Reddit reviews Spider-Man: Birth of Venom

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Birth-Venom-Jim-Shooter/dp/0785124985 should cover the early venom stuff. However a lot of it only has the relevant pages from issues instead of the whole thing.

>you get:

Marvel Secret Wars #8 (two-and-a-half pages + cover)
Amazing Spidey #252-259 (full issues + covers)
Fantastic Four #274 (two pages)
Spectacular Spider-Man #100 (4 pages: not listed on the back cover, but I don't think these pages are part of any of the other comics)
Web of Spider-Man #1 (full issue + cover)
Amazing Spidey #298 (one page), #299 (two pages),
Amazing Spidey #300, 315-317 (full issues + covers)
Amazing Spidey Annual #25 (ten pages)
"Venom" entry from "Who's Who in the Marvel Universe" (three pages)

300 pgs.

Well, if you want to go chronologically, the following list should help and get you up to date. The sad thing is that I'm sure more then a few of these are out of print. Anyways...

Spider-Man:Birth of Venom: A TPB with all the issues leading up to Venom's first appearance as well as his first couple showdowns with Spider-Man.

The Vengeance of Venom: A continuation of Venom's appearances in Spider-Man. Classic Venom fun. It also leads right into...

Spider-Man:Carnage: The first appearance of Carnage. Even for symbiote stories, this is a good one. As fun as they still are, this is Venom and Carnage at their purest, and it makes for great reading.

Amazing Spider-Man #374/375:Couldn't find the TPB for these, but it's a Venom milestone comic. I won't spoil anything, but it's good. Read it.

Venom Lethal Protector: Venom's first mini-series, and arguably the best. More or less a direct continuation of ASM #374/375.

Maximum Carnage: The return of Carnage, and Venom's there too. Nuff said.

After this there were a ton of Venom mini-series, some good, some kind of sucky. A few of the better one's are below. Carnage is in there too a little. It should be noted that while stuff happens in the other mini-series, there's nothing at the end of the day that really matters. Nothing important. This is all more or less in order btw.

Venom: Funeral Pyre

Venom: Separation Anxiety

Venom: Carnage Unleashed

Venom VS Carnage

After all this, we get back into Spider-Man. At this point, for reasons I won't spoil, Eddie gives up the suit and it goes somewhere else. It's a great read, and for way more then just Venom.

Spider-man

Theeen...I'm not quite sure for a bit. Stuff happens, but I haven't read it. Jump forward to Civil War however (if you don't know what that is, you will soon.) and we have Venom on a government sponsored team, the Thunderbolts. Full warning, this series does kind of kill Venom's character a little bit. The series itself however, is so freaking good. Seriously. It's all collected below.

Thunderbolts by Warren Ellis

Thunderbolts: Secret Invasion

Thunderbolts: Burning House

To continue, I'm going to have to spoil something. Turn back now if you don't want to know (you already have plenty of reading).




Venom becomes an Avenger. Kind of. It's all below.

Dark Avengers Vol 1

Dark Avengers Vol 2

Dark Avengers/X-Men: Utopia

Siege. This a an event book, that ties directly to the Dark Avengers.

Dark Avengers: Siege


This brings us up to the current series, which personally I think is one of the best things to happen to Venom in a very long time. Minor spoilers again to follow.

The government finally thinks to force apart Venom from it's host when he's incarcerated, and has the bright idea to use the symbiote as a super soldier. Who they pick is well, kind of brilliant. It's all collected below, and with a few small exceptions makes for great reading.

Venom Vol 1

Spider Island. An event that Venom ties in with directly.

Venom #9 isn't in any of the trades, but it's a great issue. Also has one of the coolest covers.

Venom: Circle of Four

Venom: The Savage Six

Venom: Devil's Pack


Meanwhile, Carnage has been having some fun of his own. In two totally awesome mini-series, both by the same creative team.

Carnage: Family Feud

Carnage USA

This all adds up in the Venom/Scarlet Spider crossover event Minimum Carnage. Not the best, but still fun stuff.

Minimum Carnage

Aaaand, back to Venom. There's Venom #28-30, but I can't find the trade for it anywhere. It's good fun, and def worth looking for.

Venom: Toxin with a Vengeance. This one gets a special mention on account of how great it is. Not only is it a great jumping on point, but it's one of the best arcs in the entire series. Seriously. It just came out in trades so it should be easy to find.

After that is just the current arc that's finishing up (the trade doesn't come out until January 7th )

There's also currently a Carnage series going on called Superior Carnage. Personally I like it, but it's getting mixed reception from people here at r/TVS.

