Now this is more like it, Parker!! Exclusive pictures of the Chameleon! No one even knew he was back in this country! You deserve a big bonus for this! Miss Brant -- open the safe and give Parker one of my own personal bars of milk chocolate! 
Appearing in "Kraven the Hunter!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Kraven the Hunter (First appearance) (See chronology)
- Chameleon (Dmitri Smerdyakov) (See chronology)
Other Characters:
- ⏴ Raymond Warren ⏵
- ⏴ Anna May Watson ⏵ (First appearance)
- Mary Jane Watson (Mentioned)
- Peter Parker's High School Classmates
- NYPD Officers
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- South America (Mentioned)
- Congo (Mentioned)
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Spider-Man's Spider-Signal
- Spider-Tracer
- The Daily Bugle
- Kraven Serum (First appearance)
Synopsis for "Kraven the Hunter!"
Spider-Man swings down and catches a group organizing a bank robbery and upon dropping in unexpectedly, a man escapes in a puff of smoke and changes his costume until he can hide. The criminal actually was The Chameleon in disguise and he plots to rid the world of Spider-Man. The Chameleon comes up with the idea of contacting his friend Kraven the Hunter. Parker finds this out firsthand when taking photographs for The Daily Bugle as Kraven arrives by boat.
Kraven studies Spider-Man's fighting style by organizing a robbery for Spider-Man to stop. He finally comes out of hiding and fights Spider-Man. Spider-Man realizes the true strength of Kraven and also realizes that Kraven cheats by infecting his opposition with drugs that weaken them. Spider-Man retreats to fight another day. Pete, however, begins to get the shakes so bad that he can't hold a test tube or shoot a web straight. He tracks Kraven's future location by attaching a Spider-Tracer and is led into a nearby forest, where he faces Kraven.
After a few tricks and traps, Spider-Man finally catches hold of what appears to be Kraven, but is actually The Chameleon in disguise. After learning this, Spider-Man hunts down and finds the real Kraven, and intimidates and overpowers him with his agility and strength. After fighting, Kraven ends up running into a giant sticky web to be picked up by the police. Kraven and The Chameleon are then deported, with Kraven swearing revenge upon Spider-Man.
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- This story is later re-told from the perspective of Kraven in Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1996.
- The Chameleon recounts his first battle with Spider-Man. That happened in Amazing Spider-Man #1.
- This is the first mention of Mary Jane in this series, although she won't appear for the first time until Amazing Spider-Man #25. Peter keeps dodging dates with Mary Jane until he finally meets her in Amazing Spider-Man #42.
- This story recounts how Spider-Man first used his Spider-Tracer in Amazing Spider-Man #11.
Chronology Notes[]
Events in this story occur behind the scenes that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 1-2 ⏵ - Spider-Man foils one of the Chameleon's operations.
- ⏴ Page 3 Panel 4 ⏵ - Joins Jameson and Betty to cover the arrival of Kraven the Hunter.
- ⏴ Page 3 Panel 5 ⏵ - Flash and Liz arrives. Parker gets the third degree from Thompson and Betty because Liz is flirting with him.
- ⏴ Page 3 Panel 6-Page 5, Panel 3 ⏵ - Kraven appears, animals get loose, Peter changes into Spider-Man. Kraven contains the animals.
- ⏴ Page 5 Panel 4-6 ⏵ - Spider-Man changes back into Peter, tells Jameson he didn't take photos.
- ⏴ Page 6 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Parker listens to Kraven's vow to capture Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 6 Panel 3 ⏵ - Peter worries about the legitimacy of Kraven's vow.
- ⏴ Page 6 Panel 4-Page 7, Panel 3 ⏵ - Peter is snubbed by Betty. Goes on patrol as Spider-Man, spots some crooks.
- ⏴ Page 7 Panel 4-Page 8, Panel 5 ⏵ - Spider-Man beats the crooks unaware that Kraven is watching.
- ⏴ Page 8 Panel 6-Page 9, Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man and Kraven fight. Spider-Man tagged with a drug.
- ⏴ Page 9 Panels 2-4 ⏵ - Spider-Man is tagged with by Kraven.
