Kraven the Hunter (Alyosha Kravinoff)

Superherobox


caption =Alyosha Kravinoff.
Art by Ariel Olivetti.
comic_color = background:#ff8080
character_name = Kraven the Hunter
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Spectacular Spider-Man" vol. 1 #243 (1997)
creators =J. M. DeMatteis
Luke Ross
alliance_color = background:#cccccc
alter_ego =Alyosha "Al" Kravinoff
species = Human Mutant
alliances =Sinister Six
aliases = Al Kraven
powers = Superhuman senses, strength, speed, agility, reflexes, endurance, healing factor, psychic communication with and control of animals

Alyosha Kravinoff, also known as the second Kraven the Hunter, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is the illegitimate mutant son of Kraven the Hunter. He first appeared in the pages of "Spectacular Spider-Man" #243 (1997).

Fictional character biography

Alyosha Kravinoff, an illegitimate mutant son of the infamous Kraven the Hunter, was — unlike his half-brother Vladimir (the Grim Hunter) — separated from his family and raised in an African jungle. After Kraven's suicide, Alyosha came to New York to investigate the father he barely knew. Dressed as Kraven, Alyosha confronted his uncle Dmitri (The Chameleon). Believing his abusive half-brother had returned from the dead, the Chameleon revealed to Alyosha much about the dysfunctional Kravinoff family. Kraven's former lover, Calypso Ezili, did actually return from the dead, and she mistook Alyosha for Kraven. She seduced Alyosha, but afterwards he spurned her affections. Later, riding a bull elephant atop Manhattan's rooftops, Alyosha attacked Spider-Man; he poisoned him with a hallucinogenic dart, but then set him free. While at the Kravinoff estate, Alyosha was learning about his father from Spider-Man when Calypso returned with Kraven's tribesmen; she set the home ablaze and killed all but one animal, Gulyadkin the lion. Calypso poisoned Alyosha and Spider-Man and used her hypnotic powers to force the two to fight to the death. Spider-Man resisted and injured Calypso, while Alyosha subdued her with his lion. Despite asking for her forgiveness, Alyosha savagely killed Calypso and all the tribesmen.

He was later hired by the city of New York to help capture the Fantastic Four's enigmatic enormous canid Puppy. Next, he was hired by the White Wolf, head of the deposed Wakandan secret police, to capture the Black Panther. The Black Panther turned the battle around, nearly killing Alyosha. The Sandman later invited Alyosha to join the Insidious Six to hunt Doctor Octopus and Senator Ward, host body for the alien Z'nox. Venom (Eddie Brock), slighted at his rejection by the Six, hunted each of the team members. Refusing to be "the hunted," Alyosha trapped Venom with fire, but Venom seriously injured him and escaped.

Alyosha then adopted a more relaxed personality as a suave, witty ladies' man. As "Al," he began dating Timber Hughes, an aspiring actress who waitressed at an all-villain bar. Al sought to help Timber's career in Hollywood by becoming a director. Despite celebrity connections, Al's efforts were stonewalled by arrogance, greed, and corruption within the Hollywood elite. Forced out of Hollywood by the powerful Rothstein brothers, Al is beaten while Timber was brutally raped. Both Al and Timber exacted vengeance; defeated another half-brother, Ned; and left Hollywood to pursue heroics in New York City.

Alyosha is one of few mutants that retained their superhuman powers after the M-Day. He is one of the superpowered beings recruited within the "Beyond!" miniseries.

Alyosha Kraven later eventually becomes fully deranged from experimenting with his father's potions, and in his madness began collecting a zoo of animal-themed superhumans [The Punisher War Journal Vol.2 #13] , including Bushmaster, Gargoyle, Tiger Shark, Kangaroo, Black Knight's former horse Aragorn, Vulture, Mongoose, Man-Bull, Dragon Man, Swarm, Mandrill, Grizzly, Leap-Frog, and Rhino. In the end, the Punisher, whom Kraven referred to as "Tiny Monkey" managed to sabotage this zoo; though Kraven himself escapes to the Savage Land.

Powers and abilities

Alyosha has superhuman strength, speed, agility, dexterity, reflexes, endurance, and a healing factor. His five senses are extraordinarily heightened, and when enraged, he may shift into a bestial fury. He inherited these from his father Kraven, who mutated himself through the constant use of mystical potions. He revealed to Spider-Man in his limited series that his mother meanwhile was a natural-born mutant from whom he inherited the ability to communicate with and control animals. He is highly experienced in weaponry such as poison darts, axes, spears, whips, guns, and nets, and is an exceptional unarmed combatant. He wore his father's lion vest, with embedded electroshock circuitry. He travels with his pet wolf, Nickel, and occasionally other exotic animals.

References

External links

* [http://marvel.com/universe/Kravinoff%2C_Alyosha Alyosha Kravinoff] at Marvel.com