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by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey   Writer- J.M. DeMatteis Penciller- Mike Zeck Inker- Bob McLeod Letterer- Rick Parker Colourists- Mike Zeck & Ian Tetrault SYNOPSISPeter Parker battles his own psyche, whilst clawing his way out of the grave. Unable to immediately find the man who buried him, he retreats into the loving arms of his wife, before resuming his search for Sergei Kravinov, who he finds, waiting. Dave So, we're back to "Web Of....." for Part 4 of this unrelenting, dark, psychological horror story set in the November 1987 era of Spidey. This issue is pre-'Crow,' but the cover does put me in mind of that movie, with the resurfacing from the ground and the endless rain. Kev Yeh, it's another classic, iconic cover from Zeck and McLeod. That's a good point about 'The Crow.' This even predates 'The Crow' comic by a couple of years. Dave I really like the cover, actually. The detailing on it is impeccable, and it quite literally gives us a one-word title to describe what this issue is about. Kev "Resurrection." Yeh, says it all really, eh? Dave The splash page is like the baby Spider-Man in the womb. Again, a rebirth of sorts.  "This is 'The Construct.' It's our loading program." Kev Yeh, it's a great splash page as well. I love the use of negative space, with the pure white and yeh, I agree, a fetal position Peter Parker almost literally being reborn. It reminds me of “The Construct” scenes in ‘The Matrix.’ Dave It's a very stark contrast to the highly detailed cover. Kev That's true actually, yeh. It's visually striking in a completely different way. Dave Peter Parker has essentially been missing for two whole issues, so we are finally beginning to see his journey throughout this story, and what's happening with the main character. Kev True. Two issues. and two whole weeks in his time. It's interesting that Peter is already crying, and that he seems to reject the Peter Parker moniker, and Mary Jane too. This is clearly his insecurities talking here. Dave Yeah. I know Ned is dead at this point, but he could have at least found a pair of trousers that fitted him at the waist, and not the middle of his stomach. Kev Ha, ha! He's got that Simon Cowell, high waistband thing going on there. A classic technique to cover up the middle-aged spread. So I'm told. Not that I would know anything about that, personally, of course. The way Ned dies is reminiscent of the faces melting in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ and it's a great top tier of five panels that depicts it. Those five panels at the top of the following page are excellent as well. They're an excellent illustration of the darkness of Peter's life as Spider-Man, rising up to engulf his marriage and his life.  "Don't look, Marion. Keep your eyes shut,"  "Hello darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again."  Come out, come out, wherever you are. Dave I noticed the 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' similarity as well. And the final panel on the 3rd page, of just the white Spidey eyes in darkness with the words, “Come out," is a great little touch that adds the contrasting elements as colours. It's highly stylised. Kev Totally. The white eye lenses on the black costume really lend themselves to the more horror-inflected tone of this story. Dave Certainly the first few pages show how confused Peter is as a result of all this. Kev He is totally disorientated, isn't he? Which isn't surprising really, considering he's been buried six feet under in a coffin for a fortnight now. Dave It's probably written that way to emphasise the trauma he is going through. Those two pages of his internal monologue, "I am the Spider," is about the duality of Peter Parker and Spider-Man again. Perhaps this is a split-personality, at odds with each other. Which is stronger Peter or "The Spider?" Kev Definitely. We are certainly seeing the conflict within him playing out here. Yet despite all this, it's his qualities as Peter Parker, his ability to love, not the powers of Spider-Man, that allows him to break free of the confines of “The Spider.” They are his strength, not his weakness. “There is no Spider! There’s just me…..Just a normal guy--who got tapped on the shoulder by fate.” The caption box placement here is excellent, it really allows us to visualise these duelling conversations. Dave The giant spider, crawling up to the demonic shadows, who slightly resemble Venom, are meant to represent this in his nightmare. Kev Ah, right enough. They do look a little bit like Venom. They also look a bit like Vermin too, with the red eyes shining out from the shadows. Which would fit into his current, nightmarish, situation, of course.  How exactly do these demonic dream visions get that light-piping to pop so well in a dark cave? Dave I think it shows that victory is imminent in his internal conflict with the line, "You've murdered a mask, but you haven't murdered a man." Kev That's a great line. It shows Peter's defiance and the foolishness of Kraven's plan, and his actions. Dave The panels of Peter emerging from inside the giant spider reminds me of the Alien films. Again, the clever use of these dream visions is intercut with the Spidey mask slowly being pulled off and the chin of Kraven is being revealed with, "Come Out."  This is on some Franz Kafka, 'Metamorphosis' shit.  