#Kraven the Hunter 1987

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"KRAVEN THE HUNTER HAS STALKED AND KILLED EVERY BEAST KNOWN TO MAN. BUT THERE IS ONE PREY THAT HAS ELUDED HIM."

PIC(S) INFO: Mega spotlight on various Marvel house ads for "Kraven's Last Hunt," the epic storyline written by J. M. DeMatteis, illustrated by Mike Zeck, and published by Marvel Comics in 1987. It is recognized today as a landmark evolutionary development in the so-called "Dark Age of Comics."

MINI-OVERVIEW: "The ultimate tale of revenge! Kraven the Hunter has stalked and killed every beast known to man. But there is one prey that has eluded him. One quarry that has mocked him at every turn: the Spider. Now, in one last hunt, Kraven will finally prove that he is Spider-Man's master - by burying him alive and taking his place! To destroy the spider, he must become the spider!"

-- MARVEL COMICS GROUP, c. late 1980s

STORY/SCRIPT: J. M. DeMatteis

ARTWORK: Mike Zeck

INKS: Bob McLeod

LETTERS: Rick Parker

COLORS: Bob Sharen, Mike Zeck, various

Source: https://forum.sanctuary.fr/t/page-s-de-pub/185608/225 (forum.sanctuary 2x).

[vertigoartgore]

1989's Spider-Man - Fearful Symmetry : Kraven's Last Hunt TPB painted cover by artist Mike Zeck.

Back when the original title ("Fearful Symmetry") of this popular (deservedly so) story arc was still used.

Mike Zeck : "First softcover collection of the six-issue Kraven series."

[coldcoldlampin]

[ebooksreadernow]

Download Now Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) BY : Peter David

(Download) in PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) By Peter David

Ebook PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD If you want to download free Ebook, you are in the right place to download Ebook. Ebook/PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) DOWNLOAD in English is available for free here, Click on the download LINK below to download Ebook After You 2020 PDF Download in English by Jojo Moyes (Author).

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Read More : [Read Now] Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17)

Description

Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson are getting married! But Kraven the Hunter is going to make sure the wall-crawler ends up six feet under ? literally! It begins with an all-time classic encounter with Wolverine that changes Spidey?s life forever, leading to the death of one of his best friends! In the wake of tragedy, Peter pops the question ? but the honeymoon is short-lived, as Kraven goes to extreme lengths to prove himself superior to his greatest foe! As one of comics? most introspective, psychological sagas ever unfolds, the Hunter will learn that it?s one thing to defeat Spider-Man ? but another to expect him to stay down! COLLECTING:?Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 289-294; Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) 20-21; Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (1987) 1; Web of Spider-Man (1985) 29-32; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 131-132 ?

[ebookcolections]

Download Now Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) BY : Peter David

(Download) in PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) By Peter David

Ebook PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD If you want to download free Ebook, you are in the right place to download Ebook. Ebook/PDF Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17) DOWNLOAD in English is available for free here, Click on the download LINK below to download Ebook After You 2020 PDF Download in English by Jojo Moyes (Author).

Download Link : [Downlload Now] Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17)

Read More : [Read Now] Kraven's Last Hunt (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection, #17)

Description

Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson are getting married! But Kraven the Hunter is going to make sure the wall-crawler ends up six feet under ? literally! It begins with an all-time classic encounter with Wolverine that changes Spidey?s life forever, leading to the death of one of his best friends! In the wake of tragedy, Peter pops the question ? but the honeymoon is short-lived, as Kraven goes to extreme lengths to prove himself superior to his greatest foe! As one of comics? most introspective, psychological sagas ever unfolds, the Hunter will learn that it?s one thing to defeat Spider-Man ? but another to expect him to stay down! COLLECTING:?Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 289-294; Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) 20-21; Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (1987) 1; Web of Spider-Man (1985) 29-32; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) 131-132 ?

[comicparanoia]

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

by  J.M. DeMatteis &  Mike Zeck

Collecting WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #32-33, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #293-294 and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #131-132. published in 1987

[thecastingcircle]

He has escaped the villainous clutches of Dr. Octopus, the Kingpin, the Hobgoblin, the Green Goblin and even Kraven the Hunter, but the friendly neighborhood Spider-man was finally snared on June 5, 1987 before a sellout crowd of 51,402 at New York’s Shea Stadium.