- ⏴ Page 9 Panels 5-6 ⏵ - Spider-Man begins losing the fight.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panel 1 ⏵ - Kraven drugs Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panels 2-3 ⏵ - Spider-Man gets dizzy.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panels 4-7 ⏵ - Disorientated, Spider-Man flees, later wonders when the drug will wear off.
- ⏴ Page 11 Panels 2-Page 14, Panel 4 ⏵ - Peter goes about his day. Tracks Kraven to Central Park at night.
- ⏴ Page 14 Panels 7-Page 15, Panel 2 ⏵ - Spidey hides in the bushes.
- ⏴ Page 15, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - Kraven tries to catch Spider-Man in a net.
- ⏴ Page 15 Panels 5 ⏵ - Spider-Man struggles to get free.
- ⏴ Page 15, Panel 5-Page 16 Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man breaks free, sees two Kravens.
- ⏴ Page 16 Panel 2 ⏵ - Kraven slaps magnetic shackles onto Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 16 Panel 3-Page 17, Panel 5 ⏵ - Spider-Man struggles to get away.
- ⏴ Page 17 Panels 6-7 ⏵ - Spider-Man disables the shackles.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man jumps one of the Kravens.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panels 2-3 ⏵ - Unmasks the fake Kraven, revealing him to be the Chameleon.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panels 4-5 ⏵ - (Voice only) Spider-Man stalks the real Kraven.
- ⏴ Page 19 Panels 7-8 ⏵ - Spider-Man continues hunting his foe.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Spider-Man and Kraven fight.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 2-4 ⏵ - Watches as Kraven flees.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 5-7 ⏵ - Traps Kraven in his webbing.
- ⏴ Page 21 Panels 1-3 ⏵ - Spider-Man removes the shackles. Leaves him for the authorities.
- ⏴ Page 21 Panels 4-Page 22 ⏵ - Peter takes photos of the arrest. Snubbed by Betty. Tries to get a date with Liz. Watches the Chameleon and Kraven get deported.
J. Jonah Jameson:
- ⏴ Page 1-Page 3, Panel 3 ⏵ - Jameson decides to cover the arrival of Kraven the Hunter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panels 4-5 ⏵ - Jameson and Betty arrive at the dock, meet Peter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 5 ⏵ - Jonah gets annoyed with the scene Peter is making.
- ⏴ Page 4, Panel 1 ⏵ - Jameson offers to pay Kraven to capture Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 5 ⏵ - Jameson is upset to hear Peter neglected to photograph Kraven in action.
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 1-4 and Page 21 Panels 5-6 ⏵ - Jameson storms back to the office. Is later happy to see the pictures of Spider-Man's battle with Kraven and the Chameleon.
Betty Brant
- ⏴ Page 1-Page 3, Panel 3 ⏵ - Betty joins Jameson to see the arrival of Kraven the Hunter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panels 4-5 ⏵ - Jameson and Betty arrive at the dock, meet Peter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 5 ⏵ - Betty is jealous that Liz Allan arrives and flirts with Peter.
- ⏴ Page 4, Panel 1 ⏵ - Jameson offers to pay Kraven to capture Spider-Man. Betty is present.
- ⏴ Page 5 ⏵ - Jameson is upset to hear Peter neglected to photograph Kraven in action. Betty snubs Peter.
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 1-4 and Page 21 Panels 5-6 ⏵ - Betty returns back to the office. She turns Peter down again when he asks her out a second time.
Flash Thompson:
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 4 ⏵ - Flash and Liz go to watch the arrival of Kraven the Hunter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 5 ⏵ - Flash is angry that Liz is paying more attention to Liz.
- ⏴ Page 5-22 ⏵ - Watches Kraven round up the escaped animals. Vows to get even with Parker. Mocks Peter at school the next day.
Liz Allan:
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 4 ⏵ - Flash and Liz go to watch the arrival of Kraven the Hunter.
- ⏴ Page 3, Panel 5 ⏵ - Liz flirts with Peter.
- ⏴ Page 5-22 ⏵ - Liz and Betty exchange words. Liz later attends school, defends Peter when Flash makes fun of him.
Kraven the Hunter:
- ⏴ Page 3 ⏵ - Kraven the Hunter arrives in New York.
- ⏴ Page 4 ⏵ - Animals get loose, Kraven contains the animals.
