Spider-Man's perspective:
A typical afternoon for The Amazing Spider-Man. He had stopped multiple crimes when his Spider-Sense started tingling. He turned around and moved just before he would have been tagged by a sniper and fired webbing at the sniper he saw on a distant building. He dodged but Spidey had plenty more webbing to use. Eventually, a web line stuck the sniper's shooting arm and rifle to his gut, neutralizing him. Now it was a simple matter for Spidey to rush to the building the sniper was on and punch him out.
This was hardly the first time a hitman had attacked Spider-Man. Nor would it be the last. But they were never a match for him, so he was not too worried.
Kraven the Hunter's perspective:
South African hunter Sergei Kravinoff, or Kraven the Hunter, in hunting circles, was bored. He had caught every kind of prey on the continent. He needed to go to the next level. Logically, the next step up would be to stalk The Black Panther. It would have been fitting, seeing as how they both had enhanced strength and speed from the use of special herbs. But The Panther was really T'Challa, King of Wakanda. The honor of a hunter meant sparing such an important person.
Kraven realized that there was no more worthy prey in Africa. He had to look beyond his continent. The Spider-Man character from America who everyone was talking about seemed like a challenge. Spider-Man's head would soon take its place on Kraven's wall.
But Kraven never hunted without a bounty. And in this case, he could not. The trip to and from America would cost him thirty thousand rand (or two thousand dollars) in air fare alone. But gangs would surely pay money to be free of The Wall-Crawler.
The Kingpin's perspective:
The man most knew as Wilson Fisk returned to his office at Fisk Industries after a meeting with the rest of the company leadership. In his chair, with feet plopped onto his desk, sat a man with a ponytail, beard, and dressed like Hollywood's idea of a game hunter.
"You look like you've been watching too many nature shows, Mr..." The Kingpin tried to figure out just who this odd fellow was.
"You may call me Kraven the Hunter, Mr. Fisk," said the stranger.
"Thank you for the permission, Kraven," said Kingpin. After the abuse he had received from bullies as a child because of his weight, The Kingpin used formal labels like "Mr." only for the authorities. But Kraven did not seem to mind or even be surprised.
"You have a spider infestation," said Kraven. "His skill at preventing crimes is costing you money. I am the exterminator."
The Kingpin frowned. "Then what are you doing here? It's well-known that I have offered a hundred thousand dollars for him, plus twenty-five thousand on top if he is alive to be broken in half!" Kingpin simulated his bear hug move to demonstrate.
Kraven laughed. "Passion is good. Sincerity is better."
"Are you saying you want more?" asked the Kingpin with a little anger in his voice.
"I'm saying that I do not appreciate attempts to cheat me out of what is mine," Kraven explained himself. "An American capitalist of all people can understand. He has already cost you millions. It is not ending anytime soon without my help. I therefore believe The Wall-Crawler to be worth a lot more than that."
"You may leave," said The Kingpin. He had no time for amateurs.
"Three hundred thousand," demanded Kraven.
"Out," shouted The Kingpin, pointing at the door.
"You may regret this," warned Kraven.
"Security," shouted Kingpin, "I have an uninvited guest for you to escort out. Before Kraven could object, The Kingpin added, "I could have them shoot you as well!"
Kraven's perspective:
Kraven was not used to being turned down. It had been been several years since his reputation had not preceded him. With or without The Kingpin's endorsement, though, he had prey to catch.
And then Kraven smiled. He had an idea to not only get paid but make The Kingpin very sorry for rejecting his offer, indeed!
Kraven drove his rented car to Harlem and found a group of street punks enjoying themselves. One had brought his girlfriend along. Kraven parked and got out to speak with them.
"Would you care to make some money helping me kill Spider-Man?" asked Kraven.
"We'd care for you to get lost, Australian redneck," said one of them.
"I may be a redneck," admitted Kraven, "But I am not like the ones you know. For one thing, in fact, I am from where your ancestors are from, where nobody forsakes physical training, unlike many in this country."
"You talkin' about me?" asked one six foot five, muscularly overweight man.
"Yes," Kraven smiled. He held out his hands to challenge the man to a bout of Roman knuckle. Kraven's hands grappled with those of his opponent, but despite his smaller size, Kraven forced the other one down to his knees.
"Uncle, uncle," screamed the man.
Kraven noticed the woman running away, so he chased and caught her.
"L-look," said one gangster, "If you're plannin' on takin' her for yourself..."
"You offend me," said Kraven. "I simply did not want to scare her into breaking up with you. But be careful. She may have loyalty issues."
"Hey," said the lady.
