The origin
On an alien world during Secret Wars, Spider-Man asks a machine for a new costume and gets a black liquid that crawls onto him. It is alive. When Peter realises the suit is a parasite trying to bond permanently, he tears it off in a church bell tower, and it feels that rejection as betrayal. Meanwhile Eddie Brock, a journalist who wrongly named an innocent man as a serial killer and lost everything when Spider-Man exposed the truth, comes to that same church to pray. Two beings who hate Spider-Man find each other. They call themselves Venom.
What makes Venom different
Venom is not a man with powers, and not a monster with a host. He is a genuine we, a relationship, and the horror is that the relationship is loving. Where every other Spider-Man villain wants to beat him, Venom wants to eat him, and knows exactly who he is and where he lives, because the suit remembers. He is also the rare villain the audience liked so much that Marvel had to make him a hero, and the character who effectively invented the 1990s antihero.
Where to start reading
The full reading order
Secret Wars #8essential
Spider-Man gets the black costume. Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck. This is the first appearance of the symbiote, and a genuine key issue, though at this point nobody knows what it is.
Amazing Spider-Man #252essential
First appearance of the black costume in Amazing Spider-Man, and the iconic cover. Published earlier than Secret Wars #8 despite the story order. A major key.
Amazing Spider-Man #258recommended
Peter discovers the suit is alive and separates from it. The Fantastic Four work out what it actually is.
Amazing Spider-Man #298recommended
First cameo of Eddie Brock, and Todd McFarlane's first issue on the title. Collectors chase this one.
Amazing Spider-Man #299recommended
Venom cameo on the final page. A key issue in its own right and cheaper than #300.
Amazing Spider-Man #300essential
First full appearance of Venom, and the definitive one. Michelinie and McFarlane. Anniversary issue, iconic cover, and one of the most important modern keys in the hobby. If you own one Venom book, own this.
Amazing Spider-Man #315-317recommended
Venom's first proper rematch arc, and where his personality settles into what everyone recognises.
First appearance of Carnageessential
Cletus Kasady, and the symbiote's offspring. Another significant key, and the story that pushed Venom towards the hero side by comparison.
Venom: Lethal Protectorrecommended
Venom's first solo series. He moves to San Francisco and becomes an antihero. Peak 1990s, and the moment the character stopped being a villain.
Venom by Donny Catesessential
Cates and Ryan Stegman do for Venom roughly what Alan Moore did for Swamp Thing, revealing a cosmic god called Knull underneath the whole symbiote mythology. Widely praised, and the best jumping-on point for a modern reader.
King in Blackrecommended
The payoff to everything Cates built. Knull comes to Earth. Big, loud and satisfying.
Chasing any of these Venom issues?
Whether you are hunting a key, thinking about selling a collection, or just want to talk comics, I am always happy to hear from you.