A few days ago and in a secret Maggia hideout; Hammerhead was talking to his goons while at his desk. "This guy... He had better be worth it! It's bad enough that Spider-Man is ruining out operations on the streets, Tombstone's attempt to ruin Jameson's career backfired spectacularly and now Jameson's son is another superhero who could be a threat to our operations! Now I had to spend all this money smuggling this guy into the country and city!" Hammerhead fumed clearly not happy about the losses that his organisation has been taking as well as this pricey new plan. Bad enough that the Maggia doesn't strike the fear in the hearts of New Yorkers as it used to.

"Don't worry boss; I got a copy of his kill record form when he was in the Soviet Armed Forces: triple digit kill numbers! Plus he is still in good shape!" assured one of his men and then let in was a large muscular aged man with black hair and a goatee. "May I present Sergei Kravinoff or as he is now known as: Kraven the Hunter!" the man introduced the new guest as Hammerhead stared him up unimpressed.

"Kraven the Hunter here? I was told you were the answer to my Spider-Man problem but all I see is a relic of an old era: this ain't the jungles of Africa so I want to know if my money ends up wasted getting you here!" Hammerhead remarked as Kraven suddenly held him up by the collar off his dress shirt.

"Escaping the fall of Stalin's empire led to me a new life; the people I found in Africa turned me from just another killer into something greater... A hunter of the most dangerous prey in the world! However I never forgot how to kill a man nor did I forget all the stories of the evils of the United States! I will be glad to collect my pay after I kill this Spider-Man so I can leave this wretched place..." Kraven retorted as Hammerhead effortlessly pushed him off to get him to let go as he sat himself on his seat.

"Well if you can pull it off I will be more than happy to give you your payment and a bonus as well; the benefits of Capitalism. I bet you couldn't count on bonuses for good work living and working in the Soviet Union!" smirked Hammerhead and Kraven just glared in response.

"Just me start preparing for this hunt; I must know my prey so that I can set the trap for him!" Kraven ended up saying before he left.


It was the morning after the party and Peter went through the school halls and Flash was there with his friends including a sheepish Seymour talking about what happened with his parents after the events of the party. "My folks are not happy; not only am I grounded but I am expected to pay the Allans back for the damage caused by the fire. Plus don't count on me being allowed to parties anytime soon..." Seymour said and Peter felt himself embraced from behind by Liz who then took his arm.

"Are you sure that you want us to be seen this close together in public?" Peter whispered into her ear and she giggled in response.

"Why wouldn't I want to be seen with my boyfriend?" Liz replied and Peter was red in the face wondering if this was happening; if she was serious about this... Liz then kissed him on the cheek much to the shock of the student body who started muttering.

"Wait Liz; are you with Parker now..." Flash asked out loud looking surprised and not knowing what to say; coming closer with Peter wondering if this was going to turn into a confrontation when Sally went and grabbed Flash's arm.

"Yes Flash; it appears so and it's their business so who don't you all be quiet and leave them alone!" Sally shouted making the crowd disperse as she then let go of Flash and came closer to Peter with a strong glare. "You do anything and I mean anything to hurt LIz then you will be done in this school Parker; I will make sure that even the lowest of the low on the losers list will hesitate to even talk to you!" Sally warmed making Peter gulp.

"Give him some space Sally, I will see you later Petey!" Liz told Peter with another kiss on the cheek as she left to start getting to class.

"You and Liz... I never thought you would be able to get this cred after the party but stranger things have happened..." Harry laughed as he came up to Peter and they started going to class together. "You know if you can get a cheerleader as a girlfriend then I must take that as a sign to step up my game." Harry continued on telling him.


That night Peter was out on patrol as Spider-Man; he was testing out connecting the electronics in his mask to his police scanner and was listening as there was a report that there was a bus crash that Colonel Jupiter went to help out with. "That's settled then; by the time I do arrive the whole situation would be done and I would probably have the police trying to take me in again. Does that mean I have time to think about the fact that I actually have Liz Allan as a girlfriend now and I shouldn't mess it up..." Peter thought but then saw a flare go off on top of a building. He then web slinged down and had a look around.

He felt his Spider-Sense go off but was unable to react as there was a smoke bomb going off. A needle was shot at his arm making him feel weak and then he was hit with some sort of net from a launcher. "The prey is mine! I studied where your most common swinging routes were located and I knew where to spring the trap! Now the paralysing agent will stop you from being able to escape; for my client hasn't said whether to bring you in alive or dead!" said a voice as Peter felt his powers fighting back against the toxin and he got enough of his strength back to rip himself free from the net and used his Spider-Sense to dodge as there was a spear thrown his way.

