The Hidden Meaning & Psychology of KRAVEN'S LAST HUNT! (Spider-Man) || NerdSync

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Kraven's Last Hunt is one of the most praised Spider-Man stories ever written. Today, we're taking you through the history of the story's creation and analyzing the hidden meaning behind the tale's major themes about the duality of Spider-Man, the conflict between man and animal, and how individual perception of costumes and clothing can influence the wearer's behavior via a psychological phenomenon called enclothed cognition. There's a lot to talk about in this classic webhead story, so let's dive in!
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----MORE SPIDER-MAN----
The REAL Origin of VENOM and Spider-Man's Black Costume!
▶ • The REAL Origin of VEN...
What Happened to SPIDER-MAN's Parents?
▶ • What Happened to SPIDE...
What is the Purpose of SPIDER-MAN's Underarm Webbing?
▶ • What is the Purpose of...
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-------SOURCES-------
How Kraven's Last Hunt was created
www.jmdematteis.com/2010/09/st...
Read the full Enclothed cognition study
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----ABOUT NERDSYNC----
Comic books are an incredible medium filled with the amazing adventures of fantastic superheroes, but they are also much more than just stories on a page. We here at NerdSync see comics as a tool that can help teach us about the world we live in! Join us each week as we explore fascinating topics that range from science, history, philosophy, culture, and art, making complex ideas a little more accessible through the heroes and villains from Marvel, DC Comics, and more!
Hosted by Scott Niswander (@ScottNiswander)
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[@NerdSyncProductions]

I do not know why I said "Mark Zeck." My script clearly said "Mike Zeck," as it should be. I'm an idiot. I have also received confirmation that I _definitely_ pronounced DeMatteis wrong. He told me on twitter that it is pronounced DeeMaTAYiss. I am a fake nerd.

[@applemansr2688]

NerdSync oh noooooo

[@Geck0GC]

I love this comment.

[@spud.gcordova4404]

what happened to the weekly trivia challenge it stopped on episode on weapon x

[@Geck0GC]

Alex Cordova he said it was because he was running out of questions (or something like that)

[@christopherarriaga6009]

Dude...first of I love the channel, by why you trying to be all "HIPSTER-NERD-PUNK" with that superfluous hair style...? KNOCK IT OFF BRO, I swear "I" got this channel SOOO many subbers when it looked like you just "got outta bed and made a vid..." YEAH DUDE...! #justmyopinion

[@goji7273]

Spider-Man was the original web comic.

[@randomgirll3123]

took me a second... But once I got it I loved it. XD

[@mateogonzalez5678]

Jason Holmes Nice!👏

[@justinward3679]

I R8 8/8 m8

[@RonanStreamkiller]

I died XD

[@Slaggathor12]

Jason Holmes slow clap

[@PatrickStaight]

Reminds me of short story called "the clothes make the man". In it a group of thieves are sneaking into a bank. The lookout puts on a police costume and after a few positive encounters with passers by he decides he loves the identity so much that he will change his ways and subsequently arrests his fellow thieves.

[@alphatrion100]

So he's a traitor

[@daelen.cclark]

Where could I find that story? Sounds great.

[@PatrickStaight]

@@daelen.cclark Wow! It's been over 5 years since I made that comment. Reading it again feels like finding a mysterious scrap of paper with my handwriting on it, while cleaning out boxes in my basement. I have the vague sense that the story was told to me by my friend Bruce Thompson who teaches philosophy at Palomar College in Sothern California. It's possible he even wrote it, I don't know. He has written a few books. I'll send him an email and try to get back to you.

[@notnotteodor2453]

Wait? Are you saying Clark Kent is Superman?

[@Khae.]

Madness, Clark Kent is a nerd. He can't be Superman!

[@SarcasticDuck]

that's impossible, they met each other recently on Action Comics!

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Pfft. What next? Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne is Batman?

[@adaoraelliott9254]

That's impossible! Clark Kent wears glasses but Superman has perfect vision! Better than 20/20 more like 100/100.

