The cover says it all: "So you think that there are no new types of super-villains left for 'ol Spidey to battle, eh? Well, you've got a surprise coming!! Here's one of the newest and greatest of all...Kraven, The Hunter! Yet another major addition to Spider-Man's rogues gallery of villains is introduced that would go on to hunt down Spider-Man time and time again, yet his constant failures would eventually end in tragedy years later. Here is Kraven's first tale:

Spider-Man begins it by peering into a window where four petty thief's are organizing a bank robbery. Spider-Man catches three of them and wonders where the fourth is. Unknown to Spider-Man, the fourth thief is secretly the Chameleon (from Amazing Spider-Man #1) and he disguises himself as an old man. The Chameleon returns to his apartment where he rests and reflects on when he was first arrested as a spy and deported. Now that he has resumed his life of crime however, he realizes that the possibility of facing Spider-Man is too dangerous for him alone. He remembers his old friend Kraven the Hunter who would relish the task of tackling Spider-Man and contacts him via wire.

A week later at the Daily Bugle, Publisher J. Jonah Jameson is excited about the big news concerning Kraven the Hunter's arrival from Africa. He describes Kraven as a living legend and the greatest hunter of all time. His actual appearance is stunning when he shows himself for the first time to the masses. He quickly displays his talents when a loading crane snapped freeing many wild beasts. Peter quickly changes into Spider-Man, but before he can arrive on the scene, Kraven takes care of the Cobras, Gorillas, and other beasts proving himself to be a one-man army. Back as Peter Parker, he lost the chance to take some pics of the event which doesn't exactly stand too well with Jameson. Kraven states that he is now after the most dangerous man alive, Spider-Man!

Kraven next visits his friend the Chameleon where he receives information pertaining to Spider-Man. We learn that Kraven received him great strength from drinking a secret potion that he stole from a witch-doctor that belonged to a hidden African tribe. They order an unsuspecting midnight burglary to lure Spider-Man that night with Kraven watching as Spider-Man takes care of the burglars. He next runs into Kraven setting up the big match. The battle seems to be a draw until Kraven scratches Spider-Man putting some sort of potion into his bloodstream. Spider-Man returns home feeling much weaker and dizzy from the potion.

The next morning, Peter is much better but still has the shakes. Aunt May greets him and states that she has arranged a date with a lovely girl who just happens to be the niece of her neighbor Anna Watson. Peter leaves for the Bugle saying that they will talk about it later. When he arrives, Peter is surprised to learn that Kraven is also there talking to Jameson and they plaster a headline on the next newspaper stating that Spider-Man's defeat is imminent. The re-match begins as Spider-Man finds Kraven, or does he? Another Kraven follows Spider-Man ready to pounce on his prey. Instead he lowers a net on him which Spider-Man promptly breaks free of. Kraven next places a manacle around one each of Spidey's arms and legs which have a magnetic attraction to each other that grows every minute making Spider-Man weaker and weaker. There is also bells that indicate where Spider-Man inside the manacles making it easier for Kraven to locate Spider-Man. Spider-Man webs-up the magnetic manacles loosening the magnetic attraction and then grabs Kraven who is revealed to be the Chameleon. The real Kraven is still on the loose though, but it is he this time that cannot get away from Spider-Man and Kraven realizes that he under-estimated Spider-Man's spider-instinct. The battle ends as the Hunter becomes the hunted and Kraven is trapped in a huge web spun by Spider-Man and left for the police. Spider-Man take some pics of the Chameleon being taken away by the authorities and Jameson loves them.

When Peter gets home, Aunt May tells him that Mrs. Watson's niece has a headache and cannot make the blind date and he is relieved. Elsewhere, a steamship takes Kraven and the Chameleon away to South America as they are both deported from the country. Kraven plans on becoming more powerful then returning to continue his hunt for Spider-Man. The hunt does continues for Kraven as he next meets Spider-Man as part of the Sinister Six in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, then he and the Chameleon (Impersonating Captain America) return like they planned in Tales Of Suspense #58 where they run into Iron Man. After a cameo appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #18, Kraven proclaims "Spider-Man Season" again in Amazing Spider-Man #34. The Chameleon impersonates Bruce Banner while working for the Leader in Tales To Astonish #62 and doesn't show up again until Amazing Spider-Man #80. Kraven would go on to be one of Spider-Man's greatest foes until his untimely death at his own hands in Amazing Spider-Man #294. Kraven would leave behind two sons: The Grim Hunter and Kraven II.

Reprinted In:
Marvel Tales #10
Marvel Tales #153
 Spider-Man Classics #16
 Marvel Masterworks Vol. 5
Spider-Man Essentials I