| Comics | Mainstream • Last Son |
|---|---|
| Movies | Sony |
| Shows | Spectacular Spider-Man |
| “ | I am Kraven the Hunter. I have found dignity, not in the cities, but in the jungle. I have found honor, not in the civilized, but in the primal. I have found morality, I have found meaning -- in the hunt. | „ |
| “ | I can endure the frustration no longer! I must battle and defeat my greatest enemy... or else, everything that has gone before is but a hollow mockery. | „ |
| “ | You were right to deny me. Because the true hunter does not kill out of rage, or cruelty -- he is above such things. He does it to maintain the balance in nature. For sustenance. For safety. To thin the herd. All of these, necessary. | „ |
Summary
Sergei Kravinoff was born the scion of disgraced russian nobility, forcefully driven out of their homeland following the revolution and sent looking for refuge in the US. After years of abuse at his father's hands and the trauma of witnessing her mother's slow descent into madness and subsequent death, Sergei grew utterly dissatisfied with modern society and left looking for the peace that only a primeval world could give him. For decades he roamed the worlds' wildest lands, hunting any beast imaginable and earning fame as the matchless Kraven the Hunter. A fateful meeting with Aja Orisha allowed Sergei to be initiated to the mystical arts and acquire supernatural skills, although at great expenses due to his troubled mind.
Kraven was summoned back into society by his half-brother, the Chameleon, who set him against Spider-Man, the man who Kraven began to identify as the most valuable game and his ultimate trophy. Kraven's repeated failures at conquering Spider-Man and other superheroes have progressively plunged him into obsession and delusion, to the point that he started to identify the wall-crawler as the preternatural incarnation of the entity behind everything that had gone wrong in his life.
During his infamous Last Hunt, Kraven finally managed to conquer and surpass Spider-Man at his own terms. Finally at peace with himself, Kraven committed the ultimate gesture and took his own life. For the following years many have tried to uphold the hunter's legacy or to avenge his demise, until his wife regrouped the Kravinoff family and accomplished their ultimate plan: bringing their patriarch back to life.
However, the necromantic spell backfired, leaving the frustrated Kraven into a state of unlife, unable to return to the peace of the grave if not at the hands of Spider-Man and his clone Kaine. Kraven spent his new stint at life trying to raise his heirs, hunting new preys and living enlightening adventures with the likes of Squirrel Girl. However, the hunter never ceased to look for ways to induce the spiders at returning him to the death he never stopped craving for, something he finally achieved after finally understanding what it truly makes Spider-Man the man who he is.
Powers and Stats
Tier: 9-B, up to High 8-C with weapons | 9-B, up to High 8-C with weapons, even higher with Adamantium blades
Key: Pre-Last Hunt | Post-Grim Hunt
Name: Sergei Nikolaevich Kravinoff, aliases Kraven the Hunter, Grim Hunter,[1] The Unhuntable Sergei
Origin: Marvel Comics
Gender: Male
Age: Approximately 100 (Was born in 1918[2] and his age has progressively been adjusted according to Marvel's Sliding Timescale)
Classification: Enhanced Human, Hunter, Supervillain, founding member of the Avengers and the Sinister Six
Powers and Abilities:
- Genius Intelligence
- Superhuman Physical Characteristics (Kraven bears extraordinary strength and speed[3] deriving from the regular consumption and exposure[4] to a mysterious potion[5] he has stolen during his travels in Africa)
- Longevity (Kraven's jungle potions[6] can rejuvenate the body[7] and have preserved him in his prime in spite of his advanced age[8])
- Regeneration (At least Low: His wounds heal with miraculous speed[4])
- Enhanced Senses (Overall: The serum heightens[1] all of his senses and makes them second only[9] to Wolverine's. Sight: Can see in the dark[3] as any jungle creature and has frequently hunted his preys in the dead of the night.[10][8] Claims to have hawk-like eyes.[11] Smell: His enhanced smell allows him to memorize[12] and follow[5] various scents,[13] as well as detecting the presence[14] of nearby people.[15] Could tell Kaine and Peter apart because of their scent, even if the former was wearing the latter's costume.[16] Others: His instincts let him tell whether someone is lying or not.[17] Claims to be able of fighting even without his sight.[18] Sensed his son's attempt to sneak up onto him[1])
- Extrasensory Perception (Could see Kaine's spider aura[19] before knowing he was a clone of Spider-Man)
- Instinctive Action (Instinctively slowed down a fall from a cliff by repeteadly grabbing onto multiple branches, thus escaping certain death and suffering only a broken arm[20])
- Bodily Weaponry (Has once been depicted with claw-like fingernails[12])
- Magic (Basic-Level: Kraven has often resorted to rituals[8][21][7] rooted in dark magic in his quest to hunt down Spider-Man.[19] Sasha Kravinoff also states to have followed Kraven's spells[16] in order to bring him back from the grave)
- Limited Resurrection (Kraven's repeated use of dark magic has formed a connection between him and the spirit world,[19] especially the Animus, the primal energies of the world; the sacrifice of Spider-Man and other Spider-Totems would unleash sufficient energy to bring Kraven back from the dead, and such occurred when his wife Sasha immolated Kaine Parker to him[19][16])
