Since the character's introduction in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #300, Venom has remained a major antagonist for the web-slinger for many years. Todd Mcfarlane's creation will be featured in a brand new marvel game alongside other heroes and villains and after the success of the movies, there are certainly plenty of new fans of this iconic comic book character.
But among the many storylines and arcs featuring the symbiote and its hosts over the years, just what are the best to read for newcomers and fans alike? According to the website Ranker, these are the ten best Venom comic book storylines.
10 Venom Vs. Carnage
Published in 2004, Venom Vs. Carnage was written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by Clayton Crain and saw Venom fighting Carnage yet again, but this time for a family matter. Carnage has created a new Symbiote named Toxin and Venom must team up with Spider-Man and Black Cat to help locate this potential new threat that made it one of the best 2000s comic book issues featuring Venom.
While the limited series saw these two baddies battling it out over Toxin's future, the new character ultimately takes matters into its own hands. And while the character hasn't made the strongest impact in comics, the symbiote did return to face off against Venom.
9 Maximum Carnage
Maximum Carnage saw Carnage escape from prison, freeing other powerful and dangerous supervillains onto the streets of New York. With chaos and crime rising across the city, it's up to Spider-Man and Venom to reluctantly team up to save the day.
And the comic book became the source for the side-scrolling beat 'em up video game of the same name. Appearing on the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis in the '90s, many would be more familiar with the title of the game rather than the comic that inspired it.
8 Spider-Man: Birth Of Venom
This graphic novel from 2007 collected multiple issues of Spider-Man storylines that conveniently laid out his origin with the iconic black suit and how he eventually rejected it. But it is also a story about Eddie Brock and how he fused with the black symbiote and became the deadly Venom.
Not also does this include some of the best Venom storylines from the comics, but it is also an impressive collection of celebrated artists and writers of Marvel's past. With such talents as Todd Mcfarlane, Michael Zeck, David Michelinie, and Tom Defalco, this is one of the best Venom story arcs from Marvel comics.
7 Amazing Spider-Man #300
Before he would eventually create the Spawn series, Todd Mcfarlane was a big name in the eighties for his work as an artist and a writer for several Marvel comic books. And in 1988, one of his most iconic pieces of work was unveiled with the 300th issue of The Amazing Spider-Man.
This iconic issue would reveal the first appearance of Venom and despite sharing the same color scheme as the black Spider-Man suit, is nothing like the hero. Showing off its menacing teeth while also sharing the same abilities as the web crawler, this would be the start of many encounters with the menacing foe.
6 Lethal Protector
After being introduced as a villain in the 80s, comic book writer David Michelinie attempted t0 rebrand Venom as an anti-hero. To do this, he penned the six-issue series Venom: Lethal Protector between 1992 to 1993.
The story saw Eddie Brock move to San Francisco to get away from his revenge against Spider-Man, becoming a vigilante and delivering justice the only way Venom can. With the antagonist taking center stage, this was also one of the few issues where Spider-Man appears as a supporting character rather than one of the major players.
5 Venomverse
With the multiverse finally introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there are many comic book issues and collections to check out for those looking for more dimension-hopping antics. And one of them also turns out to be one of the best Venom storylines too.
Venomverse saw Eddie Brock being summoned alongside some of the best venomized Marvel characters across the multiverse. Seeing how Eddie and Venom would work in a team, this story also saw just how different the symbioses' chemistry would be with other heroes and villains.
4 Space Knight
After he joined the Guardians of the Galaxy and uncovered the origins of the symbiotes, Flash Thompson continued to assist the team while having his own space adventures, thanks to the enhancements he gained as the current host of the Venom symbiote. But Robbie Thompson saw an opportunity to write the Venom: Space Knight series and told the further adventures of Venom.
The 2015 series opened up many new opportunities for Thompson as he learned to fight for justice and for what was right across the universe. Taking one of the heroes of Earth and placing him into the unknown proved to create an interesting and fun space adventure.
3 Agent Venom
Many know of Flash Thompson as Peter Parker's bully during their high school days. But after joining the military, Flash became a soldier and war hero after saving another fellow soldier, losing both of his legs in the process.
But he would be given a second chance in Agent Venom as he would become the new host for the Venom symbiote. Exploring a new relationship between the alien creature and Thompson, this opened a new opportunity for the character to grow while also seeing how he would fit within the ever-evolving world of the Marvel universe. And there are plenty of reasons why the MCU's Flash Thompson could be the next host.
2 Savage Six
After Rick Remender recreated Flash Thompson as Agent Venom, he continued working on the character and his stories. The Savage Six was the story arc between issues 15 to 22 of Venom and proved to be one of the most dramatic storylines for both Flash and Venom respectively.
Crime-Master attempts to recreate the Sinister Six that featured Thompson's greatest enemies since becoming Agent Venom. Known as the Savage Six, this would see the group do what the Sinister could ever do: break down the character physically and mentally to his limit.
1 Circle Of Four
The six-issue event saw the unlikely alliance of Agent Venom, Red Hulk, X-23, and Ghost Rider as they attempt to stop Blackheart from bringing Hell to Earth. And once again, Rick Remender would pen this story arc.
Despite the violent and wild nature of these characters, Rick was able to tell a story that many Marvel fans enjoyed and fans enjoyed seeing them being forced to work together. And despite the short run, it has remained one of the best-ranked storylines featuring Venom within Marvel comics.
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