The superhero’s co-creator Stan Lee was there to join the web-slinger to his longtime love, model/actress Mary Jane Watson in weblock. The wedding party included Spidey super friends Firestar, Iceman, the Hulk and Captain America. The Green Goblin made a rare return-from-the-dead appearance. The bride and groom entered through centerfield in separate limousines, making their way to the white heart-shaped altar from which Stan the Man presided over the ceremony.

“Now, in the sight and presence of a coterie of our other costumed crusaders, please prepare to recite your vows,” announced Lee. “Do you, Spider-man, being of sound mind and super body, take Mary Jane to be your lawfully wedded bride, forsaking all other superheroines? Do you promise to never leave footprints on the ceiling, or cobwebs in the corners? And do you agree to pinch-hit for the Mets if they ask you?” Spider-sense tingling, the groom replied, “I do.”

“Mary Jane, do you, being of sound mind and spectacular body, agree to forsake other masked Marvelites,” Lee continued, “to never, ever swat a spider, and to hug, comfort and kiss away any bruises incurred after a long day of bashing bad guys—and stay out of the Mets’ locker room?”

After a moment’s thought, Mary Jane echoed, “I do.”

“The rings please,” said Lee, “”Repeat after me—With this ring I thee web,” and both participants did so.

“By the power vested in me by Marvel Comics,” said Lee, “I now pronounce you Spider-man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

With this, Spidey carried the new Mrs. Peter Parker off to their limo and they drove off to tumultuous applause. The remaining superheroes and villain hoisted Stan Lee on their shoulders and carried him off the field.

—Jim McLernon

[omniversecomicsguide]

FEARFUL SYMMETRY: KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT (1987) One of these guys is gonna have a bullet for dinner...

MORE: Kraven's Last Hunt - - - ARTISTS: Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod & Veronica Gandini - - - FROM: Amazing Spider-Man #294 - recoloured for the Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt Deluxe Edition OHC (2018) - - - FEATURING: Kraven the Hunter & Spider-Man - - - If you haven't read this story... GO! DO IT! NOW!

[elgaberino-mcoc]

KRAVEN THE HUNTER Sergei Kravinoff

This blog article explores gamer-community ideas for a playable Marvel Contest of Champions Kraven character based on the literary figure of the same name.

Why Do We Care?

Though not as mainstreamed as the other major Spidey villains, Kraven is considered one of the best among Spider-Man’s rogues gallery. He has been frequently rumored to be material for an upcoming film.

Envisioning a Playable MCOC Kraven

Probable Class

He could be Skill, Science, or Mystic. 

Skill seems likely since he primarily relies on his hunting skills. But he amplifies his abilities by drinking a concoction—which sounds like Science. But as Diablo taught us, not all concoctions are Science-class. Kraven’s is made of some kind of mystical jungle herbs—which sounds like Mystic, unless those herbs fall in the same category as the heart-shaped herb Black Panther (Skill class) uses.

In a poll of 44 Summoners in October 2020, approximately 80% of those polled said he would be Skill, not Science or Mystic.

Likely and Plausible Playable Attributes

Attributes include durability, resilience, maybe learning and Defensive Ability Accuracy Reduction, and probably ranged weapons. His tracking and trapping skills might translate to debuffs like Slow or Root. Knives and blow darts could translate to Bleed and Poison damage-over-time debuffs. As a savage grappler and fighter, he could deal other debuffs like Fatigue, Concussion, or Dislocate.

He would be a perfect champ to experiment with area-of-effect abilities like Gas or Tangle, or his use of nets and traps could just translate to an Ensnare debuff. 

Kraven is also a skilled animal trainer, so his special attacks might feature wild cats or other animals under his command. 

His knowledge of medicine and occult potions and his immortality could give him some low-level Regeneration, or could mean that while he can be knocked-out, he rarely requires a Revive. Imaginejim’s Kraven build (see below) envisions Kravinoff immune to Fatigue, Exhaustion, and Weakness debuffs.

In November 2020, content creator imaginejim suggested Kabam incorporate up- and down-swipes into the game. A theoretical use for down-swipe: laying traps. Multiple Summoners thought Kraven’s kit would be good occasion for this trap-laying feature. Jim also imagines new debuffs called Hunted and Tranquilized.