"Let's try this again," Kraven introduced himself. "I am Kraven the Hunter."
"I'm Johnny," said the leader.
"Sammy."
"Lindy."
"Joey."
"Bront."
"Marky."
Finally, the large one who Kraven had defeated said uneasily, "An' I'm Little Jimmy."
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man was patrolling when he saw several gangsters chasing a woman into an alley. This had happened before. Gangsters who thought that women were toys. Of course, the fact that it was common did not mean that Spidey let it happen when he saw it.
As the woman was held, Spider-Man webbed two men up from on top of the western side of the alley. "You know, there are better ways of getting love, incels."
The others ran away. Spider-Man let them go because the woman had collapsed on the ground. He checked on her. "You OK, madam? Let me see how bad they hurt you." But for some reason, the Spider-Sense was tingling. And towards the victim he had saved then above.
Spidey saw a man with a rifle aimed at him. He tried to hop onto the wall of the building opposite of the one Kraven was atop, but the lady grabbed his ankle to keep him on the ground. Spider-Man felt a dart hit his back. He immediately felt a little sick. Then a piece of wet cloth covered his masked face. He grew even more lightheaded.
I think there's an small chance that I've been set up.
"Ether, in case you're wondering," said the woman of what she had put on the cloth that was weakening Spider-Man. As she yanked The Web-Slinger back to a standing position, she called. "Boys! Dog pile!"
Other than the two men Spidey had webbed up, the gang rushed back into the alley. Spider-Man was pummeled! Over a dozen punches and kicks connected. Summoning every once of Spider-Strength the sedative and ether had spared, he managed to deck all his male assailants and throw the female one off him!
But Spidey fell to his hands and knees himself with the beating and paralytics setting in. His Spider-Sense warned him of Kraven cannonballing down at him an instant before he was knocked out.
Kraven's perspective:
Another successful catch by Kraven the Hunter and his new associates. The gangsters began wooing and high-fiving. Kraven was a bit too serious to join in.
"What're we gon' do with 'im?" asked Johnny.
"First things first," said Kraven. "We take him to one of your homes. Little Jimmy, you will split up to get a stretcher and chains. Spider-Man will recover from the tranquilizers quickly."
"Sure," said Little Jimmy, leaving.
"We all know chains ain't stoppin' him," Bront pointed out.
"No," admitted Kraven. "But they will stop him from dodging bullets." He used his enhanced strength to take Spider-Man into his car. Before long, everyone was at Johnny's apartment. Spidey was chained to the stretcher purchased by Little Jimmy.
"I wonder how handsome he is under the mask?" asked Lindy.
"Hey," protested Sammy.
"Jealous?" asked Lindy. "Good." She reached for the mask but Kraven seized her by the wrist.
"Ow," complained Lindy. "You're hurtin' me." Kraven released her so she could check the wrist that had been squeezed.
"That is a privilege reserved for the buyer," said Kraven.
"Good thinkin'," Johnny snapped his fingers with a grin. "Yeah, some peeps would pay a lot o' money to know who he is."
MJ's perspective:
MJ was worried. Peter was supposed to visit her. He was often late, what with how he spent his late afternoons and evenings, but this was ridiculous. She checked her phone and her friend, Liz, asked, "Did you hear? Somebody caught Spider-Man and is selling him to the highest bidder."
Ordinarily, MJ thought that the chances of Spider-Man having been caught were remarkably slim. But this time, with him being a no-show, she gave it fifty-fifty. It was time to do some digging.
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man awakened to find himself chained to a stretcher. Two men on opposite sides of the stretcher were pointing guns at him. Even though it would not have taken long to break the chains, that would have been too long to dodge the bullets.
Spidey ol' bud, you're in trouble!
He noticed that he was being held by Kraven and some street punks.
"Hi," said the token female. She began introducing the others. "I'm Lindy, this is Kraven. Johnny, Little Jimmy, Bront, Joey, Marky, and Sammy." Joey and Sammy were the ones with guns pointed at The Web-Slinger.
"Unhappy to meet you," said Spider-Man. "I see you guys never learned the term, 'fair fight.'"
"All of us know people with values like that," scoffed Bront. "They broke as shit! As fo' you, don't bother callin' for help. Just another bad thing in a bad neighborhood."
"I do have a sense of honor or your mask would already be off," said Kraven. "I do not appreciate your 'holier than thou' attitude. Let us hope the bidders will not be long."
Sure enough Jonah Jameson entered the apartment before long.
Figures.
"Wasn't a scam after all," grinned Jameson evilly. "Let's see what dirty secret you've been keeping from the public."