- Minor Absorption (By drinking the blood[16] of his friend M'wanga Kraven could acquire his wisdom and thus learn Kaine's identity)
- Martial Arts (Kraven has killed numerous wild animals with nothing but his hands.[3][22][5][13] Has often confronted his opponents in hand-to-hand combat, most notably Spider-Man,[3][5][17] Ka-Zar,[23] Daredevil[24] and Vermin.[21] Can hold[13] both animals[25] and humans[26] in powerful locks. Proved himself a better fighter[27] than Squirrel Girl, until she summoned an army of squirrels to come to her aid. Could easily dispose of criminal enforcers[28] and S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers[29])
- Pressure Points and Paralysis Inducement (Knows a variety of nerve strikes and pinches effective on both animals[25] and humans. With them, Kraven can disable[3] limbs[25] and totally paralyse[30] the victim's body. Could dislocate Spider-Man's shoulder by anchoring his hatchet[4] to his armpit)
- Weapon Mastery (Kraven is an expert in the use of weapons and gadgets of different natures. In his hunts he has wielded numerous melee weapons, as well as highly technological devices. Such an ability is also reflected in Kraven's habit of setting up deadly traps and in the vast arsenal he has nonchalantly employed over the course of his career. During his service as a member of the 1950s Avengers, Kraven has showcased proficiency with military weaponry such as assault rifles, sniper rifles and grenades.[31][32] Kraven has also made extensive use of firearms of various kind, proving himself a swift and accurate gunslinger. Thanks to his skill, Kraven has managed to hold his own and even overcome opponents much stronger than him, namely Scarlet Spider, Venom, Wolverine and others)
- Superhuman Precision (Has thrown a war axe and a dozen spears at Spider-Man with great accuracy from a nearby rooftop.[33] Skillfully hurled a variety of projectiles at Spider-Man.[25] Has repeteadly shot darts in the neck of heroes such as Spider-Man[8] and Black Panther[10] from considerable distance. Impaled Vermin's hand with a throwing knife from a few meters away.[34] Claims the ability to hit birds in mid-flight and has used such skill to strike Angel down.[12] Hit Agent Venom with a spear from the dark of the jungle.[35] Blew a dart into the Scarlet Spider's neck from amidst a crowd of people.[36] Took the Owl down from high into the sky with a sniper rifle.[37] Has hit a small target with a spear from 50 feet away and has then thrown two more spears at it just for bragging rights.[38] S.H.I.E.L.D. hired him as a sniper for a black operation[39])
- Acrobatics (Frequently boasts to possess the agility of a jungle cat and he has indeed showcased it in multiple instances, employing acrobatics for mobility,[17] defense[27] and offense.[21] Can deliver powerful kicks in mid-air and from awkward positions.[26][40] Can skillfully jump up and down trees,[24] as well as swing through branches[30] and vines.[41] Has attacked Spider-Man during a free fall.[5] Has leapt over Norman Osborn's mansion's gate in a single jump.[17] Could parkour across New York's rooftops even with a broken arm.[20] Has spun at high speed from a prone position to evade Gibbon's assault.[20] Has chased Black Panther across rooftops and speeding vehicles in the traffic.[10] Has swiftly reached the top of a building by repeteadly leaping off of two walls[42])
- Surface Scaling (Capable of climbing up on trees[3] and walls[13] with superhuman proficiency and speed. He could also replicate Spider-Man's ability to crawl on walls[43] through skill alone[44])
- Stealth Mastery (Particularly adept at employing stealth tactics thanks to his experience as a hunter. Has recurrently stalked and tracked people he was interested in, namely Spider-Man,[33] Norman Osborn,[17] Daredevil,[24] the Vulture,[13] the Man-Wolf,[45] Rocket Raccoon[46][29] and many others.[47] Often ambushes[3] his enemies with sneak attacks, appearing from blind corners, dark spots[5][48] or treetops.[24][47] Frequently attempts to snipe his opponents while hiding.[8] Has assaulted Daredevil with such stealth and speed to almost defeat the hero's hyper-senses.[24] Has jumped and strangled the Man-Wolf from behind.[45] Utilizes underhand tactics such as tossing sand into his foe's eyes.[26] Has pursued Beast around the X-Men estate, eventually landing a surprise attack on him.[47] His skills have been praised even by Black Panther.[10] Kraven deemed himself a better tracker than other experienced trackers such as Jack O' Lantern, Bushwacker and Cutthroat, a notion endorsed by Baron Zemo and Fixer.[49] Has stalked the Scarlet Spider through an airport, shooting a blowgun dart at him[36] without alerting neither him nor the bystanders. Tara, a dinosaur-person with heightened smell, could not pick up Kraven's scent while being chased and attacked by him[48])
- Camouflage (Has hidden inside a dinosaur's carcass in order to lure and kill another one.[50] Has skinned a yeti and donned their skin in order to infiltrate the City of Sasquatches.[51] Kraven's traps blend so perfectly withing the environment that they could be avoided thanks only to superhuman senses and agility [examples being Spider-Man and Tigra], or equally advanced expertise such as Captain America's. Knows how to compress hair and fur, using such a skill to conceal his standard attire under mundane clothing[52][53])
