I can endure the frustration no longer! I must battle and defeat my greatest enemy... or else, everything that has gone before is but a hollow mockery! 
Appearing in ""The Thrill of the Hunt""
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Kraven the Hunter ⏵
- Nails Hogan's gang
Other Characters:
- ⏴ Gwen Stacy ⏵
- Anna Watson
- Harry Osborn
- J Jonah Jameson's new secretary (unnamed, first appearance)
- a lion
- New York Police Department
Locations:
Items:
- Spider-Man's Suit
- Spider-Man's Web-Shooters
- Spider-Man's Utility Belt
- Spider-Man's Spider-Signal
- Spider-Man's Belt Camera
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for ""The Thrill of the Hunt""
Kraven the Hunter walks around his trophy room, plotting his revenge against Spider-Man and his return to America. Meanwhile, Betty Brant confronts Peter to reveal his secret, and Peter finally gives in and reveals himself as Spider-Man... but Betty wakes up to realize it was only a nightmare. Peter goes back to college relieved now that Aunt May has a clean bill of health. While trying to go about a normal day, he gets snubbed by Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn for being anti-social. Then we see Spider-Man stalking J. Jonah Jameson’s movements and tries to corner him. Jameson flees and Spider-Man is seen as attacking him instead and runs away. We see that it’s actually Kraven who is disguised as Spider-Man. Peter hears about the trickster running around, and decides to let him do so for the next few days. To save his reputation, he finally tracks down and chases the impostor to figure out who it is. When he follows him to an abandoned building, he runs into Kraven who sprays a mist canceling out his spider sense. Spider-Man goes around the building, loaded with traps, and finally battles Kraven. They trade blows before a gang of crooks makes them relocate their fight. Soon enough, Spider-Man gives a final knockout punch and delivers the gang and Kraven in a neat spider web for the police. Kraven then confesses his impersonation of Spider-Man to the police and clears Spider-Man’s name. Jameson learns the news and angrily dismisses a secretary who’s replaced Betty as she has left without warning. Peter is turning over in his mind thoughts of Betty, not knowing her disappearance. Peter realizes he must move on as he’s accepted his fate as Spider-Man but Betty never would.
Notes
- Steve Ditko is credited as the plotter for this issue.
- This story is reprinted in Marvel Masterworks #16.
- Kraven next appears in Amazing Spider-Man #47.
- Credits:
- Scripted and edited by: Stan Lee
- Plotted and illustrated by: Steve Ditko
- Lettered and relished by: Sam Rosen