"It's almost worth it for the look you're about to have on your face," joked Spider-Man, knowing that his alter-ego, Peter Parker worked for Jameson as a freelance photographer.
"No," Kraven drew his hunting rifle on Jameson. "You can unmask him when and if you win the bid. Take a seat."
Jameson grumbled as he sat in one of the three chairs that were a straight line from the stretcher.
The Kingpin entered the apartment. Again, no surprise he was a bidder. But for some reason, he seemed unhappy.
"What do you say?" asked Kraven, holding out his hand.
"Congratulations," said The Kingpin. No handshake. He simply took a seat.
Finally, a businesswoman with a professional ponytail entered the apartment.
"Kathy Potters, I presume," guessed Kraven.
"Yes," said Potters. "I'm a television and Broadway producer. TV business isn't as male-dominated as it used to be. Spider-Man is my ticket to the big time! And once I know his secret, he'll have to sign a contract with me."
Spidey gulped. He had three possible fates, all of them gruesome. The Kingpin could kill him, Jameson could ruin his good name, or Potters make a circus spider of him.
"Bidding begins at two hundred fifty thousand," declared Kraven.
"That is not much less what you originally asked of me," realized The Kingpin.
"I warned you that you may regret refusing me," grinned Kraven.
Kingpin was seething. Small favor for Spider-Man.
"Three hundred thousand," bade Jameson.
"Four hundred thousand," The Kingpin raised the stakes.
"Six hundred thousand," said Potters.
Three people bidding over how my career is buried. This night gets better and better.
MJ's perspective:
Investigating and following the word of mouth had led MJ to the apartment into which she used her binoculars to look through a window above. It looked like some people were holding Peter prisoner. MJ had to help but it looked like there was too much trouble there for her to handle. So she entered the apartment, specifically the basement. A little looking around and the fuse box turned up.
MJ had gotten Peter to help her with homework a few times in the recently passed school year. At some point, MJ had been taught to always be prepared, so she had brought safety gloves. They were handy for what she had planned. She flipped the switches on the fuse box. Then it was time to sneak out. Between the darkness and how long it took for the apartment workers and administration to realize what exactly had happened, MJ was able to escape.
Only problem was that she was still unable to free Peter herself. It was time to go. She had to hope Peter did not need his hand held.
Kraven's perspective:
Kraven was objectively judging the auction. "Do I hear two million?"
"Two million," said Potters.
Interesting. Potters has less money, but The Kingpin and Jameson seem much cheaper.
"Two million, five hundred thousand," said The Kingpin bravely. "My final offer."
"Three million," bade Jameson.
"Three million, one hundred thousand," offered Potters.
"Three million, eight hundred thousand," said Jameson tensely. He was clearly uneasy.
"Five million," Potters put a much more extravagant offer on the table.
"She doesn't have it," complained Jameson.
"One month after Spider-Man signs my contract," promised Potters, "He'll have already made me enough money to cover that."
"Oh, no you..." Johnny's lips went dry as Kraven gave him a "stop" signal.
"We will hold you to that, Madam," Kraven held up a hunting dagger threateningly.
"I understand," said Potters bravely.
"This isn't an auction," cried Jameson. "It's a circus!"
Kraven slashed his dagger across his own beard. "No one is forcing you to stay." Other than those pointing guns at Spider-Man, Kraven's allies aimed their own firearms at Jameson. He said nothing further.
"Going once," declared Kraven. "Going twice. Sold to the lovely lady."
"Thank you," said Potters, getting up and shaking Kraven's hand. They used their phones and online bank accounts to transfer Potters' money into Kraven's account.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Madam," Kraven thanked Potters.
"A'ight losers," commanded Johnny. "Get lost!"
The Kingpin did not seem troubled by the outcome. Spider-Man would, after all, still be out of his hair if he had any. But Kraven could hear Jameson muttering, "The bitch made a foul bid. It was rigged. Rigged!"
Potters walked over to Spider-Man who was still chained to a stretcher. "Relax," said Potters. "We're going to Hollywood. It may not have been the most pleasant way, but we're both gonna be rich. You need only sign a contract at my house."
"Most guys would agree in a heartbeat," admitted Spider-Man. "But I'm a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, so I can't. I'd miss helping people."
"How sweet," giggled Potters. "You think you've got a choice. Mr. Kraven, you said you had a powerful sedative."
Kraven handed her the needle. Potters prepared to jam it through the costume into Spider-Man's arm. "This is going to hurt. You'll be asleep for awhile. You'll wake up at my home without your mask. Then you'll have to cooperate to keep your identity a secret. And Jameson's gossip, speculation, and outright lies are liable to land you in the slammer once he knows who you are."
