Jolt Country

As a somewhat dedicated comicbook reader...

Alright, so I *only* read the Spider-Man books. Cut me some slack! I honestly don't have the time/cash to dedicate to other series.

But anyhoo, say they bump off a classic major villain, thoroughly wrapping up the character's story in a poignant, shocking, sometimes tragic issue(s) only to bring him back a few (or several) years down the road for little or no reason at all -- is it okay to be downright flabbergasted?

Cause if what happens what I think (and have heard) might happen in an upcoming Spider-Man issue, I'll be typing on the ceiling cause my world will officially be turned UPSIDE-DOWN with anger!

Gimme a break, Marvel. I've made my peace with the deceased character. In my mind they're gone. For good. While there's nothing at all wrong with referencing the character, or having them appear in a nostalgia-laden flashback issue, I would rather not have the character make a return. Christ, its been nearly fifteen years since his death!!

I'm talking about none other than Kraven the Hunter here, the greatest of all hunters! Making his appearance way back in ASM #15 while the series was under the reigns of the great Stan Lee, his obsession for taking down Spider-Man was evident from their very first meeting. C'mon, this guy's a legendary Spidey villain! During a six-issue story arc, he not only captured Spider-Man but buried him alive-- fuckin' buried him alive!! For two weeks, no less. While Spider-Man was six feet under, he donned the hero's costume and single-handedly brought down Vermin, a twisted mutant creature whom Spider-Man never could successfully best on his own. Kraven, feeling he not only triumphed over his ultimate prey, but proven himself to be Spider-Man's superior, felt his honor finally restored -- at which point he blew his damn head off with a rifle!

There's absolutely no need to bring this guy back. Let the poor bastard rest in piece(s).

Since I'm not the only comicbook reader here, maybe some other forum members can help me with a question I've had for quite some time now. Why is it, instead of generating an exciting, new villain they simply:

A. Resurrect the previously dead villain.
B. Have some nobody take over the villain's persona and slap a II (or III, IV, V) after the name.
C. Develop the exact same character in the gender opposite of the original (i.e., Doctor Octopus II, Scorpina)

Hmm? Anyone? What IS the problem here? Or am I the problem?

True, I haven't yet read the issue in question, but let's just say my spider-sense is tingling. The other possibility suggested was that they're instead bringing back the Chameleon (who committed suicide by jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge). Only time will tell...

Kraven?? Those mother-whores.

My take:

Ideally, you should only be "allowed," as a comic book writer, to kill off your own characters. But that doesn't work for obvious reasons. So I modify it this way: if the story in which said character was killed was good -- if the character died for a reason, then said character should stay dead.

This happens in maybe 5% of all villain deaths, though. Most of the time, the death is depicted in a really, really stupid manner. I don't have a huge problem if someone brings back a character (like Ice in DC Comics) that died for absolutely no good reason.

But Kraven... shit. Kraven got himself a nice little send-off. WTF? What POSSIBLE reason could they have to bring him back? He blew his head off with a shotgun, right? So first off, there's that. Secondly, the depiction of his death was done in a very entertaining arc. If I remember right, they did it over six issues during the summer 15 years ago or so (like you mentioned). The guy was a big-game hunter (one of the more "realistic" kinds of villains, I guess) who kept getting his ass kicked by a teenager in a spider suit. So he pumps it up for one last venture, tranqs ole Petey, attempts to *become* "Spider-Man," fails miserably -- because Kraven was a total loser that had absolutely no shown skill at ever giving a creature with a creative brain in its head a decent fight -- and kills himself.

I don't mean to come off as a hippie, but I thought it was great. Here's a guy who managed to knock off elephants and rhinos and got his ASS KICKED repeatedly when it came time to fight someone his size. Tranqing Pete and then commiting ritual suicide was the only way for him to save face, and that's just what he did.

I shudder at which writer is planning on bringing him back. How freaking lame. Even if it's Kraven's son or something it's lame -- Baron Zemo called, he wants his schtick back. Plus, they just brought the Green Goblin back recently. While I guess after a long ummmmmmmm and much rolling of eyes I can buy the revival of the original Green Goblin (only because he still, after all these years, is dude's true arch-enemy and due to the movie) but Kraven... guy went out like a pro.

Did Bad Idea Jeans have something to do with this? Besides, Kevin Smith is supposed to take over the writing chores on Amazing Spider-Man, at least, very soon and I would think after someone brought Mysterio back on him (after his suicide in Daredevil) that *he* wouldn't do that to Kraven's last writer there.

Crap like this just stops people from taking the medium seriously.

Upon further review, it looks like Kraven's kid is running around, and not as a super-villain. Hmm.

Also, there was, what, a six month delay between issue 2 and issue 3 of "The Dark Knight Stikes Again" or "The Dark Knight Stikes Back" or whatever the hell it's called. Real nice, a six month delay on a book that could be sold at any time, like when THE WHOLE THING IS FINISHED.

In other news, apparently the Black Panther and Iron Man have a smackdown in Black Panther #45, depicted in a way where neither guy looks like a chump. Seeing how the last place anyone has been able to go, recently, for decent Iron Man stories is anywhere near the pages of the comic called "IRON MAN," it looks like I am headed that way when I go to the comics store again. I have been going exclusively to the one in Fort Collins, but their hours are from 11-6, hours I normally am at work. There's one hidden away in a back alley in Longmont, so maybe I'll go over there and check it out.

Kraven's first (and legitimate) son, Vladimir "The Grim Hunter" Kravinoff popped onto the scene back during the whacky topsy-turvy Clone Saga™.

Jason Macendale (the current Hobgoblin of the day) gave Grim Hunter his father's "lost" journal, which contained the "how-to" he used to increase his strength and agility. After using the formula to obtain super strength, Grim Hunter headed to New York in search of Spider-Man. They fought, briefly, leaving Vladimir swiftly defeated (like father like son). While trying to relocate Peter Parker via his honed olfactory skills, he comes across Kaine (one of Parker's numerous clones). Grim Hunter basically tells Kaine to "hit the trails, Satchel Paige!" Displeased at his crass remark, Kaine kills the poor fool.

Good riddance! As a carbon copy of previous villain, he really had very little to offer. Ultimately, he was merely a tool used to show just how dangerous Kaine could be. Fine by me. If only Kaine could've been utilized to sweep Spider-Man's rogue gallery clean of crumbs like the White Rabbit, Armada, the Painter, Stunner, Facade or yes, even the Hypno-Hustler...

This "Kaine" thing was a Peter clone? I didn't know that there was more than one (Ben Reilly there).

Did Ben Reilly end up dying? I figured that if he did, it would have been a cheap way for one of Spider-Man's numerous foes to FINALLY get over. Like, after a record of like 0-172, Electro fries up Clone Boy there. He sniggers to himself and begins to make real changes in his life. No longer consumed by hatred, he relaxes a bit and... dare I say it? Starts to become a better man?

And then the real Spider-Man comes along, says, "Hahah, you only took out the clone," kicks him square in the ass and voila, Electro's a bad guy again.