PREVIOUSLY: Norman Osborn, the villainous Green Goblin, returned to New York having secretly purchased a controlling interest in the Daily Bugle newspaper. At a lavish press conference/party, Osborn claimed that had fled to Europe several years ago because his life was threatened by Spider-Man. He also denied ever having been the Green Goblin – a charge which has never been proven. Peter Parker, who had attended the party, was so furious at Norman's lies, he later burst into Osborn's penthouse as Spider-Man and roughed up the newly returned industrialist, in an unusual fit of rage. But, the webspinner was unaware that Osborn had anticipated such a scene, and so had hidden cameras record the attack, thus reinforcing Norman’s connection that Spidey had it in for him.

In Spectacular Spider-Man #251, Spider-Man goes in search of the newly-returned Kraven the Hunter. On a rooftop, he is attacked by his loin-clothed enemy, who is riding none other than a bull elephant. After both combatants fall through the building's roof, Kraven gains the advantage on the webspinner after a brief struggle. Then, having just revealed his identity as the original Kraven's other son, the new Hunter fires his rifle squarely at his seemingly dazed quarry.

Leisurely sitting on a couch, wearing a robe, Norman Osborn is speaking to a a guest of his, Doctor Meuller, whom he met while in Europe. It is revealed that Osborn invited Meuller to come visit him in the United States because he values his work in human psychology, more specifically his investigations into the nature of human suffering and the unbearable anxieties of this modern age. Meuller replies that he greatly admires Osborn for everything that he has accomplished, particularly embracing his suffering, becoming his anger, and aiming those feelings out of himself and against the world. As Meuller has expressed in one of his exegeses, the only way to survive hell is to become the devil and bring hell to others. Osborn agrees and tells Meuller that he would like to fund an experiment to further Meuller's research and prove some of his theories, as well as having a little fun in the process.

When Spidey comes back to – his arm bandaged where it was shot – he is sitting in a comfy chair in the mansion where the original Kraven and he had their final encounter. Alyosha is standing nearby, brewing some kind of liquid. He explains that the potion he gave to him earlier had the unfortunate effect of causing him to feel nauseated and disoriented. He has therefore taken the liberty of concocting an antidote that should quickly wash the toxins out of Spidey's system and restore his energy. Alyosha hands Spidey a cup containing the antidote, telling him to "drink up", commenting to him that he should know that there is no danger, since his "sixth sense" (i.e. his spider-sense) would ultimately warn him if the antidote was lethal or something like that. Spidey reluctantly acquiesces and drinks the hot liquid. Feeling his head clearing up already, Spidey asks Alyosha what he wants from him. Alyosha simply answers that he wants…to understand. Born and raised in the jungle, where she spent the last two decades, he has never known the life in so-called civilization, unlike his father, and half-brother Vladimir (the Grim Hunter). Though he has been taught about history, poetry, philosophy and art, he feels they were all abstractions, distant echoes from the world of man. The only reality he knew, was the reality of the beast.

Having said that, he swiftly turns around and starts hissing and growling like some kind of wild animal. He then leaps on a nearby table, looking straight at Spidey. Spidey asks what is going to happen now. Alyosha explains that he only wanted Spidey to see his true face, to understand who he is, and the life he has lived all those lonely years. Confused, Spidey admits that he does not understand anything yet. Alyosha explains that his father, Kraven the Hunter, only showed up sporadically throughout his life. And when he did, he was never there long enough for Alyosha to actually know him; thus he remained mysterious and aloof. Alyosha's human contacts were limited to his tutors and primitive tribesmen he sometimes lived with. His only true friends were the jungle beasts. It was amongst them that he found freedom and contentment. As he grew older however, his curiosity about the outside world and heritage also grew. When he attacked Spidey earlier that night, it was not for revenge or to hurt him. He simply wanted to taste his presence and his power, to enter into his consciousness. In other words, he wanted to see his father through Spidey's eyes. After all, Spidey was his greatest foe, his grandest obsession, and when Kraven finally defeated him, the hunt was over and he took his own life. Spidey comments that, had there been anything he could have done to prevent his father from taking his own life, he would have done it. Alyosha replies that he believes Spidey. He's read his father’s diaries and has no doubts that he was unstable, mad. The same madness that claimed his father's mother ultimately claimed him. His diaries, however, are only words on page and Alyosha feels that Spidey is the only one that can bring those words to life for him. Having said that Alyosha implores Spidey to tell him about his father. Spidey acquiesces.

