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The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) (Collected Editions)
The Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 4: Hunted
When Kraven returns, Spider-Man becomes the hunted! Sergei Kravinoff and his minions have been kidnapping animal-themed superhumans for months, and they need one more to complete the collection: the Spider. But what does Kraven want with all of them?! In Central Park, the prey is let loose, and the hunt begins - but Kraven isn't the one in pursuit. Who has Spidey in their crosshairs? The Lizard has a target on his back, too - but he has a truly terrifying plan of his own! Peter Parker will find himself in a horrible situation, but there are lives - innocent and otherwise - at stake, and...well...he's Spider-Man. When it comes to the big showdown, you have no idea how this one will go down!
COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) #16-23, #16HU and #18HU-20HU
COLLECTING: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) #16-23, #16HU and #18HU-20HU
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2019
137 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spencer
998 books345 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Nick Spencer is a comic book writer known for his creator-owned titles at Image Comics (Existence 2.0/3.0, Forgetless, Shuddertown, Morning Glories), his work at DC Comics (Action Comics, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), and for his current work at Marvel Comics (Iron Man 2.0, Ultimate Comics: X-Men).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
September 2, 2019
In a spiritual successor to Kraven's Last Hunt, Kraven rounds up all of Spidey's animal themed villains (There are a ton of them.), trapping them in Central Park to be hunted down. Spencer actually wrote an interesting story here, also tying into Grim Hunt when Kraven was resurrected. Adding in Arcade always makes for a fun scenario as well, no matter how cliched his character has become at times. Spencer establishes a new status quo for a lot of Spidey villains here. The HU issues were interesting too, focusing on a Spidey villain and what he was doing during the main issue. There are a ton of different artists in here, with Ryan Ottley bookending the story while Humberto Ramos handles the main storyline with an assist from Gerardo Sandoval. All of the one shots are surprisingly handled by capable artists like Chris Bachalo and Cory Smith. Typically these get delegated out as "try out" books for artists not ready for the big time yet.
August 17, 2019
Kraven The Hunter is back, and if you're an animal themed hero or villain, you're in trouble. Trapped in Central Park with a group of indestructible hunters, Spidey must navigate a way through the conflict, save Billy Connors and the Black Cat, and defeat Kraven all before the mysterious bug villain that haunts his dreams sets his sights on Mary Jane!
Everything Nick Spencer has been doing with Spidey's world so far has been building to this story, and it's well worth it. For the most part, Spidey doesn't even get to influence what's going on as there are so many other moving parts to the proceedings, and while it can sometimes feel frantic and a little overwhelming, the .HU issues help break up the action and flesh out the bit players. The Gibbon issue is especially good, and more than a little heartbreaking.
This is all very much an homage to both the classic Kraven's Last Hunt and the Gauntlet-concluding Grim Hunt, and gives Kraven both a brilliant send-off and a way to continue being a thorn in Spider-Man's side for years to come, so it's a best-of-both-worlds situation. And even once the dust clears, there's a sense that this is just a small part of the story that Spencer has planned, with the epilogue issue showing just how much more we've got to come.
On art, Humberto Ramos tackles the main story, while Ryan Ottley handles the prelude and epilogue issues. Both these names speak for themselves at this point, although Ramos does need some help from Gerardo Sandoval at points, who manages to take Ramos' spindly figures and kinetic energy to another level with his manga-inspired visuals. THe HU issues all get different artists, with Iban Coello on Black Cat (and not Greg Land, thankfully), Ken Lashley on Gibbon, Chris Bachalo making a triumphant return to the Lizard, and Cory Smith on the Vulture issue.
Hunted's great. It's got a few pacing problems in the middle, but the spotlight issues more than make up for that, as Amazing Spider-Man's first Spencer-led event sets a good precedent going forward.
Everything Nick Spencer has been doing with Spidey's world so far has been building to this story, and it's well worth it. For the most part, Spidey doesn't even get to influence what's going on as there are so many other moving parts to the proceedings, and while it can sometimes feel frantic and a little overwhelming, the .HU issues help break up the action and flesh out the bit players. The Gibbon issue is especially good, and more than a little heartbreaking.
This is all very much an homage to both the classic Kraven's Last Hunt and the Gauntlet-concluding Grim Hunt, and gives Kraven both a brilliant send-off and a way to continue being a thorn in Spider-Man's side for years to come, so it's a best-of-both-worlds situation. And even once the dust clears, there's a sense that this is just a small part of the story that Spencer has planned, with the epilogue issue showing just how much more we've got to come.
On art, Humberto Ramos tackles the main story, while Ryan Ottley handles the prelude and epilogue issues. Both these names speak for themselves at this point, although Ramos does need some help from Gerardo Sandoval at points, who manages to take Ramos' spindly figures and kinetic energy to another level with his manga-inspired visuals. THe HU issues all get different artists, with Iban Coello on Black Cat (and not Greg Land, thankfully), Ken Lashley on Gibbon, Chris Bachalo making a triumphant return to the Lizard, and Cory Smith on the Vulture issue.
Hunted's great. It's got a few pacing problems in the middle, but the spotlight issues more than make up for that, as Amazing Spider-Man's first Spencer-led event sets a good precedent going forward.
October 1, 2019
This was pretty good but I can't help but feel like I wanted more.
Kraven is up to his old tricks. He wants the Spider dead. Instead of going after him head on and failling for the 100th time he decides to play it smart and capture a bunch of other insect like heroes and villains and use them as weapons to kill each other. But more than that he lets rich pieces of shit use robots to hunt and kill them. The twist and turns keep coming as the end results have our hero at odds on who to save and who to let go.
I enjoyed some moments a lot. There's some great funny moments and Spencer writes Peter on the edge of losing his shit well. I also enjoyed everything with the Lizard and his son and it was smart for Spencer to make a call back to the best storyline from brand new day era. The art is solid though the symbiot looking suit Peter wears looks HORRID. I also didn't like the ending and felt it was a bit lame on the whole event.
Overall, it was a solid Spider-man mini-event but hardly anything amazing. I enjoyed some moments a lot but this isn't one of the all time greats and I know Spencer can produce a better story in the end. A 3 out of 5.
