Warning: Spoilers ahead for Kraven the Hunter.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe: A Missed Opportunity for Marvel Storytelling
As the final installment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), Kraven the Hunter embodies the untapped potential within a franchise that began with promise but ultimately disappointed. In a cinematic landscape peppered with superheroes, the SSU made a bold attempt to carve out a unique niche apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), yet it faltered significantly in delivering cohesive and satisfying narratives. Key films like Venom, Morbius, and Madame Web hinted at rich storylines and character developments, but failed to follow through, leaving audiences with unresolved plots and a sense of squandered storytelling.
Launching with Venom in 2018, the SSU sought to explore a darker take on Spider-Man lore. However, the ambitious plans of the franchise collided with inconsistent storytelling, jeopardizing the development of compelling character arcs. Now that the SSU has officially concluded, a retrospective glance reveals a myriad of intriguing narratives and character paths that remain unexplored.
1 Knull’s Invasion of Earth
Defining Crisis in Venom: The Last Dance
Knull, the embodiment of darkness introduced in Venom (2018) by Donny Cates, promised a high-stakes storyline that could have dramatically shifted the Marvel landscape. The SSU hinted at his emergence through Venom: Let There Be Carnage but ultimately deferred his invasion in The Last Dance. This setup suggested that Knull might serve as a looming threat, prying at the franchise’s potential for a grand cosmic confrontation with established heroes.
The introduction of Knull could have served as the SSU’s magnum opus, incentivizing a union of antiheroes like the Sinister Six to rise against him. The ingredients for this eventuality were already simmering within the franchise, a captivating narrative that never reached fruition.
2 Kraven’s Ending and Future Prospects
The Duality of Kraven: The Hunter
Ending with a captivating twist, Kraven the Hunter showcased Sergei Kravinoff’s transformation into his iconic persona. The film explored whether Kraven was a true antihero with a unique philosophy of justice or merely echoing the villainy of his father. This unresolved tension between heroism and malevolence posed riveting questions about the character’s future trajectory within the SSU.
The film’s conclusion left viewers pondering whether Kraven would solidify his position as a villain or continue as an emblematic antihero. As the SSU closed its doors, Kraven’s evolution remained a tantalizing thread, suggesting that the franchise’s most engaging narratives were still imminent.
3 Morbius and Vulture: An Unfulfilled Alliance
The Unseen Potential of Morbius
In a tantalizing twist, Morbius‘s post-credits scene teased the potential formation of the Sinister Six with Adrian Toomes, the Vulture. This flicker of hope for a collaborative villainy hinted at a robust storyline that echoed the MCU’s successful ensemble themes. Sadly, the SSU inconsistently pursued this plotline, leaving fans astounded by the number of opportunities that slipped away.
The idea of uniting various villains under a common cause was a thrilling concept, poised to redefine the SSU’s direction and depth. The neglect of this storyline deprived audiences of a possible crucial counterpart to Marvel’s Avengers, falling flat in its promise of a woven narrative tapestry.
4 Dr. Teddy Paine and Agony: A Missed Connection
Symbiotic Revelations in Venom: The Last Dance
Venom: The Last Dance introduced Dr. Teddy Paine, whose eventual bonding with the Symbiote Agony opened doors to new dimensions in the SSU. This intriguing pairing set the stage for a deeper exploration of the Symbiote mythology that the franchise could have embraced, especially in the wake of Knull’s anticipated invasion.
Speculating on how human ambition intertwines with Symbiote power, this narrative setup could have provided an exciting framework for the ongoing Symbiote saga, yet it remained confined to cancelled aspirations as the SSU faced its ending.
5 The Untold Story of Venom’s Remnants
Venom’s Narrative Threads in Spider-Man: No Way Home
The remnants of Venom could have fostered diverse narratives throughout the Marvel multiverse. The SSU had ample potential to explore varying hosts or connect with the MCU’s broader canvas to introduce characters like Miles Morales or Gwen Stacy. Instead, these fragments remained narrative loose ends, exemplifying the unfulfilled potential of the SSU.
6 The Introduction of the Spider-Women
Madame Web and Her Rising Heroes
Madame Web presented a glimpse into the world of spider-powered heroines, showcasing characters like Julia Carpenter, Mattie Franklin, and Anya Corazon. Despite serving as a promising setup, the film primarily focused on their origins with little exploration of their potential as dynamic heroes.
The brief showcase of the Spider-Women hinted at thrilling adventures and the possibility of spin-off series, fostering rich narratives within the previously established universe. Nonetheless, the premature closure of the SSU robbed audiences of witnessing these promising characters reach their full potential, ultimately leaving Marvel’s female spider-heroes in the shadows.
7 Rex Strickland and the Hidden Agenda
Military Enigmas in Venom: The Last Dance
Rex Strickland’s character in Venom: The Last Dance hinted at a compelling subplot involving a shadowy superior, potentially a prominent figure with interests aligned with the Symbiotes. This tantalizing mystery paved the way for a future conspiracy narrative reminiscent of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Oscorp.
Without revealing the true motives or identity of Strickland’s commanding officer, the film squandered an opportunity to explore the darker intersections of military ambitions, government interference, and alien beings.
8 Eddie Brock’s Son Dylan: A Missed Connection
Hints of Dylan in Venom: The Last Dance
In Venom: The Last Dance, subtle nods suggested the arrival of Dylan Brock, a character of significant importance within the comics. His introduction could have seamlessly folded into the anticipated saga of Knull’s invasion, enriching Eddie’s narrative while expanding the SSU’s lore.
Alas, the conclusion of the SSU denied audiences the potential depth Dylan could have brought to the overarching story, showcasing yet another lost narrative thread.
9 The Chameleon: A Drifting Villainy
Chameleon’s Evolution in Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter teased Dmitri Smerdyakov’s transformation into the Chameleon, setting the stage for a riveting sibling conflict. This revelation positioned the Chameleon as a future adversary capable of challenging Kraven on multiple fronts—personal and existential.
Exploring Dmitri’s descent into villainy could have added emotional weight and complexity to the SSU’s narrative fabric. Nevertheless, as the universe draws to a close, the arc of one of Spider-Man’s foundational foes was left frustratingly unresolved.
10 Spider-Man’s Tease: A Frustrating Absence
The Elusive Spider-Man in Morbius and Beyond
The absence of Spider-Man in the SSU remains one of the franchise’s most glaring oversights, highlighted by several teases throughout its films. References to Peter Parker’s existence—from graffiti in Morbius to mentions of his birth in Madame Web—created expectations that were never realized.
Despite the reliance on Spider-Man’s expansive rogues’ gallery, the franchise concluded without a dedicated portrayal of its most iconic character, generating a dissonance in the universe’s cohesiveness. The potential for Spider-Man’s introduction could have unified the SSU, yet his presence remained unrealized, leaving audiences longing for what could have been.
In conclusion, the SSU emerges as a foundational chapter filled with lost opportunities and untold stories. The ambitious plans for a rich superhero universe fell short, ultimately questioning what the future could have held for these characters under Sony’s stewardship.
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