Kraven the Hunter: Chameleon's Origin Story, Explained

On December 13, the movie Kraven the Hunter was released. In the finale, Dmitri – Kraven's half-brother – was transformed into the superhuman Chameleon.

We find out who made him that way, what we can expect from Chameleon in possible future movies, and what Spider-Man has to do with it.

Kraven & Dmitri Backstory

Sergei Kravinoff and his younger brother Dmitri grew up in the family of a powerful mobster named Nikolai. Their strict father wanted Sergei to be a worthy successor who would one day take over the family's business.

To raise Sergei as a tough leader, Nikolai tried to instill a love of hunting in his son. One day, shortly after his wife's death, the gangster took his sons out to hunt a lion. Sergei met the beast, but because of some connection with it, he did not shoot. As a result, the lion wounded the young man.

Sergei's life was saved by Calypso Ezili with the help of a special elixir given to her by her grandmother. In the Marvel comics, Calypso became a voodoo priestess, and also dated Sergei. In the movie, it was only hinted that Kraven and Calypso would be a couple.

The elixir, combined with the lion's blood that got into Sergei's wound, gave the guy animal superpowers. After the incident, Sergei quarreled with his father and ran away from home, leaving his brother alone with their tyrant father.

Years later, Sergei became a formidable vigilante, nicknamed Kraven the Hunter. He took on the most dangerous criminals. Kraven was especially angry with poachers because of his connection to the animal world.

Kraven's Conflict with Rhino

Kraven completely distanced himself from his father, but continued to communicate with his brother. Crime boss and mutant Rhino/Aleksei Sytsevich was worried that he would end up on Kraven's target list. So he decided to get rid of him.

Rhino had worked with Nikolai in the past – he hated the gangster because Nikolai considered him weak. So Rhino also had a personal dislike for the family.

Kraven's main weakness was his insecure brother, so Rhino kidnapped Dmitri. Kraven rescued his brother and killed Rhino. However, the villain managed to tell Kraven that Nikolai had betrayed him. The father deliberately put his eldest son in contact with Rhino and gave him all the necessary information about him, risking the life of his youngest son.

Nikolai's goal was not only to get rid of Rhino as his main competitor, but also to force Kraven to return to the family and become a new crime boss.

Dmitri Became Chameleon Thanks to Miles Warren

A year later, Kraven was reunited with Dmitri, who became a gangster. He also acquired the ability to change his appearance and adopted the nickname Chameleon.

Dmitry became Chameleon thanks to the mysterious biochemist Miles Warren. He learned about the doctor from Rhino during his captivity.

It was Warren who transformed Aleksei into a mutant with durable skin armor. Aleksei wanted to prove to the entire criminal world that he was strong and decided to undergo an experimental medical procedure.

Dmitri saw himself in Aleksei – his father considered him pathetic, incapable of becoming a strong leader. That's why he contacted Dr. Warren after Rhino's death. The ability also gave Chameleon a new face, looking like a gray mask. This is his canonical Marvel Comics image.

Chameleon in the Comic Books

In the comics, Chameleon initially had no superpowers – he changed his appearance with the help of makeup, costumes, and technology. Later, the mimicry took on a supernatural nature – just like in the movie. Skin pigmentation was changed and improved with the help of serums, which Kraven also used.

Kraven and Chameleon are not only related – they are two classic enemies of Spider-Man. In the comics, Calypso also conflicts with Peter Parker and often helps Kraven. At the same time, Chameleon is the first villain in the Spider-Man comic book series. Spider-Man encountered him in the first issue of his solo run in 1963.