Kraven is up to his old tricks. He wants the Spider dead. Instead of going after him head on and failling for the 100th time he decides to play it smart and capture a bunch of other insect like heroes and villains and use them as weapons to kill each other. But more than that he lets rich pieces of shit use robots to hunt and kill them. The twist and turns keep coming as the end results have our hero at odds on who to save and who to let go.
I enjoyed some moments a lot. There's some great funny moments and Spencer writes Peter on the edge of losing his shit well. I also enjoyed everything with the Lizard and his son and it was smart for Spencer to make a call back to the best storyline from brand new day era. The art is solid though the symbiot looking suit Peter wears looks HORRID. I also didn't like the ending and felt it was a bit lame on the whole event.
Overall, it was a solid Spider-man mini-event but hardly anything amazing. I enjoyed some moments a lot but this isn't one of the all time greats and I know Spencer can produce a better story in the end. A 3 out of 5.
August 26, 2020
As others have said the best volume in Spencer's run to date, not only a very solid interpretation of the ways of Kraven, but a whole raft of foreshadowing for the rest of his run. 8 out of 12
September 2, 2020
While reading through the Marvel Masterworks reprints of The Amazing Spider-Man, I encountered the first appearance of a lesser-known Spidey foe, the Gibbon. The Gibbon wasn't exactly what you'd call even a B-list or C-list level of villain for Spider-Man. Beyond the hook of the Gibbon wanting to be an ally to Spider-Man (mirroring a bit Spidey's attempts to join the Fantastic Four back in the day), I'd argue there wasn't much memorable about the character.
So, imagine my surprise when reading this story arc, "Hunted," when I found myself getting a lump in my throat when the Gibbon is killed off in the issue focusing on him. Somehow Nick Spencer took what was a minor villain in the Spidey-verse and not only made me connect with and care about him, but he actually made me get a bit weepy when he died.
That alone has to be worth an extra star when it comes to rating this arc in the current run of The Amazing Spider-Man.
"Hunted" is a spiritual sequel to "Kraven's Last Hunt." Kraven's son (who is a clone and has killed all his fellow brother clones) assembles a large number of Spider-Man's foes who share an affinity with animals. Trapping them and Spider-Man inside Central Park, the new Kraven and Arcade assemble a group of wealthy players who are willing to pay for the chance to go on the ultimate hunt. But there are a few twists to this game -- and there's something far more going on than just a money-making opportunity for the new Kraven and Arcade.
What unfolds is an entertaining enough story with some solid art and well-done
work on the characters. Like many other good Spider-writers, Nick Spencer understands the balance that is Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Having Spidey trapped in Central Park and fighting for his life is one thing, but giving him a reason to want to get out and get home to check on M.J. because he's had a vision of her in danger is just the right touch and gives the drama a personal edge beyond seeing Spidey take on various villains from his rogues' gallery.
All-in-all, I ended up enjoying this collection a bit more than I thought I would. It's not quite up there in the ranks of classic Spidey stories, but it gives me faith that the current run is in good hands.
So, imagine my surprise when reading this story arc, "Hunted," when I found myself getting a lump in my throat when the Gibbon is killed off in the issue focusing on him. Somehow Nick Spencer took what was a minor villain in the Spidey-verse and not only made me connect with and care about him, but he actually made me get a bit weepy when he died.
That alone has to be worth an extra star when it comes to rating this arc in the current run of The Amazing Spider-Man.
"Hunted" is a spiritual sequel to "Kraven's Last Hunt." Kraven's son (who is a clone and has killed all his fellow brother clones) assembles a large number of Spider-Man's foes who share an affinity with animals. Trapping them and Spider-Man inside Central Park, the new Kraven and Arcade assemble a group of wealthy players who are willing to pay for the chance to go on the ultimate hunt. But there are a few twists to this game -- and there's something far more going on than just a money-making opportunity for the new Kraven and Arcade.
What unfolds is an entertaining enough story with some solid art and well-done
work on the characters. Like many other good Spider-writers, Nick Spencer understands the balance that is Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Having Spidey trapped in Central Park and fighting for his life is one thing, but giving him a reason to want to get out and get home to check on M.J. because he's had a vision of her in danger is just the right touch and gives the drama a personal edge beyond seeing Spidey take on various villains from his rogues' gallery.
All-in-all, I ended up enjoying this collection a bit more than I thought I would. It's not quite up there in the ranks of classic Spidey stories, but it gives me faith that the current run is in good hands.
September 15, 2019
Dang it, I really wanted to dislike Spencer's run, but this arc was exceptional. It's a much better sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt than previous attempts. While it isn't perfect throughout, it contains much more depth and meaning than the other Kraven stories.
A quick comment about the TPB, there are just a couple tie-ins, and they are placed in reading order through the trade. One of the best parts of the whole story was a tie-in on the origin and life of none other than the Gibbon. It is incredibly well done, filled with pathos, and the art was better than some parts of the main story.
The main story deals with Kraven again, but it isn't straightforward. There are twists and turns that weren't obvious, and there was actual meaning in people's actions. Their motivations were clear and weren't out of character. It's a little bit topical/political, Spencer taking a jab at certain sectors of society, but he takes it to the extreme, shedding light on our humanity.
Spidey is actually in it very little until the end, but he gets put through the ringer as always, pushing him to new limits. In the midst of all this, Spencer raises the stakes on other villains and setting up future storylines. The whole arc is more villain focused than anything.
For the most part it all fits very well. The art varies from issue to issue, some better than others. The "cartoony-ness" of the art style detracts from the serious tone of the story, but it is definitely worth a read.
A quick comment about the TPB, there are just a couple tie-ins, and they are placed in reading order through the trade. One of the best parts of the whole story was a tie-in on the origin and life of none other than the Gibbon. It is incredibly well done, filled with pathos, and the art was better than some parts of the main story.
The main story deals with Kraven again, but it isn't straightforward. There are twists and turns that weren't obvious, and there was actual meaning in people's actions. Their motivations were clear and weren't out of character. It's a little bit topical/political, Spencer taking a jab at certain sectors of society, but he takes it to the extreme, shedding light on our humanity.