Peter managed to notice Kraven wearing a soldier's uniform along with a lion fur coated vest along with a lion's mane as decoration. Peter was still getting his strength back as Kraven charged at him fighting with a knife and Peter did his best to dodge. "I still remember all my training which is bad news for you Spider! I was a soldier for Mother Russia but before the Union fell, I escaped to Africa where a group of hunters took me in and taught me their ways! I have become the greatest soldier and hunter of all! Kraven the Hunter has no equal!" Kraven said as Peter managed to get enough of his strength back to fight back more with Kraven starting to struggle as Peter was dodging and using the move that Daredevil taught him against Kraven.

"The speed, the strength and skill... Unlike anything I have seen before..." Kraven muttered in awe as Peter kicked him in the gut and easily kicked him back before webbing him down.

"Listen here Tiger King; you might be best in hunting but in the New York super powers scene... You are out of your league..." Peter told him but Kraven using his knife managed to break free of his web and used a smoke bomb. When Peter managed to see again he saw that Kraven had escaped much to his disappointment.


It was extremely early in the morning when Norman Osborn had gotten home from working late at Oscorp Tower; having to push the concerns of staff away as he was firm on the much acceleration of the OZ project and experiments. The Vipers had gotten impatient so OZ had become more important in not just saving his life so that he could mould Harry into something resembling worthy of the Osborn name but to make sure that the Vipers don't ruin him.

He reached his room in the penthouse but found the window open much to his concern and was faced by Kraven standing by the door. "I don't know who you are or what you want but you have made the biggest mistake of your life breaking into my home! What do you have to say before I call security and have your butt hauled into prison where you will spend the rest of your life?" Norman demanded with a glare.

"Norman Osborn; founder and head of Oscorp. Your company created the Scorpion and I am willing to bet that you were responsible for Spider-Man!" Kraven replied accusingly and this stopped Norman thinking that this intruder just like the Vipers not only believed that Oscorp created Spider-Man but thought that he had done so intentionally.

"So what if I did?" Norman asked calmly now wondering where he was going with this.

"I fought him earlier... All my life I have waited for an oponnent that could actually challenge me, beat me or if possible kill me... He is it and if I am to challenge him once again, I must be made like him but better! I want you to transform me!" Kraven explained and Norman grinned thinking that this could turn out well for him.

"Is that all? You could have just made an appointment at the desk to become a volunteer, you didn't have to go through the lengths of breaking into my home!" Norman told him.


Peter had stayed after school to watch the cheerleaders practice and seeing Liz move about in her uniform, he was still fully dwelling on the fact that Liz was now his girlfriend. "You were amazing out there Liz!" Peter said embracing Liz once they were done.

"Thanks Petey; I bet you didn't mind seeing me do my moves!" teased Liz with a flirty smile as Peter did his best not to react. "You think we could have our first date tonight? A trip to the movies?" Liz asked and Peter nodded sure that May wouldn't mind if he told her that he was out with a friend (in fact she would be for it). She didn't know that Peter and Liz were together yet but he could tell her when he is ready.


Kraven was shown to a lab at Oscorp Tower with Octavius setting things up with his 4 robotic appendages; Kraven was ready by the table shirtless showing his many scars from all the decades he spent as a hunter. "The compound is set to your specificiations. We can't guranteed what the transformation will be like but you should gain the power that you crave." Norman told him as he was to be injected with OZ infused with the DNA of wild animals that Kraven had provided.

No need to worry about him not signing a waiver's as no one would believe him and there were arrest warrants on file for him and if found on America soil he would be questioned about alleged 'war crimes' that he had committed during his time in service during the Cold War. Plus he found on the medical files that were turned over; that he was diagnosed with Cancer that was in remission. Seeing how this latest batch of OZ reacts could prove valuable to figuring out how to get succesful results in treating his own disease.

Kraven was strapped in and then injected; minutes later Kraven yelled out loud as he felt the transformation and was growing orange fur on his skin. Once the transformation settled Norman had someone get a sample of Kraven's blood and right after, Kraven broke free of his restraints.

"I feel... Stronger... More powerful... My senses heightened... I can find Spider-Man myself..." Kraven said scaring the staff members but Norman smirked.

"Please show Mr Kravinoff out from the secure exit, we can't have him traced back to us." Norman ordered and the staff relucantly complied.


Peter and Liz had went to see the latest film based on the barbarian comic book character Arkon as played by Hollywood star Simon Williams; Peter saw Liz swooning when Arkon was fighting shirtless. "You would feel better if next time we see a movie with beautiful scantily clad women for you to oggle?" LIz teased as they had exited the cinema.

