Flashback
I had a ton of comics from my youth that were stolen about four years ago. I hadn't collected in years, but I'd dig out a run of Alpha Flight or X-Men or Firestorm or Batman and read through what I had of the series of choice every 6 months to a year. I had 4 long boxes that they were stored in, so I probably had a good 800 and probably more.
That they're gone now is a bitter pill, especially since I've started collecting a few again. Its a good time to read comics these days, as not only are they more mainstream than they've ever been, but they're also written by some very good writers. Gaiman, Vaughn, David, Whedon, Brubaker, Willingham, and many more are writing some excellent stories, and even TV and movie writers are trying their hand at them. There are writers of Lost (which Vaughn has joined), Heroes, and Grey's Anatomy, to name three, that are writing comics as well. Its becoming cool. ;)
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, thanks to the internet, I just reread an old 6-issue Spider-Man story that my old friend, Adam, owned back in my teenage years. He was a huge Spider-Man fan, and I can only imagine that he would love the movies (although maybe not 3, even though it wasn't that bad). Anyhow, the story was Kraven's Last Hunt, and it is one of the coolest stories I've read, and it stands up to this day.
Kraven is a hunter, but since regular hunting isn't challenging for him anymore, he hunts bigger game, and in this (and many before it) case, that means Spider-Man. What makes the Last Hunt so cool is the overlying theme of death in the tale. Spidey is newly married and worried about how MJ will deal with something bad happening to him. Kraven goes on about how his mother couldn't take coming to America, and how it caused her to kill herself, as well as the fact that he is aging and is facing his own mortality. And a killer is on the streets murdering women. Death is everywhere, and it sets a great mood for the whole arc.
The crux of the story is Kraven believing that he has to finally beat Spider-Man, as its his final hunt to finish before he dies. Indeed, he drugs and buries Spidey alive, and then takes his place as Spider-Man for two weeks. After the defeat of the man, he sets out to prove himself superior by defeating someone Spidey couldn't beat alone (the killer in the arc). And he does that. So when Spidey finally digs himself up, he finds himself faced with a man who's convinced he's beaten him. He shows Spidey the defeated killer, who Spidey couldn't defeat alone, and then releases him, before allowing Spidey to go chase him down. And with his life's final hunt finished, he can end his life with honour.
I can't do enough justice to the mood of the book, which is the best part of it. The writing is excellent, with Kraven narrating most of it from his twisted point of view, and the art is dark and sinister. To be honest, its not what you'd expect from a comic that was, and still is, popular with younger audiences.
Best of all, its a nice flashback to the days of collecting with my buddy, and sharing these cool stories. Like I've done with anyone who actually reads this thing.
That they're gone now is a bitter pill, especially since I've started collecting a few again. Its a good time to read comics these days, as not only are they more mainstream than they've ever been, but they're also written by some very good writers. Gaiman, Vaughn, David, Whedon, Brubaker, Willingham, and many more are writing some excellent stories, and even TV and movie writers are trying their hand at them. There are writers of Lost (which Vaughn has joined), Heroes, and Grey's Anatomy, to name three, that are writing comics as well. Its becoming cool. ;)
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, thanks to the internet, I just reread an old 6-issue Spider-Man story that my old friend, Adam, owned back in my teenage years. He was a huge Spider-Man fan, and I can only imagine that he would love the movies (although maybe not 3, even though it wasn't that bad). Anyhow, the story was Kraven's Last Hunt, and it is one of the coolest stories I've read, and it stands up to this day.
Kraven is a hunter, but since regular hunting isn't challenging for him anymore, he hunts bigger game, and in this (and many before it) case, that means Spider-Man. What makes the Last Hunt so cool is the overlying theme of death in the tale. Spidey is newly married and worried about how MJ will deal with something bad happening to him. Kraven goes on about how his mother couldn't take coming to America, and how it caused her to kill herself, as well as the fact that he is aging and is facing his own mortality. And a killer is on the streets murdering women. Death is everywhere, and it sets a great mood for the whole arc.
The crux of the story is Kraven believing that he has to finally beat Spider-Man, as its his final hunt to finish before he dies. Indeed, he drugs and buries Spidey alive, and then takes his place as Spider-Man for two weeks. After the defeat of the man, he sets out to prove himself superior by defeating someone Spidey couldn't beat alone (the killer in the arc). And he does that. So when Spidey finally digs himself up, he finds himself faced with a man who's convinced he's beaten him. He shows Spidey the defeated killer, who Spidey couldn't defeat alone, and then releases him, before allowing Spidey to go chase him down. And with his life's final hunt finished, he can end his life with honour.
I can't do enough justice to the mood of the book, which is the best part of it. The writing is excellent, with Kraven narrating most of it from his twisted point of view, and the art is dark and sinister. To be honest, its not what you'd expect from a comic that was, and still is, popular with younger audiences.
Best of all, its a nice flashback to the days of collecting with my buddy, and sharing these cool stories. Like I've done with anyone who actually reads this thing.