Sergei Kravinoff, a.k.a. Kraven the Hunter, made his first appearance back in 1964's The Amazing Spider-Man #15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Unlike many other classic villains, Kraven's first appearance didn't reveal his origin. There have been references to Kraven's journey throughout the years, but much of his past remains mysterious. J. Jonah Jameson even called him "a living legend! The greatest hunter of all time!" when Kraven first appeared. Now J.M. DeMatteis, the writer of the acclaimed storyline Kraven's Last Hunt, is teaming up with artist Eder Messias to explore Kraven's origin story in the new limited series, Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt.
On sale this November, Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt promises to shed new light on Sergei's story while also following the events of the 1995 limited series Spider-Man: The Final Adventure, which left a powerless Peter Parker living with Mary Jane in Portland. In an exclusive conversation with CBR, DeMatteis spoke about what pulled him back to the villain, the tragic conclusion of Kraven's Last Hunt, and why Sergei could be the first comic book character to have a movie before ever having their own comic. DeMatteis and Marvel also shared an exclusive look at two new Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt #1 variant covers by Ejiwa "Edge" Ebenebe and Kyle Hotz.
CBR: Fans of Kraven's Last Hunt know the long story behind the development of that acclaimed arc, but what's the story behind The Lost Hunt? Did you pitch this to Marvel or did they approach you about exploring the origin of Kraven the Hunter? And what is it about the character of Sergei Kravinoff that pulled you back to him?
J.M. DEMATTEIS: Marvel approached me as we were wrapping up the Ben Reilly: Spider-Man series. I was thinking that we'd be moving on to another Ben series but soon warmed to the Kraven idea. There were some untold elements of Kraven's backstory that I'd been pondering for some time and a particular new character I was hoping to bring into the Kraven mythos. This story allows me to explore those hidden pockets of Kraven's history, deepening his character in the process.
Another unexplored arena is what happened to Peter and Mary Jane while they were living in Portland after the events of the Final Adventure mini-series. At that point in time, Peter had lost his spider powers, MJ was very pregnant, and they were putting down roots, trying to build a normal life. When a figure from Spider-Man's past reappears, how does a powerless Peter deal with someone who wants to destroy him and all he and MJ have built together?
Marvel was kind enough to debut two covers in this interview, both featuring different characters. Without delving into spoilers, how do these covers relate to the upcoming story?
One of those characters is an established part of the mythos -- Kraven's right-hand man, Gregor -- and the other is the new character I mentioned in the previous answer. That's all I can say right now!
What was the collaborative process with artist Eder Messias like? Why is his style right for this story?
Eder was an unknown commodity when Danny Khazem -- our amazing editor -- suggested him for this project, but I've quickly become a fan. His storytelling is crystal clear, and he brings the deep emotion, mood, and mystery (in many ways, this is as much a horror story as a superhero tale) that Lost Hunt requires. Eder is joined by our equally-talented inker, Belardino Brabo, and they're doing a fantastic job of bringing my story to visual life.
Obviously, you've kept incredibly busy as a writer and you're no stranger to the Marvel Universe, but how do the experiences of writing Kraven's Last Hunt and The Lost Hunt differ, if at all? Did your aspirations differ?
Lost Hunt is rooted in KLH, but it's not a regurgitation: it's a continuation, an illumination, a chance to expand and deepen the Kraven
mythos, while introducing a new, and heretofore unchronicled, chapter in Peter's life. Each story echoes the other, but each one stands alone. At least, that's my hope and intention!
As the person who helped bring a whole new level of appreciation to the classic villain that Lee and Ditko created, why do you think Kraven the Hunter has never had his own self-titled limited series (e.g. Kraven the Hunter #1)? Sure, there was Get Kraven, but that, as you may know, starred his son Alyosha. I think it's fascinating that Sergei could possibly be the first comic book character to get a movie without having their own comic book series named after them!
I never thought of that, but you're right. I think some of the greatest villains are the ones that don't show up all the time: Their appearances become major events. You may even forget about them for a while, then they step out of the shadows, and there's that primal thrill of recognition and remembrance. Kraven is that kind of character. If you had Kraven every month, you'd have to shave off some of the edges and take away some of the elements that make him great.
What is your favorite thing about the contrast between Peter Parker and Sergei Kravinoff?
Kraven, as I understand him, is a towering wall of ego and machismo, protecting a fragile shell of insecurity and fear. He's self-obsessed, to the point of really not caring about anything but his own needs, literalized in the hunt.
Peter is in all ways his opposite: Not that he doesn't have an ego, but that ego is in service of the greater good. It's a struggle sometimes, but, in the end, he will always make the sacrifice, put his own needs aside, in the name of that greater good. For all his flaws and failures, he's an inherently decent man.
Kraven, I think, has decency in him, but it's buried deep. Perhaps so deep that even he's not aware of it. What they have in common is their humanity. Kraven is a fascinating, psychologically-layered person, and so is Peter. It's always a challenge and a delight [to take] a dive into their psyches. I understand and have compassion for both of them in very different ways.
What can you tease about the story in Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt?
You'll get to see Peter, without his powers, facing one of the greatest threats of his career. One of the reasons I was excited to take on
Lost Hunt was the chance to really underscore the fact that Pete's not a hero because he can climb buildings and spin webs; he's a hero because of who he is. Because of his inherent decency, his fierce will, and [his] desire to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
The other thing driving me was the chance to understand just how Sergei Kravinoff, this troubled Russian outcast, was transformed into Kraven the Hunter. That's where the new character I mentioned comes in. I don't want to say much more, but it will become clear that there's a huge gap between who Kraven thinks he is, what he believes he represents, and who he really is.
I know we're here to talk about The Lost Hunt, but I have to ask about Kraven's Last Hunt. It's been praised time and time again for its engrossing storytelling and captivating artwork, but there's one thing that, as far as I can tell, hasn't been thoroughly addressed: Kraven's mental health. Can you share some insight into your approach to the conclusion with Sergei and whether there was any intended commentary on the importance of mental health?
The Sergei Kravinoff of KLH was a deeply troubled soul who inherited his mother's mental health issues. His view of the world was
distorted, almost hallucinatory, and his suicide, far from being a noble end, as some interpreted, was utterly tragic. I wouldn't say that this was "intended commentary" so much as a natural exploration of character. I go where the characters lead me, and that's the journey that Sergei took me on. In the end, it became a mental health commentary because that tragic element is baked into Sergei's psyche.
Is there anything else you'd like to add about Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt?
This story isn't just an exercise in nostalgia. It is, I hope, an illumination of character not just for Kraven, but for Pete, MJ, Gregor, and
the rest of our cast. We're creating something new here that I hope will enrich the histories of each of these characters, all within the context of what I hope is an eerie, exciting tale.
Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt #1 (of 5) goes on sale this Nov. and is available for pre-order now at comic shops.