10 Times Spider-Man Has Been Outwitted

Released in 1987, written by J.M. DeMatteis and pencilled by Mike Zeck, many consider this comic to be Kraven the Hunter's finest hour. Kraven, born Sergei Kravinoff, is a Russian supervillain with superhuman powers who hunts his victims for sport - and sees Spider-Man as the ultimate big game.

After years of trying and failing to catch his elusive quarry, Kraven retreats into the shadows - until finally, near the end of his life, he decides to dedicate himself to one last hunt to prove himself stronger than Spider-Man.

While fighting Spider-Man head-on never went well for Kraven, this plan was very different - after stunning Spider-Man with a poisoned dart, instead of going in for the kill, he dressed in a Spider-Suit of his own and took to the streets. By the time Spider-Man awoke and found Kraven, the Hunter had already caught a terrifying rat-man named Vermin - a beast Spider-Man had never managed to capture without help in the past.

By defeating Vermin when Spider-Man never could, he has finally proven himself as the superior hunter, and ends his own life soon after, satisfied that he fulfilled his ultimate goal. A hollow victory? Maybe. But a victory nonetheless.