- Vehicular Mastery (Has tamed a large raptor[35] and ridden it across the jungle of the Savage Land. Rode an elephant in the middle of a stampede of wild animals.[54] Could hop on a pterosaur[55] and ride it. Drives his Kra-Van on the regular. Has hijacked and piloted an oil tanker all on his own[46])
- Preparation (Before beginning a new hunt, Kraven gathers[3] information on his target and studies[23][54][33][47] them accurately, occasionally even stalking them in order to assess their capabilities with his own eyes.[3] Kraven has redacted an accurate journal recording Spider-Man's powers, behaviors and strategies, which allowed him and his son Vladimir to have the better of their enemy in two separate instances;[1] such documents have also been useful to his daughter Anastasia. Has access to a vast arsenal of weapons and tools from which he draws before every hunt. Kraven is also in possession of the knowledge required to perform a number of dark rituals that grant him various advantages over his next preys. Makes large use[3] of booby traps[5] which he sets up in locations[47] where he intends to lead and confront[41] his preys.[54][33] Has turned a circus into a multi-layered death trap[26])
- Social Influencing and possibly Automatic Translation (Animal Charming: Has domesticated various large cats[22] to such a degree that they obey his commands.[56] Has once employed a bird of prey[28] to carry out a contract kill. Has trained a zooful of exotic animals, making them into obedient servants.[54] Al Kraven states to have inherited the ability to communicate with animals[57] from his father. Has tamed a giant raptor of the Savage Land, making it into a steed.[35] Has trained a pack of assorted dinosaurs, which have become his loyal allies.[58][55] Deception: Has convincingly impersonated Spider-Man a number of times[5][44][21] and Ben Reilly once.[36] Has deceived Spider-Man thanks to the Chameleon acting as his body-double.[3] Has manipulated Gibbon into trusting his advice, leading him into drinking a potion that made him his slave.[20] Is experienced in using bait to catch his preys and has set up a silly, yet effective, trap that allowed him to capture the dangerous entity that is Kobik.[49][59] Kraven has also staged and orchestrated the events of storylines such as Kraven's Last Hunt, Grim Hunt (partially) and Hunted, which required him to deceive and manipulate numerous people. Reputation: Kraven's hunting achievements are known worldwide and his arrival to New York for his first chase of Spider-Man has been welcomed with great anticipation by both the media and the population.[3] As a result of his subsequent exploits, Kraven has become widely famous even across the metahuman community, for many heroes and villains have been aware of his character. His infamous reputation has also made him a primary target of the police, having numerous warrants pending on him.[38] Nonetheless, such a fame, coupled with the endorsement and propaganda of Mayor Fisk, have allowed Kraven to semalessly clear his name and return to his hunts unpunished[60])
- Resistance to
- Poisons and Perception Manipulation (Members of the Kravinoff family cultivate resistance to toxicants[61] and drugs[62])
- Diseases (One of Kraven's serum's many benefits is protection against diseases[6])
- Regeneration (At least Low-Mid likely higher: Has regenerated from a knife[16] driven into his heart,[64] a tentacle and a spear in his chest,[35] numerous slashes and stabbings[66] from Wolverine and a severe beating[51] from the Hulk)
- Sleep Manipulation and Sound Manipulation (Overtime Kraven's vest has been given the ability to release sleeping gas[23] capable of knocking out an elephant[11] and shoot sonic blasts which can drive a person insane[26])
- Minor Animal Manipulation (The sound of his ivory horn sends elephants in a rampage[24])
- Summoning (Post-Grim Hunt only; Has a special whistle whose sound summons his pet dinosaurs to his aid[58][55])
Attack Potency: Wall level+ (Has fought[24] Daredevil and Black Widow on equal grounds), up to Large Building level with weapons (Although seemingly mundane in nature, Kraven's weapons have recurrently been a threat to individuals much stronger than him, likely because of Kraven's own prodigious strength. Should already have access to the more mundane weapons he has used in the time following his resurrection. His belt tusks could scratch[3] Spider-Man. Using his knives, Kraven was able[4] to draw blood[75] from and deal[19] significant injuries[64] to Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Kaine and Venom. His spears could impale[35] Agent Venom. His natural claws wounded[12] Beast. His darts could consistently puncture the likes of Spider-Man, Venom, Black Panther and more. His traps have been a consistent threat to the likes of Spider-Man, Tigra and Captain America, and one of them could gravely wound Venom.[48] His knife and large-caliber cartridges could penetrate even Venom's bulletproof skin.[48] His knives could also slash and stab Old Man Logan, as well as break his bone claws[66]) | Wall level+, up to Large Building level with weapons (As strong as before and with access to the same, and more, weapons), far higher with Adamantium blades (Weapons made with this famed material are nearly-indestructible and capable of cutting through virtually anything, as exemplified by characters such as Wolverine, Laura Kinney, Doctor Doom and more)
