There are multiple reasons why Marvel’s Spider-Man having its own unique canon is instrumental, such as the idea that Insomniac is able to do with the IP and its characters as it pleases. If these IPs and characters are constantly thrown around as they are in modern media, their saturation falls dryly on fans. Fortunately, Marvel’s Spider-Man has been able to sustain the key foundations for what makes its beloved characters nostalgic and personable, while also uniquely startling fans with surprising developments. This creates a satisfyingly connected in-game universe.
Marvel’s Spider-Man was only a single entry, but still managed to connect its universe through environmental storytelling and the relationships that had been established between Peter Parker and his super-villains. Not unlike the Batman Arkhamverse’s in-game universe, these established connections inform fans of how long the protagonist has known their antagonists, and what developments had occurred in that time. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is now set to feature Sergei Kravinoff, also known as Kraven the Hunter, and there are a couple of ways he could be introduced to the canon.
Kraven Could Already Be an Established Villain in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Like Scorpion, Rhino, Electro, Vulture, Mysterio, and the Lizard, it is entirely plausible that Kraven could be introduced in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as an established character. Marvel’s Spider-Man’s cinematic RAFT breakout introduced Rhino, Scorpion, and Vulture in succession, demonstrating Peter’s history with each of them.
Further, the ESU Halloween campus party revealed that Mysterio and the Lizard were also a part of the canon, though they never appear in-game otherwise. Marvel’s Spider-Man’s Sandman was revealed through a backpack collectible, for example, and as such it is possible that any of Spider-Man’s antagonists from other source material could already be an established character in the game’s universe.
If this is the case, Kraven could have already attempted to hunt Spider-Man in the past at some point, let alone any of Spider-Man’s anthropomorphic enemies. Even Marvel’s Spider-Man’s alien symbiote could have been around in the continuity, since it has not been explained how Norman Osborn came into possession of it.
Insomniac must only choose when and where to introduce villains as it wishes, and whether someone is already a super-villain or not in the continuity may be dependent upon how impactful their origin would be. Otto’s transition into the leader of Marvel’s Spider-Man’s Sinister Six, for example, was significant because of its strain on Peter and Otto’s close relationship. If Kraven is already a villain at the beginning of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s narrative, it will likely be for a good reason.
Kraven Could Be an Entirely New Villain Entry in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Like Mr. Negative and Doctor Octopus, it is also entirely plausible that Kraven could be introduced in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as a new antagonist. Of course, Martin Li and Otto Octavius were both already established characters, though it was in Marvel’s Spider-Man that they received their origins as super-villains. Kraven may already be a character himself but not an antagonist, receiving his own super-villain origin in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
In the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book run, Kraven was a reality TV star. In more traditional iterations of the character, Kraven is chemically enhanced with superhuman qualities. It is unclear which origin Insomniac will iterate upon for its own Kraven, but Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s tonal cinematic teaser suggests he may be a formidable threat to the Spider-Men. Because there was no explicit mention of Kraven in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac has free rein to make him a new character that Peter and Miles are unfamiliar with in the canon. The fact that Insomniac could take any route it wants with the character makes his debut all the more interesting.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is expected to release in 2023 for PS5.