[@din4433]

Just Some Guy with a Mustache Nah... That actor guy Ben Affleck is the Batman... So it can't be Bruce..

[@jakebryant3445]

They should make an animated movie about Kraven's Last Hunt

[@marvelousdcgeek9761]

Jake Bryant true but I really doubt Disney/Marvel would have the balls to make it x'D

[@GigaChadh976]

I'd like that. Have the guys who did castlevania do it.

[@conchaquat6277]

Jake Bryant Let's hope they won't screw it up.

[@danielnikolaev2083]

marvelousdcgeek 97 Sony has balls

[@conchaquat6277]

Daniel Nikolaev You sure? Sony sold the animations rights to Disney which ended Spectacular Spider-Man. Everyone blames Marvel for not bringing back Spectacular but Marvel doesn't have the rights to that show. Everyone knows that Spectacular Spider-Man is the greatest Spider-Man cartoon there ever was and Sony killed it.

[@thekrakenexperiment280]

Kraven's Last Hunt is seriously one of my favorite comic book stories of all time. I'm so glad you're doing a video about it.

[@seamuslikesmovies8748]

I don't think any other comic has done as much for a villain as this one did for Kraven.

[@conchaquat6277]

Seamus Rae So true.

[@uberdavez]

indeed

[@djrocksgaming6255]

Seamus Likes Movies By giving him insane plot armor and using it to completely humiliate Spider-Man? How is that anything good?

[@Username-wj8pz]

@@djrocksgaming6255 how the hell did Kraven have plot armor

[@djrocksgaming6255]

@@Username-wj8pz Spider-Man has repeatedly dodge attacks at the speed of light, and bullets have never consistently been an issue for him because of his speed, but Kraven somehow manages to tag him with tranquilizers? Furthermore, Spider-Man completely outclasses him physically. Kraven was just a low-level superhuman with the enhancement drugs. Spider-Man has to pull his punches against the likes of Scorpion. Kraven shouldn't have been able to fight him.

[@raiden_187]

I loved how vermin was the pivotal contrast between Peters vision of Spiderman and kravens distorted mirror image

[@ComicBookGuy420]

He wanted to finally conclusively prove he was not only better than the spider, but a better spiderman before he died, I'd say he proved his point

[@williamschultheis3917]

for me this story rivals the killing joke in both ranking and meaning and potential for theories

[@EtoileAmirShizuyo]

This for some reason reminded me of when in one of the Justice League Movies Wonder Women does the lasso on some poor guy and he cries out "I sometimes cross-dress in a Wonder-Women outfit... It makes me feel powerful" And she laughs and says "It makes me feel powerful too!".-.

[@paulpama2389]

Wish For Death That is in Justice League: War. Love that movie.

Christian Ayne same

[@PatriciaCross]

I remember reading this as a kid in the 80s when it came out. I was pretty young so a lot of it went over my head; but it always stuck with me. In my teens when I was making my own characters and comics I even borrowed some of the imagery.

[@JustKrin]

So Scott, did you make fewer mistakes during the production of this video?

[@munohlow]

Impossible. Scott makes no mistakes

[@Gardow]

did you make* Might want to put on a lab-coat. ;)

[@JustKrin]

Gardow as you can see, I didn't wear my lab-coat

[@AJZulu]

He did.

I don't even need to watch it to give a thumb up. Kraven's Last Hunt is the ultimate Spidey story ever.

[@greg2961]

Who else wants to hear more about Joker killing Batman and becoming sane?

[@InvaderJoker]

It happens in Legends of The Dark Knight #65-#68

[@scifislack]

I've got to say, Kraven's Last Hunt is my favourite (or atleast one of my favourite) Spider-man stories. From the beautiful ingration of art, to the dueling battle between human and being a caged beast as Spidey himself tackles his demons. It's a dark story that works, with macabre but beautiful artwork as it slowly builds and the villian triumphs. I could ramble on more... but for now that's all.