Spidey is actually in it very little until the end, but he gets put through the ringer as always, pushing him to new limits. In the midst of all this, Spencer raises the stakes on other villains and setting up future storylines. The whole arc is more villain focused than anything.
For the most part it all fits very well. The art varies from issue to issue, some better than others. The "cartoony-ness" of the art style detracts from the serious tone of the story, but it is definitely worth a read.
June 13, 2023
Honestly, I wasn't a big fan of this one. Kraven the Hunter has always been a Spider-Man character I've liked and I absolutely loved the goofy one that showed up in the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. This version, instead, treats Kraven as a Complete Monster that is utterly without any form of morality as well as killed that version. Kraven has grabbed the majority of Spider-Man's animal themed villains and put them in Central Park before starting a big ol' hunt. It's part of his attempt to also get a bunch of big-game hunters involved too. It's not a bad plot but Kraven's clones kind of spoil the whole thing since I'm not a big fan of clones in Spidey since, oh, a certain plot in the 90s. The Lizard has some decent developments and I like the friendship between Taskmaster as well as the Black Ant but that's about it.
June 3, 2020
Honestly this one sort of felt like the first actual story in the entire nick spencer run. There are themes here of sacrifice (vs murder), fatherhood, responsibility, instinct, honor, values, and how all these things intersect and inform each other. It's a pretty cliche premise, somewhere between The Most Dangerous Game and The Hunger Games, as Kraven the Hunter kidnaps all the animal themed Supervillains (also kidnaps spiderman) in New York and traps them in central park with a hundred ultra-powerful Hunter-robots controlled remotely by virtueless rich people looking to feel powerful. The types of rich poachers The Hunter hates, making his motivations ambiguous. It's a pretty gripping story, about twice as long as any of the previous volumes, which dares to take itself seriously.
As a Nick Spencer story, I was looking for the heart and the humor, and theres some of this here too. Black Cat finds herself the unlikely shepherd of The Lizard's son, who gets some sympathetic moments. The Lizard himself tirelessly concocts a scheme to break into the institution they're all being held in so he can rescue his son -- an arrangement not as morally black and white as it first appears. Gibbons, a sort of apeman villain, gets a stupidly touching and moving tragedy all to himself spliced into the middle of the story that took me off guard. Primarily though this is a lot more of a critically-minded story, pontificating on various themes, rather than appealing to sympathy. Appealing to sympathy, as I saw it, was Nick Spencer's strong suit, and there are moments where this story feels a little out of it's depth, such as long, pointless asides, and a couple dull monologues.
Kraven is intimidating, the situation is dire, and Spider-Man feels quite unequipped to save the day. In the end, of course he does, but he gets there with help from others and, sort of unexpectedly, relatively unviolently. Most, if not every, death in this book is shocking, tragic, and wholly avoidable, if only the situation werent so awful, and the world didn't have so many evil people. It ends on a battered note, if a hopeful one, with promises of many future conflicts for New York to grapple with.
I'll admit I haven't read a lot of spider-man for reasons I detailed in my review of Vol. 1 of this run. I didnt recognize almost any of the the villains in this story (of which there are tons) and I haven't read a Kraven story until this one either. As it is, they made him compelling, but I'm not sure I'd seek out more Kraven stories. His philosophy is contradictory and vacant, and they call him out on this effectively. Spiderman is as Spiderman-y as ever: kind, burdened, capable but rarely the most powerful guy in the room, and as miserable as he is lighthearted. They give him a lot to do in a short timespan and its hard not to feel bad for him sometimes, when he isn't making some kind of lame quip, which of course is a staple of his character.
The writing is fresh and the story is gripping but it's not put together masterfully and the climax, although complicated, it pretty one-note and sort of toothless. I liked it overall and it's my favorite thing Nick has put the wall-crawler through but it isn't one of my favorite Spidey stories, and I've only really read like eight of them.
Some words about the art: usually great, occasionally awful. Still not a fan of cycling artists for a book. The fact that they do this less with authors implies that artists are more disposable than writers when in fact (in this medium) its probably more like the other way around. To bring up a comparison I've used before, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's run on Batman literally owes at least half it's success to Capullo's snappy, detailed artwork. Ryan Ottley's work in particular is great and fits Spencer's writing like a glove, but I wish he'd done more of it, even if it meant Marvel had to take longer, or pay him a little more. The primary artist on this volume is Humberto Ramos who handles it well. The other miscellaneous illustrators tend to be jarring to me, and in a medium where the soul of your characters and setting comes from the art it can make these sections literally feel like they take place in an alternate universe.
(Alternate universes, gosh... Imagine Marvel getting as nutty as that, huh?)
As a Nick Spencer story, I was looking for the heart and the humor, and theres some of this here too. Black Cat finds herself the unlikely shepherd of The Lizard's son, who gets some sympathetic moments. The Lizard himself tirelessly concocts a scheme to break into the institution they're all being held in so he can rescue his son -- an arrangement not as morally black and white as it first appears. Gibbons, a sort of apeman villain, gets a stupidly touching and moving tragedy all to himself spliced into the middle of the story that took me off guard. Primarily though this is a lot more of a critically-minded story, pontificating on various themes, rather than appealing to sympathy. Appealing to sympathy, as I saw it, was Nick Spencer's strong suit, and there are moments where this story feels a little out of it's depth, such as long, pointless asides, and a couple dull monologues.
Kraven is intimidating, the situation is dire, and Spider-Man feels quite unequipped to save the day. In the end, of course he does, but he gets there with help from others and, sort of unexpectedly, relatively unviolently. Most, if not every, death in this book is shocking, tragic, and wholly avoidable, if only the situation werent so awful, and the world didn't have so many evil people. It ends on a battered note, if a hopeful one, with promises of many future conflicts for New York to grapple with.
I'll admit I haven't read a lot of spider-man for reasons I detailed in my review of Vol. 1 of this run. I didnt recognize almost any of the the villains in this story (of which there are tons) and I haven't read a Kraven story until this one either. As it is, they made him compelling, but I'm not sure I'd seek out more Kraven stories. His philosophy is contradictory and vacant, and they call him out on this effectively. Spiderman is as Spiderman-y as ever: kind, burdened, capable but rarely the most powerful guy in the room, and as miserable as he is lighthearted. They give him a lot to do in a short timespan and its hard not to feel bad for him sometimes, when he isn't making some kind of lame quip, which of course is a staple of his character.
