Amazing Fantasy 18

A Mighty Tale Told in the Mighty Marvel Manner!

Tigra in…

"The Wild Hunt!"

1974

A cliché may not be the best way to begin a story, but they often become cliché because they work. In this case, a smoke-filled room nestled deep in the heart of Washington, DC. Adrien Turner, no stranger to this type of scenario, was grim faced.

The other men around the table were unknown to him. "So" a voice from the head of the table spoke, "not only did you fail to bring the device to us, you were also compromised by a super human? One you claim to have no notes on?"

Turner stood up and put some photos on the table. "I've been busy. Yes, this individual was unknown to us at the time but it was foolish of us to think there would be no other super humans active." Turner was neutral in tone, but he felt the room grow colder. "However, as I pointed out in my report, while we failed to obtain the device its destruction ensures that no one else will either."

"A fact that we are aware of" the voice added, with the implied threat of 'and that is the only reason you're giving us a speech now instead of dead'.

"I think this new individual, the press has taken to calling her Tigra, could be an asset." Turner added quickly. This caused a ripple of conversation.

"And why is that? And assuming we agree, how?"

"I'm employing an agent as we speak. If he succeeds, we'll have this Tigra individual in our hands. If he fails, then we are in no worse position."

It was long silence before the voice spoke. "Very well. You are authorized to use whatever means necessary to achieve success, but we want results. Not excuses."

Two Weeks Later

Joanie Baker hated the nights. Ever since she ran into that old woman some months ago, she had been waking up during the night, usually in various states of undress. Full moons were the worse. She figured she had some kind of curse but who could she talk to about it?

Unknown to Joanie, she wasn't alone. Greer Nelson, better known as the Cat, observed the struggling actress pacing around her apartment. She readied her notes. "As Baker, I've noticed a certain level of cynicism in nearly every dealing but as Tigra she's the exact opposite. She's been helping the neighborhood. Could I have been wrong in my assessment?"

She peered through her binoculars as the sun started to set. She sat back as Joanie dropped to the floor and out of sight. "This will be the night. I hope Tigra doesn't mind some company tonight."

Two Weeks Before

Sergi Kravinoff, better known to several intelligence agencies as Kraven the Hunter, was bored. His battles with the adventurer known as Spider-Man had been some years in the past and Kraven suddenly found himself a few years older and more or less where he was before he started hunting the most dangerous game. He considered going after the larger animals, the mystic and unusual but hunting a creature of that size would require research. Research would require money.

"And there is no call for a washed up hunter, eh?" Kraven poured himself another cup of tea and leaned back in his easy chair. Around him were trophies of his hunts. Nearly every breed of predator from the air to the deepest part of the ocean.

He heard the footsteps approaching his front door. Instincts, somewhat rusted, still served him well. A spear was in his hands and he was on his feet as the footsteps grew closer. A man in your stereotypical safari outfit walked into the room. "Kraven the Hunter I presume?" the man's accent was pure American Midwest, so naturally he was hiding something.

Kraven said nothing. The man continued. "I have in my case some money and an offer." He placed his briefcase on the ground and gently nudged it over. "Please look over it."

Kraven picked the case up and opened it on his desk nearby. The thing was stuffed to the brim with American dollars and a few blurry photos. The photos were enough to make him lower the spear. "You want me to hunt this creature?"

The man smiled. "Indeed. She's been causing my employers some trouble. If you can capture her and bring her to us, wonderful. Dead, you can do what you want. A bonus will be paid either way."

"Then she must be worth double what you are offering." Kraven smiled as the man's own grin vanished.

"Are you trying to strong arm us?"

"Since I don't know who you work for, yes." Kraven went back to his tea. "I'm retired in case you haven't heard and I need more than a simple challenge to get me to leave."

"Fury said you never turned down a challenge." The man's tone grew icy.

"I suspect the Colonel has said a great many things about me. I ran with him back in '59 and a few other interesting people. That was then and this is now. I want double. And no attempt to double-cross, please, or appeals to nostalgia. We're both better than that."

"Fine." The man seethed. "Just deliver her soon." The man strolled out.

Tigra, as the moon shone down on her, stretched out again on the rooftop. "What am I going to do tonight?"

Unseen by her, the Cat watched from several rooftops away. "What is she going to do tonight? She's just been lazing around on that roof for hours!"

