PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #2

"Kraven Is The Hunter!"

• Writer: Gerry Conway
• Artist: Sal Buscema
• Inker: Mike Esposito
• Print Date: Jan., 1977

Featuring:

Plot Summary:

Apparently this issue picks up after Amazing Spider-Man #164 which means I'm writing these up out of order. Oh well, life goes on. Considering I wrote up the #1 issue a couple of years ago, I'm sure that's the least of my sins.

We find out hero hitching a ride on a boat after his fight with the Kingpin on the docks. While the boat docks, he swings off complaining about taking the 'scenic route' around New York Bay. While his internal monologue complains about the lack of respect and recognition he gets around New York, Spider-Man swings over to thank Doctor Connors for the "taser gizmo" that recovered his life-force from Richard Fisk. Curt seems a little distracted and dizzy, but Spider-Man writes it off to him needing a good night's rest. Not-so-subtle foreshadowing for ASM #165.

But that's a plot-thread for another issue. We have our own set of plot-threads to unravel; and on set brings us to Manhattan's dawn-lit Grammacy Park where a Rolls-Royce draws up before an ivy-trellised townhouse. This part of Manhattan has seen its share of eccentric millionaires but even the most wild-eyed wallet-fondler will gape astonished to see two leashed Bengal Tigers climb out of the black being walked by a shadowy man dressed all in black. Could it be.. None other than.. Johnny Cash?

Oh wait, no, it's Kraven. Inside the townhouse, Kraven meets the Tarantula, and egos flare as the two square off against each other. That is until their slugfest is interrupted by another man in shadows who has hired the two of them to work together. Their benefactor decided that, after the Tarantula failed to kill the mayor, more muscle was needed and Kraven fit the bill. Now, their combined force must go out and take school chancellor Richard Gorman dead or alive!

Y'know.. I don't know who this shadowy guy is, but already I don't like him. I mean, really, instead of supporting his local talent (say Electro, Rhino, or even the Beetle), he keeps importing this cheap immigrant labor to do his dirty work. And, to be honest, not even quality labor. I mean, the Tarantula? Kraven? Why doesn't he pull in some serious muscle if it is really that important for his plan to succeed. Besides, Kraven has really never struck me as someone's lackey or hired thug, and his portrayal of such just doesn't work for me here.

On that note, we'll switch scenes to Forest Hills, Queens where a certain harried hero makes a weary arrival on the roof of a familiar apartment complex. Peter stops in to visit Aunt May who greets him with milk and cookies. Anna Watson stops by for a visit too and Peter makes some rude comments to her regarding her niece Mary Jane. Instead of explaining the situation, Peter decides to head back to Manhattan thus giving us an entire page that does nothing to develop the plot or even further Peter's relationship or.. Well.. Anything.

Enough about Peter Parker; Let's see what Kraven is up to as he and Tarantula creep stealthily across the roof of Chancellor Gorman's administration building. Their voices low as they prepare toe strike. When they are discovered by a guard, Kraven's tigers slam the guard into the air-conditioning unit knocking him out. Luckily, Kraven is using his non-lethal variety of tigers today, or that guard would've been in bad shape.

As the chancellor picks up the phone to complain about the air-conditioning in the building, Kraven and Tarantula crash in through the window and envelop the portly chancellor with a net. With security guards pursuing, Kraven and Tarantula carry the plump old man up to the roof and over a jungle vine attaching the administration building to the next.

Now, given the choice between simply killing or kidnapping a 300+ pound man, I don't believe for a second that these two would opt for carrying him off and away and then perform a high-wire act with this mammoth between them.

We momentarily bid out villains adieu, and return to the star of this mag, a now fully-rested Peter Parker. Peter escorts Glory Grant down to the Daily Bugle and introduces her to Jonah as his new secretary. As Robby and Peter speculate over how well Glory will do as Jonah's secretary, Jonah comes out and positively gushes over Gloria.

Shortly, as a bewildered Peter Parker drifts through the Bugle's lobby on his way homeward, he catches the news report on the chancellor's kidnapping. Minutes later, at the chancellor Gorman's office, Spider-Man makes an appearance. Sensing danger, Spider-Man narrowly avoids being tackled by Kraven's tigers. Spider-Man manages to dispose of the tigers in pit and net traps that Kraven meant for him, but when he slows, he grappled from behind in Kraven's bearhug. Kraven's fees have dropped since his last defeat at Spider-Man's hand, but he intends to raise it again by killing his opponent.

Speaking of fees, our favorite South American bandito drags the chancellor into the same townhouse we saw before. When he turns over the victim to his employer, his employer tosses him a large wad of bills. However, the double-cross is in play as the Tarantula's payment explodes into a cloud of knock-out gas leaving him unconscious.

Meanwhile, back at the battle, Spider-Man has managed to lure Kraven out of Central Park and into the city. Going for the kill, Kraven draws his knife and forces Spider-Man back against a movie marquee. Just as he's about to be skewered by he spins out from underneath Kraven. Kraven's knife stabs the movie marquee shocking Kraven into unconsciousness.