The writing is fresh and the story is gripping but it's not put together masterfully and the climax, although complicated, it pretty one-note and sort of toothless. I liked it overall and it's my favorite thing Nick has put the wall-crawler through but it isn't one of my favorite Spidey stories, and I've only really read like eight of them.
Some words about the art: usually great, occasionally awful. Still not a fan of cycling artists for a book. The fact that they do this less with authors implies that artists are more disposable than writers when in fact (in this medium) its probably more like the other way around. To bring up a comparison I've used before, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's run on Batman literally owes at least half it's success to Capullo's snappy, detailed artwork. Ryan Ottley's work in particular is great and fits Spencer's writing like a glove, but I wish he'd done more of it, even if it meant Marvel had to take longer, or pay him a little more. The primary artist on this volume is Humberto Ramos who handles it well. The other miscellaneous illustrators tend to be jarring to me, and in a medium where the soul of your characters and setting comes from the art it can make these sections literally feel like they take place in an alternate universe.
(Alternate universes, gosh... Imagine Marvel getting as nutty as that, huh?)
October 7, 2019
A dynamite spidey tale with a bit too much filler in between. Spencer continues a pretty good run on Amazing Spider-man with the arc he has been building to since The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1: Back to Basics. Spencer does a great job with his characterization of Kraven the Hunter. Kraven is a stoic man of few words but when speaks there is a bit of nobility to his voice. The plot to this arc is simple enough. Basically unbeknownst to Spider-man Kraven has hired Taskmaster & Black Ant to capture many of the animal based foes of Spider-man. These include the likes of Vulture, Scorpion, Rhino, and even lesser known villains like Gibbon. Gibbon has a little sad tie-in to this tale as well. Spidey basically gets capture and brought to a reserve where he and his foes have to fight for their lives against mechanical Kraven machines built by Arcade. Black Cat also finds herself in Kraven's cross-hairs as well. The book is filled with lots of action and a few twists and turns. I really enjoyed this adventure. The climax to this book was thought provoking. Though I still felt like Spencer snuck in a little toxic masculinity male bashing a bit. I did roll my eyes a few times. All in All it was a great read. I am curious to see where Spencer is going to take Spidey in the next volume.
May 4, 2025
بهترین آرک داستانی اسپایدرمن بعد از ریبوت شدن
خلاقیت های جذابی داشت از ایدهی اولیه ی قوی گرفته و داستان منسجم و آنتاگونیست با ابهت گرفته تا پرسپکتیو شخصیت ها توی شماره های فرعی
من خیلی خوشم اومد امیدوارم داستان های بیشتر اینجوری بخونم در آینده
خلاقیت های جذابی داشت از ایدهی اولیه ی قوی گرفته و داستان منسجم و آنتاگونیست با ابهت گرفته تا پرسپکتیو شخصیت ها توی شماره های فرعی
من خیلی خوشم اومد امیدوارم داستان های بیشتر اینجوری بخونم در آینده
March 28, 2021
Wow this was really good, Spencer absolutely killed it on this story definitely the best part of his run by far. This is a spiritual successor to Kraven’s Last Hunt which is my all time favorite Spider-Man story. At first I wasn’t fond of the idea of Kraven being back since his death was such an iconic moment but Spencer managed to make it work. I also really like the .HU issues that highlight some of the characters featuring in here it gives them a lot of depth. I’m also really liking Spencer’s Felicia she’s really good and I’m so happy to see her in a more heroic role again.
September 4, 2021
G A R B A G E ! ! !
Spencer is just de-evolving EVERY DAMN CHARACTER leading to a lame nostalgia parade with infinite flashbacks, just like Disney's Star Wars new trilogy!
Spencer's run by far, is the worst run this millennium in ASM. And unfortunately there are more crappy issues until I catch-up.
I bet that once he has de-evolved EVERYONE in a 70s-80s era status, he will do a crappy mega crossover to kill some unknowns.
Oh God how much I miss Slott...
December 5, 2021
So far, I've enjoyed everything Nick Spencer has written and I quite enjoy his particular style and recurring themes, but this is the first time he really disappoints me. Apart from the great first volume, the series was rather decent, with everything building to this event, and it totally falls short.
First, to talk about the story itself, it's boring and not creative at all. I always felt like I missed some part, the volume takes time to explain what's happening and from the moment we know the stakes, the story doesn't move. Actually, the one-shot tie-ins were nice surprises and brought more interesting stories (except for the Vulture one). It's supposed to be a defining moment for Spider-Man's rogue gallery but it's bad handled and it drags on. We don't get a true feeling of danger for the villains, who're supposed to be cold-blooded hunted. Also, there are so many factors in the story: Peter being lost, Black Cat with the Lizard's son (who look like they advance 5 meters every issue) and a vision of MJ's death that has nothing to do and doesn't fit at all. It should have been more focused on the main plan. I'm not saying that I don't enjoy complex stories with many characters, but here it doesn't mix and it becomes boring, incoherent and repetitive. But the real problem of this volume is Kraven and everything surrounding him.
Nick Spencer wrote a half-baked, shallow sequel or "homage" to Spider-Man's best comic, "Kraven's Last Hunt". I adore this story and I've always been mad about Kraven's resurrection, because his ending was perfect. Here, we don't get what the author tries to tell. He begins with some references to the cult classic, like the black suit, MJ mentioning the rat she killed, or the apparition of Vermin. But we have then some panel recreations of the original comic, and the ending tries to mirror "Last Hunt"s one. I have no problem with making sequels/remakes of classic comics (I loved Doomsday Clock) but it's so inconsistent. Kraven doesn't do anything for most of the arc and his motivations stay unclear. It's both a criticism of false hunters and people pretending to represent animals, then it shifts to trying to make Peter violent and embrace his "inner beast". It looked like a Joker story trying to make Batman kill people, it was the same. You can re-create "Kraven's Last Hunt" but don't do it in an already-complex, ambitious event. There are too many themes and they're never really explored. But the real tragedy is Kraven. He always sounds wrong, which is weird because Nick Spencer can characterize really well all kinds of characters (see the unique Superior Foes as an example). Peter and him almost get no interaction, we can't clearly follow his plans and motivations and, to top it all, it tries badly to imitate a cult comic with some new, random parameters. I would have accepted the simplicity of the antagonist if the author hadn't tried to re-create J.M. DeMatteis' masterpiece. It could have been a nice "huge Spider-Man hunt" but it's too messy.
