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by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey   Writer- J.M. DeMatteis Penciller- Mike Zeck Inker- Bob McLeod Letterer- Rick Parker Colourists- Mike Zeck & Ian Tetrault synopsisIt's the final showdown between Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven The Hunter, with Vermin waiting in the wings. And it all ends with tragic consequences. Dave Part 5 of Kraven’s Last Hunt, ‘Thunder.’ It's been all one word titles for each of these issues. Well, except for the very first part. What do you make of the cover? Kev Yeh, Peter gets put in 'The Coffin' in the first part. I like the cover. It's maybe not the most iconic image of the series, but it's really well done. This is an excellent splash page here though. Once again, we’re really leaning heavily into the horror atmosphere, with the rain, the lightning strikes, the spiders and the rats.  "Your mama's got a peg leg with a kickstand." Dave The cover is okay for this issue, but yeah, the splash page is great. It's completely in keeping with the mood, and the tone, of this story. I have just noticed on the cover that the stuffed rhino's face kind-of looks like it's smiling. Kev Ha, ha! It's like a Disney character. Dave The opening words are the same that ones are used as Kraven's final words as well, "They said my mother was insane." Kev Ah, good spot. That's a lovely piece of circular writing. Kraven’s narration is complimenting the visuals of Vermin in the electrified cage here, and we also have the foreshadowing of Kraven informing us that his mother was considered to have mental health issues and took her own life as well. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree apparently. Dave Very true, and after the narration, it picks right up from where the previous issue left off, with a none-too-chuffed Spider-Man about to confront Kraven. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. To say that Pete's a little bit peeved at Kraven would be an understatement. I love that top tier of four panels, with Spidey lowering himself down behind Kraven, before he lunges at him and clocks him one.  Apparently Kraven was not up for recreating the famous upside down kiss scene.  Peter had to "convince" him to do it. Dave It's taken Kraven until this point to realise that Spidey is just a man beneath his outfit, but his victory over Peter has given him peace of mind. Kev Totally. Kraven now sees Peter Parker, the man, behind the costume and the facade of “The Spider.” “The essence of the demon that brought Russia to ruin.” It really has put his mind at rest, hasn't it? Which does not bode well, considering what is to come. Dave Yeah, those four panels are a nice little callback to the end of last issue. Also, the panel underneath those four panels, the one showing Kraven standing, in what looks like a mist, is excellent as well. And that's a nice little panel with the torches hanging on the wall, with the burning flames. There are some nice colours in this. I think the black costume is perfect for this story, as it is really complimented well by the background colours.  "Hello Jerry!" "Hello Newman!" Kev Yeh, the colours are superb throughout this. They almost look like they've been painted. When he says “The Spider” here is Kraven equating the US to this mythical creature that he is obsessed with and blames for the death of his mother? Dave I think this issue is about Kraven coming to terms with all his self-loathing, hence the "demons" he talks about, which are represented by the term "The Spider". Kev Yeh, like you said, Kraven now sees Peter Parker, the man, the human being behind the costume and the facade of “The Spider.” “The essence of the demon that brought Russia to ruin.” It's interesting that he perceives this demon of his to be responsible for the death of "mother" Russia as well. Dave Kraven then embarks on yet another mind game with Spidey here, and Pete talks about making him suffer. And I like the intercutting of the thunder roaring in between this little scene. It's another cracking panel.  "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" Kev Those thunder and lightning strikes work so well for dramatic effect. “And after I “killed” you--” “KOOOOM” “I took your place.” Classic. DeMatteis is really going for it, in terms of Kraven’s mind unravelling here. “Yes, yes… I hear you. I understand. It’s almost time-- --but not yet. Not yet.” This story really stands-up to repeat readings. I get more and more out of it each and every time I read it, and you're also pointing-out stuff to me that I've always missed. It's really rich and rewarding. Dave I definitely think, as kids at the time reading this, we wouldn't have had any concept of what this story was really about. I guess we would have been judging it on other stuff, like entertainment value. Kev No doubt. There is absolutely no way I was picking up on half of what is going on in this story when I was 11 or 12. Dave No. Spidey has that adrenaline dump once Kraven starts telling him, "I won't resist. I won't fight. There's no reason to fight.” I like that panel, and the plain white background emphasises both Spidey and Kraven in this scene.  "No, I didn't quite catch that, Lou. Argh! Still not gettin' it..... Okay, okay, okay. I got it. I got it. I got it. Shit, I lost it." Kev Yeh, Zeck and McLeod have made excellent use of negative space again here, and the cuts to Vermin in the electrified cage are pretty terrifying. They also help to build the tension so much. Dave Yeah, that's great use of the intercutting between each character. The narrative is picking up the pace, as you say, to maintain and keep the tension going. And Kraven continues speaking to Spidey, as he casually strips down, until he's naked. Kev Ha, ha! He's not exactly shy, is old Sergei Kravinoff, is he? I love that Pete crawls through the doorway from across the ceiling to follow Kraven here, and doesn’t just walk through the door. I like little touches like that. It's such good attention to detail, and it's also great character stuff as well. Dave It shows how relaxed Kraven has become, and actually how sure he is of himself, in knowing that Spidey will follow him through this door. "He hesitates, he comes, what else can he do?" Yeah, a good ole bit of wallcrawling by Spidey. Why bother using the conventions of normal walking when you can wallcrawl. Kev Exactly. Plus we have the spider and the rat confrontation ramping up as well. Dave The next page is without a doubt an excellent full-page panel, that's cleverly cut with two smaller panels. It's so highly detailed, it's rich in colours and it's a real visual feast for the eyes. I love this page. It's wall art for sure.  Meanwhile, back at the Kravencave. Kev Yeh, it really sells you on the size of Kraven's lair. It's like something out of a '60s Bond movie, or the Batman '60s TV show. Dave It's certainly some size. I'm thinking this page puts me in mind of 'Son of the Demon' a bit. Kev That's a good point. I always thought that Zeck and Bingham's had a similar-ish style to each other. Kraven’s narration is quite a poignant insight into the mind of a man who has decided that he is going to end his own life. This story is starting to take a turn for the tragic. It’s very sad. Dave You have got to love Kraven's vanity here, as he brags about his victory over Vermin in overdone detail, and waxes lyrical on how Spidey and Cap, as a team, could not do as well as he could on his own. I think that is why his lair is so large, so his inflated head can fit in it. Kev Ha, ha! Yeh. He's bigging himself up a fair bit here. His monologuing sounds like a professional wrestler cutting a promo. Dave Haha he would do great in the world of WWF. Kev Definitely. There have been worse gimmicks than Kraven: The Hunter in the WWF/E over the years. Dave But again, this is another clever piece of psychological manipulation, as he has just led Spidey into another trap. This time with him unleashing a confused and scared Vermin. There is a significant chunk of both dialogue and narration throughout this whole story and the majority of it belongs to Kraven. Kev Yep, it sure does. The bit where Kraven strokes Peter’s face is just odd. It's such a strange, yet tender, show of affection in the midst of everything else that’s going on here. And that last panel on this page, of Vermin leaping at Spidey is class. Again, more use of white as the background and to focus the eye of the reader on the character itself.  Flying rodent. Watch out for the COVID. Dave Yeah, I did find that a bit strange as well. where he strokes Spidey's chin. There is a few ways you could read into that one. Kraven looks like he is going all He-Man, as he leaps aboard one of his trophies. The background visuals remind me of Masters of the Universe. Kev Ha, ha. Right enough. He is a bit like He-Man, leaping onto Battle Cat. The mirroring of the fight between the rat and the spider, and Spidey and Vermin is a nice, albeit on-the-nose, touch.  "I can I can't." Dave I like the size difference between Spidey and Kraven on the panel where Spidey is going on a full-on rant. "I have had it with you." It is also a good display of Spidey strength here, as he picks up the "elephant," toppling Kraven off it. And this is all still just part of the game to Kraven, as his narration continues. Kev Yeh, Peter is generally a lot leaner than Sergei anyway, and two weeks of atrophy, from being buried alive, would result in Pete losing some muscle mass, but even with everything that Kraven that has done to him here, Peter is still way stronger than Kraven, I reckon. Dave Probably, but Kraven still knows how to manipulate "The Spider," as we see his finale about to unfold in another bout of combat. But this time, the line up is Spidey vs Vermin, all for Kraven's amusement. Kev Yeh, and Pete kind-of loses it a bit here, referring to Vermin as a “stupid, disgusting animal.” But even still, he can’t completely let himself go in order to finish Vermin off. Which is, of course, ultimately his undoing. Dave The fight is quite good though. It is a good match up, and Pete has his work cut out for him. The rat and the spider panel is used as a metaphor, and again, I love the thunderous roaring, which continues non stop. Kev Yeh, Vermin's no joke. The rat wins this one, because "The Spider" can't bring himself to deliver the killing blow. Those two panels of Peter hesitating, then ultimately deciding not to do so are brilliant.  