She perked up when Tigra suddenly jumped off the roof and bounded down to the street. "I had to ask!" the Cat.

Tigra was running full tilt when a yellow garbed figure dropped down in front of her. The werewoman skidded to a halt. "Who are you?"

"I am the Cat!"

Tigra scratched behind her ear. "Ok? Are you lost or something?"

"Ah, no? I was just on patrol tonight and I saw you. Are you going to solve a crime?"

Tigra blinked. "What? No, how would I do that? I was hungry. Are you hungry too?"

The Cat was finding her opinion of Tigra changing by the minute, but she had to admit she was a bit hungry. "As a matter of fact, yes." She glanced around. "I think there's a pretty decent pizza parlor still open. Want to grab a slice?"

Thus two women dropped by a small hole in the wall with a carryout window and got two slices. Eating it around the corner, Greer was rethinking her assessment of Tigra. The werewoman devoured her slice with gusto.

"So, what is this? Avengers? Fantastic Four?" Her green eyes lit up. "Am I going to meet Spider-Man?"

"Ah, no." Nelson was thrown off by the enthusiasm. "Just checking out a new hero on the block, that' all."

"Oh." Tigra's ears drooped. "So no villains on the loose?"

"Not really, no."

Just then a spear embedded itself in the wall between them. "Tigra! I, Kraven the Hunter, challenge you!" A figure shouted from a rooftop across the street.

"Who?"

"I remember this guy. Tangled with Spider-Man a few times." She noticed Tigra jumped up scaling a nearby tree. "What are you doing?"

"He challenged me. It wouldn't be nice to ignore him." She leaped across the street to the building and started crawling up the wall. "Besides, it might be fun!"

The Cat sighed and followed.

Kraven didn't have long to wait. Tigra bounded onto the roof and landed in a crouch. "Hi!"

He readied his other spear. "It has been too long since I'd have a proper challenge." He pressed a button on the shaft. A net exploded from the roof and entangled the werewoman. "Spider-Man would have dodged that easily."

Tigra sliced through the rope with her claws. "Not Spider-Man!" She backflipped off to the next roof. Kraven smiled.

"Indeed no, but this will still be a challenge!" He followed.

The pair ran across the rooftops. Kraven, despite his age, followed Tigra. Despite the heavy breathing and sweat, he was enjoying himself. He was alive, more than he felt in years. Popping a tooth off his belt, he tossed it overhead. The tooth exploded as it landed near Tigra, sending the werewoman crashing to the ground gagging as the smoke enveloped the roof.

Kraven waited until the gas dissipated. He wasn't even surprised when she wasn't there. Slipping his spear free from his quiver, he carefully paced around the roof. "Where are you little cat?"

A wire shot out and nearly entangled his feet. "Is my old enemy here?" He glanced at the wire. It wasn't a web, so that ruled Spider-Man out.

"Not quite." The Cat stepped out from behind a chimney.

"Ah, another masked type." He took in her yellow and blue costume. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar."

"I'm the Cat!" she barred her claws for emphasis.

"Indeed!" he drew a net from his belt and tossed it, the material expanding as it snagged the Cat. "I'm sure you're very noted wherever you hail from, but I've no time to waste." He looked over to the rooftop, but Tigra was gone. "Blast!"

An orange blur struck him from the side. Kraven was sent flying across the roof, smacking into a chimney. He staggered to his feet. His hand dropped down, but his belt was gone.

"Looking for this?" Tigra held up the belt.

"Well, that was unexpected." Kraven reached for his vest and pressed a stud hidden from view. The belt exploded.

When Tigra regained her vision, Kraven was gone. "Aw nuts!"

Tigra freed the Cat and helped her down to the street. "Are we still fighting? Sunup is in a few hours."

"Kraven isn't one to just quit. This might have been a way to see what you can do."

Kraven stopped and ducked into an alley. His breath was ragged. "Pathetic, I could have taken her easily five years ago!"

"I agree." Turner appeared from the shadows. "What the hell was that? We paid you to capture or kill that freak, not let her walk away!"

"And I said I would hunt your monster, but I must do it my way. I know her strengths, how she moves, and who her allies are, allies of which you said nothing."

