EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesMarvel MoviesKraven The HunterKraven the Hunter’s take on Spider-Man villain Rhino is undoubtedly very weird – here’s how it’s different to the comic book originalWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesMarvel MoviesKraven The HunterKraven the Hunter’s take on Spider-Man villain Rhino is undoubtedly very weird – here’s how it’s different to the comic book originalWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sony)
Kraven the Hunter is a Marvel movie overrun with Spider-Man villains. Some familiar, some unfamiliar. But even the familiar ones can trip audiences up if they’re not expecting it.
J.C. Chandor’s movie, the latest (andmaybe last) in theSonySpider-Man Universe, has quite the liberal interpretation of the semi-famous Spider-Man villain Rhino. Whether it’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is a matter of personal taste. What really matters is that it’s different. But how different?
For those who’ve seen Kraven the Hunter, know who the Rhino is – thanks to his countless appearances in Spider-Man media – and need a place to say, “yeah, this is a weird new Rhino,” you’re in the right place. Below, let’s run down what makes Nivola’s Rhino unlike anything Spider-Man fans have seen before.Warning: minor spoilers for Kraven the Hunter lie ahead.
Who is Rhino in the comics?
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
First introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #41, Rhino is commonly portrayed as a dim-witted, low level Russian thug named Aleksei Sytsevich who undergoes a scientific procedure. The end results gives him invincible gray skin, superhuman strength, and the overall appearance of a human/rhinoceros hybrid.
Playing up the archetype of a dumb brute, the Rhino has long served to demonstrate Spider-Man’s superior intellect and (often improvised) tactical prowess. While Spider-Man can’t best Rhino in a test of strength, he can outsmart him. Take for exampletheir battle in the animated seriesThe Spectacular Spider-Man; Spider-Man tricks Rhino into following him to an underground steam tunnel, where he dodges Rhino’s punches so that he himself breaks open pipes that choke him with hot air.
In the 2020 video game Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the boss battle against Rhino requires players (as Miles) to maneuver around Rhino, “piggyback” onto him, and get him to run into electrical hazards, making him vulnerable to easy punches.
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You get the idea. Rhino’s whole deal is being strong but not bright. But things are quite different in the world of Kraven the Hunter…
Who is Rhino in Kraven the Hunter? What changes have been made?
(Image credit: Sony)
On the outside, Aleksei appears dressed in an oxford white button-up shirt, black trousers, and a tiny backpack with a strange wire to his abdomen. At first glance, he looks like an IT guy on Wall Street. Or a Book of Mormon ensemble cast member. In concert with his eccentric behavior and nervous tics, Aleksei is still very much unlike the Aleksei fans know from the comics.
But then Aleksei unhooks the wire to his backpack, which is revealed to hold an IV pack containing fluid that keeps his body in a “normal” state. Disconnected from the fluid, Aleksei’s monstrous rhinoceros form slowly takes over. This is how Rhino becomestheRhino that comes to blows with Kraven in the movie’s climax.
(Image credit: Sony)
Again, the matter of Kraven the Hunter’s version of Rhino being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is subject to your own personal vibe check. It’s just worth pointing out that even in poorly received movies like Kraven, there’s always a chance to see something new even in familiar things.
Kraven the Hunter is in theaters now. You can read ourKraven the Hunter reviewfor our full verdict, our guide to theKraven the Hunter post-credits, and whether there will be aKraven the Hunter 2. And don’t forget to check out ourKraven the Hunter ending explainedfeature too.
And for more, check out our guides to the most excitingupcoming moviesandnew superhero movies, as well as how to watch theMarvel movies in order.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”