Writer: J. M. DeMatteis
Artist: Yildiray Çinar
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Joe Caramagna
J. M. DeMatteis revisits a classic in What If...? Spider-Man (2026), giving Kraven the Hunter another chance at his last hunt. At first, I wasn’t a fan of DeMatteis’ revision of the beloved original story. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Kraven's Last Hunt remains completely intact. That’s the entire idea behind the What If...? series. Just because a classic story is being reimagined doesn’t mean the original is being altered or diminished. The same principle applies to television, movies, and other forms of media that revisit or reinterpret existing works.
Spoilers Ahead!
The Battle You Can’t See
Kraven the Hunter yearns for a challenge. He focuses all of his attention on stopping what he believes are monsters. However, he is repeatedly shown that the monsters are only men. After burying Peter Parker alive and ultimately being responsible for his stay in a mental health facility, Kraven attempts to become Spider-Man by taking his skin (his suit), name, powers, and mantle. He does this by fighting Spider-Man’s other foes. He tries to justify his actions by asking himself, “Was this truly a new path opening to me—or simply another way to avoid the incessant ranting of voices in my head—the harrowing war of opposites in my soul?” That explains everything you need to know about Kraven in this story. This isn’t about becoming the greatest hunter on Earth. He isn’t searching for a formidable foe. This is a man desperately searching for a purpose he cannot find. He is hurting internally and grasping at any distraction he can. Would pretending to be Spider-Man last? Kraven knows it won’t. One line that J. M. DeMatteis absolutely strikes gold with is: “I knew in my heart it was self-deception, that it wasn’t real—because the demons still chittered in my mind, clawed at my very soul.” All Kraven wants is to fill the void within himself.
Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend
There are many big moments in this issue. However, the biggest moment is Kraven goading the symbiote to go after him instead of Peter. Kraven laughs at the symbiote because he knows Peter will always be decent and compassionate. There is no void to latch onto with Peter. Kraven not only has that void, but also has been keeping that at bay. This time, he finally lets it win, but not before poisoning it and himself with herbs he infused with dark enhancements. This goes back to the idea of Kraven being smart. He had this all planned. It always makes me smile when a hero’s villains acknowledge their heroics. This is not a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” trope. Kraven wanting a way out and knowing that he can take down the symbiote with him outweighs being friendly to Spider-Man.
The Art
Çinar and Sinclair do a very solid job with the art. One thing I like about the original art is the fact that it seems so timeless. There is no apparent style that the book is tied to. This What if…? Story surprisingly captures that same appeal. My favorite page in this book shows the writing being somewhat materialized within the pages. As Peter is sent to an institute for the criminally insane, the symbiote can be seen between the panels. It is a great visual tool, but it also fits so well with what would come of this issue. I thoroughly enjoy how the art team can switch up normal paneling. Alex Sinclair is a color artist who has been in the business for a long time, and I don’t think he has ever lost his touch. He knows how to frame the foreground so well that it is immediately what your eyes are drawn towards. His colors are so well lit too. The tone of this book is fairly sombre. I mean, a lot of this book does take place in the rain. The art elicits heavy emotions, and Sinclair’s colors are a big factor.
Final Thoughts
What if…? Spider-Man (2026) shows Kraven surviving his last hunt. J.M. DeMatteis delivers another emotional story paired with art and colors that are a wonderful alternative to the original. This particular issue was not made with the intention to bait readers with nostalgia, but to deliver another character-driven story asking if there is more to Kraven’s Last Hunt. I think there is, and DeMatteis did well taking us down the same journey, but through a different path.