition
Order It Physically: Spider-Man Kraven’s Last Hunt | Spider-Man - Kraven’s Last Hunt Deluxe Edition

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d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.