[@Chairman7w]

Awesome, great video! Made me have a much deeper appreciation for this run. Thanks

[@alphyy3107]

this was the the first comic book I've ever gotten!

[@luigiperp]

If February is Webuary, May should a a month of videos about Aunt May

[@pabd2969]

this is one of the greatest videos you ever uploaded. It is always important that how stories can be meaningful and not just entertainment.

[@lebearpolarr]

I am so happy that you covered this, Kraven's Last Hunt is my favourite Spider-Man story of all time!

[@Nayops23]

Loved the vid!, I've been waiting for this one

[@chrishughes208]

Great videos Scott. I've been a fan for awhile.

[@bigburd7232]

great video!

[@juvemaniakk1o]

Also you gotta love well researched analysis :3

[@elijahhernandez1784]

Eyyyyy this video was a pretty good 👌🏽👌🏽

[@Oscarephox]

Great video for a great story

[@goos98]

great video

[@hatednyc]

Kraven’s Last Hunt TPB was one of my all time favorites. It was the first glossy paged graphic novel I ever owned. It was a gift from Dan Cuddy who I went to visit at Marvels old offices on Park Avenue South. Cuddy was the editor on Spider-Man during its initial Run in the 90’s with Todd McFarlane penciling.

[@dawnbreaker3112]

NerdSync do a vid explaining why female superheroes wear such revealing costumes (not that im complaining) it would be a interesting topic ;)

[@Zadap]

Hal sorry but it is wear not where

[@MysteriousTomJenkins]

I'd say it could be one of three things. 1. To show off their physique and make them look physically appealing. For the male heroes its easy, just show they have a good looking body, that can be shown with a skin tight outfit but for women, in my opinion it looks better if some skin is showing. Wonder Woman's costume wouldn't look that great if it covered all of her body like Superman's but as it covers just her chest, wrists and feet, showing off her body, it looks great and sexy. Same with Super Girl, she has the top half covered by her costume but just a red skirt for a bottom, so it shows her off and makes her attractive, it emphasizes her body in a way that the male costumes don't need because with males, about the only private areas are their butt and genitalia and that's covered but for women, a lot of parts with them can be sexy so with their revealing costumes it emphasizes these attractive areas without making them naked. 2. To appeal to males as I'd say males read comics more than females and likely straight males make up the majority as well so straight males would prefer to see a sexy outfit on a females because they are attracted to them. 3. If a female had a full, skintight outfit, while they aren't actually naked, it could give the look of them being naked since most of their body is the same color and their breasts are hanging out in full shape as well as their private area so the revealing costumes prevent this because now its not their full body on display, just portions of it. These were basically me trying to think of plausible reasons why this could be. I don't agree with any of these, just tried to make possible arguments for the reason. Chances are, 2 is the main reason but with all the videos on this channel and their topics, who knows? Maybe there is a deeper reason for the revealing costumes besides sex appeal.

[@Arcin00]

Hal many comic creators are male, at least in the beginning. Also maybe they want to get more sales

[@Arcin00]

MysteriousTomJenkins actually I think it's almost 50% women who read comics

[@MysteriousTomJenkins]

Axman7281 Wouldn't know myself but that sounds pretty cool.

[@rodrigoarellano992]

Amazing video, really interesting

[@TheRageng]

This was really interesting! Makes me wonder about my own fashion choices :D

[@njo2424]

Wish NerdSync wouldn't stoop to click-bait titles and the click-bait red arrow... Such good content deserves better.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

You'd love one of his most recent videos then! He made one on clickbait comic titles and subjects recently.

[@geoffreywinn4031]

Cool video!

[@r.k.7663]

You deserve more subscribers!

[@ShadyDoorags]

Not to be a hipster *puts on horn-rimmed glasses* but I really don't understand the praise this comic gets. Kraven didn't "become" Spider-Man. He put on the costume, but the psychology was missing completely. Spidey doesn't kill, he doesn't fight just for the challenge, he doesn't push himself to his limits unless it's demanded. Maybe that was the point and maybe that's why everyone else in the universe loves this comic so much, but I Personally would've loved to see Kraven understand the psychology of what it means to be Spider-Man, to put protection above the hunt, similar to what Doc Ock goes through. Instead, he dies satisfied that he's superior, when in reality, he's accomplished nothing.