Speed: Superhuman to Subsonic Travel Speed (His speed rivals[22] that of a Cheetah.[3] Has ran in tandem[22] with two leopards. Could outrun a herd of gazelles[7]), Hypersonic Reactions and Perceptions (Claims to be faster than a serpent[5] and has successfully snatched two cobras before they could react.[3] Has dodged[76] close-range gunfire[46] from police officers and even a master marksman such as Rocket Raccoon. Snatched a spear mid-flight in a single leap.[33] Could cross a room in less than the blink of an eye.[77] Outsped Kaine and sliced his throat before he could realize it.[19] Sliced the Scarlet Spider's web mid-flight.[64] Just as fast as his future self, who could evade Storm's lightning bolts[78] and duck under a point-blank sonic attack[38] launched by Chipmunk Hunk. Has fought and held his own against the likes of Spider-Man, Daredevil, Tigra, Venom, Old Man Logan and various others) | Superhuman to Subsonic Travel Speed, with Hypersonic Reactions and Perceptions
Lifting Strength: At least Class 50 (Can wrestle with and subdue[25] a variety of large animals. Has bench-pressed a gorilla[3] and hurled a lion[5] and a tiger[13] without effort. Has twisted a metal handrail using just one hand.[17] Claims to be strong enough to stop a charging elephant.[17] Uprooted a street light[24] and a large chimney.[18] States to have strangled a full-grown grizzly bear.[51] As strong as his future self, for the resurrection process only altered his mortality. Recounts to have fished megalodons[51] with but a line and a hook, logically dragging them out of water as well; such fish are estimated to have had a weight of several tens of tons. Easily snapped all the bones in a sasquatch's body.[51] Broke his wife Sasha's neck using only one hand[4] and a yeti's neck with his mere fingers.[51] Tossed Squirrel Girl high into the air using a single arm.[79] The pressure of a trash compactor[46] wasn't enough to even injure him.[46] Has snapped the chain of a pair of handcuffs with extreme ease in multiple occasions[38][53]) | Class 50
Striking Strength: Wall level+ (Could knock out Daredevil. His punches can easily destroy concrete[14] and bust large holes into walls[17]) | Wall level+
Durability: Wall level+ (Has endured numerous attacks from Daredevil and Black Widow. Equal to his future self, who has performed the following feats, for his physical statistics did not change upon resurrecting. Has come out unscathed from: the crashing of his Kra-Van and of an oil tanker, being caught in a trash compactor, the proximity to a huge explosion and having the Statue of Liberty falling on him. Endured the detonation of a flashbang thrown right inside his pants[80]) | Wall level+
Stamina: Superhuman (His potions grant him overall superhuman physical abilities and Kraven has showcased the stamina needed to undergo extended hunts and fights in hostile environments such as jungles, forests, deserts[35] and the arctic.[50] In one instance, Spider-Man himself was surprised by his endurance, even deeming him tireless.[17] Survived more than a week in the Savage Land with a broken arm, which healed at a surprisingly fast rate.[20] Claims to have stalked and ambushed a yeti for days, waiting for the right moment to strike it down.[50] Has survived for three days buried underground.[4] Has hunted Agent Venom across the Savage Land for days on end.[35] Has fought a dinosaur for several hours straight[66]) | Superhuman (Same as before, plus the curse that makes Kraven immortal also allows him to endure wounds that would otherwise be lethal and remain conscious and active even before healing from them)
Range: Standard Melee Range to Several Meters (Has access to many handheld weapons, with the longest ones being spears, bull whips and nets), up to Hundreds of Meters with ranged weapons (Has frequently utilized projectiles such javelins, knives and blowguns from extended distances and he shouldn't be less performant than real life standards. Firearms such as rifles fall within this range)
- Blades: Although firmly against the use of such a form of weaponry at first, Kraven has progressively adopted the habit of carrying hunting knives[56][67][19] and spears[4][35][10] of different makings at any given time.
- Belt Tusks: Kraven sports a unique collection of tusks circling around his waist. These items are more than just ornaments, for they brim with drugs, poisons and even medicines which quickly affect their victim through even a mere scratch. More specific examples include concentrated black mamba venom,[54] neural poisons, tranquilizers, antidotes[68][47] and the n'gami, a powerful drug that eases pain and acts as a disinfectant.[67] In more recent years, Kraven has occasionally traded this classic belt with a more conventional one, featuring different pouches instead of tusks. In yet other instances, Kraven has combined the two articles by hanging the tusks to strings circling around his waist and right next to his belt.[75]
- Lion Vest: An energy-based weapon developed by Kraven over the course of several months spent in prison.[17] It consists of a tangle of wires hidden behind the two lion eyes on his jacket[13] which project electric rays which disable the victim's muscular system. Kraven has rebuilt and improved such a weapon several times, adding further offensive options such as stun beams, sleeping gas and sonic beams. Kraven has also implemented a gas specifically designed to knock out Tigra.[54] Kraven has never abandoned his signature vest, but following his resurrection he ceased to employ it as a weapon, leaving it dubious whether he refuses to use it or has truly reverted it into normal clothing.
