Reviews

The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt by Mike Zeck, J.M. DeMatteis

matt47's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

heyimaghost's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

waisball's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A very well written narrative, I love how the main focus is on Kraven more than Spiderman. We spend a lot of time with Kraven and understanding his motivations little by little. I also enjoyed how Kraven's story with Spiderman intertwined and as a result showed a very deep side of vulnerability with both characters. Kraven's ending was well written and came full circle, Spiderman also had a really good arc as well. The narrative showcased a lot of Spiderman's fears and really humanised him. It reminded us that even though Spiderman is superhuman and is always shown as witty and optimistic, deep down he is still only human and has the same emotions as everyone else. The only reason this isn't 5 is because I felt the pacing was just a little too slow 

storyorc's review

adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Difficult to follow Kraven's motivations but I loved his enthusiasm, eating a room full of spiders at the beginning to get into Peter's head. It goes to interesting, unexpected places. Spiderman also displays much more fear and sense of his own mortality than I'm used to, which was sobering in a way that fit this run's conclusion.

mjd3jaggy's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was actually peak. Peter dying so early had me shook. I did not expect that. This book is an incredible case study for Kraven. I always liked Kraven and this is a proper sendoff to the character. It’s so tonally different than the usual issues of Spider-Man, but really good. I’d love to see a film adaptation of this, but it would need to be done right and with incredible care. I can understand why this is the most popular Spider-Man story of all time. 

berry_9029's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

muad_dib_'s review

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

thedeightonator's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

hisabelbide's review against another edition

4.0

In an era of dark and gritty reboots, Kraven's Last Hunt chose not to.

Spider-man, from his conception, has always had an element of horror to his story - the greedy teenager who loses an uncle due to his own hubris feels more at home within the pages of a Tales From The Crypt morality play than a cape book.

Spider-man had also been public enemy number one, and on the wrong side of law-enforcement, well before Frank Miller and the 1980s came to flip Batman and Daredevil upside down.

Kraven's Last Hunt continues these traditions, acknowledging the deeper psychological horror roots of Spiderman, exploring where the man ceases to be and the insect takes over - not just for Peter, but for his enemies, particularly the performatively obsessed machisimo driven Kraven, who wishes to be The Spider.

Yes the material is dark, but it is full of consequence. It is grim but it is also full of reassurance. Rather than being a separate pocket entity a la Miller's Dark Knight Returns, Kraven's Last Hunt occurs within the ongoing continuity of the adult Peter Parker's life, offering, ultimately, an acknowledgement that moving forward is an option. Miller's Bruce Wayne will never get over it.

brad7991's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25