- ⏴ Page 6 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Kraven's vow to capture Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 6 Panel 3 ⏵ - Peter worries about the legitimacy of Kraven's vow.
- ⏴ Page 7 Panel 4-Page 8, Panel 5 ⏵ - Kraven stalks Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 8 Panel 6-Page 9, Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man and Kraven fight. Spider-Man tagged with a drug.
- ⏴ Page 9 Panels 2-4 ⏵ - Spider-Man is tagged with by Kraven.
- ⏴ Page 9 Panels 5-6 ⏵ - Spider-Man begins losing the fight.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panel 1 ⏵ - Kraven drugs Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panels 2-3 ⏵ - Spider-Man gets dizzy.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panels 4-7 ⏵ - Disorientated, Spider-Man flees, later wonders when the drug will wear off.
- ⏴ Page 11 Panels 2-Page 14, Panel 4 ⏵ - Kraven sets up traps for Spider-Man in Central Park.
- ⏴ Page 14 Panels 7-Page 15, Panel 2 ⏵ - Spidey hides in the bushes.
- ⏴ Page 15, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - Kraven tries to catch Spider-Man in a net.
- ⏴ Page 15 Panels 5 ⏵ - Spider-Man struggles to get free.
- ⏴ Page 15, Panel 5-Page 16 Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man breaks free, sees two Kravens.
- ⏴ Page 16 Panel 2 ⏵ - Kraven slaps magnetic shackles onto Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 16 Panel 3-Page 17, Panel 5 ⏵ - Spider-Man struggles to get away.
- ⏴ Page 17 Panels 6-7 ⏵ - Spider-Man disables the shackles.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panel 1 ⏵ - Spider-Man jumps one of the Kravens.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panels 2-3 ⏵ - Unmasks the fake Kraven, revealing him to be the Chameleon.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panels 4-5 ⏵ - (Voice only) Spider-Man stalks the real Kraven.
- ⏴ Page 19 Panels 7-8 ⏵ - Spider-Man continues hunting his foe.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Spider-Man and Kraven fight.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 2-4 ⏵ - Watches as Kraven flees.
- ⏴ Page 20 Panels 5-7 ⏵ - Traps Kraven in his webbing.
- ⏴ Page 21 Panels 1-3 ⏵ - Spider-Man leaves Kraven for the authorities
- ⏴ Page 21 Panels 4-Page 22 ⏵ - Kraven and the Chameleon are arrested, then deported.
Chameleon:
- ⏴ Page 1-Page 3, Panel 2 ⏵ - Chameleon's operation is foiled by Spider-Man, he decides to call in Kraven to help him destroy Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 6-Page 7, Panel 1 ⏵ - Chameleon and Kraven plot against Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 10 Panel 8-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - The Chameleon continues to plot with Kraven after his first encounter with Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 14 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - The two villains prepare for their final battle with Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 16, Panel 1 ⏵ - Chameleon disguises himself as Kraven.
- ⏴ Page 18 Panels 1-2 ⏵ - Spider-Man catches and unmasks the Chameleon.
- ⏴ Page 21, Panel 4 ⏵ - Chameleon is arrested by the police.
- ⏴ Page 22 Panel 7 ⏵ - The Chameleon and Kraven are deported.
Publication Notes[]
- As seen on page one, this issue is Story#X-721.
- This issue contains a letters page, The Spider's Web. Letters are published from John Butterworth, Ricky Cocorelis, John F. Lebar, Dennis Willits, Richard Kent, Nick Blackwell, Peter Bieger, Bob Malisani, and Gary Polk. The letters page also contains a Special Announcement Section which notes most of the other Marvel Comics published this month, including Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1.
- This issue also contains a full page cover reproduction advertisement for Fantastic Four #29 and Sgt. Fury #8
- This issue contains an error on page 20, where "most" is used instead of "move" when Kraven describes Spider-Man's speed
- Credits:
- Written by: Stan Lee (because we couldn't afford Mickey Spillane)
- Illustrated by: Steve Ditko (because Picasso was out of town)
- Lettered by Art Simek (because his name fits this space)
- References: Amazing Spider-Man #1 and Amazing Spider-Man #11
Trivia
- The cover of this issue is one of the 32 that appear in the comic collection from the 2000 video game Spider-Man.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- The story in Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1996 takes place between the events depicted in this story.