Lion Vest[81]
- Cold Weapons and Firearms: Bolas,[56][12] spears,[33][28][35] whip,[33] war axe,[33] war club,[33] wooden staff,[8] sword,[78] shield,[16] telescopic harpoon,[12] rifle (loaded with darts[8][10][73] or bullets[35]), assault rifle, grenades, electric baton,[31][32] sniper rifle,[31][37] handheld rocket launcher[75] and .585 Gehringer.[48]
- Garrote: A sturdy wire with which Kraven attempted to strangle the Man-Wolf after catching him from behind.[45]
- Plasti-Cord: A long and stiff string hidden within Kraven's belt. He used it as lasso to snare Ka-Zar's neck and attempt to hang him on a tree.[11]
- Poison Ring: A ring featuring a large spike dipped in toxins. A single sting could induce strong dizziness into Spider-Man.[71]
- Anti-Vampire Javelin: A folding spear with a silver blade mounted on a wooden shaft. Kraven used it to deliver a seemingly lethal blow to Baron Blood.[32]
- Bear-Trap Bazooka: A rocket launcher loaded with foothold traps which clench automatically upon hitting the target. It stores at least two traps, as Kraven has used it to distract the Hulk and then free himself from a sasquatch's clutch briefly after.[51]
- Net Guns: Pistols and rifles loaded with nets wide enough to capture whole individuals such as Squirrel Girl[27] and the Dinosaur-People.[82]
- Adamantium Blade:[46] Long knives made by the famous nearly-indestructible metal. Kraven owns at least two of such blades.[29]
- Nets: One of Kraven's favorite items, useful to quickly snare an opponent and render them helpless. Far from being common nets, they can be sturdy enough[3] to overcome even Spider-Man's strength[8] or progressively tighten the more the target struggles to free themselves.[69]
- Darts: Sharp projectiles imbued with poisons and drugs. They are thrown by hand[30] or propelled by means such as a wrist device,[54] a blowgun or a rifle.
- Ropes: Mundane tools used for a variety of purposes, such as tying people,[17][13][77] swinging away to safety[69] or quickly rise through surfaces when connected to a pulley device.[45]
- Adamantium Fishhooks: Hooked wires made of the famous and near-indestructible metal. Kraven uses them to fish megalodons, but has also employed a tangle of them to snare the Hulk and lift him up in the air with a remote-controlled air balloon connected to the fishooks.[51]
- Adamantium Cage: A container with bars forged in Adamantium, durable enough to be impervious even to Old Man Logan's own Adamantium claws.[83]
- Animals: Kraven is occasionally escorted by the wild beasts he has tamed and trained to assist him in combat. Some specimen include leopards, tigers, lions and hawks.
- Jungle Drum:[3] A particularly loud percussion instrument whose sounds confuse the enemy.
- Magnetic Manacles:[3] Magnetized metal bracers whose reciprocal attraction increases progressively. They come with built-in bells which jingle with every movement, allowing Kraven to follow his prey as they struggle to break free.
- Jungle Scent:[5] An exotic aroma which disabled Spider-Man's Spider Sense and made him easier to track.
- Malodorous Juices: A gourd filled with liquids whose odor could overload Tigra's enhanced senses.[30]
- Electric Band: A metal band that discharges electricity. It was used by Kraven to knock out the powerful sabertooth Zabu.[69]
- Ivory Horn: An artifact from ancient Africa. It plays only one note, an eerily discordant wail which drives elephants to rampage.[24]
- Blowgun: A ranged weapon disguised as a thread of Kraven's vest and powered by his own breath. It can shoot explosive pellets[69] and darts laced with poisons of various natures.
- Leopard Glove: A paw-shaped gauntlet armed with sharp claws.[24]
- Gas Grenades: Explosives filled with tranquilizers. They were potent enough to make the Man-Wolf an easy prey.[45] Kraven has also armed some grenades with a gas specifically designed to take down Tigra.[54]
- Ultra-Sonic Blaster: A device built by Kraven after his first defeat at the hands of Tigra, who had gathered enough strength to power through the sound waves of his Double-Barreled Ray. This new weapon emanates amplified ultrasounds which can bend even Tigra's powerful force of will.[54]
- Mnemonic Scrambler: A collar which generates an intense magnetic field and allows Kraven to control the mind of whoever wears it.[54]
- Tracker: A small device Kraven employed to run ongoing check-ups on the venoms he had infected Beast with and the gradual effect they were having on his pulse and blood flow.[47]
- Flashpots: Explosive devices which generate a blinding flash of light. Kraven used them to make him and his family quickly disappear after their defeat against Spider-Man.