Spidey explains how in the early days, he used to admire Alyosha's father. But that soon changed. After their first series of encounters, Kraven lost his novelty. He became, to Spidey, some kind of a joke. He would come after Spidey with his jungle tricks but Spidey would send him back to jail as quickly as he got out. But then something happened to him; he changed. During "Kraven's Last Hunt", as it was dubbed in the newspaper, he shot Spidey with one of his potions, which put him into some kind of state of simulated death. He then buried Spidey six feet in the ground, for two weeks. While Spidey was locked tight in a coffin, Kraven ran around New York City in his costume to try and prove that he was better than him. During those two weeks, the people who loved Spidey thought he was dead. When Spidey finally revived, when he finally came back, he wanted to take Kraven apart. However, when Spidey finally caught up with him, Kraven set the savage creature known as Vermin loose in the city. Having to make a choice between vengeance and duty. Spidey left Kraven there to pursue Vermin. And Kraven took his own life. Spidey has been haunted by Kraven ever since. Having said that, his spider-sense kicks in, warning him of danger. Outside Kravinov's mansion, guys holding spears and shields encircle the premise. Before Spidey or Alyosha can do anything, an explosion tears the building in half. When the dust settle, it is revealed that Spidey is shaken up, but overall fine. So is Alyosha. However, his pet gorilla is dead. Alyosha's lion is the only other creature that survived. Infuriated, Alyosha wants to know who is responsible for the attack. On cue, dozens of tribesmen with spears and shields show up. Alyosha recognizes them as having once served his father. But now, they serve Calypso!

The tribesmen attack. Spidey and Alyosha fight them off, as Calypso runs her mouth about the original Kraven, whose death she blames on Spidey, and about the fact that Kraven’s son – Alyosha – is conspiring with his father's greatest enemy. Tearing through a bunch of tribesmen, Alyosha gets closer to Calypso and pounces on her. But he is stopped dead in his tracks when she throws some kind of powder at his face. Calypso starts to chant, doing some kind of voodoo number on Alyosha. Alyosha begins writhing, his eyes glazed over, and he moans and whimpers like he's in incredible pain. Holding a knife to Alyosha's throat, Calypso yells at Spidey to back off and surrender. Spidey reluctantly agrees and is quickly surrounded by Calypso's tribesmen. She comes over and throws powder in his face. Spidey blacks out.

Across the city, in their "bearmobile", the Grizzly and the Gibbon, reformed criminals, are roaming the streets in search of evildoers so they can strike terror into their hearts. As they drive near the docks, Gibbon asks Grizzly why they are driving all the way to the end of the pier. Grizzly replies that he is getting ready to shift their vehicle into aqua-mode and transform it from "bearmobile" to "bearboat". As the car jumps from the end of the pier, into the river, it certainly does not float. In fact, it sinks all the way down to the bottom of the river. It turns out that the car did not have an aqua-mode.

In Forest Hills, at the Parker home, Mary Jane Parker is sitting down at the table in the kitchen, reading a book. Aunt Anna, who has been hovering around the kitchen, clears her throat, and starts to pester MJ with questions about Peter's whereabouts. Tired of being questioned, MJ snaps at her aunt. Anna apologizes to MJ, for bothering her about that, and MJ apologizes, in return, for being rude, pretending that she is nervous about her upcoming exams. Anna knows MJ is worried about something else and goes on explaining that she has finally figured out the truth about Peter and she wants it out in the open. MJ wonders if Anna knows that Peter and Spider-Man are one and the same.

When Spidey comes back to, he is trapped in a steel cage; so is Alyosha. Calypso explains how she despise Alyosha for turning his back on his heritage, making a mockery of her, and making a pact with the devil himself. Turning to Spidey, she explains that he is everything she loathes. She claims that he destroyed Kraven, thus destroying her heart. For that, she will destroy him, once and for all. Having said that, she begins to dance to the sound of loud drums. She then throws powder into the faces of both Spidey and Alyosha. Continuing to dance, she tells her two prisoners to let her enchantments peel away the husk of civilization and reveal them both for what they truly are: mindless savage. With that said, he instructs her tribesmen to open up the cages, to set Spidey and Alyosha loose. As that is being done, she orders the brainwashed duo to fight each other to the death.

To be continued.