The art doesn't save the book. I love Ryan Ottley but he only draws two issues. Humberto Ramos is okay and I love how he draws flash-backs or imagination scenes, those are really well portrayed, but the anatomy of black suit Spider-Man is kind of weird and really thin. It put me out of the story several times.
So finally, Nick Spencer tries to homage a cult comic that he seems not to have understood, and delivers a basic, random message about human kindness, all encompassed in a messy, long and basic manhunt on all sides. It was such a disappointment. It's a shame, because I love this author and some teasings intrigue me but, for now, I won't keep reading the series.
First, to talk about the story itself, it's boring and not creative at all. I always felt like I missed some part, the volume takes time to explain what's happening and from the moment we know the stakes, the story doesn't move. Actually, the one-shot tie-ins were nice surprises and brought more interesting stories (except for the Vulture one). It's supposed to be a defining moment for Spider-Man's rogue gallery but it's bad handled and it drags on. We don't get a true feeling of danger for the villains, who're supposed to be cold-blooded hunted. Also, there are so many factors in the story: Peter being lost, Black Cat with the Lizard's son (who look like they advance 5 meters every issue) and a vision of MJ's death that has nothing to do and doesn't fit at all. It should have been more focused on the main plan. I'm not saying that I don't enjoy complex stories with many characters, but here it doesn't mix and it becomes boring, incoherent and repetitive. But the real problem of this volume is Kraven and everything surrounding him.
Nick Spencer wrote a half-baked, shallow sequel or "homage" to Spider-Man's best comic, "Kraven's Last Hunt". I adore this story and I've always been mad about Kraven's resurrection, because his ending was perfect. Here, we don't get what the author tries to tell. He begins with some references to the cult classic, like the black suit, MJ mentioning the rat she killed, or the apparition of Vermin. But we have then some panel recreations of the original comic, and the ending tries to mirror "Last Hunt"s one. I have no problem with making sequels/remakes of classic comics (I loved Doomsday Clock) but it's so inconsistent. Kraven doesn't do anything for most of the arc and his motivations stay unclear. It's both a criticism of false hunters and people pretending to represent animals, then it shifts to trying to make Peter violent and embrace his "inner beast". It looked like a Joker story trying to make Batman kill people, it was the same. You can re-create "Kraven's Last Hunt" but don't do it in an already-complex, ambitious event. There are too many themes and they're never really explored. But the real tragedy is Kraven. He always sounds wrong, which is weird because Nick Spencer can characterize really well all kinds of characters (see the unique Superior Foes as an example). Peter and him almost get no interaction, we can't clearly follow his plans and motivations and, to top it all, it tries badly to imitate a cult comic with some new, random parameters. I would have accepted the simplicity of the antagonist if the author hadn't tried to re-create J.M. DeMatteis' masterpiece. It could have been a nice "huge Spider-Man hunt" but it's too messy.
The art doesn't save the book. I love Ryan Ottley but he only draws two issues. Humberto Ramos is okay and I love how he draws flash-backs or imagination scenes, those are really well portrayed, but the anatomy of black suit Spider-Man is kind of weird and really thin. It put me out of the story several times.
So finally, Nick Spencer tries to homage a cult comic that he seems not to have understood, and delivers a basic, random message about human kindness, all encompassed in a messy, long and basic manhunt on all sides. It was such a disappointment. It's a shame, because I love this author and some teasings intrigue me but, for now, I won't keep reading the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2019
I had been sitting on the issues comprising the Hunted arc for a while now, I'd fallen a fair bit behind on ASM and wasn't really looking forward to catching up. This is a book where, no matter the author, it's always been hit or miss for me, and Spider-Man in general hasn't really had any storylines that have done for me since like the 90s. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Hunted. There's a lot going on, but it's well-crafted by Nick Spencer and it makes good use of a lot of stuff surrounding Spider-Man. The story is about Kraven the Hunter hatching an elaborate plan basically so he can convince Spider-Man that he needs to kill him (due to some Marvel magic from when he got reincarnated). To show him that he's so dangerous that sometimes you just have no choice but to kill (a la Man of Steel). But while Spencer has Spider-Man do some questionable things, he never crosses that line, even facing an absurd amount of danger. The story has him stuck in Central Park with a bunch of his animal-themed rogues, under a force field erected by Arcade, who provides VR headsets and Kraven lookalike drones to a bunch of rich assholes. There are subplots with Black Cat, the Lizard, even Black Ant and Taskmasker get a nice little arc. It's really well-crafted and feels grand for something self-contained within half a dozen issues. The first 15 issues of Spencer's run feel like they were building to this, I hope it's not 15 more until we get something really interesting from ASM again.
September 10, 2019
An interesting idea. Compelling and well paced. I especially liked the use of side stories where you either got to see things from a different perspective or learn the whole truth about a supporting character's story that was altered or embellished in the main story.
The tone was odd though. The prologue and epilogue are strangely comedic almost in a winking, "too good for this" sort of way, and the rest of the story is somewhat dour. It does not mix well. It was almost like Spencer said I know Spider-man has to have jokes, so here are some, now leave me alone while I tell the story.
Overall it ended in much the same place as it started with little to nothing being accomplished. The solution to the curse puzzle was silly and if it was supposed to be metaphorically resonant, it did not jibe well enough with the monologues before the reveal.
As a Lizard story, this is good and opens a lot of interesting places for the future.
In Spider-man terms this is 3 better than a One More Day.
The tone was odd though. The prologue and epilogue are strangely comedic almost in a winking, "too good for this" sort of way, and the rest of the story is somewhat dour. It does not mix well. It was almost like Spencer said I know Spider-man has to have jokes, so here are some, now leave me alone while I tell the story.