- Web-Shooter: Spider-Man's signature weapon, in the form of the wrist gauntlet designed and employed by Ben Reilly. Kraven got in possession of them while impersonating him and used them to blast a volley of web projectiles at Kaine.[36]
- Whistle: An instrument whose sound calls in a pack of dinosaurs trained by Kraven to be his assistants. They will help whomever blows it, as seen when Tippy Toe summoned them against a version of Ultron.[58][55]
- Sonic Gun: A pistol that emits ear-piercing sound waves. Kraven used it to scare away a swarm of Vermin clones.[70]
Kraven's Arsenal[81]
One of Kraven's signature traits are the several traps he sets up in preparation for a hunt and during his career he has displayed knowledge on a great number of them.
- Hidden nets: Kraven's most frequently employed trap.[33] They are often concealed on the ground[56] or hung on elevated spots, such as ceilings[25] and trees,[3][30] ready to catch unaware victims which inadvertently enter their range.
- Falling objects: Kraven once latched a string on a chimney-like structure[5] located on a rooftop, causing it to fall down on Spider-Man when he tripped on the wire.
- Lasso: A rope featuring a large honda knot. It was placed on the floor[5] of a building with the purpose of catching Spider-Man's ankle in case he had stepped on it.
- Pit: A large hole in the ground made invisible by camouflage. It was employed during an encounter with Spider-Man, who escaped it by tossing one of Kraven's tigers into it instead.[56] In another instance, Kraven lured Beast into a pit filled with sharp stakes.[47]
- Punji sticks: Sharp wooden stakes hidden underground and ready to surface with deadly force. Kraven utilized them during his third encounter with Tigra. Their activation was caused by Tigra walking unawarely in their proximity and only her cat-like reflexes could save her.[30] A similar trap was employed against Beast, in the form of various sticks being ejected from hidden locations,[47] and Captain America, as more traditional spikes buried under the vegetation.[41]
- Body double: A dummy in the guise of Kraven himself. It provided Tigra a fake target to attack, allowing Kraven to successfully assault her from behind.[54]
- Darts: Sharp projectiles propelled outwards from a large metal case. They were connected to a hidden wire and ejected when Spider-Man walked into it.[33]
- Foothold Trap: An supersized version of what is commonly-known as a bear trap. Its powerful spring and teeth could deal massive damage even to Venom.
- Poison: During a hunt on Beast, Kraven rigged his traps in order to release various venoms which would affect Hank even in case he were to evade them. Their effect was not immediate and required time for them to build up within Hank's body, but eventually they managed to tamper with Beast's brain functions.[47]
- Rocks: Boulders of different size connected to roots and tripwires and having the purpose of burying or crushing whomever triggers their fall.[41]
- Landmines: Powerful explosives hidden underground which detonate upon stepping on them.[41]
- Animals: Kraven is no stranger to employing dangerous animals as a form of environmental hazard. He once bound Black Widow in a cage full of elephants, which he then sent in a frenzy that would have costed her her life, had it not been for Daredevil's intervention.[24] Another time, he unleashed a megafauna stampede on Tigra and Spider-Man, once again with nearly fatal results.[54] Lastly, Kraven once set two dangerous snakes on Captain America's path, although they served more as a distraction rather than an actual trap.[41]
- Accomplices: Kraven has often resorted to external aid during his hunts, usually to mislead a prey he is chasing or preparing them for an incoming hunt. Oftentimes the presence of such allies is concealed until the very last moment, effectively acting as an additional layer of surprise for the victim. Notable examples include the Chameleon acting a body-double to distract Spider-Man,[3] Calypso playing her drums to disrupt Spider-Man's spider sense[33] and Shriek using her powers to exploit Venom's weakness to loud sounds.[60] In other occasions Kraven has hired the services of common grunts as well, such as the instance when he deceived Captain America by having a woman pretending to flirt just to secretly poison him and then pairing him with man who acted as an oblivious victim while his real intent was to hinder him during their escape and attempt one last murder at the final moment.[41]
Intelligence: Genius
Sergei has received the upbringing that is expected from a member of the russian nobility of his time and overtime he has displayed profound knowledge and interest for topics such as music, literature, poetry and philosophy, with particular fondness for the productions of his homeland.[7][38][42] During his early adulthood, Sergei has received further education from Aja Orisha, who introduced him to the ways of natural mysticism that she had in turn acquired as a Wakandan mystic.[84]
Kraven has gained worldwide fame as a legendary hunter over the course of many decades, earning such a reputation by single-handedly hunting every type of beast that walks, climbs, crawls, flies and swims, even going as far as doing it unarmed.[3][22][5][13] Further explorations on his life revealed that Kraven has also hunted cryptids (such as the yeti or the Sasquatch), many species of dinosaurs[50][35] and creatures that don't exist anymore or "were never meant to have existed in the first place".[51] Upon having been given a second chance to life, Kraven set off to hunt even more bizarre game, succeeding in the capture of creatures such as the Winged Tigers of K'un-Lun, the Gamma Wolves and a Giganto.[49] His latest collection of trophies also features several humans, masked individuals and humanoid monsters.[41] Another of his great feats has been the repetead breaching of the High Evolutionary's defenses and security in order to relentlessly hunt down his Ani-Men.[70] Consequently, he has also become an expert survivalist, having spent many years in the wildest environments of the world[35] and having grown capable of navigating even places such as the Savage Land,[11] a place from which he managed to return from even after suffering a broken arm[20] and that has eventually become his residing place after his resurrection in modern times. Furthermore, given his extended lifespan, Kraven has accumulated a wealth of life experience spanning approximately a century.