Happy Reading.

EDIT: Totally forgot about Anti-Venom, although others seem to be on it.

You can read Birth of Venom, with Peter with the black suit and the earliest Venom stuff.

Vengeance of Venom comes next. Standard Venom wants to kill Spider-Man, but features the creation of Carnage.

Next Venom becomes his own character and has a bunch of short solo series. It's collected in the pricey Venomnibus .

Then after those stories is Venom: Along Came a Spider. Venom fights Peter's clone.

Finally comes Flash Thompson as Venom. Rick Remender, then Cullen Bunn.

used isn't to bad, new on the other hand nope.

I only recently just got into comics so I can understand that it's an overwhelming experience.

> How important is it to read comics in order?

You should read story arcs and issues in order but don't be overly concerned with starting at the very very beginning for every character. One, because a lot of popular characters (including Spider-Man) go back decades and decades, and, two, not everything from the beginning is good reading or good for a newbie. Go back to the very start if you're curious but I don't think that's a good jumping on point. What's considered good comic writing now is very different from what was considered standard back in the 30s or 60s.

>Are there any that would be especially good for "newbie" readers?

This is kind of tough to say.

Talking about monthly comics: DC recently rebooted their whole line of comics a few years ago with The New 52, one of the reasons being to allow for new fans to jump on easier. Marvel hasn't rebooted but they did launch Marvel NOW whose goal was to make it easier for fans to jump on, so anything that says Marvel NOW might be a good place to start.

Here's what I did though. I've been reading comics for about two years and only just started reading monthly issues this May. Up until then I was reading trade paperbacks (TPBs), which are just collections of individual issues.

Basically all I did was pick a character I like, google "best [character] trade paperbacks", and pick up a few that looked interesting. While I was reading TPBs I would be on subreddits like /r/comicbooks, /r/Marvel, or /r/DCcomics, to see what people liked and when new series were starting to find good jumping on points. I found the first good jumping-on point with The Amazing Spider-Man #1 which launched in May.

So that's what I'd recommend.

As for individual books, Spider-Man is only on its fourth issue right now so it's pretty easy to get caught up and jump on board.

My personal favorite Spider-Man TPBs are Superior Spider-Man (this actually stars Doc Ock in Spidey's body; some people don't like it, I think it's great, just be warned), Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, Amazing Spider-Man Ultimate Collection (a huge collection of J. Michael Straczynski's popular run of the book in the early 2000s; I don't love the art but it's still a good read) and Spider-Man: Dying Wish (which sets up Superior Spider-Man).

I also read Spider-Man: Birth of Venom and The Death of the Stacys to catch up on some important Spidey history.

Do some research before diving into a book or character and pay attention to stories and art that you like so you can follow creators.

Hope that helps. I'd be glad to answer questions if you have any.

I'm gonna basically copy/paste the recs I gave to a similar question about a month ago, but should be helpful to you as well:

IMHO I think the best way to get started is to use some TPBs. I don't know if that's financially feasible, but you can always score them either used or go through ComixOlogy to get things 50-70% less. Orion's list is immensely helpful, but I understand if you don't know what things are redundant or which collections are better to get.

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom (https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Birth-Venom-Jim-Shooter/dp/0785124985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516558401&sr=8-1&keywords=Spider-Man+Birth+of+Venom) will get you through all the scattered early appearances of the symbiote and Venom, though I'd say a good half of the book is just Spider-Man in the black costume.

Next up would be Spider-Man: The Vengeance of Venom (https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Vengeance-Venom-David-Michelinie/dp/0785157603/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516558621&sr=8-1&keywords=spider-man+the+vengeance+of+venom). When I was a kid I actually just got Spider-Man: Venom Returns ( https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Venom-Returns-Marvel-comics/dp/0871359669/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1516558401&sr=8-2&keywords=Spider-Man+Birth+of+Venom) also out of print but strangely cheaper, and also has less comics collected in it.

OR you could just pick up the Complete Alien Costume Saga, which is split into 2 parts (https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Complete-Alien-Costume-Saga/dp/0785188673/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516558998&sr=1-1&keywords=Spider-Man%3A+The+Complete+Alien+Costume+Saga). I'm not personally familiar with it, but it seems to collect basically the same comics as the other two.

Then you can definitely pick up the Lethal Protector TBP (https://www.amazon.com/Venom-Lethal-Protector-David-Michelinie/dp/0785158472/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516559535&sr=1-1&keywords=venom+lethal+protector).

