Kraven the Hunter, Sony’s latest Marvel villain-turned-antihero origin story, is hitting theaters and some more casual comic book movie fans might be wondering what he’s all about. The movie follows young Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as he grows up under the ruthless and strict eye of his father, Nikolai (Russell Crowe), who has a vast criminal empire. Sergei wants to go his own way, but as he matures, he realizes that he has to reckon with his father’s legacy, as well as his own burgeoning powers, deciding what kind of man he wants to be.

Directed by J.C. Chandor, Kraven the Hunter might be the most hard R-rated Sony superhero movie yet. Sergei rebels against his father’s violent nature, but eventually accepts that he has that same ultraviolence within himself, and on a more primal level. The movie has already taken some big liberties with the comic book character, and it remains to be seen if it can pull it off without losing the spirit of what makes Kraven the Hunter, Kraven the Hunter.

Kraven’s Comic Book Background Explained

Born Sergei Kravinoff, Kraven the Hunter was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1964. Like so many villains of the Cold War era – if his name didn’t already give it away – Sergei was and is Russian, born to an aristocratic family who fled to America after the fall of Tsar Nicholas II and the noble family. Kraven was inspired by General Zaroff from Richard Connell’s 1924 story “The Most Dangerous Game,” where the Russian general hunts people for sport.

In Marvel’s world, Kraven is instead a big-game hunter, but, unlike other big-game hunters, Kraven is a purist, preferring to take his prey down with his bare hands to prove he can best any wild animal or beast. If this seems ridiculous, he’s not exactly a man of normal human abilities, thanks to the powers he’s gained from drinking a juice made of various jungle herbs – similar to the heart-shaped herb of Black Panther lore. The potion makes him stronger, faster, more physically imposing, resistant to damage and exertion, and it has given him longevity. Key to his success is the fact it also enhances all his senses to a preternatural ability, putting him on a level with the predators he hunts.

On top of his potion-enhanced abilities, Kraven is already impressive in his own right. He’s a master tracker and of bushcraft, and a survivalist. He has an astounding knowledge of poisons and anecdotes, using them often in his work, as well as having an expert knowledge of human and animal anatomy and physiology. He’s a skilled tactician and strategist, and he has mastered various forms of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat in order to defeat any predator he encounters.

Kraven’s Relationship With Spider-Man

Throughout the years, Kraven has had a strange relationship with Spider-Man. Originally introduced as Spider-Man’s foe, Kraven became determined to catch and kill Spider-Man, obsessed with the idea that if he could best the superhumanly gifted wallcrawler, he would know he is the world’s best hunter. As such, Peter Parker and Sergei Kravinoff have been at odds over the years, but, surprisingly, have sometimes teamed up over the years.

The team-up is only made possible because, unlike other villains, Kraven actually has a strict code of honor and sense of ethics, always treating his foes with respect. He refuses to prey on the weak, and he always keeps his word. This strict honor code is why he eschews using weapons to hunt and has never cheated in his quest to best Spider-Man. Kraven has offered Spidey a great deal of respect over the years, recognizing Parker as his equal (and arguably his better). In one alternative universe under the What If…? run, Kraven actually did use bullets and killed the webslinger. However, upon realizing all the enormous good Spider-Man had done, Kraven, in a sign of respect to his fallen foe, took up Spidey’s mantle to protect others.

How Sony Is Changing Kraven The Hunter

However, Sony’s version of Kraven the Hunter will not be squaring off against Spider-Man. The studio’s named Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has been controversial in that it hasn’t actually included Spider-Man in any of its live-action villain/antihero origin movies: the Venom trilogy, Morbius, Madame Web, and now Kraven the Hunter all revolve around characters with intimate ties to Spider-Man. That said, it will be interesting if Sony’s version of Spider-Man, or even if Tom Holland, finally shows up in Kraven, even if only in a postcredits scene.

A lack of Spider-Man is not the only thing that the movie is changing from Kraven’s origin story, however.The original trailer also showed that how he gains his powers has been changed, too. Unlike the Kraven of the comics, younger Sergei appears to not be as fearless and eager to hunt apex predators. In one pivotal scene, he’s mauled by a lion but a drop of the lion’s blood enters an open wound on Sergei and appears to infuse him with his preternatural abilities.

The result is that, unlike the comics, where Kraven’s abilities are enhanced by a potion and fueled by his desire to be the best, this Kraven appears to become the animal, fusing more deeply and on a spiritual level with the natural environs around him. It’s more shamanistic than scientific, which could make for a positive change if done right. This Kraven is described as an environmentalist and conservationist, so it could be really interesting to see him using his new primal abilities in a positive way as a protector rather than a mere hunter.

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