ComicsMarvel ComicsVenomThe 10 best Venom comics to read after watching Venom: The Last DanceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ComicsMarvel ComicsVenomThe 10 best Venom comics to read after watching Venom: The Last DanceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
WithVenom: The Last Dance, the latest (and possibly the last) installment ofSony’s Tom Hardy-starring franchise, now in theaters, we thought it was high time that we rounded up the best Venom comics for those fans looking to go deeper into the sinister symbiote’s history after watching the new movie.
10. The Enemy Within
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
When Todd McFarlane is one of your creators, it makes sense that your stories might have a little bit of a horror bent to them. 1994’s Venom: The Enemy Within might not be the most consequential Venom story at first glance, but it does establish a new way to tell a story with Eddie Brock. Bruce Jones' script has goblins taking over San Francisco, and it’s up to Venom to find out what’s going on! Along the way, he runs into Morbius, and the two fight before realizing they need to team up to take down a larger foe: the Demogoblin. This story does a great job of leaning into Venom’s anti-hero tendencies while also putting him in a more interesting scenario and team-up than we are used to seeing him in. While the symbiote isn’t supernatural in nature, Venom’s generally monstrous appearance jibes well with the goblins and ghouls in a story like this one.
Buy Venom: The Enemy Within on Amazon
9. Planet of the Symbiotes
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
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Buy Venom: Planet of the Symbiotes on Amazon
8. Amazing Spider-Man: New Ways to Die
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Is it cheating to put an Anti-Venom story on this list? Maybe, but Venom (the Mac Gargan version) also appears, so we get to slot this one in on a technicality. Eddie Brock has been separated from the Venom symbiote but he’s experiencing hallucinations of the killer Klyntar whenever he looks in a mirror. Coupled with his recent cancer diagnosis, Brock has definitely seen better days. This story sees Eddie Brock’s anger redirected at the symbiote itself and once he comes in contact with it again, he becomes Anti-Venom, an inversion of his previous identity. Equipped with new powers, Eddie has a new mission: eradicate every trace of the symbiote.
But it’s not quite that simple. The final confrontation ends with Venom defeating Anti-Venom and seemingly ridding him of the Anti-Venom suit in the process. But Slott and company leave a couple of doors ajar – Gargan tells Eddie that despite everything he’s done, the symbiote still loves him, and in the closing pages, Eddie reaffirms his new identity as Anti-Venom as we see the white symbiote encapsulate his body once more.
Buy The Amazing Spider-Man: New Ways to Die on Amazon
7. The Amazing Spider-Man: Venom
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Before taking his talents (and a few other Marvel artists) to form Image Comics in the ’90s, Todd McFarlane was best known for his work on the Incredible Hulk and then the Amazing Spider-Man. McFarlane stretched the visual language of the hero in new and exciting ways, his body composition and figure drawing leaning into the “Spider” part of Peter Parker’s alter-ego with flailing limbs and exciting poses. Along with these changes, the book was beginning to take on a darker tone under David Michelinie.
Venom’s first full appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #300 (aka one of thebest Spider-Man comics) is fairly simple – Eddie had menaced MJ at the end of the last issue, and Peter investigates the appearance of another Spider-person swinging around NYC, while also juggling his responsibilities as Spider-Man and his relationship. But it begins to lay out some of the “rules” of the character and establishes a visual language for Venom stories to come. This issue differentiates Eddie Brock as a host of the alien symbiote from Peter’s original experiences with it. This is the definitive first issue of Eddie Brock as Venom, and it reestablishes Eddie’s hatred for Spider-Man, laying the groundwork for years of stories to come.
Buy The Amazing Spider-Man: Venom
6. First Host
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
While there was some explanation of the Klyntar in Brian Michael Bendis' work with Venom, this is the first time that we get to really find out what the symbiote was up to before coming to Earth and the events of Secret Wars, plus we meet it’s first host: Tel-Kar, a Kree Warrior. Mike Costa’s run as a whole represents a bit of a softening of the symbiote’s character as Eddie Brock himself has had a great effect on the alien. While the larger plot elements of the story are pretty standard superhero fare – Kel-Tar steals the symbiote from Eddie as a means of continuing the war on the Skrulls, while Eddie (now bonded with the symbiote offspring Sleeper) fights back – this story works as an effective character study of Brock. And it never hurts to have Carnage co-creator Mark Bagley providing the pencils.
Buy Venom: First Host on Amazon
5. King in Black
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Much like the fatherhood and responsibility narrative that crops up in Mike Costa’s run on Venom as well as Venom: First Host, Donny Cates puts Eddie Brock and his son Dylan at the center of this line-wide Marvel crossover. Event comics have a tough line to toe because they often have to be a little bit of everything to appeal to most readers. King in Black can be simplistic at times. Still, it feels like a better synthesis of so many of the Venom stories that came before and leans heavily into ‘rule of cool’ storytelling that can be extremely exciting in a crossover.
Buy King in Black on Amazon
4. Amazing Spider-Man #345-347
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
The rivalry between Spider-Man and Venom is central to so much of Eddie Brock’s story, especially in the early days of the character. These three issues feature the looming specter of Venom over Spidey’s life, a hint at the origins of Carnage, and a sort of Predator-esque faceoff between the titan of tooth and tongue and our friendly neighborhood wallcrawler. That might seem like a lot to pack into just a few issues, but David Michelinie is able to maintain the narrative balance effectively throughout. It helps that he has Mark Bagley and Erik Larsen to keep the visual storytelling smooth.
The two artists work well in tandem but it’s Larsen’s take on Venom that really steals the spotlight here. #347 is the standout issue of the three. Things come to a head as a Spidey and Venom battle on a secluded island. Eddie is desperate to get his revenge and Spider-Man is still having trouble dealing with the brute force of Venom, but what he lacks in strength, he makes up for with smarts. He fakes his death, leading Venom to believe he has won, and Eddie finally seems at peace. The ending might seem a little too pat but Michelinie is exploring the tragedy of obsession. We, the readers, know that Eddie will eventually find out Spider-Man is not dead, and this cycle will begin again.
BuyAmazing Spider-Man #345,#346, and#347on Amazon
3. Venom: Lethal Protector
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Buy Venom: Lethal Protector on Amazon
2. Rick Remender and Tony Moore’s run
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Our last two entries are full runs, but that’s because they’re both so character-defining. The Venom symbiote has had a number of different hosts over the years, but after Eddie Brock, there is no one more significant than Flash Thompson. In 2011, Flash was given the symbiote while working as an operative for the United States government.
Buy the first volume of Remender and Moore’s Venom on Amazon
1. Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman’s run
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Buy the complete run of Cates and Stegman’s Venom on Amazon
Check out our guide tothe 25 best superhero movies of all time. Or, for more on Venom’s newest film, read ourVenom: The Last Dance reviewand find out the alien’s big screen future in ourVenom 3 post-credits sceneguide.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”