Possible Synergies

The current champ in the game with whom Kraven may have the most in common is monster-hunter Elsa Bloodstone. One big-game hunter among future champs is Lady Hellbender, another, monster-hunter Hellsgaard. Other (potentially) Mystic class spider-hunters are the Inheritors Karn and Morlun. Further future pursuers include Inhuman hunter Lash, god-hunters Mangog, Desak, the Gorgon, and Gorr the God-Butcher, bounty hunters Death’s Head, Silver Sable, and Black Cat, and of course Korath the Pursuer. Other hunters include mutant-stalkers Caliban, Nimrod, and Omega Sentinel and most instances of Sentinel tech.

Fellow Spider-Man rogues include Rhino, Green Goblin, Electro, Venom, Beetle (Janice Lincoln), Boomerang, Hobgoblin, Lizard, Sandman, Scorpion, Shocker, Stilt-Man, Swarm, and the White Rabbit.

The other guy who drinks potions, in-game, would be Diablo (with whom imaginejim suggests a “Drinking Buddies” synergy). And again, Black Panthers are his fellow “Skill-class champs who drink a mysterious herbal potion that enhances their abilities.”

Ares, Arkon, Conan, Hercules, Ka-Zar, Kull, and Skull the Slayer are all fellow legendary men of skill who happen not to wear shirts.

Kraven in Other Games

He appears in numerous Spider-Man branded games. Kraven also appeared in Marvel Heroes, Marvel: War of Heroes, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2, and current mobile games Marvel Future Fight and Marvel Puzzle Quest.

Kraven and Summoners

As of mid-February 2020, Kraven had nearly 350 mentions on the MCOC message boards (an apparent board search malfunction is hampering updates of this number). As of December 2020 he has over 180 mentions on the Wishlist 3.0 thread. He is perpetually in the top 10 (and sometimes top 5) of the MCOC Wishlist Poll, where as of December 2020, nearly 3,200 Summoners have voted.

Full Work-Ups

• Content creator imaginejim’s fan-made Kraven (depicted below) • Summoner notsavage19′s work-up of Kraven • Summoner Megamind’s work-up

NEWS

October 29, 2020: Gabe says the October 21 reference to a champ in development wasn't Morbius, so Kraven is one of nine characters who might currently be in development for MCOC.

October 21, 2020: Kabam Gabe says one of this date’s Wishlist top 10 is currently in development. Kraven was in the top 10 at that time, so Kraven is one of ten characters who might be currently in-development for MCOC.

February 14, 2020: Summoner Jim Cassidy Tweeted a 36-character grid of characters he’d like to see in the game. Kabam Gabe replied that “a bunch” of those characters are in development.

December 11, 2019: Content Creator KatyCandy16 requests Kraven for 2020.

November 23, 2019: Rich the Man speculates (incorrectly) Kraven sighting on-screen, speculates Kraven for 2020

October 24, 2019: I predicted #MCOC might not see Kraven in 2020.

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Spider-Man: Life Story #3

What is Kraven’s plan here?

I will grant Kraven’s plan in KLH technically speaking made no sense but we were presented his twisted perspective and it was from that perspective we were able to deduce he was viewing Spider-Man (and the world) with blinders on. And from that limited viewpoint his plan added up.

Seemingly kill Spidey. Bury him alive. Imitate him. Be a better Spider-Man than him. when he wakes up tell him he could’ve killed him and show him you are a better Spider-Man than him. Die in glorious victory, honour restored.

It’s crazy, but it makes sense from Kraven’s POV, so much so that when he killed himself real life readers took it to be glorifying suicide.

Here we don’t get Kraven’s perspective. Which wouldn’t be a problem as much if his plan and motives were the same.

But it they aren’t because in Life Story Kraven the Hunter imitates Spider-Man, drugs him and then buries him alive…because America is at war with Russia…and he has cancer…and he needs Spider-Man to be ‘beautiful’ which seemingly means…violent and probably prone to killing.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I’m just….what?

The worst case scenario for this is that Zdarsky should never be allowed to write Kraven the Hunter ever because this so aggressively doesn’t seem to understand his character, his relationship with Spider-Man or Kraven’s Last Hunt.

The best case scenario, Zdarsky is a terrible writer and in his head is justifying Kraven’s actions via ‘he’s crazy so it doesn’t have to make sense so I can have the character do anything.’

Let’s unpack this.

So Kraven is imitating Spider-Man (poorly because he uses a rifle) before he buries Spider-Man alive because…um…I don’t know.

Because as with so much in this story, it’s never explained.