"Cold as ice," said Spidey.
"Don't think because I'm a woman I'm soft," said Potters. She reached back with the needle. Suddenly, the lights went out. "What the Hell?"
Although no one could see Spider-Man escaping, Kraven heard the sound of the chains breaking. "He's esca..." he went silent at breaking glass. The gang he had befriended took shots at Spider-Man.
"Stop, fools," shouted Kraven. They did. "Ms. Potters wants Spider-Man alive."
"I sure do," frowned Kathy Potters, hands on hips. "I paid you a lot of money so you better get him back. You're gonna be in a lot of trouble if you don't. I have an excellent lawyer. Just ask my cheating ex-husband who's in prison because he couldn't pay the damages he owes me how good that guy is."
"Worry not," seethed Kraven in determination. "I am resolved to make sure he is not the first beast to escape me."
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man chose to enter MJ's room through her window. He suspected that she had a hand in the blackout that enabled him to escape. He stuck to the ceiling.
MJ eventually entered and smiled. "I can put up with you showing off to see you alive."
"I take it you shut off the lights?" asked Spidey.
"Do you think I was gonna let that greedy white bitch have you?" asked MJ.
"You really did your homework didn't you?" asked Spider-Man in a complimentary way.
"Uh-uh," MJ waved a disapproving finger at Spider-Man. "No changing the subject. You weren't looking at her too hard were you?"
"I can promise I didn't want her offer," said Spider-Man.
"Not the question," said MJ before Spidey's head snapped around to look through the window. "Spidey sense?"
"Saved by the bell is more like it," admitted Spider-Man as he climbed out the window and climbed up to the roof of the house. He noticed Kraven and his gang walking through MJ's neighborhood. Each person was armed with what Spider-Man guessed was a tranquilizer rifle.
Kraven looked up at Spider-Man and smiled. "I know your scent, Wall-Crawler!" But before they could fire at The Web-Slinger, he had moved behind the roof. Joey and Bront tried to sneak around the building, but because they could not trick the Spider-Sense, they were dispatched by a punch to Joey and a kick to Bront.
A few minutes passed. Since Kraven could track Spider-Man by scent, his hesitation likely meant that he was waiting for Spidey to make the next move. So Spider-Man tried a little something he had recently devised in web experiments. He carefully built up a mass of webbing that was three foot long and held it before walking around to the entrance side of the house.
Kraven and his remaining allies immediately opened fire, but Spidey repelled the darts with his shield, decked all of the men with his speed, fists and feet.
"You wouldn't hit a girl, would you?" asked Lindy. Spider-Man webbed her feet in place. Lindy tried to tear off the webbing but only forced herself into an unbreakable squat trying.
One blow was not enough to take care of Kraven, though. Spider-Man dodged a knife thrust with the help of his Spider-Sense. Kraven continued to swing at Spider-Man. He caught the wrist of the stabbing arm with the knife inches away from his chest and wrested the knife out of Kraven's grasp, before punching Kraven down.
"Looks like my powers are much greater than yours, Crocodile Done-deal," noted Spider-Man.
"Why do Americans keep thinking that I am from Australia?" asked Kraven. "As for your powers, I must give the devil of spiders his due. But there is a way to stop even the most savage predator!" Out of Kraven's pocket came a powdery substance. The powder spread too wide for Spidey to dodge it. He was blind.
But unlike lions and tigers and bears, I can still sense Kraven - oh, my!
Sure enough, Kraven tried to sneak up behind Spider-Man, but Spider-Sense enabled him to deliver a backhand, right cross, and high kick to Kraven's head, knocking him out.
Spider-Man heard clapping behind him. "Good job," said MJ.
"It better be," said The Web-Slinger. "I'm blind. Hopefully temporarily."
"I'll help you behind the house so you can change to your street clothes," whispered MJ. "Then you can sleep over."
"Thanks," said Spidey. "How could I survive without you?"
"You couldn't," grinned MJ.
Peter's perspective:
Peter's eyes improved enough overnight for him to deliver the pictures to Jameson in the morning.
"Thanks, Parker," said Jameson as he wrote the check. "I understand this might be your last delivery."
"It's not that I don't enjoy working for you," Peter lied.
"Shove the mush," said Jameson. "You've been most adequate."
"Congratulations," smiled Joe "Robbie" Robertson. "That's his very highest praise."
"Robbie," grumbled Jameson, "Haven't I told you not to be soft to them?"
"Thanks, Jameson," Peter said before shaking Jameson's hand.