Overall it ended in much the same place as it started with little to nothing being accomplished. The solution to the curse puzzle was silly and if it was supposed to be metaphorically resonant, it did not jibe well enough with the monologues before the reveal.
As a Lizard story, this is good and opens a lot of interesting places for the future.
In Spider-man terms this is 3 better than a One More Day.
January 15, 2020
Yet another disapponting volume by Spencer.
The plot is very predictable and Kraven's motivations dubious at best if not plain stupid. Starting from there it's hard to give a damn to whatever happens next.
Kraven is as pompous a fool as ever, translating in a way too long and way too wordy story with few lines or siuations really worth noting.
The homage to the great "Kraven's last hunt" is nice, really, some scenes being basically redrawn, but alas that's not enough to pull the story up to something half as good and interesting.
The HU issues are really relevant to the main plot and do add something. Oddly, that's what impressed me the most in this book.
The plot is very predictable and Kraven's motivations dubious at best if not plain stupid. Starting from there it's hard to give a damn to whatever happens next.
Kraven is as pompous a fool as ever, translating in a way too long and way too wordy story with few lines or siuations really worth noting.
The homage to the great "Kraven's last hunt" is nice, really, some scenes being basically redrawn, but alas that's not enough to pull the story up to something half as good and interesting.
The HU issues are really relevant to the main plot and do add something. Oddly, that's what impressed me the most in this book.
September 6, 2020
I really don’t know what to think of this, Spencer’s first Big Event Unser the Spidey big top. Was it fun? Good? Momentous? I really can’t decide. Was it An Event? Assuredly - one story, one block of time, one villain (team), and one goal? Yes.
Was it worth my time? Meh.
Do I regret reading it? Not really, but I also don’t know that I’ll ever remember it as one of the Big Deals of Spider-Man lore. Nothing like a Superior or Spider-verse or even Big Time. Not anywhere near as bad as One More Day or Norman Makes Love to Gwen or one of the inevitable clone repeats.
Was it worth my time? Meh.
Do I regret reading it? Not really, but I also don’t know that I’ll ever remember it as one of the Big Deals of Spider-Man lore. Nothing like a Superior or Spider-verse or even Big Time. Not anywhere near as bad as One More Day or Norman Makes Love to Gwen or one of the inevitable clone repeats.
February 4, 2022
This gets all the stars from me because of the Gibbon story line. That broke me in two.
I was very moved by this volume and I consider this the best so far in this Spencer run.
I was very moved by this volume and I consider this the best so far in this Spencer run.
September 30, 2025
The best part of this was Black Cat.
I love Spidey but his character sucks. It's starting to get annoying and I feel like I'm growing out of him. This arc is actually one of the more interesting in the surrounding arcs but it's such a drag... He isn't even worried about people dying now. It just happens he gets scared for MJ and I can already see them splitting up again. If someone could do something original I would love it. Like are we not sure that Mephisto actually just killed Spidey back in OMD and we haven't been reading his life in Limbo? Like it would make sense. Doc Ock being Spidey was one of the most appealing stories because I got a break from Peter and I even started rooting against him at certain times. Then he kid-crumbled his company, but don't worry reader, he's still a genius.
...
literally anybody can run a company. He has to be dead. He has to. Somebody difibrulate this dude please. I'm crying.
I'm not joking
It hurts
kill MJ
make us mourn her
literally anything
Plz
Give me a legit BC relationship. She would have said yes to the ring.
plz
plz
plz
plz
plz
Or kill him and stop this.
I still have over 100 issue to catch up to modern day and I heard it gets worse 😭
I love Spidey but his character sucks. It's starting to get annoying and I feel like I'm growing out of him. This arc is actually one of the more interesting in the surrounding arcs but it's such a drag... He isn't even worried about people dying now. It just happens he gets scared for MJ and I can already see them splitting up again. If someone could do something original I would love it. Like are we not sure that Mephisto actually just killed Spidey back in OMD and we haven't been reading his life in Limbo? Like it would make sense. Doc Ock being Spidey was one of the most appealing stories because I got a break from Peter and I even started rooting against him at certain times. Then he kid-crumbled his company, but don't worry reader, he's still a genius.
...
literally anybody can run a company. He has to be dead. He has to. Somebody difibrulate this dude please. I'm crying.
I'm not joking
It hurts
kill MJ
make us mourn her
literally anything
Plz
Give me a legit BC relationship. She would have said yes to the ring.
plz
plz
plz
plz
plz
Or kill him and stop this.
I still have over 100 issue to catch up to modern day and I heard it gets worse 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2020
Kraven redux. At least MJ is back. Thanks, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, for allowing me to sample the Nick Spencer run.
November 2, 2019
Throughout the first three volumes of Nick Spencer's run on The Amazing Spider-Man (which covers the initial fifteen issues), the writer has been setting up something huge for our friendly-neighbourhood web-slinger since the beginning, most notably with an unnamed new villain and the classic Spidey baddie, Kraven the Hunter. Whilst the former still remains a mystery as he continues to lurk in the darkness with what sounds like a personal vendetta towards Peter Parker, the latter's plan is now in motion.
After months of kidnapping animal-themed superhumans with the help of Taskmaster and Black Ant, Sergei Kravinoff and Arcade need one more to complete the collection for the upcoming hunt: the Spider. When he finds out that Black Cat and Billy Connors, son of the Lizard, are captured by the aforementioned villains, Spider-Man — still weakened because of the flu — finds himself among his worst enemies as all are hunted by robots piloted by hunters.
Since his debut during the Stan Lee/Steve Dikto era of Amazing Spider-Man, Kraven has always been defined by his outlandish hunter look, which could he easily come across as goofy. However, he is widely regarded as one of the most formidable enemies among Spidey's rogues, especially gaining considerable attention from "Kraven's Last Hunt", which is one of the darkest Spidey storylines and an obvious influence towards what Spencer is telling here. Although the references towards "Last Hunt" can be too much, notably Spidey wears his symbiotic costume again, Spencer is able to find his own voice and finding new shades to these characters that have decades of history.