Turner glared at him. "Allies? You mean she has a partner?"

"I do not know their relationship. From the way they talked, I assume they just met tonight. Are there more that I should know about?"

Turner gritted his teeth. "Just focus on the one for now. Bring her down, I don't care how you do it!"

"So why would Kraven go after you?" the Cat flipped off a chimney as they raced across the rooftops.

"Hmm, not sure." Tigra stopped. "I've fought some pretty mean guys. Maybe they hired him?"

"Possible, but that doesn't narrow it down." The Cat looked over the city. "The sun will be up soon. Do you have any place to go?"

Tigra stretched. "Oh, sure! Don't worry about me, really." Her tone was cheerful, but Nelson could tell she was putting on an act.

"Ok, but if you need-" the Cat was thrown to the ground as Tigra pounced. "Hey!"

A bullet exploded where her head had been. "A sniper?"

Tigra snarled. "No, he's back!" They both stayed low as more shots bounced off the stone and metal work around them.

Tigra crawled carefully as the shots drew closer. She glared off into the night. "That's weird!"

"What?"

"I thought was Kraven, but it's just guy in a suit!"

"Someone else? How many people want to kill you?" the Cat was starting to rethink her previous assessment.

Turner spat as he reloaded. "If you want something done right, do it yourself!" He had seen Kraven walk off into the night. "Too much of a coward, eh? Fine, I'll do the job myself! Probably do a better job too!"

He never heard the footsteps behind him. He felt the hand that clamped down on his shoulder and the fist that crashed into his gut.

"A rifle?" Kraven held the weapon like it was something he scraped off his shoe.

Turner glared up at the hunter. "Oh, don't get righteous with me pal! I've seen your record!"

Kraven, with some effort, bent the barrel. "Yes, and I always use the proper tool for the job." He tossed the rifle aside.

Turner swore. "You fool! That freak destroyed a device that could have secured everything! Everyone was dying to get it! She can't interfere with us and get away with it!" Turner's hand inched towards his back and the backup gun he had hidden.

Kraven moved like a jungle animal and picked him up by the throat. "That creature could have given me the greatest hunt of my life, but now thanks to you she will be guarded, expecting. You ruined the hunt!"

Turner's face turned several shades as Kraven finally released him. Kraven held up the pistol Turner had been reaching for. "Tell your masters Kraven is no man's puppet. If you come after me again Mr. Turner, I will make you regret it." He emptied the pistol and tossed the clip over the side.

Turner said nothing as Kraven walked away.

The Cat and Tigra searched the rooftop but found no trace of the sniper aside from the ruined rifle. "So, what do you think happened?"

The Cat shrugged. "No idea." She caught the first few rays of daylight breaking. "Look, the sun's coming up."

Tigra smiled as she laid down. "Nice. I'd like to see it sometime." Her voice drifted off as she curled up to sleep. The Cat stared in amazement as the fur vanished. Muscles softened and claws retracted until all that was left was a bleary eyed and very confused woman.

"What happened?" Joanie clutched the torn leather jacket closer. "Where am I? Who are you?"

"My name is…the Cat. I'm a friend, or at least I'd like to be."

Joanie swatted her offered hand away. "Get away creep! Did you drag me out here?"

"No, I," the Cat stopped. "I have to go." She leaped off the roof, leaving a confused and angry Joanie screaming after her.

One quick change in an alley later, Greer Nelson walked to a payphone and dialed. "Yes, it's as you thought. Baker has no idea what her better half does. Well, we'll just have to introduce them and quick. We're running out of time. If your Cat People are correct, all of Earth may be doomed."

The end

Many thanks to Darci for the proofreading and the notes.

Next issue, the Grim Ghost returns in "Brimstone!"

Amazing Letters

Tigra and Adrian Turner we've met before.

The Cat (Greer Nelson) first appeared in the Claws of the Cat#1 (November 1972)

Kraven the Hunter first appeared in the Amazing Spider-Man I#15 (August 1964)

Mighty Marvel Checklist

Giant-Size Avengers#2-The Monstrous Master Plan of the Mandarin

The Avengers#14-The Castle of Count Nefaria!

Sensational Comics#27-The Power of the Hulk!

Tales to Astonish#26-The Coming of Colossus!

Journey into Mystery#28-The Power of the Thunder God!