"I wasn't jealous at all, just saying that I think that it's a rare first date when you girlfriend fawns over the guy in the movie..." Peter said only to feel his Spider-Sense go off. There was screaming on the streets and Peter pushed Liz out of the way as there was Kraven charging at them wearing his vest.

"Is that Kraven; the hunter guy from last night? What has he done to himself?" Peter thought as he ran to get changed as Liz ran in a different direction.

Liz ended up being grabbed by the arm as Kraven lifted her up; "I followed Spider-Man's sense from our first duel and I feel his presence..." Kraven said as Liz looked terrified and Kraven ended up feeling his hand burned and he dropped her.

Peter as Spider-Man went to help her up and told her to get to saftey; "Did you actually want to go from hunter to hunted? Plus how do you get so many hairs on your chest... Asking for a friend..." Peter joked as he felt the pain as Kraven lunged at him and clawed at him ripping his suit.

"I now am as strong as a lion, leap like leopard and run like cheetah! I am now far beyond what you are!" Kraven grinned as Peter tried to fight him off and managed to push him back. Kraven lunged but then there was John grappling Kraven from the back.

"Have no fear for it doesn't matter if it's on the streets, on Jupiter or on the moon for Colonel Jupiter is here!" John said doing his best to sound heroic but it just came out forced; Peter was willing to bet that John's father's PR team wrote that for him to say.

Kraven fought out of it and lunged at John who was able to hold in in place very well, Peter then began kicking at Kraven's back causing him to break free from John. It was clear that Kraven was still getting used to his powers and struggling against them both at the same time.

John then used a punch to the gut and then to the head to knock him out as Peter started webbing him to the ground. He then gave a thumbs up to John who gave a nod before Peter went to go get changed.

Peter got back to the crowd in his civilian clothes to find Liz who noticed him and then angrily punched him in the arm while the reporters and police had arrived; "You ass; I was looking frantically for you and you didn't answer my text! Do you know how worried I was?" Liz demanded with a glare and Peter gave a sad sigh knowing that she had a right to be angry with him since from her point of view, he just bailed on her from the first sign of trouble leaving her to worry.

"I am sorry Liz; I panicked and I flaked on you... Name whatever I have to do to make it up to you." Peter said apologetically as Liz had her arms folded and huffed. A car came up and out came May looking scared out of her wits as she embraced Peter.

"Peter; I saw the news that the horrible man beast was there! From the wrestling to the fire at the party, am I going to be able to let you out again without worrying that something will happen? Is this the accursed 'Parker Luck' that Ben told me about?" May asked as Peter tried to assure you. "Liz; were you the friend that Peter said he was going to the movies with?" May asked and Peter felt dread as Liz flashed him a look that said 'you brought this onto yourself'.

Without mercy or remorse Liz proceeded to put on a shocked look and said "wait Mrs Parker; did Petey not tell you that this was our first date as boyfriend and girlfriend?"


The next morning there was a news report of Colonel Jupiter stopping the beast man hybrid 'despite the interference of that menace Spider-Man' as said by Daily Bugle Communications, Mayor Jameson gave a short statement to DBC stating that this is the latest of John's heroic action as New York's one true superhero after his bus rescue and that he was putting in the budget to have Ryker's Island prison upgraded to hold threats like 'those super freaks'.

At Oscorp Tower; Octavius was looking over the analysis of Kraven's blood while the DBC news played on the monitors with Norman there to get the results as soon as possible. "It seems that Mr Kravinoff will be in for a nasty shock for it seems this latest batch of OZ managed to take his Cancer out of remission. It will be a while before we can hope to use it to counteract your disease Mr Osborn." Octavius explained to Norman who frowned at him.

"Keep working on the formula and notify me the instant there are any possible breakthroughs." Norman commanded before leaving. "Are you sure that you should be trusting Octavius with so much Norman? You used his life's work to blackmail him to continue working for you on your terms, he has every motive to see you crash and burn. Who is to say that he didn't sabotage that sample of OZ personally and intentionally?" a voice in the back of Norman's mind told him and he thought it over.

What I really like about the Ultimate comics and Spectacular Spider-Man versions of Kraven is that they show how extremely out of their league a hunter would be against Spider-Man. Just like how I think even noted badass normal villains would only be able to do so much against Spider-Man without a clear advantage.

I admit that some time ago I decided to make Kraven the villain of the next chapter with setting something up (Cancer for him coming from Spider-Man: Life Story) but I decided to wait a while shortly after the tragic death of Kevin Conroy.