Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #22
Into the Grave Part Two
The Prey
The Scarlet Spider wakes up in an open grave in the middle of the Houston Zoo following his confrontation with Kraven the Hunter. Kraven speaks to him over the PA system as he pulls himself out of the grave to find he is in an enclosure with a bunch of dead animals. Kraven tells Kaine that he has been studying him and deemed him unlike Peter Parker or Ben Reilly, while he views them as prey, he believes that Kaine is a true predator. He believes that Kaine has forgotten what he really is and intends to remind him how to hunt again.
That’s when a tiger and a cheeta come racing out of the gloom to attack him.
The Gathering
Aracely wakes up tied to a tree asking for Kaine. Kraven is before her and explains that he knows all about her and how Kaine saved her life.[1] He also tells her that it is because of Kaine that he is alive as well. He explains how he was once a great hunter who became obsessed with defeating Spider-Man.[2] Ultimately, even when he won he was very tired and ended his life.[3] When Aracely asks how he is still alive, he explains that his family launched an attack on Spider-Man and all his friends in the hopes of sacrificing the wall-crawler to bring him back from the dead. Unfortunately, they were tricked and Kaine was used in the sacrifice. Instead of being brought back to life, Kraven has been cursed with an un-life from which he can never truly die and it has driven him mad.[4] However, he sees his return as a gift because it gave him something worthwhile to hunt again, Kaine himself.
By this time, the Scarlet Spider has webbed up the big cats, but he is ambushed from behind by Ana Kravinoff. She slashes his back with one of her knives and then flees into the nearby trees. Remembering how he vowed to rip the young woman’s heart out next time he saw her, Kaine races after Ana.[5] Elsewhere, Aracely tries to use her powers to learn about Kraven’s motivations. When she gets up he slashes her across the forehead with his knife. He is surprised she was able to burn off the sedatives so quickly and assures her that he has more where that came from.
Meanwhile, Kaine has lost track of Ana and rushes to the aid of a security guard who is on the ground. The guard warns him too late that it is a trap and the pair are caught in a net. The guard then dies moments later due to his injuries. When Ana comes out to gloat an enraged Scarlet Spider cuts through the net and lunges at her. As Kraven tells Aracely about Kaine’s true nature, he and Ana lock in battle. Eventually, she stabs Kaine with Wally Layton’s police badge. Realizing what it is, he gets distracted and as he asks what Ana has done with Wally, she renews her attack. However, she is not prepared for his rage and he pummels her while demanding to know where Wally is. Ana is amused, and tells Kaine that Wally, Donald, and Annabelle are dead and that Aracely will be next.
At first, Kaine’s rage gets the better of him and his wrist stingers pop out. He is about to strike a killing blow he thinks about all the times that Ben Reilly was able to see the good in him when he only saw himself as a monster.[6] Kaine stops himself from landing the killing blow, his stinger stopping inches from Ana’s face. He then webs her up to a tree, saying that he no longer believes that his friends are actually dead because Kraven wants something from him and asks where her father is.
The Hunt
The Scarlet Spider brings Ana to where Kraven has his friends. He is horrified to see they are all tied to stakes in a tiger enclosure. When Kaine asks Kraven what he wants, the hunter explains that he wants the Scarlet Spider to give in to his rage and fight him to the death.
Recurring Characters
Scarlet Spider, Kraven the Hunter, Hummingbird, Ana Kravinoff, Wally Layton, Donald Meland, Annabelle Adams
Continuity Notes
Kaine saved Aracely from human trafficking in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #1-2.
Kraven began hunting Spider-Man way back in Amazing Spider-Man #15.
Kraven ultimately defeated Spider-Man, burying the web-slinger alive. However, after spending some time in Spider-Man’s shoes, Kraven ultimately committed suicide. See Kraven’s Last Hunt (Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294, and Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132)
Kraven’s Family attempted to resurrect him in Amazing Spider-Man #634-637, using Kaine as a sacrifice. Kaine was resurrected himself shortly thereafter thanks to the Other, as explained in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #14-15.
Kaine last encountered Ana Kravinoff in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #6.
Kaine has two flashbacks. One is a confrontation with Ben Reilly that dates back to Spider-Man: The Lost Years #1-3, and the time he sought the guidance of a priest, that was in Scarlet Spider (vol. 2) #6.