Kraven is a man of many talents, which he has acquired and honed over the course of his adventures, as better detailed in the Powers&Abilities section above. Kraven is also a clever inventor, having personally developed the various weapons hidden inside his lion vest[17] and having synthesized new gases and drugs designed to specifically affect Tigra[54] and Spider-Man.[1][73] Moreover, he is an proficient cook,[70] can craft various weapons[50] and is able to consistently replicate numerous potions and magic spells. An excellent instructor as well, Kraven has trained the Gibbon,[20] the Alien Killing Krew,[46] his pupil Gregor[84] and his children Vladimir,[1] Alyosha, Anastasia[85] and his 87 clones created by the High Evolutionary.[70] Kraven has always maintained the Kravinoff family's business and estate in wealth and respectability, even seemingly forming his own small kingdom at some point.[70] Aside from his native russian and his naturalized english, Kraven also speaks fluent japanese[83] and may have acquired other languages during his many travels.
In combat, Kraven has faced a remarkably numerous and varied amount of opponents, often representing a challenge, if not a dangerous thorn in their side. His martial skills, weapons and traps have allowed him to hold his own against foes both stronger and faster than him, while his many gadgets and tactics have allowed Kraven to come victorious and capture his preys in numerous occasions, being defeated only at the very end because of his hubris and will to achieve victory on his own terms. The selection of preys confronted by Kraven in one or multiple instances include Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider/Kaine, Venom, Tigra, Daredevil, Black Widow, Ka-Zar, Man-Wolf, Vermin, Rocket Raccoon, Black Panther, Hulk, Squirrel Girl, Captain America, Old Man Logan and even the entire, original formation of the X-Men all together.
Standard Tactics: At the beginning of his criminal career, Kraven adhered to a self-imposed rule of confronting his opponents without the aid of weapons, for he went proud of having always bested his preys with none but his bare hands. Nonetheless, he was also prone to first test his targets with subtler approaches, such as leading them into convenient locations rigged with traps or surprising them with sneak attacks and special tools meant to hinder and misdirect them. Therefore, Kraven used to leave close combat only for those skilled enough to evade his tricks. For a time he has also been a hyprocritical fighter, ready to betray his own code of honor once the odds of the battle turned against him, resorting to dirty maneuvers and hidden weapons to achieve victory whenever strength alone did not suffice.
During the time which eventually led to his Last Hunt, Kraven gradually underwent a change of heart, craving to restore the honor he himself had thrown away due to overwhelming frustration and greed. So, Kraven returned to his roots and has remained faithful to them even after his resurrection. As a true hunter, Kraven did not abandon the habit of wearing his preys down with traps, poisons, stealth attacks, relentless pursuits and more, but had also become much more willing to eventually confront them head-on, usually armed with melee weapons such as knives, spears and many others. Although Kraven has never been fond of firearms, in more recent years has has seemingly picked up the habit of using hunting and precision rifles to take down his preys from afar. Nonetheless, he seldom loads them with bullets, favoring darts laced with drugs and poisons instead, generally to further wear down the victim before a physical confrontation or to slow them down during a pursuit.
Kraven hunts to collect trophies and therefore he is all but unwilling to kill his preys, especially if they prove themselves worthy opponents. Likewise, Kraven eagerly inflicts even grievous wounds on his victims, for his weapons and traps and always designed to ultimately lead to the death of their target. Violent and relentless in combat, Kraven chases and toys with his enemies even for days, if needed, before launching himself on them with a ferocity that has surprised more than one of his foes. One last tendency is Kraven's habit to first capture a target, generally by knocking them unconscious with tranquilizers administered through different subterfuges, and then freeing them in wild habitats rigged with traps where he can have his fun in hunting them down.
Weaknesses: The physical augmentations granted to Kraven by the elixir are temporary,[1] therefore he must regularly ingest new doses in order to maintain his superhuman powers. Moreover, around the period which preceded his "Last Hunt", his serum's toll on Kraven's body after decades of consumption had become unsustainable, thus leaving him on borrowed time he himself wasn't aware of.[73] Arrongant and full of himself, Kraven often underestimates his opponents even after having studied or confronted them directly, refusing to accept his physical inferiority. As noted by Spider-Man, he is also susceptible to taunts, which make him careless in battle.[17] Kraven has somewhat toned down his arrogance overtime, wanting to restore his lost honor, but he nonetheless maintained eccessive levels of self-confidence which proved to be his downfall time and time again.