Kraven attempts to coax Peter out of the closet. Kev Yep, it's this issue's motif of Kraven removing the mask, peeling back “The Spider,” as Peter makes his way back to the light, back to the world. And that splash page of Peter, having broken through the soil in front of his headstone is outstanding. Dave That splash page is excellent indeed. It also shows that despite his insecurities, insecurities that each of us have about ourselves, Peter still has a rock steady certainty as to who he actually is. This is the emergence of the hero. This is the hero coming back. Kev And it's his love for his wife that drives him. Dave He is definitely more emotionally balanced as an individual than Kraven. By a lot. It's quite a big build up over those seven pages to get him to this point, emotionally. Kev Definitely. And I genuinely think that DeMatteis is showing us that it's his ability to love and to be loved, that makes him who, and what he is. Dave And conversely, it shows how empty a person Kraven is. I like the black shadows around Peter's eyes in the close ups. Kev Jeez. I've just noticed that those black shadows around the eyes resemble the symbiote. Dave I also like the little touch on the front of his hair that is shaped like a spider. Kev Right enough, even the front of his hair is like the fangs. Dave Kraven's only closeness and real emotional attachment is to his enemy. Kev Yep. Whom he feels the need to exert his superiority over. To conquer. Dave But, to be fair, Kraven has managed to do a real psychological number on Peter with this. Kev That's true. He has indeed. It’s taken eight pages, in this issue alone, for Peter to rise from the grave. But it’s not been boring. At all. In fact, this issue it’s been really rich. Certainly in terms of being a character study. Dave I like the change in pace once Peter has emerged from the grave. The words are all gone, and the storytelling resumes a visual narrative for a bit. The artwork in the first two pages of this scene is great, with Peter staggering about looking unhealthily thin. Again, it's like in 'The Crow' when Eric Draven emerges from his grave and is stumbling about. The first panel of him inside Kraven's mansion is excellent. The colours are predominantly blue, yet the use lots of different shades of it to create an amazing atmosphere.  Could've taken your shoes off, or at least wiped your feet, before you trailed mud over Kraven's shiny floors, Pete. Kev The colour art in this story is nothing short of superb. It almost looks painted. I like how Peter falls once he tries to get to his feet as well. It shows just how weak and atrophied he has become in the time he has been buried.  Peter Parker doing his best Bob Mortimer impersonation, right there. Dave Then, when he sees the sees the copies of The Bugle, the realisation and devastation hits him of how much damage Kraven has caused to him. Kev Definitely. Peter, understandably starts to lose it when he realises just how long he’s been in the ground for. Dave The panel of the Spider-Man mask slowly coming off Kravens face is like a timer, or a countdown. Which is similar to the panels of Spidey's grave in the previous two issues.  Three strikes and..... Kev And the gravedigger in the fist part as well. Dave Right enough, yeah. The timer adds to the rising tension, which is shortly going to erupt. Kev That's a good point. They've really used the motif in this issue to ratchet up the tension again. Dave The panel of Peter entering Kraven's trophy room is excellent. Again, the colours used heighten the effect. Top marks to Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod and Ian Tetrault for the artwork and the colouring. It's superb. The background colours are a real standout. Kev Yeh, the artwork in this is absolutely stellar. It's a full-on feast for the eyes. Dave Did you notice any similarities to the relationship between Spidey and Kraven, and the relationship between Daredevil and Kingpin? It's uncanny. Kev Ah, good point. There are quite a few similarities between these stories. Both our heroes are literally "born again" in them. Dave That panel when Kraven finally pulls off the mask, is so similar to the ones where Kingpin is awaiting Daredevil coming for him in ‘Born Again.’  Peekaboo! Kev Right enough. There are definitely some similarities between the two of them, yeh. Both Fisk and Kraven are like spiders waiting for their prey to enter their web. Dave Peter shows amazing self-restraint at not beating up the two henchmen, but after all this, the last thing he would want to do is turn into a monster like Kraven and behave like him. Kev Yeh, and this shows the difference between Peter and Kraven. Peter is Peter, not "The Spider." Dave And also, there is a short interlude of the outcome of Kraven’s battle with Vermin, he’s trapped, quite literally. Kev Indeed. That page with the nine panel grid of Vermin and the electrified fence is absolutely outstanding. Dave It's very basic, but it works well, and it's left to the reader to fill in the blanks as to where Vermin actually is. Kev Yeh, it's a perfect little interlude. It really drives home the similarities between Peter and Vermin, as far as the situations that Kraven has placed them in. Dave Yeah, Kraven is a master manipulator. I like the reunion, finally, between Pete and MJ, even though it is set in a gloomy environment. It has, quite literally, one word spoken between them, but it doesn't need words to show how they feel about each other. Kev Nope. No words necessary, really. Although, MJ does say, "Peter?" Is she asking if he is okay? Or is she asking if he really is himself? Dave It's hard to tell on that one. Kev I suppose, she would feel the need to check, considering all the weird and wacky stuff that goes on in his life as Spider-Man; constant returns from the dead, Chameleons, clones, the list goes on forever. That panel at the top of the page of him coming back to her through the window is superb.  "I can't stand the rain, against my window. 'Cause he's not here with me." Dave And then we get the spider crawling down the window. This story is full of these little things like that. Kev Yep, and the spider returns. Literally. “Two weeks of my life--our life--our new life together as man and wife.” I think this is important to remember, it’s not just any two weeks of Peter’s life we’re talking about here, it’s two weeks of his life as a newlywed, with his new wife. Dave Two weeks of no sex, and he's quickly making up for it by the looks of things. Kev Ha, ha! Peter and MJ really were in their "honeymoon period" back then. They were at it like rabbits. Dave Peter is still haunted by his experience, and desperately needs to find Kraven. It’s interesting the way the speech bubbles are lettered, to show his voice is very weak. Kev Yeh, with the broken lines around the speech bubbles. I think that's a nice touch with the voice too. A quality little attention to detail by Rick Parker, whose work has also been outstanding throughout this entire story. Dave Yet forever the dutiful hero, as he needs to put a stop to Kraven's activities Kev Definitely, but there's a personal interest here as well. A need for revenge almost, but more importantly, the need to clear his name from the stains Kraven had placed upon it. Meanwhile, Kraven is elated at the prospect of their showdown. Look at the smile on his face. Dave Yeah, those 4 panels on that page are great, of Spidey pulling on the mask, and the panel of Kraven very gleefully exclaiming, "He's coming."  Peter is a hero because he is putting on a mask and maintaining social distance. Kraven is a villain because he is not. Kev Yeh, we've seen Kraven pulling off the mask, and now we're seeing Peter pulling the mask on. More mirror imaging between the two of them. One is finished with his need to be "The Spider," whereas the other HAS to become "The Spider" once again, to take care of some unfinished business, clear his name and then take it back. That panel where Peter holds Mary Jane’s hand to his face before he swings off out the window, is just so sweet and tender. This is the good stuff.  "If you know what I'm singing about up here, c'mon, raise your hand. Purple rain, purple rain." Dave And the roaring, thunderous crack as he swings off is great also. This weather is just brutal.  "Down came the rain and washed The Spider out." Kev Yeh, the rain is just relentless in this, isn't it? Dave Some great Spidey poses as he swings through New York as well. It's a nice showcase for Zeck and McLeod's skills again, creating more Spidey poses. Kev That page is excellent, and Peter using his spider-sense like a tracking device in order to find Kraven is a nice touch as well. There is a lot of purely visual storytelling in this issue. It’s all about creating that atmosphere. Dave The final page of Kraven, and his incredibly cheesy grin, with the emergence of Spidey slowly, panel by panel, descending into the frame until we finally see both him and Kraven poised for action, is a great ending to an issue. It requires no written narrative of any type to explain what is about to occur. I'm wondering if a man as vain as Kraven usually has a whole bunch of mirrors in his surroundings. Was he grinning at himself in a mirror, or just stood there grinning away like that to himself? There are just two words on this page again, "He's here."  Starring Tom Selleck as Sergei Kravinov. Kev I think he's just grinning at the prospect of Peter's arrival. However, his expression changes once Peter actually arrives. And this is not the first time we've seen Kraven's demeanour change in an instant in this story. He seems almost schizophrenic. Dave He also seems highly alert though, and that last panel looks like the two of them are ready to kick off again. Kev Yeh, he's in a fighting stance, alright. That last panel really showcases the physical differences between Peter and Kraven. As you said earlier, Peter is weakened from his fortnight in the dirt, he looks quite skinny, whereas Kraven looks several weight classes above him, and is much more muscular. Dave It's a cracker of a panel to end the issue on, and this issue has been quite the journey from the start to the end for Peter. Kev For sure. This has been Peter's journey issue, alright. It doesn’t really move the plot along an awful lot, but it’s an important set-up for the third act. It’s all about Peter’s return. I also think that this issue is the richest in its psychoanalysis of Peter, with a bit of Kraven thrown in there for good measure as well, obviously. It’s not exactly subtle, but it’s extremely effective, and I’ve always wondered if DeMatteis’s stuff here with “The Spider” was the kernel of the idea from which sprung Strazynski’s "spider totem” stuff, where he took Peter’s identity as Spider-Man in a much more determinist direction. A spiritual consequence of fate, rather than the mere chance of scientific accident. Dave Could well be the case. When stories become iconic, such as 'Kraven’s Last Hunt' has, they often become iconic for a number of reasons, which often includes inspiring other writers to take these characters in different directions, with an idea or two lifted from the main source material. Kev Oh yeh. This story has been incredibly influential over the years. Although, I'm glad it didn't necessarily turn Spidey into a perpetually "dark" character, the way certain stories seemed to do with Batman. Dave Batman seems to be the character that that happened to a lot, yeah. Kev In saying that though, the recent 'Amazing Spider-Man' comics have been much darker in tone. (D) & (K) Next: 'Thunder.' 
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