[@RowdyRodimus]

But that is the entire meaning of the story. Kraven has always seen Spidey as an animal to a big game hunter. He doesn't care about the man under the mask, he just cares about the animalistic side of Spider-man. Think about it, he has Spidey unconscious long enough to bury him and "become" him but he never bothers taking the mask off to find out who he is. To Kraven, that didn't matter. Peter Parker meant nothing to him, but the Spider had defeated him again and again. That destroyed Kraven who fancied himself as the world's greatest hunter. To him, everything is a hunt. So when he finally defeated "The Spider" it wasn't enough, he had to "become" him and defeat someone he knew Spidey hadn't defeated on his own to prove to himself that he was better. That's why he committed suicide at the end, he saw Spider-Man as the ultimate hunt and once he defeated him and proved to himself that he was better, his life was complete, there was nothing left for him, his hunts have finished.

[@ShadyDoorags]

I'm aware that's what the story is about, I'm saying I don't understand the praise of it. What does the story accomplish by continuing to make Kraven the Hunter who he already is? Would it not have been more interesting to let him actually see the man behind the Spider for once. To let him understand why he could never be Spider-Man? To challenge his very belief that it wasn't an animal that had defeated him, but a man. Imagine, say, if while in the middle of fighting Vermin, Kraven needed to be saved from... whatever, and Spider-Man chose to save him instead of defeat Vermin. Imagine how distraught Kraven would be to know that a man with morality is what fueled the Spider. This could even be the thought that drives him to suicide, to know that everything he's ever known about Spider-Man is a lie. I simply think allowing Kraven to die in his own satisfaction just isn't very thrilling as far as stories go. I would rather his viewpoint be challenged, even if in the end, he couldn't accept it.

[@martinleonard-williams9832]

Nice!

[@blight040]

I read this as a kid, it messed with me hard. It was a my introduction to mental disorders and suicide. I read it over and over, I judged every comic I read after that off this comic. It's still a benchmark for me.

[@KumaoftheForest]

I hope they do “Kraven’s last hunt” in the third Spiderman movie

[@pingpongwizard2586]

This was a good video

[@bobbyvee260]

I think how others react to the costume has a bigger impact.

[@ROA625]

My favorite Spidey story, Child Within follows that, then Venom.

[@mikeoxlong8474]

My favorite spiderman comic

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Still can't get over the Spider Room. It's a room...full of spiders...that you eat. It's like a nightmare version of the Pure Imagination Room in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

[@CarlosRodriguez-dh7mm]

I think Scott might be a nerd...

[@kalebsantos72]

Carlos Rodriguez nah

[@bert8904]

Carlos Rodriguez he's a robot

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

He's a nerd, in sync. Get it??

[@christianmccauley7340]

Carlos Rodriguez naaah...

[@pineapplestreet9792]

Really? What was your first clue?

[@bobwastakenbro5222]

im still salty about OMD

[@-m.d.n-9019]

BobWasTaken Bro me too

[@autisticscreech7143]

BobWasTaken Bro £pounds

[@diggledigloto8630]

I think all nerdsync videos should be like this

[@diggledigloto8630]

comic misconceptions*

[@marlonhoyte5285]

slow clap.. great job! brought me back

[@cardboardbelt]

While Kraven's Last Hunt was one of my favorite super hero stories when it was released, my middle aged self feels like it might have been a long term negative influence on comic books (along with other great stories like Watchmen and The Dark Knight). Although I loved each of these stories I never wanted most books to emulate them. I was happy with their darker tone and content being unique. I fell out of comics in the mid 90s but it seems like so much I've heard about in the intervening years has been really ugly and outside of the spirit of the books I grew up on. Do you feel like I'm only aware of the worst impulse stories? What's the line between this dark story and those?

