What if… You finally got the opportunity to better your foe. What if… Doing so makes you have an internal reconning with yourself. What if… You make a change in your ideals and who you are as a person… That is what this issue is about in regards to Kraven and Spider-Man!
Creative Team
J.M. DeMatteis (Writer), Yildiray Cinar (Artist), Alex Sinclair (Colorist), VC’s Joe Caramagna (Letterer),
Lucas Werneck (Cover Artist)
Kraven’s Internal Hunt
This issue of What If… takes readers down a deep dark road of a story between Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Man. As Spider-Man fans know, Kraven is one of his rogues or “villains.” Part of Kraven’s history is being a notorious hunter. Which is on full display as he is on the hunt for one of his biggest foes.
Kraven goes to a new darker level within his hunt for Spider-Man. Which makes him do things that reader may not be ready to witness. But this level of darkness takes its toll on Kraven. After “completing” his hunt, his moral compass becomes a train wreck. Which gives off such a powerful emotional impact to this story. This internal battle Kraven is taking on is something readers will probably relate to.
Being a witness to the moral change of Kraven is fascinating to see. This rough textured hunter obtaining a heart and compassion is poetically beautiful! Which makes the ending so profound and powerful for this What If… story. But it is also at the end of this story that a cliffhanger is introduced, proving that there is more to this story than just this single issue.
The Writing
Travis: The dialogue and narration by J.M. DeMatteis for this story is dark and very informative for the reader. The inner narration of Kraven gives the reader an in-depth look and understanding to the mental processes of Kraven. While also showing elegant character development as Kraven’s feelings towards Spider-Man shift and essentially turn Kraven into the Grinch who get’s a heart. A very dark yet highly emotional story that will keep the attention of its readers! Amazing work for this What If… issue!
Megan: J.M. DeMatteis brings a story to the world of What If..? that’s dark, compelling, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Seeing the world through Kraven the Hunter’s eyes was fascinating and gave an interesting perspective into his own life. The reader can see where Kraven thrives and struggles, especially with his guilt, in a way that we really don’t get to see very often. Along with that, we see a Peter Parker that’s broken, his body has been used and abused by the symbiote, but still carries his compassion with him. By the end of the book, we see who the true hero of the story is, with DeMatteis making us feel every emotion along the way.
The Artwork
Travis: The artwork for this issue by Yildiray Cinar and Alex Sinclair keeps pace with the dark tone of this story. Dark coloration and shading give life to this gloomy yet mysterious story that leaves readers wanting more within the next panel. The gritty texture of the pencilwork gives the art a rough tone which fits perfectly with the plot line. The attention to detail within the characters is phenomenal as well! The capturing of the emotional turmoil from every character is absolutely perfect! You will know how a character is feeling before you even read the dialogue! Both facets of the art (pencilwork and coloration) come together to hit this story out of the park!
Megan: Apologies to Yildiray Cinar because I was not familiar with your game. Cinar does a fabulous job with the drawings, giving each page excellent detailing work that results in each panel being dramatic and holding a lot of emotion. The tones of the story are on full display as the characters wear their emotions on their sleeves. There’s no denying what Peter is feeling, but also the side characters with him can be seen wearing their emotions loudly. Kraven, who goes through many emotions in the story, has excellently drawn facial expressions that practically tell the story themselves.
Alex Sinclair handles the colors, and as usual, knocks it straight out of the park. The coloring is absolutely stunning, with darker colors juxtaposing the darker toned vibrancy, selling the tones of the story perfectly. Joe Caramagna captures the feelings of the characters and shows them loudly through the dialogue, making it easy to understand where the character’s headspaces are at. Together, the artists truly made this a gorgeous issue that is an excellent example of high quality.
Variant Covers
Final Thoughts
Travis: 9/10! This issue is an emotional roller coaster that I did not know I was ready to ride. Knowing the backstory of Kraven and Spider-Man helps in following along but the emotional and moral twist from Kraven is something that Spider-Man fans should respect, I know Spider-Man would… Gripping storytelling combined with outstanding art make this a must read, not only for Spider-Man fans, but comic book fans across the board. Do not sleep on this What If… issue!
Megan: 9/10. What If…? Spider-Man #1 brings all the darkness that I would have wanted with this story. Along with that, there are beautifully written emotions, excellent drawn panels, and colors that will stay in my mind rent-free. This was a gorgeous comic from the beginning to end. If you’re a Kraven fan, this is a must read!
Overall Grade: 9/10
Links
Comic Book Reviews & Entertainment News: Nerd Initiative
Previous Spider-Man Review:
Travis’ NI Portfolio: TravisComicHaven – Nerd Initiative
Travis’ Personal Content: Travis’ Comic Haven
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