Review by Ian Keogh

For quite some time Norman Osborn has been a reformed man, cleansed of the mental illness that peaked when he became the Green Goblin, yet Kraven the Hunter has designs on restoring him in order to prove himself against Spider-Man’s greatest foe. However, despite his pompous narration Kraven is a bit of a goon, and so his masterplan heads off course. What happens is a great surprise well set-up by Zeb Wells.

It’s not necessary to know Wells is basing his story on one consistently ranked amongst Spider-Man’s best, Kraven’s Last Hunt if you want to look it out, but anyone aware of the homage will pick up more of the clever touches Wells includes. It boils down to three people in desperate and unfamiliar circumstances, Spider-Man’s friends endangered, and a look at what might happen if Spider-Man decided on a more permanent way of ridding himself of enemies. The query then becomes how things might be put right.

Patrick Gleason has been contributing a story here and then since Wells began writing Spider-Man, but draws the entirety of the title story very thoughtfully. In places he chooses to echo the past, especially where Kraven is seen, and in others he brings something new to Spider-Man. An extraordinary brutality is required for some scenes, and the way Gleason draws them underlines the grim nature of constant violence.

The result is a very satisfying four chapters not dragging the situation too long in the way sometimes seen at Marvel. There’s the misdirection of the set-up, the result, the consequences and the inevitable redemption. The only minus point is the idea of Mary Jane as a superhero. Why?

With a very emotionally draining title story, it’s nice that the remainder is the lunacy of Rek-Rap and his fellow monstrosities from Limbo intruding into New York, so the Repossessor is sent to return them all home. As designed by Ed McGuinness he’s a monstrosity who literally consumes his victims, despite an entirely harmless look before opening wide, and McGuinness supplies his customary excess to what’s not intended to be taken seriously. A serious threat is set up by the end, though, with the clock ticking down.

In between the madcap escapades of Rek-Rap Wells is also setting up the following Gang War. Tombstone’s not been in a good way since Armed and Dangerous, and that leaves control of New York’s criminal enterprises up for grabs, which is never good.

The contrast of two very different styles over two stories makes Spider-Man’s First Hunt a satisfying page-turner, and while much is dependent on past events, everything you need to know is supplied.