[@thenationaltimelyactionhou9328]

This is definitely my favourite Spider-Man story!

[@camerong.johnson1982]

Awesome Video, I took a look at "The Tyger". It was really interesting how in-sync it was with this comic! From what I read into it, the poem seemed to tell a story of someones mental and emotional institution cracking from trying to compete or relate with the "tiger." I could be reading into this all wrong, either way, awesome video and I loved the lab coat analogy!

[@eduardoruiz7600]

It's official. Webruary is my favorite KZbin month

[@cpasta517]

Vermin is basically Gollum.

[@uberdavez]

He acts like Gollum but can go toe to toe with Cap and Spidey or Kraven without a ring.

[@killerqueen2498]

love that book

[@ClarenceDass]

This is one of my favourite comics stories ever. it's up there with things like Dark Knight Returns for me. I live in Fiji and the first time I went overseas and entered a comic store, the collected book for this story was the first thing i ever bought. BUT I read this issue by issue back in the early 90s when I was like 10.

[@jayashreems18]

It's better

[@pixelanarchy1711]

I loved this video, though I thought it was going to focus more on the aspect of accomplishment and death. Still Scott, great video.

[@ofAwxen]

Scott, it's because lab coat adds +1 to INT

[@Sket6984]

I think Scott just likes the lab coat and found a way to work it into a video.

[@KCUFyoufordoxingme]

This was such a great video. Things are in weird place now with the channel. The duck tails was pretty good. The jug heads hat was great. I have other channels to talk about the movies about the comics.

[@IronLegionnaire1]

It's interesting that the black suit is the suit used throughout the story, since it represents peter's darker side So it's interesting that kraven would go for that suit to be a more dark and 'superior' spider-man

[@ginge641]

That's not the suit Kraven goes for. That's the suit Peter was using at the time.

[@keno4770]

Kraven’s last hunt is my favorite spider-man story. I really hope that they adapt it into the MCU at some point.

[@mohdsalmand1385]

Kraven's death scene would be even more heart breaking at that point.

[@Sarcasticron]

Scott, there is quite a lot going on in KLH. I hope you can return to the book later and discuss some of the other themes and ideas.

[@itsfresh0420]

I just got the epic collection of this story

[@socckz]

0:19 I get it

[@eep5411]

Cool

[@66survivor65]

2:49 your driving me sane

[@deejayxcrypt]

80's and 90's where the best years of Spider-Man. Before it was a bit more "gag" and after it was just... "wrong".

[@matthewjess5488]

Great video. KLH is my favourite graphic novel of all time and this video was right on time for my birthday!

[@TevyaSmolka]

Please cover spidergirl aka mayday Parker because she deserves justice

[@nvcomics]

This is fantastic. My birthday is in February (yesterday) AND my favorite hero is spiderman

[@theapplecommunity5021]

Can you just read more poems? Loved that little bit.

[@edgey013]

you should review spiderman reign

[@klaw9552]

Kraven was Spidey's Bane

[@antwan1357]

I know what your talking about I acted differently when I wore a military uniform then when I wore regular clothing.

[@jaydenluna9635]

I read this 2 years ago when I was 11

[@inexfan89]

Great video, as always. I guess clothes DO make the man.

[@buddhawalkxwater7399]

LUKE SKYWALKER THEME SONG: soundcloud.com/buddaheartaway/agua

[@campbellgibbons2092]

Do a video on the Amber Butane Corps

[@campbellgibbons2092]

That sounds like a great idea!

[@campbellgibbons2092]

Yeah, that sounds great!

[@Michael-ch9xp]

Soup Gibbons really

[@archangel1547]

Will you be doing a video with "The Spider" Richard Wentworth? The pulp hero now being published by dynamite comics?

[@ollienix3285]

OMG WEBUARY IS A THE SAME MONTH AS MY BIRTH DAY AND SPIDER-MAN IS MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO!!!....thank you so much Scott

[@devinschwers3714]

Ollie Nix Me too! I love Spider-Man and I was born on Feb. 27th!