For Kraven himself, he has died and resurrected, as well as having heirs to continue his legacy, some of which including clones of himself as explored in the prologue issue here. Along with his Last Son, Kraven suddenly joins forces with the hunters he has opposed, confusing his only heir, leading to a hunt that has an even more sinister motive than what is originally presented. What sounds like an overly extravagant plot with the potential of comically showing off all animal-based villains, Spencer isn't really showing off his funny bone, but really a dramatic side that is present in the characterisation throughout the numerous players.
There are twelve issues in this volume, four of which are the .HU tie-in issues, in which each one showcases a supporting character. From Black Cat to the Gibbon to the Vulture to the Lizard, Spencer nails the individual voices of these characters as we see flashbacks about the lot, some of which are defined by their interactions with Spider-Man. Because this storyline juggles many characters in a narrative that comes together like a giant puzzle, it can sideline both the hero and the main villain, although their final confrontation is an emotionally powerful climax.
Due to being published bi-monthly, there can be a frequent change of artists on Amazing Spider-Man. With the prologue and epilogue issues being drawn by Ryan Ottley, whose art reigns supreme above everyone else throughout his run, you have an array of other artists, where the quality can dip in and out. Humberto Ramos, in particular, is an artist who is known for his ups and downs throughout his years drawing Spider-Man. Known for his cartoonish character designs featuring some slightly weird body anatomy, Ramos' art can be all over the place when he's drawing many characters on the page, but when he focuses on the more dramatic sequences that can involve just two people, the art can look more polished.
After the long buildup throughout his initial year on the book, Nick Spencer, along with his small army of artists, has made an entertaining Spidey event that may overstay its welcome with the amount of issues, but sets up interesting things in the future for Peter Parker.
After months of kidnapping animal-themed superhumans with the help of Taskmaster and Black Ant, Sergei Kravinoff and Arcade need one more to complete the collection for the upcoming hunt: the Spider. When he finds out that Black Cat and Billy Connors, son of the Lizard, are captured by the aforementioned villains, Spider-Man — still weakened because of the flu — finds himself among his worst enemies as all are hunted by robots piloted by hunters.
Since his debut during the Stan Lee/Steve Dikto era of Amazing Spider-Man, Kraven has always been defined by his outlandish hunter look, which could he easily come across as goofy. However, he is widely regarded as one of the most formidable enemies among Spidey's rogues, especially gaining considerable attention from "Kraven's Last Hunt", which is one of the darkest Spidey storylines and an obvious influence towards what Spencer is telling here. Although the references towards "Last Hunt" can be too much, notably Spidey wears his symbiotic costume again, Spencer is able to find his own voice and finding new shades to these characters that have decades of history.
For Kraven himself, he has died and resurrected, as well as having heirs to continue his legacy, some of which including clones of himself as explored in the prologue issue here. Along with his Last Son, Kraven suddenly joins forces with the hunters he has opposed, confusing his only heir, leading to a hunt that has an even more sinister motive than what is originally presented. What sounds like an overly extravagant plot with the potential of comically showing off all animal-based villains, Spencer isn't really showing off his funny bone, but really a dramatic side that is present in the characterisation throughout the numerous players.
There are twelve issues in this volume, four of which are the .HU tie-in issues, in which each one showcases a supporting character. From Black Cat to the Gibbon to the Vulture to the Lizard, Spencer nails the individual voices of these characters as we see flashbacks about the lot, some of which are defined by their interactions with Spider-Man. Because this storyline juggles many characters in a narrative that comes together like a giant puzzle, it can sideline both the hero and the main villain, although their final confrontation is an emotionally powerful climax.
Due to being published bi-monthly, there can be a frequent change of artists on Amazing Spider-Man. With the prologue and epilogue issues being drawn by Ryan Ottley, whose art reigns supreme above everyone else throughout his run, you have an array of other artists, where the quality can dip in and out. Humberto Ramos, in particular, is an artist who is known for his ups and downs throughout his years drawing Spider-Man. Known for his cartoonish character designs featuring some slightly weird body anatomy, Ramos' art can be all over the place when he's drawing many characters on the page, but when he focuses on the more dramatic sequences that can involve just two people, the art can look more polished.
After the long buildup throughout his initial year on the book, Nick Spencer, along with his small army of artists, has made an entertaining Spidey event that may overstay its welcome with the amount of issues, but sets up interesting things in the future for Peter Parker.
June 12, 2021
It’s annoying that people keep coming back to Kraven even though fandom agrees that the definitive Kraven story has been told - why sully the legacy of a classic? But maybe Nick Spencer wasn’t reading Squirrel Girl.
“Hunted” is a riff on that other Kraven story, the moody 80s JM DeMatteis one, and is at its worst whenever it’s directly referencing it - how my heart sank when I saw *that* lower case font. There’s a meta-thread running through the story that anticipates the inevitable question - why bother? - and puts it directly in the mouths of some characters. But you can’t have your cake and eat it: yes, ultimately it’s ludicrous and a bit sad that Kraven has gone to these lengths to stage his perfect showdown with The Spider, but it’s not him who’s turning it into a several hundred page mini event.
To his credit, Spencer keeps the wheels turning throughout with a whole lot of moving parts, and Hunted is entertaining (an improvement on its inspiration there, though I know I’m in a minority on that). The art is enjoyably varied and Spencer (as usual) has a good handle on Marvel’s assorted schlubs and has-beens. And for all that I’m rolling my eyes at some elements of his run, at its core he’s delivering a likeable, readable Peter Parker, which is the central job of the Spider-Writer after all.
“Hunted” is a riff on that other Kraven story, the moody 80s JM DeMatteis one, and is at its worst whenever it’s directly referencing it - how my heart sank when I saw *that* lower case font. There’s a meta-thread running through the story that anticipates the inevitable question - why bother? - and puts it directly in the mouths of some characters. But you can’t have your cake and eat it: yes, ultimately it’s ludicrous and a bit sad that Kraven has gone to these lengths to stage his perfect showdown with The Spider, but it’s not him who’s turning it into a several hundred page mini event.
To his credit, Spencer keeps the wheels turning throughout with a whole lot of moving parts, and Hunted is entertaining (an improvement on its inspiration there, though I know I’m in a minority on that). The art is enjoyably varied and Spencer (as usual) has a good handle on Marvel’s assorted schlubs and has-beens. And for all that I’m rolling my eyes at some elements of his run, at its core he’s delivering a likeable, readable Peter Parker, which is the central job of the Spider-Writer after all.
