Comic Review: The Amazing Spider-Man #23

The Amazing Spider-Man #23

Marvel Comics

Nick Spencer

Ryan Ottley

Do you think that when J.M. Demattes and Mike Zeck made “Kraven’s Last Hunt” in the 1980s, they thought to themselves “Yep, this really is indeed Kraven The Hunter’s final comic he’ll ever appear in that isn’t a flashback.”? Because if so, it must suck to be them nowadays. There have now been at least 3 stories that have been touted as Kraven’s final hunt. The Hunted arc that’s been going on in Amazing Spider-Man is that after-mentioned third story revolving around Kraven and his blood lust for Spider-Man. The whole story wraps up nicely in this great epilogue issue.

In the last issue, Kraven and Spider-Man had yet another final battle and Webhead had beaten Kraven with words, of all things. After the fight, Kraven once again goes and offs himself. Issue 23’s first few pages take place during Kraven’s burial, in which his “son” and some guards are the only ones in attendance. These first pages are beautifully harrowing and somber. Ryan Ottley was exceptional with his expressions here, really capturing the anger and morose in the face of Kraven’s “son”. Even the body language shows off a broken man who’s beyond hurt to see his “father” the way he is. There’s no dialogue in these pages either. The art just speaks for itself – and the silence is deafening.

By the way, the reason I’m putting quotes around “son” and “father” is that Kraven’s son is actually a clone of himself. So, I suppose Kraven isn’t entirely dead after all.

The rest of this issue just ties up some loose ends and fills some plot holes. All of the super villains in Central Park are apprehended by The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and other super heroes. Billy Connors is returned home by Black Cat, while the whereabouts of his father is still unknown. There still are a few plot holes left, but I’ll give it a pass because you can only say so much in a single comic. With that said, though, I don’t think this is the end for all involved in this arc.

This is a comic book we’re talking about. A naked blue man in another comic book once said “Nothing ever ends.” and he’s right. Every epilogue is indeed a prelude to something else and with some of the story elements that happen in Amazing Spider-Man #23, it’s clear that some interesting stuff is on the way. I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Nick Spencer’s Spider-Man. I love the ideas he’s introduced and his characterization for Peter and pretty much everyone involved is tremendous.

Spencer has had some great partners in the art department and Ryan Ottley is the perfect artist to work on a Spider-Man comic. I talked about the first 4 pages, but this issue as a whole is so gorgeous to look at. I immensely hope he gets to work on many more issues of ASM.