Notes:
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- Despite being a frequent and historical foe of Spider-Man, Kraven has been recurrently stated to be the weaker among the two, also failing to actually injure[5] Spider-Man with his punches and being swiftly overpowered[13][54][33] during contests of pure strength. Kraven has also never come close to overcoming Spider-Man in a direct confrontation without first weakening him through poisons, drugs or other underhand strategies. Moreover, Kraven's has been either stated and/or shown to be weaker[86][26][30][47][4][66] than the likes of Iron Man, Tigra, Beast, Kaine and Old Man Logan.
Notable Matchups
Victories:
Losses:
Inconclusive:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Spider-Man Vol 1 50
- ↑ Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 567
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 15
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 637
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 34
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 389
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Sensational Spider-Man Annual Vol 1 1996
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 Web of Spider-Man Vol 1 31
- ↑ Spider-Man: Get Kraven Vol 1 1
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Black Panther: The Man Without Fear Vol 1 519
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 104
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 X-Men/Spider-Man Vol 1 1
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 49
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Amazing Spider-Man Annual Vol 1 29
- ↑ Spider-Man Human Torch Vol 1 2
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 636
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 47
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Spider-Man and Spider-Woman Vol 1 1
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 635
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 111
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 131
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Amazing Spider-Man Annual Vol 1 1
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Astonishing Tales Vol 1 1
- ↑ 24.00 24.01 24.02 24.03 24.04 24.05 24.06 24.07 24.08 24.09 24.10 24.11 Daredevil Vol 1 104
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 209
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 Marvel Chillers Vol 1 4
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 1 1
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 634
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Rocket Raccoon Vol 3 5
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 West Coast Avengers Vol 2 3
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 New Avengers Vol 2 10 to 12
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Avengers 1959 Vol 1 1 to 5
- ↑ 33.00 33.01 33.02 33.03 33.04 33.05 33.06 33.07 33.08 33.09 33.10 33.11 33.12 Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 65
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 294
- ↑ 35.00 35.01 35.02 35.03 35.04 35.05 35.06 35.07 35.08 35.09 35.10 35.11 35.12 35.13 Venom Vol 2 2
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 Scarlet Spider Vol 2 21
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Marvel Knights: Spider-Man Vol 2 4
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 33
- ↑ Jessica Jones Vol 2 15
- ↑ Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk (Kansas City Star) Vol 1 1
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6 41.7 41.8 Captain America Vol 1 697
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 35
- ↑ Marvels 1 3
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 293
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 Creatures on the Loose Vol 1 32
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 Rocket Raccoon Vol 3 3
- ↑ 47.00 47.01 47.02 47.03 47.04 47.05 47.06 47.07 47.08 47.09 47.10 47.11 47.12 47.13 X-Men: The Hidden Years Vol 1 17
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 Venom Vol 1 156
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 Captain America: Sam Wilson Vol 1 8
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 Web of Spider-Man Vol 2 7
- ↑ 51.00 51.01 51.02 51.03 51.04 51.05 51.06 51.07 51.08 51.09 Incredible Hulk Vol 3 11
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 32
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 34
- ↑ 54.00 54.01 54.02 54.03 54.04 54.05 54.06 54.07 54.08 54.09 54.10 54.11 54.12 54.13 54.14 54.15 54.16 54.17 54.18 54.19 Marvel Team-Up Vol 1 67
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 25
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 56.4 Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 2
- ↑ Spider-Man: Get Kraven Vol 1 2
- ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 24
- ↑ Avengers Standoff: Assault On Pleasant Hill Omega Vol 1 1
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 Venom Vol 1 157
- ↑ All-New Inhumans Vol 1 7
- ↑ All-New Inhumans Vol 1 9
- ↑ 63.0 63.1 Scarlet Spider Vol 2 22
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 64.3 Scarlet Spider Vol 2 23
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 5 22
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 66.3 Old Man Logan Vol 2 42
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 Ka-Zar the Savage Vol 1 21
- ↑ 68.0 68.1 Spider-Man: Blue Vol 1 5
- ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 69.4 69.5 Astonishing Tales Vol 1 2
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 70.3 70.4 70.5 70.6 Amazing Spider-Man Vol 5 16
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality Vol 1 1
- ↑ Web of Spider-Man Vol 1 32
- ↑ 73.0 73.1 73.2 73.3 Deadpool: Back in Black Vol 1 4
- ↑ What If...? Vol 1 17
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 Secret Empire: Brave New World Vol 1 3
- ↑ Daredevil Vol 1 105
- ↑ 77.0 77.1 Ka-Zar the Savage Vol 1 20
- ↑ 78.0 78.1 Black Panther: The Man Without Fear Vol 1 520
- ↑ Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol 2 6
- ↑ Rocket Raccoon Vol 3 3 to 5
- ↑ 81.0 81.1 Spider-Man: Grim Hunt - The Kraven Saga Vol 1 1
- ↑ Venom Vol 1 158
- ↑ 83.0 83.1 Old Man Logan Vol 2 41
- ↑ 84.0 84.1 Spider-Man: The Lost Hunt Vol 1 4
- ↑ Spider-Girl Vol 2 4
- ↑ Tales of Suspense Vol 2 58
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