Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
Kraven is back - and Spidey is about to find himself part of 'The Most Dangerous Game'! Flash Thompson has been drafted and Peter Parker in 'Archiesque' confusion is trying to sort out his feelings for Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy (MJ is Veronica and GS is Betty - kind of). Take a trip back to 1967 when you read this groovey Lee/Romita story!
Gwen's advice about going off to war.. "You can't miss big man, pretend the jungle is a king sized football field!". Kraven the Hunter is back...mainly to even the score with the Green Goblin. plus a MJ/Gwen dance off!!
In this issue Peter has his Betty and Veronica moment with Gwen and MJ and also Kraven appears. Another fun issue in which I was mostly indifferent to. I was never a big Kraven fun, but I will say this for the issue: I always appreciated Pete's and Flash's relationship. Pete always got bullied by Flash but after the spider bite, Pete could talk and fight back to his bully and after a while they became something close to... well, I don't know if "friends" is the right word, but even through this whole bickering and banter I sense a discreet, but mutual, respect from both sides. So when Flash is drafted in the army Peter wishes him (his bully) all the best in a very small and sweet moment. Nice touch, Stan.
So.. it turns out that the Goblin hired Kraven to defeat Spider-Man, so when Kraven is released (again) he is unable to collect payment as Goblin is no more, in flashback scenes we previously haven't been witness to we find out that Kraven followed the Goblin's "spokesperson" to Norman Osborn's home, thinking that Norman can now fulfil payment for services rendered Kraven goes after Norman, who after a flash of amnesia no longer remembers being The Goblin. Phew, talk about a lot of backstory in the opening three pages of a funny book..
Meanwhile May has moved in with Anna Watson and the whole gang get together for a farewell party to see Flash Thompson off which goes well until Kraven crashes it.
This issue is a perfect representation of Spidey silver age nostalgia- everyone is here, with 2 classic villains, the whole scooby gang - including all 3 of Pete’s ‘60s romantic interests, and even a few of the b line regulars, like John Jameson and Mrs. Watson. The war begins to touch the Spiderverse with Flash heading to the army. This is also the height of MJ and Gwen’s mod fashion days - I don’t think they’re ever dressed better than this period.
Read for friends, fashion, and also some fun kicking and pow pow.
Kraven the Hunter kembali lagi untuk menagih janji kepada Green Goblin dan Norman Osborn (yang sebenarnya adalah satu orang yang sama) tentang hadiah uang yang ditawarkan untuk mengalahkan Spider-Man. Sial, Green Goblin sudah mati dan Norman Osborn tidak lagi punya ingatan tentang dirinya sebagai Green Goblin. Sementara itu, para pemuda pemudi sedang mengadakan pesta perpisahan bagi Flash Thompson yang akan masuk ketentaraan. Pesta yang jadi kacau karena Kraven berniat menculik Harry Osborn.
A 3.5 star thriller. Reading through several of Kraven’s first appearances.
Kraven returns with a tale that takes place kind of in between and around his first two appearances. He’s mad because he thinks the Green Goblin owes him $20 grand for killing Spidey, even though he technically hasn’t done it yet. So Kraven goes after Norman Osborne because he thinks Norman was the Goblin’s flunky.
Now this one, this one was a doozy. I enjoyed this one thoroughly. I’m starting to sense a rivalry building up between Peter and Harry over Gwen Stacy, which I sincerely hope does not happen. But if it does, it does. (I’m actually quite caught up in that drama.) But knowing how Pete and MJ end up, I know it’ll be all right. Hopefully.
Kraven the Hunter kembali lagi di volume ini untuk menagih uang kepada Norman Osborn. Sayangnya, karena Norman sedang pergi keluar kota, Kraven malah mengincar anaknya, Harry Osborn. Harry yang sedang menghadiri pesta perpisahan Flash, jadi takut dan kebingungan dengan kedatangan Kraven yang tiba-tiba. Untung ada Peter yang juga berada di sana, sehingga ia bisa segera berubah menjadi Spider-Man.