Harry Osborn | Why won't you admit that I'm the secret love of your life? |
Gwen Stacy | Because it wouldn't be a secret any longer if I did, Harry! |
Peter Parker | Touché, Miss Stacy! Say, has anyone ever told you that you get prettier every day? |
Gwen Stacy | Only my mirror, Mr. Parker! Whoops... Sorry! I've been listening to Mary Jane too long! |
Appearing in "In the Hands of the Hunter!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Mary Jane Watson (See chronology)
- Harry Osborn (See chronology)
- Gwen Stacy (See chronology)
- Flash Thompson (See chronology)
- Daily Bugle Staff
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- ⏴ Aunt May ⏵
- ⏴ Anna May Watson ⏵
- ⏴ John Jameson ⏵ (Cameo)
- Shocker (Herman Schultz) (Mentioned)
- Norman Osborn's butler
Races and Species:
Locations:
- Earth
- North America
- United States of America
- New York State
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Murray Hill
- Lower East Side
- Harry and Peter's Apartment
- Osborn's Mansion
- a soda parlor
- Construction Building
- Queens
- Manhattan
- New York City
- Washington, D.C.
- New York State
- United States of America
- North America
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit and Web-Shooters
- Spider-Man's Spider-Signal
- Goblin Armor (Only in flashback)
- Kraven's double-barrelled ray (First appearance)
Vehicles:
- Goblin Glider (Only in flashback)
- Harry Osborn's Car
- Taxi cab
Synopsis for "In the Hands of the Hunter!"
Having been stiffed out of payment for his last battle with Spider-Man by the Green Goblin because of the Goblin's apparent demise, Kraven the Hunter decides to go after the "middle-man" that sought him out when he was hired for the job: Norman Osborn (Kraven is unaware that the Goblin and Osborn are the same man and that Norman has no memory of his alter ego.)
Meanwhile, everyone is planning a going away party for Flash Thompson before he leaves for the Army to fight in Vietnam. As Peter Parker and friends prepare for the party, Kraven tries to find Osborn, attacking his office and his home to try and find him. When this fails, Kraven decides to attack the party and kidnap Osborn's son Harry to try and ransom him off.
However, when Kraven appears, Peter sneaks away and changes into Spider-Man and battles Kraven. During the fight Norman Osborn arrives and is roped up by Kraven who demands payment. However, due to his selective amnesia pertaining to anything he did as Green Goblin, Osborn has no clue what Kraven is talking about. When Kraven drops Osborn off a partially built skyscraper, Spider-Man goes to his rescue. Kraven manages to escape, and Peter has to switch back to his civilian identity before his absence is noticed so he can't go after Kraven.
After everyone's settled down, Peter wishes Flash Thompson farewell, the two deciding to bury the hatchet and be friends.
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- The events of this issue are revisited in Deadpool (Vol. 3) #11 when Deadpool is inadvertently sent back in time along with his sidekick Blind Al. This created the divergent reality of Earth-9712.
- The flashback takes place in two different periods of time: First, the Green Goblin witnesses Spider-Man battling Kraven, which was the battle in Amazing Spider-Man #15. He was then hired by Norman Osborn to eliminate Spider-Man prior to his defeat in Amazing Spider-Man #34.
- Kraven is unaware that the Green Goblin and Norman Osborn were the same person, as revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #39. He is among those who believed that the Goblin died in a fire circa Amazing Spider-Man #40, a ruse perpetuated by the fact that Osborn no longer has any memory of being the Green Goblin.
- Harry Osborn's references to Sophia Loren and Captain Kangaroo should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
- Spider-Man remembers he hasn't sold his photos of his battle with the Shocker, which occurred Amazing Spider-Man #46.
- Peter recounts how he was too busy battling the Molten Man and the Scorpion to notice that Gwen was taking an interest in him. This is not a very accurate recollection: Peter first met Gwen in Amazing Spider-Man #31 and ignored her because he was worried about the health of his Aunt May. While Spider-Man battled the Molten Man in Amazing Spider-Man #35, he had not battled the Scorpion between the period when he first met Gwen, through to this story.
- This story makes vague references that Flash Thompson is going to fight in the Vietnam War. However this should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.
- Betty's fear for Ned's safety (and Peter's when they were dating) is due to the fact that the dangerous lifestyle of her brother, Bennett, led to his apparent death in Amazing Spider-Man #11.
Chronology Notes[]
Events occur behind the scenes in this story or in a flashback that affect the chronology of the following characters:
Spider-Man:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Peter goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Peter Parker dances with Mary Jane.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Spider-Man battles Kraven the Hunter.
Mary Jane Watson:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Mary Jane goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Peter Parker dances with Mary Jane.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Mary Jane watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Harry Osborn:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Harry goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Harry hits the dance floor.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Harry watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Green Goblin:
- ⏴ Flashback: Page 1-2, Panel 2 ⏵ - The Green Goblin witnesses Kraven's battle with Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Flashback: Page 2, Panels 3-6 ⏵ - Norman Osborn is met by Kraven about payment for destroying Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Page 1-20 ⏵ - Norman attacked by Kraven, saved by Spider-Man.
Gwen Stacy:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Gwen goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Gwen hits the dance floor.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Gwen watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Flash Thompson:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - A going away party is thrown for Flash Thompson.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Flash hits the dance floor.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Flash watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Ned Leeds:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Ned goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Ned enjoys the party
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Ned watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Betty Brant:
- ⏴ Page 1-10, Panel 1 ⏵ - Betty goes to Flash Thompson's going away party.
- ⏴ Page 10, Panel 2-Page 11, Panel 1 ⏵ - Betty hits the dance floor.
- ⏴ Page 11, Panel 2-Page 20 ⏵ - Betty watches Spider-Man's battle with Kraven the Hunter.
Kraven the Hunter:
- ⏴ Flashback: Page 1-2, Panel 2 ⏵ - Kraven's first battle with Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Flashback: Page 2, Panels 3-6 ⏵ - Kraven is hired by Norman Osborn to destroy Spider-Man.
- ⏴ Main Story Page 1-20 ⏵ - Kraven goes after Osborn, defeated by Spider-Man.
Publication Notes[]
- Credits:
- A swingin', super-special Spidey saga, by:
- Stan Lee and John Romita
- Abetted and Lettered by: Sam Rosen