September 10, 2021
The first three volumes of Spencer’s run are pretty good, but it’s with v 4 he really seems to find his footing. This is a really engaging story, with great set pieces, some believable character bits, and some decent humor.
November 13, 2019
Definitely, Spencer's best Spider-Man comic to date.
The main storyline is intriguing because it's very much a sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt (and to a lesser extent Spider-Man: Grim Hunt). Ignoring ridiculous post-GH uses of Kraven, such as in Squirrel Girl, Spencer creates a thoughtful throughline for what the suicidal Kraven from Last Hunt did after his return, and how that affects his modern day intrigues. "Hunted" is a muddy, murky, character-driven story that could easily have been written by DeMatteis, so it's nice to see such an appropriate sequel.
This story also really succeeds because Spencer takes a pretty big picture story and makes it about all the small people, with the .HU issues spotlighting the Black Cat, the Gibbon, the Vulture, and others. It really gives these antagonists a moment to shine, and makes the big story about characters. (They're also really well integrated, carefully aligned with the bigger story, but not absolutely necessary.)
I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being Spencer's Spider-Man masterpiece, but I'm eager to see him try and top it.
The main storyline is intriguing because it's very much a sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt (and to a lesser extent Spider-Man: Grim Hunt). Ignoring ridiculous post-GH uses of Kraven, such as in Squirrel Girl, Spencer creates a thoughtful throughline for what the suicidal Kraven from Last Hunt did after his return, and how that affects his modern day intrigues. "Hunted" is a muddy, murky, character-driven story that could easily have been written by DeMatteis, so it's nice to see such an appropriate sequel.
This story also really succeeds because Spencer takes a pretty big picture story and makes it about all the small people, with the .HU issues spotlighting the Black Cat, the Gibbon, the Vulture, and others. It really gives these antagonists a moment to shine, and makes the big story about characters. (They're also really well integrated, carefully aligned with the bigger story, but not absolutely necessary.)
I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being Spencer's Spider-Man masterpiece, but I'm eager to see him try and top it.
January 10, 2022
Fun times with Kraven and Co.
Liked that Spencer got that J. M. DeMatteis's vibe down. From the way Kraven talks acts and his whole persona, is straight out of Kraven's Last Hunt, and for good reason, because that's who Kraven is, even after all these years, I'd recommend to even read Last Hunt before starting this one, especially if you haven't read it at all, then you should definitely read that first.
Hunted is really nice, with an ok end that I wasn't fully satisfied but it wasn't boring either.
A good read, and even though the artwork wasn't really working out for me, I just don't like Ramos' art style, oh well, that took off 1 star pretty much. And thankfully, Ottley came back again just in time for the next arc.
Liked that Spencer got that J. M. DeMatteis's vibe down. From the way Kraven talks acts and his whole persona, is straight out of Kraven's Last Hunt, and for good reason, because that's who Kraven is, even after all these years, I'd recommend to even read Last Hunt before starting this one, especially if you haven't read it at all, then you should definitely read that first.
Hunted is really nice, with an ok end that I wasn't fully satisfied but it wasn't boring either.
A good read, and even though the artwork wasn't really working out for me, I just don't like Ramos' art style, oh well, that took off 1 star pretty much. And thankfully, Ottley came back again just in time for the next arc.
October 2, 2019
COLLECTS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2018) ISSUES #16-23, #16.HU and #18.HU-20.HU
This collection both wraps up an ongoing thread that his been present since the start of Spencer's run, and also sets things up for the future of the title.
I've been really let down by Nick Spencer's Marvel work because his creator-owned title at Image, "Morning Glories," may be my favorite comic book. Of course "The Superior Foes of Spider-Man" is a great title, but I haven't felt the same way about things like "Ant-Man," "Captain America," "Secret Empire," or "Amazing Spider-Man." I hope that he returns to non-superhero work after he finishes on "Amazing," because I believe that is where he shines.
This collection both wraps up an ongoing thread that his been present since the start of Spencer's run, and also sets things up for the future of the title.
I've been really let down by Nick Spencer's Marvel work because his creator-owned title at Image, "Morning Glories," may be my favorite comic book. Of course "The Superior Foes of Spider-Man" is a great title, but I haven't felt the same way about things like "Ant-Man," "Captain America," "Secret Empire," or "Amazing Spider-Man." I hope that he returns to non-superhero work after he finishes on "Amazing," because I believe that is where he shines.
July 5, 2023
I read Hunted for Taskmaster and I wasn't disappointed, especially with a page dedicated to him doing karaoke. Alongside him I appreciated previously unfamiliar characters like Black Ant and an extremely emotional Gibbon chapter.
Whilst Kraven takes a backseat in the earlier issues, his inevitable arrival is executed perfectly with an unexpected conclusion.
Although feeling too much like Sword Art Online and times and the ending falling short, it doesn't take away from an enjoyable read.
Whilst Kraven takes a backseat in the earlier issues, his inevitable arrival is executed perfectly with an unexpected conclusion.
Although feeling too much like Sword Art Online and times and the ending falling short, it doesn't take away from an enjoyable read.
February 28, 2024
A sort-of spiritual sequel to the famous The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, Hunted starts off strong but inevitably feels like it's just retreading the same old ground. It has its moments and is an enjoyable enough yarn, but it doesn't bring anything new to the table.
August 11, 2019
I think this is one of the strongest stories in Spencer’s run and I really enjoyed it. Reading it month-to-month though it felt drawn out and I think could have been 1 or 2 issues shorter. That being said this volume is really fun and has some great artwork in it. 4 out of 5.
August 11, 2025
loved the start and middle, the ending was so confusing. felt bad for gibbon and the vermin.
i absolutely loved the parts of billy and felicia, plus the lizard coming in clutch...
but wow. what a confusing one???
looking forward to reading more though, the drawings were insane. so well done 🥹
i absolutely loved the parts of billy and felicia, plus the lizard coming in clutch...
but wow. what a confusing one???
looking forward to reading more though, the drawings were insane. so well done 🥹
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