You’d think it’d be to draw out Spider-Man but no, that’s not it because Kraven just happens to apparently know where Spider-Man is and sneaks up on him (where the Hell was the Spider Sense?)

The he shoots at Spider-Man at very close range but Spider-Man dodges. That’d be the Spider-Man who’s so old now at age 37 he maybe needs a symbiote suit to compensate. Yeah that guy can still dodge a rifle at close range just fine…without the symbiote.

Oh but then his old age catches up with him because Kraven stabs him.

Let me repeat that.

The old man, with no super powers (as he wants to remind us) who is also dying of cancer is able to stab the much younger super fast and agile guy with a precognitive danger sense.

What.

The.

Fuck.

Do you see?

Do you see how bad this series is?

This would be inexcusable writing even if we weren’t comparing it to canon!

But we aren’t done. Because remember how I said Kraven is old and has no powers? Yeah…why is Kraven old and hasn’t got any powers?

Kraven’s powers 100% grant him super human strength, speed, agility, the usual package of super powers.

It’s nowhere close to Spider-Man’s power level no, but it is beyond human nevertheless.

And KLH itself established that Kraven’s jungle herbs and potions make retard his aging immensely. In fact as real life time elapses their abilities to do this grow greater since he was a not yet an adult at the time of the 1917 Russian Revolution but looked to be in his 30s circa 1987 when KLH was originally published. As time goes by KLH didn’t happen in 1987 but much later so Kraven seriously doesn’t age! It’s to the point where he was part of a 1950s Avengers team in canon.

I get that Zdarsky in his alternate universe can take the characters in different directions but you aren’t even getting the super powers of the super heroes and villains right here!

But it gets worse.

So Kraven is doing this because after so many years in America he regards it as his home?

Fuck…Off.

Kraven the Hunter would never  think that way. Kraven finds America’s ways decadent. He hates them because they lack the kind of jungle and animalistic honour he holds so dear. This is spelled out in the goddam story Zdarsky is homaging.

What? Is the implication Kraven’s cancer is affecting his brain thus making him a totally different person?

If pressed Kraven might choose America over Russia but only because ‘Mother Russia’ destroyed his family in the Russian Revolution. But I’m not convinced Kraven would take a side in general, so much as he’d regard it beneath him or just the law of the jungle playing out on a bigger scale.

But. It. Gets. Worse.

Kraven’s motivation in trying to make Spider-Man ‘beautiful’ again, into a warrior again is akin to Zdarsky gluing in a character from a story we’ve not been reading into this one.

When the Hell in this mini-series was it ever implied Spider-Man was a warrior, a killer, someone violent the way Kraven wants him to be?

It’s even stupider when you consider Kraven says America hasn’t got a real hero, i.e. a real warrior who is willing to kill and be violent because…Wolverine literally appears in this comic.

Hulk appears in this comic.

Captain America appears in this comics.

Iron Man appears in this comic

THOR appears in this comic. Thor, the Viking WARRIOR God!

What is he talking about!??????????

BUT. IT. GETS. WORSE!

Because Kraven after burying Spider-Man proceeds to go around continuing to impersonate Spider-Man (for some reason without his gun now).

Why?

In KLH it made sense.

But WTF is Kraven’s motive in pretending to be Spider-Man in this story at all?

Why was he doing it before and what is his motive in doing it after burying Spider-Man?

He isn’t trying to make himself superior to Spider-Man now.

Peter isn’t even mad ABOUT Kraven impersonating him (which he was in KLH) so Kraven wasn’t doing it to rile him up.

WHY?????????????

BUT IT GETS WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spider-Man only survives being buried alive because of the symbiote.

But Kraven couldn’t have known about that so his plan was either to

a)      Genuinely send Spider-Man out the way of a warrior…by drugging him and burying him alive to slowly suffocate…how noble…Or

b)      Burying him alive with the expectation he’d get out and be so angry he’d become a murderer and this would magically mean becoming old and weak wouldn’t be a problem any more.

*smashes head against desk*

P.S. Not to mention, a Venom empowered angry Spider-Man shoves the old, non-superpowered, dying of cancer Kraven’s head into a brick wall and…he’s fine. He’s not even dazed or bleeding.