[@ollienix3285]

Devin S this is perfect for the both of us and my b-Day is February 18th

[@william9219]

February 11th

[@lifeisterrible2998]

william kinlan That is my birthday too!!!!

[@twilightjoltik3151]

violent blue13 mine as well

[@przemekdude]

Scott looks like captain Olimar with this hairstyle

[@TheSoapyandPhil]

So when Melissa Benoist says that whenever she puts on the Supergirl costume she feels transformed, that is sincere?

[@dooplon5083]

SoapyandPhil Well in a technical sense it's as sincere as the author wants if we discuss her as a person it probably is.

[@juvemaniakk1o]

a sponsored video that actually showed me something I didn't know about and want to try!

[@ggittins4097]

You're head is such a good shape

[@GreenmanDave]

Great video. I'm especially interested in that study you talked about. I think there might be a flaw, however, in that it doesn't seem to account for the possibility that the group wearing the lab coats (as opposed to the group wearing the "painter's smocks" or the group not wearing lab coats) might just be smarter than the other group. Intriguing concept though.

[@RowdyRodimus]

I would've picked the people that had the most errors in the first test be told they were wearing lab coats and those that committed the least errors be told they were wearing painters smocks. That would show with a little more evidence that what they were wearing made a difference.

[@FrenchCelt]

What you're describing is called selection bias, a threat to internal validity. Random assignment controls for that if you use a large enough random sample. Of course, experiments like this often use college undergrads, a population that tends to be smarter on average as a whole when compared to the general population at large, hence there is always an issue with external validity in these types of studies.

[@RonanStreamkiller]

Scott, what do you use to keep your hair like that?

[@thesmellycatjazz]

Semen

[@aidanobrien5317]

Holy crap! February is amazing! My birthday, now an entire month of Spider-Man!

[@crimsonchance3302]

Can you do a video about the dc spider assassin Black Spider

[@theaaron1844]

Billy Joel: the Stranger

[@maattthhhh]

except that in the experiments, it is more focused on the influence of suggestions (scientists saying the meaning behind the white coat influences the participants' behavior.) while in spiderman, kraven has his own set of pre-conceptions, and so does spiderman, which affected both their actions.

[@SuperSongbird21]

You've covered this in a lot of your 'costume' videos, but I'm sure there is some truth to the "clothes make the man" concept. Costumes/uniforms can influence the way the wearer thinks they should behave when wearing the outfit, while others expect certain things of the individual based on the outfit (another concept that comes up in many a superhero story where it's a different person behind the mask, usually it's their behaviour being different that gives them away.)

[@delcidkidv250]

The entire time he was talking about clothing I expected a trunk club ad.

[@jithusuresh3410]

pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls make a video on sentry vs Superman

[@ianjacobson3514]

sure

[@comicgeekreviews5694]

could you talk about silk I love silk

[@AppleVannie]

this is so interesting - added that article to my ever growing 'to read' quest log. I wonder how it relates to subcultural studies (subcultural capital and meaning and identification within and without a visually distinctive subculture)? I'm really hoping someone reads this and catches my drift, any thoughts are appreciated! personally interested because it doesn't matter what I wear - be it normal clothes for work or alternative ones, everything feels like a costume. I'm not sure what that says about my self-image, though :')

[@MikeOTR]

This reminds me of how Azreal during the No Man's Land storyline often said that he needed the suit in order to do the things he does. I didn't look much into his character, but is it a mental reason why he can't fight without the suit or does the suit have special properties? EDIT: He got a new costume later on in the storyline made by Batman and it might be just a mental reason for why he can only be good as Azreal while wearing the suit

[@suggestedtigerr1151]

Imagine being vermin in this comic must of been hella confusing lol

[@thrango2379]

I'm really interested in Playster, but I just wish they had more Marvel and DC comics.

[@josephercanbrack8393]

Wasn't there a recentish comic that kind of went like this, only it was Kraven's family vs the Spiders?