Kraven's not angry with Peter, he's just disappointed. Dave And Kraven just calmly watches these two slug it out. A creation of his own twisted handiwork. Kev Definitely. He even looks kind-of sad and disappointed that Peter doesn't fishing Vermin. Dave The rat crushes the Spider just as Vermin attacks Spidey by jumping on his back. Kev Yep, it's very nice mirroring. Dave And this narration, "They said my mother was insane" is again, slowly interjected into the panels. Along with the outcome of the rat and the spider's fight. And the thunder. I guess, after all that, Kraven probably didn't want to see Spidey defeated at the hands of another opponent. It seems a bit unclear at this stage why he helped him, or was it because he finally feels affection towards him, not hatred. Kev I think so, yeh. Plus, he seems to honestly believe that he has made his point here, that he is the superior man. I can't help but think that that look he gives is an illustration of his feelings betraying him though, in that he realises that it's Peter's compassion and humanity that make him superior to Kraven. Dave And it's partly Kraven's ego, it would dilute the victorious feeling that he "beat" Spidey, which is probably wearing off at this point anyway, if Vermin were to finish Spidey off. Kev True. It's like a returning of that compassion. It's ultimately a pretty hollow victory for Kraven in the end, isn't it? Which of course leads to his ultimate fate. I love that panel of Vermin leaping through the closed window of Kraven’s mansion. Dave Yeah, it is a cracking panel, and so are the next three, of Kraven helping a seriously wounded Spidey to his feet, and helping him up the stairs. I really like that middle one. Kev Yeh, Zeck and McLeod are a top notch team. It’s interesting that in his final moments, moments of clarity, that Kraven finally sees Peter as a good man. And the sadness in these final moments, that Zeck manages to convey on Kraven’s face, is outstanding. Dave Spidey giving it the famous "I'll be back!" Arnie quote as he leaps through the window is excellent, and that's another cracking panel, of Kraven in the shadows, looking out of his window into the thunderstorm. It really does capture the darker mood of this piece. These panels are terrific. They really show that the sadness is so evident on Kraven now, and the jump to Spidey going on a vermin hunt, into the sewers, is top notch storytelling. The change from being quite wordy, to minimal dialogue or narrative, is very effective. And we've seen this sudden change in style used throughout this story.  "It can't rain all the time. The sky won't fall forever. And though the night seems long. Your tears won't fall forever." Kev The the next four pages, where Kraven takes his own life, are absolutely outstanding. They're so well done. They’re tasteful, yet still shocking at the same time. I think it’s interesting that DeMatteis has hinted throughout that Kraven’s mental illness is something that he may have inherited from his mother. That idea of mental illness, and the trauma that so often may be behind it, being passed down through the generations, and actually being imprinted and embedded in DNA. Dave Yeah, it is well paced, and carefully constructed in its narrative, as he very calmly performs this act much like a ritual. The artwork is amazing and, like you said, it's quite shocking. I don't think readers at the time would have been expecting this. Kev No, not at all. It's pretty adult subject matter, and it doesn't shy away from it, without being gratuitous. That last page, of his blood dripping down the family photo, with Kraven himself as an innocent, happy little boy, is just really sad. It’s heartbreaking stuff. This should have been the end for me here. If it were me writing this, which clearly it is not, I would have moved some scenes around so that Kraven’s suicide occurred at the end, because for me, it’s the emotional climax of the story. Dave It would have certainly been an interesting place to end the story, but they must have felt there is more to be told. I love the panel where Kraven is effectively standing next to, what looks like, his own coffin, with the candles lighting the background, as he takes one last look at an old photograph.  "I think you've got your raincoat on inside out." Kev Yeh, it's quite a touching, tragic scene. Dave The last panel of the blood dripping down the photograph is highly effective. It's a powerful image. Also, the panel of his corpse lying in his own box chest is equally effective, and as you said, it has been dealt with quite tastefully, given the subject matter. It is not going for overkill on the gore factor as it does not need to do that. The image in itself is shocking enough. Kev Definitely. It's just so sad. Dave The rain and thunderstorm just continue to haunt us throughout this story. They are, in effect, another character in this issue. Kev That's true man, yeh. And the fact that they use the crack of thunder and strike of lightning again, to essentially mask the shotgun blast that kills him, is an excellent, conscientious choice.  "Gallileo. Gallileo. Gallileo. Gallileo. Gallileo, Figaro. Magnifico!" (D) & (K) Next: "Ascending."
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