[aion-rsa]

The Spider-Man: No Way Home We’ll Never See

https://ift.tt/3p69Cfj

Now that Spider-Man: No Way Home has swung its way to theaters armed with an array of revelations, it’s practically unfathomable that collaborative companies Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios envisioned anything short of its stupendous scope. However, it appears that slimmer, multiverse-deprived ideas were originally planned for the threequel during a brief period of panic in which Spider-Man seemed destined to leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Spider-Man: No Way Home successfully promoted its returning villainous ghosts (so to speak,) of Spider-Man iterations past, and implicitly teased even more universe-shattering surprises, on which it delivered—we’ll just leave it at that. However, the conception of the health-crisis-era release’s fantastical plot occurred at the height of a different kind of crisis, in summer 2019, during which a spat over shared profits saw character licensee Sony withdraw Tom Holland’s Spider-Man from the MCU. While said crisis was resolved a month later, screenwriters Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers reveal to Variety how the third solo film initially adhered to the studio split, resulting in, among other plans, a non-MCU version in which Spidey tangles with comic villain Kraven the Hunter.

“We were taking meetings about it, and going, ‘Well, what would this movie be if it wasn’t in the MCU?’,” recalls McKenna of the process that briefly considered a Kraven movie villain run. “It was like any time you have a limitation thrown on you,” adds Sommers. “Then it creates possibilities and spurs all sorts of creative discussions. Fortunately, they [Sony and Marvel] came to their agreement before we were too far down any road, and we were able to jump right in with the old team.”

If the writers were forced to carry on Spidey’s cinematic legacy without acknowledging his firmly-established MCU ties, then they could have done worse than having Kraven the Hunter as the main villain. After all, Kraven is a clear A-list villain from the almost-sixty-year annals of Spider-Man’s comic book exploits, having debuted in 1964’s The Amazing Spider-Man #15. The character, born Sergei Nikolaievich Kravinoff, was initially depicted as a tenacious trophy hunter of dangerous game, the deadlier the better; a trade for which he is more than prepared physically, especially after black magic and Voodoo potions enhanced him with beastly apex predator-level speed, strength and reflexes. Thus, unsatisfied with hunting animals, the surge of attention to a certain media-maligned New York superhero inspired Kraven to turn the Big Apple into his own personal Spider-Man safari, creating a rivalry for the ages.

Marvel Comics

As if Kraven’s status as an iconic Spider-Man villain—and an inaugural member of evil tandem the Sinister Six—wasn’t enough credibility for a movie villain run, his rivalry with the Wall-Crawler evolved to a personal level over the decades. Indeed, he would come to be defined by Marvel’s 1987 storyline, “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” in which the obsessed stalker, for all intents and purposes, accomplishes his goal of defeating Spider-Man. However, in a moment that stands as a prime example of mainstream comics delving into dark places, Kraven, having fulfilled his longtime life purpose, famously commits suicide. Yet, typical of the comic book industry, various spins on the character would subsequently manifest, notably in reboot titles.

However, Sony’s never-to-be-realized non-MCU version of Spider-Man: No Way Home, could have effectively stuck to the comic-inspired fundamentals of Kraven’s rivalry with Spidey. Moreover, it would have perfectly complemented the film’s setup in Far from Home’s legendarily consequential mid-credits scene, in which Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio posthumously used J.K. Simmons’s J. Jonah Jameson to publish a devastating fabrication implicating Spidey for his own murder, and vindictively disclosed the very-true notion that Spider-Man is none other than Peter Parker. Consequently, despite Far from Home’s intrinsic MCU connections—with everyone still dealing with the fallout of Avengers: Endgame and the Blip—the solo sequel’s post-climactic doxing set the stage for several viable non-MCU possibilities.

Read more

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Indeed, Spider-Man’s fugitive status could have provided the perfect context for Kraven to arrive in New York—perhaps even followed by a camera crew, akin to his “Ultimate” quasi-reality-star comic version—to publicly pursue a quest for glory by tracking down our on-the-run Spidey, attempting to mount the Wall-Crawler’s figurative (or maybe literal) pelt on his mantle, potentially with Jameson’s help. In fact, the idea of Kraven being a movie villain was prominently pursued by director Ryan Coogler for Marvel’s groundbreaking 2018 smash, Black Panther, although the idea was quickly shut down due to the character’s unavailability. However, Kraven’s big screen debut is imminent one way or another, especially with Sony’s long-gestating spinoff movie project—a cold-intro stratagem akin to Venom—which, if current plans hold, will see Aaron Taylor-Johnson tackle the role.    

