Moonshadow: Kraven's Daughter

 

With Sony and Insomniac Games’ release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on Playstation 5, I thought now was the most opportune time to take a quick look at something the game touches on itself: the Kravinoff Family. No, today we won’t be doing a Family Tree, but instead we’ll be talking about a character who didn’t make it to the printed page: Kraven’s daughter in the MC2. Let me explain.

 

Among the many unused ideas and concepts conceived by Ron Frenz, shared on his own Facebook page is ‘Gazelle Kravenoff’ aka Moonshadow, and I quote Ron here ‘The daughter of Kraven the Hunter and Calypso!’

 

Now a quick history for everyone! Kraven the Hunter first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #15, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Kraven’s real name ‘Sergei Kravinoff’ was apparently first revealed in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #7 from 1986, though it should be noted that the initial 1983 volume of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 1) #6 gave Kraven’s real name as ‘Sergei Kravin’ and makes what I believe is the first reference to his Russian heritage and parents, the latter of which are strangely absent from the Deluxe Edition’s list of known relatives.

 

Writer J.M. DeMatteis and artists Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod gave the world Kraven’s definitive depiction in the critically acclaimed 1987 story Fearful Symmetry: Kraven’s Last Hunt published in six parts across all three Spider-Man titles at the time in Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294 and Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132. The story simultaneously elevated Kraven’s status among Spider-Man’s rogues gallery by having the hunter bury the hero alive and assume his identity and remains impactful for its psychological explorations of both men ultimately culminating in Kraven ending his own life.

 

As for Calypso, she’s a Haitian Voodoo priestess and lover of Kraven’s, created by writer Denny O’Neil and penciller Alan Weiss. First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #209, Calypso would later gain notoriety in the Torment storyline when she enthralled The Lizard aka Curt Connors and forced him to commit murder in a plot to kill Spider-Man following Kraven’s death (Spider-Man #1-5). While she has always been known as Calypso, the character’s full name was first revealed as ‘Calypso Ezili’ in 1991’s Gamer’s Handbook of the Marvel Universe Volume 7. Ezili is a variant spelling for a member of the Vodou or Voodoo pantheon of spirits.

 

We don’t have many additional details for Gazelle’s character, and Ron himself mentions during an interview for the podcast Make Mine Mayday Episode 43 he didn’t even pitch the concept to Spider-Girl co-creator Tom Defalco. What’s noteworthy is her alternative name, Moonshadow, which is a direct reference to Kraven’s Last Hunt writer J.M. DeMatteis’ creator-owned series of the same name, itself a reference to the song by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens. Talk about fearful symmetry!

 

That’s all I have for you all today. If there’s an opportunity to delve further into the Kravinoff Family Tree, I’d jump at the chance so just let me know! Perhaps Gazelle aka Moonshadow will see print someday? A very big ‘thank you’ to arias-98105, Ron Frenz, the Make Mine Mayday podcast and the Marvel Appendix without which this post wouldn’t have been possible.

 

Until I dig myself out of a grave after being buried for two weeks, I remain

 

frogoat

Did Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Just Reference the MC2?!

 

Like many people over the last few days, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 from Insomniac on Playstation 5. Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I love the MC2, but I was honestly not expecting a potential reference to one of the MC2’s groundbreaking couples. Let me explain. Minor spoilers for the game ahead!

 

During the mission ‘Make Your Own Choices,’ Miles Morales aka Spider-Man is attempting to locate Felicia Hardy aka the Black Cat to warn her about the threat of Kraven’s hunters. Of course, he arrives too late and Felicia is already on the move attempting to flee New York by stealing the Wand of Watoomb from Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum. While fighting off the hunters, Miles learns from Felicia that she wanted to use the Wand in order to reach Paris where her girlfriend is in danger. After defeating droves of the hunters, Miles helps Felicia use the Wand of Watoomb to open a portal to Paris, near the Eiffel Tower and away from the threat of Kraven the Hunter to whatever fate has in store for her there.

 

What does this have to do with the MC2? Well, the MC2 was the first to establish Felicia’s bisexuality by revealing her new partner was a woman named Diana. In Spider-Girl #47, Mary Jane invites both Felicia and her partner Diana over for a cup of tea. Diana mentions the couple were previously living in Paris but have moved back so that Felicia’s daughter Felicity can reestablish a relationship with her father, Flash Thompson. When Mary Jane asks how long the two have known each other, Felicia states ‘it’s going on six years now’ and mentions that Diana used to be a contract operative for her detective agency.

 

Could this be the unidentified girlfriend Felicia mentions in the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 video game? I’m willing to believe so, at least. I can’t think of any other romantic partners of Felicia with a connection to Paris. Let me know what you think!

 

Until I stop jumping to conclusions, I remain

 

frogoat