Web of Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #32

Background

Ned Leeds died not too long before this story, and Peter and MJ married right before it. Two major milestones in Peter Parker's life. This story depicts the third. Way back, since Amazing Spider-Man #15 (vol.1), Kraven the Hunter entered the list of Spider-Man's enemies. Since then, he suffered numerous defeats, and after each one he became more obssessed in catching his ultimate prey. Spidey never considered him much of a danger, cause he was always defeated mostly without any effort.

In this story, however, Kraven succeds in killing Spider-Man, buries him and takes his place, beating a foe Spidey could barely beat with Captain America's help.

By the way, this is a story where Pete still uses the black costume.

Story 'Resurrection'

Peter's allucinating. He sees Ned Leeds, and since Ned's dead he believes he's dead as well. He shuts himself out, just to be left alone, and turns into a spider. Dark creatures kill the spider, but he crawls from inside the spider's guts, and claims he's Peter Parker, and he's going to be free. He overcomes his fear and surfaces, thinking in how much he loves Mary Jane.

He's very weak when he comes out of the grave. He staggers to the Mansion, and finds newspapers on the floor, which brief him of what's been going on: he's been buried for two weeks, and Kraven's been out donning his costume and abusing in his name. He knows that Kraven didn't shoot him with bullets, so he supposes he used a potion, or a root, or something like that. He goes crazy for being buried alive two weeks and starts to wreck Kraven's embalmed animals. The two guys who were with Kraven at his funeral show up and he grabs them and asks where Kraven is. They're too afraid to speak, so he drops them and leaves.

Kraven knows he's coming, and he's waiting, with Vermin trapped on an electrified cage.

Peter goes home, and he reunites with MJ. Later, he wakes up, and despite her will, he goes out for Kraven. While he swings, his spider-sense directs him to a house where he finds Kraven.

General Comments

Well, you shouldn't really be reading this to decide whether you should buy this one or not. If you're a Spidey fan, that decision is already taken. This is an epic. No webs rating, may it be a 5, a 6 or a 20 can translate how great this story really is. It's wonderfully written, wondefully drawn, wonderfully penciled, and the result is sublime. Each time I read it, I find some new delightful detail I never noticed. By all means, READ IT. These are the stories that make being a reader worth it. Kraven's Last Hunt is indispensable for any comics fan. True masterpiece.

If you already own it, then why the heck are you reading this? Me, boring! Last Hunt, great! Go and read it.

I couldn't end this without mentioning that this story was brought to us by J.M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod. Each of them deserves as much praise as possible.

Overall Rating

Just for the record, 5 webs. Spidey doesn't get any better than this.