Regardless, things are playing out ideally for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is already living up to its expected status as a wall-crawling killer of pandemic-era ennui, having already reportedly reaped $50 million domestically on Thursday night, yielding the third-highest preview night total in history—no special pandemic category required. While the film has the advantage of built-in bankability, with Holland’s popular take on the titular Marvel mascot hero—directly following the $1 billion-grossing 2019 sequel success of Spider-Man: Far from Home—it’s MCU-invading multiverse villains have created an exceptionally unmatched level of hype. That’s a weapon that even the great Kraven would be unable to wield in the face of the exhibitor industry’s post-2020 woes.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Spider-Man: No Way Home is playing at a theater new you right now. You won’t likely need me, or anyone else for that matter, to convince you to check it out.

The post The Spider-Man: No Way Home We’ll Never See appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3e27SgV

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"...THE SECOND GREATEST PREDATOR MUST TAKE HIM DOWN."

PIC INFO: Resolution at 938×1372 -- Spotlight on a pin-up of Kraven the Hunter versus a Tyrannosaurus Rex (somewhere in the Savage Land, perhaps?), artwork by Mike Mignola for "Marvel Fanfare" Vol. 1 #34. September, 1987. Marvel Comics.

"Somewhere on this island is the greatest predator there ever lived. The second greatest predator must take him down."

-- ROLAND TEMBO to Nick Van Owen, from "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997)

[grins] 

Source: www.zipcomic.com/marvel-fanfare-1982-issue-34.

[vertigoartgore]

Kraven dressed as Spider-Man by Mike Zeck & Bob McLeod.

[comic-watch]

Suicide is a very tough subject to tackle, but as a society, we are learning how to deal with it better. Spotting warning signs or identifying behavior from others that might cause someone to want to self-harm is important. It has become a little easier as we understand what triggers such thoughts, sadly though it has been at the cost of others lives.

With Facebook releasing a new AI to detect suicide possibilities from user posts, it’s a good time to address the issue in comic books. First though let’s see what Facebook is doing to help the situation. While it already had tools to report suicidal posts for moderators to react to and take action, it will now use an AI that constantly scans posts for content that identifies with suicidal tendencies and comments like “Are you ok?”, or “Do you need help?”. The AI will flag content to moderators, quicker than people having to report it and allow them to send mental health resources to the user. They are also putting on more moderators and training them to deal with suicide as well as partnering with local organizations that deal with this type of crisis. For the full article, read here.

Now let’s visit how some comics have dealt with the situation. It is a tough topic that possibly isn’t talked about enough, often due to fear of glorifying it or implanting ideas. The first comic I read that touched on the subject was The Sensational Spider-Man #7 (1996) which featured Ben Reilly as Spidey saving someone who was attempting to do the deed. The man, George, had climbed all the way up to an aerial atop a skyscraper, a helicopter crew trying to get near to film it. When Spider-Man shows up, he starts with a quip to try and defuse the situation, the man believes he is a failure at life and should have accomplished so much by now. The helicopter begins to spiral out of control and smashes into the building, Spidey grabs the man from the aerial and swings him to safety, not having time to diffuse the situation in a calmer manner.

  As Spider-man gets the injured chopper occupants out, he relies on Georges help, one of them needing CPR and George is the only one around that knows it. In the end, George saves a mans life, giving him a renewed form of self-worth and lease on life. An important lesson here is that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone else’s achievements or standards to measure our own worth. We all take our own path, focus on what you have done rather than haven’t done. Take pride in your own achievements, no matter how small.

Another comic that dealt with the matter was The New 52 Red Hood and the Outlaws #3 (2011). In the New 52 universe, Roy Harper (Arsenal) was kicked from his position as Green Arrow’s sidekick and has joined up with Jason Todd’s group. He is also a depressed alcoholic with not much of a will to live. In this issue, Roy goes up against Killer Croc alone with the hopes that Croc will kill him in the process. When Killer figures out what Roy is trying to do, he refuses to be a part of it but instead offers to be his sponsor and help Roy get back on his feet. Sometimes people will put themselves in a situation they hope will end in harm to them without them actually doing the deed. It’s still actively deciding to end one’s life but doesn’t seem as definite a decision.

