Ashley Kafka

Dr. Ashley Kafka is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually in stories revolving around the superhero Spider-Man. Introduced in The Spectacular Spider-Man #178 (July 1991), she was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Sal Buscema. The character was inspired by therapeutic hypnotist Frayda Kafka.[1] In the comics, Dr. Kafka is a psychiatrist at the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, and an occasional ally of Spider-Man.

Ashley Kafka
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Spectacular Spider-Man #178 (July 1991)
Created byJ. M. DeMatteis
Sal Buscema
In-story information
Full nameAshley Kafka
Supporting character ofSpider-Man
AbilitiesPsychiatrist

The character has appeared in several forms of media outside of comics, including animated series and video games. A male version of Ashley Kafka appeared in the 2014 film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, portrayed by Marton Csokas.

Publication history

Ashley Kafka first appeared in The Spectacular Spider-Man #178 (July 1991), and was created by J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema. She was killed in The Superior Spider-Man #4 (April 2013).

Fictional character biography

Ashley Kafka grew up in New York with her mother and her sister, Norma, who had been born with severe facial birth defects and was mentally challenged. Kafka looked after Norma while growing up. Their mother died when Kafka was nineteen years old and Norma was left at a psychiatric hospital, where she died a short time later. Kafka then went to college and the Empire State University where she studied psychology and earned a degree.[2]

Kafka goes on to become a professional psychologist specializing in the criminally insane and founds a maximum security sanitarium called the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, where she treats super-criminals.[3] Kafka is later killed by Massacre during a breakout attempt.[4]

During the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, the Jackal created a clone of Ashley Kafka.[5]

Other versions

DC crossover

In the Marvel/DC crossover Spider-Man & Batman, Doctor Kafka was present when behavioral psychiatrist Doctor Cassandra Briar attempted to use Carnage as the test subject for a chip that would essentially lobotomise the homicidal instincts of dangerous patients, Kafka objecting to the treatment in the belief that she could still reach Kasady through conventional therapy (Spider-Man doubted this philosophy but agreed with her objections to Briar's work).[6]

MC2

In the MC2 reality, Ashley Kafka ended up falling in love with and marrying John Jameson (son of J. Jonah Jameson) and together they had a son named 'Jack'. Jack became the costumed adventurer known as "The Buzz" without them knowing.

In other media

Television
  • Ashley Kafka appeared in the 1990s Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Barbara Goodson. This version is a therapist at Ravencroft who treats Eddie Brock and serves as a love interest for him. She appears in the episodes "Venom Returns" and "Carnage". Kafka also plays a minor role in the episode "The Wedding", where she treats Harry Osborn.
  • Ashley Kafka appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Elisa Gabrielli. This version is the Ravencroft Institute's founder and also works as a therapist there. She treats many criminally insane supervillains, such as Electro, Doctor Octopus, and Cletus Kasady.

Film
Dr. Ashley Kafka, as he appears in The Amazing Spider-Man 2
  • Ashley Kafka appears in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, played by Marton Csokas.[7] The character is re-imagined as a male German doctor and leading staff member of the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, which is controlled by the corrupt scientific corporation Oscorp. He conducts inhumane experiments on Electro until Harry Osborn sneaks into Ravencroft and releases the latter, who in turn subjects Kafka to the same experiment.

Video games
  • Dr. Kafka appears in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 video game. This version is also a doctor at Ravencroft, and assists Donald Menken (actually the Chameleon in disguise) with the experiments with the Venom symbiote on Cletus Kasady. Eventually, Kasady learns how to control the symbiote and becomes Carnage, before escaping from his restraints and grabbing Kafka by the throat. Kafka is not seen in the game afterwards, but he was most likely killed by Carnage.
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References
  1. Hoffman, Jordan (May 5, 2014). "The Real-Life Inspiration for a Spider-Man Character Reacts to Being Turned Evil...and into a Man". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  2. The Spectacular Spider-Man #178
  3. The Amazing Spider-Man #655
  4. Dan Slott (w), Ryan Stegman (a). The Superior Spider-Man 5 (March 2013), Marvel Comics
  5. Clone Conspiracy #2
  6. Spider-Man & Batman
  7. http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/123031-interview-talking-sociopaths-stanislavski-and-sandler-with-the-equalizers-marton-csokas
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