In Batman Rebirth the “I am Suicide” arc #8-13 (2016) we have most of the story told in the form of a letter correspondence between Bruce and eventually learning Selina Kyle. It’s a very interesting way of furthering the inner themes of the arc, almost like it is a suicide note, a last confession and admittance for all the reasons they do what they do. Midway through the arc, we read that a young Bruce felt so alone and painful that he slit his wrists with his father’s razor. Here he discovers the choice to ignore everything or embrace Gotham and get vengeance for his parents, give his life away to a cause. In his letter, he explains that this is what all the costume, the toy’s, the waiting is about, he is Batman, he is suicide. Essentially when he made the attempt as a young boy and came to the realization that he would give his life up then and there. Bruce Wayne would be but a memory and he would fight for vengeance and justice until it killed him, he was suicide waiting to happen. This is new and disturbing ground for the Dark Knight, he is always calculating and mysterious, but to give all that a new sensation to drive him from is almost chilling.

The classic saga of Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt (1987) deals with a different kind of thought process to the matter. Kraven tranquilizes Spider-Man, buries him and takes his place for two weeks. He defeats and captures Vermin, a foe the Spider could not beat alone and tortures him while holding him captive. For him it is the ultimate victory, showing that he can defeat him and take his place gives Kraven a sense of completion. When Spider-Man eventually recovers and digs his way out, he goes after the hunter, but Kraven doesn’t fight back, he doesn’t need to, he has won the game already. He unleashes Vermin on Spider-Man to further drive the lesson home. Vermin thinks it was Spider-Man who had been hurting him and easily overpowers him until Kraven steps in and tells Vermin to flee. Kraven even helps Spider-Man up and shows him the exit, giving his word that he will not hunt again. As Spidey pursues Vermin, Kraven says farewell and shoots himself in the head with a rifle. Someone who is in a depressive state and considering suicide may begin to tie up loose ends, finish things left undone. They often become happier when doing this because they know the end is in sight, that peace will soon end their suffering.

Lastly, we have The New Mutants #45 (1983) where a new transfer student to the local high school, Larry Bodine, tries to deal with keeping being a mutant a secret. At a school dance, he meets Kitty Pryde who unbeknownst to him is also a mutant. They dance away, neither knowing the other’s secret. Some of the jocks at the party start to tell mutie jokes and insinuate that Larry is probably one, he heavily denies the accusations. This furthers their belief that he is a mutant and decide to play a prank on him, pretending that they have called the government mutant hunting group X-Factor. Back hanging with Kitty and the rest of the New Mutants, he tries to dispel any suspicion by telling mutie jokes, not realizing who he is with. The group angrily leaves Larry, saying they thought he was a nice guy, but were clearly wrong.

Larry is depressed by what his actions have brought about, just trying to fit in, he tries to drink his woes away but can’t stomach it. Another sign of failure, he can’t even get drunk properly. In his room, the phone rings and the voice on the other end says X-Factor is coming for him. Rhane is peaking through his window and sees his light sculptures from his powers and proves what she thought, that Larry is a mutant too. The next morning, Magneto, the headmaster of Xavier’s school announces to the team that a student from the nearby high school committed suicide last night. This is where bullying can lead to as we have seen so often in recent years, people being singled out and taunted for being a bit different can be quite hurt by people’s remarks and actions. Now with the internet, it seems to have become easier to bully people, reaching them wherever they are. What some people see as harmless fun can be extremely damaging to an individual, so think twice before you make a joke at someone else’s expense.

  If you or someone you know is heading down this path, there is always someone who is willing to listen. A local helpline, authority figures such as a teacher or police officer and most importantly family if you are lucky enough. You can even contact me via Facebook or Twitter @KebbleDotDesign if you want a nonjudgmental ear. No matter how far down you have fallen, it can always be worse, someone else out there is having a harder time. It’s not the end, it is just a reason to start over and try things differently. It’s kind of corny but I like the saying “A lump of coal will only transform into a diamond through immense pressure”, consider yourself a diamond in the making. From all of us at Comic Watch, we wish you happy and healthy futures.

Comic Watch takes an in depth look at a serious and tragic matter and the comic industry. Suicide is a very tough subject to tackle, but as a society, we are learning how to deal with it better.

[comicparanoia]

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

by  J.M. DeMatteis &  Mike Zeck

Collecting WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #32-33, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #293-294 and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #131-132. published in 1987

[comicparanoia]

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt

by  J.M. DeMatteis &  Mike Zeck

Collecting WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #32-33, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #293-294 and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #131-132. published in 1987