Unfortunately for most of the mini-series stuff, you have to just buy the individual comics. The minis I personally feel would be worth your time are:

Separation Anxiety (which is technically also available as a TPB: https://www.amazon.com/Venom-Separation-Anxiety-Carl-Potts/dp/1302901729/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516559656&sr=1-1&keywords=venom+separation+anxiety)

Venom: Sinner Takes All

Venom: Along Came A Spider

Venom: The Hunger

Venom: License To Kill

That will get you started with most of the 80s-90s Eddie Brock classic Venom stuff. I'm not gonna say it's not worth it to check out the other stories, but maybe start with these and if you like what you read, then you can go back in and fill in the gaps. I tracked down all the stuff on Orion's list and read through it over a few months to fill in my gaps from when I was younger (because back then there wasn't such a thing as digital comics, so I literally just read what I could find in back issues at my LCS).

During the 2000s-2010s things get a little more scattered, since the symbiote moves to different hosts. If you literally want to read all the symbiote's travels you basically have to follow Orion's list :-/ From Gargan's run Sinister Spider-Man is basically the only thing you need to read to 'get' his version of Venom. Flash's run is great (Venom Vol. 2) and also conveniently collected in TPBs, along with Venom: Space Knight.

From there you can ease into the current Venom run, and then they're rebooting the series in May and allegedly that will help newbies "hop on" to the reading train. Unfortunately Western comics are confusing as hell (unlike most Manga series) so it's kind of awkward when you're not just like, accustomed to it. Like you described, I got into Spider-Man when I was like, 8 years old and then quickly got attached to Venom more than Spidey. Then I got sucked down the comics tube, so I'm kind of used to the way the stupid numbering and rebooting and crossover-ing is at this point.

You're probably thinking of Spider-Man: Birth of Venom

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Birth-Venom-Jim-Shooter/dp/0785124985

It's a trade paperback made up of Venom stories which tell his origin and also of some of his battles with Spidey. It also features the story "The Truckstop of Doom," in which Venom protects an innocent family from some psychos.

I wish I was better with specific arcs but I'm pretty casual in my knowledge. This was the best I could do with the help of google, wiki and amazon, but someone with more knowledge may be able to correct me on some things.

I'd start here:

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Birth-Venom-Jim-Shooter/dp/0785124985/

It looks like it covers not only the "Alien Costume Saga" which is also available as 2 books on Amazon, but the beginning of the Todd McFarlane Venom story. You may want to check into getting that one though, it seems like maybe some of the alien costume story isn't fully included. This is from the top review: "Prospective buyers be aware, though, that this compilation does not include all of the full issues listed in the Amazon description (also listed on the back cover of the book) -- some of the issues only have a page or two that dealt with the Alien Costume or Venom."

This is Maximum Carnage:

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Maximum-Carnage-Tom-Defalco/dp/0785109870

They have other Carnage/Venom collections you'll see come up in the recommendations. I've enjoyed other stories but these are the only ones I'm even sure I've read entirely, it was a long time ago. They are mostly origin type stories.

I'll add this to my list, "Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt", which was dark and awesome and very stand alone.

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Kravens-J-M-DeMatteis/dp/0785134506

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom
https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Birth-Venom-Jim-Shooter/dp/0785124985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519776063&sr=8-1&keywords=spider-man+the+birth+of+venom

Venom: Lethal Protector
https://www.amazon.com/Venom-Lethal-Protector-David-Michelinie/dp/1302911767/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519776114&sr=1-1&keywords=venom+lethal+protector

Ultimate Spider-Man: Ultimate Collection Book 3
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Spider-Man-Collection-Vol/dp/0785149198/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519776161&sr=1-2&keywords=ultimate+spider-man+ultimate+collection

If you don't mind waiting, there's going to be a Venomnibus Vol 1 coming out in July
https://www.amazon.com/Venomnibus-Vol-1-David-Michelinie/dp/1302912445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519775686&sr=1-1&keywords=venom+omnibus

Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman also have a new Venom series starting in May. Keep your eyes out for this one.
https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAR180796

There's actually 2 TPBs that collect the symbiote suit run called the Complete Alien Costume Saga here's some links to amazon if you're interested- Book 1

Book 2

Then there is also a TPB of when Eddie Brock first becomes Venom and his first and Second Encounters with Spider-Man called Birth of Venom

Edit Formatting and spelling because I'm dumb.

Spider-Man: Venom, a compilation of all the 80's comics that introduced the Symbiote.

And, as a kid, Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 and all subsequent volumes. The Ultimate run is my favorite. I like the modern artwork, the vastly improved dialogue and story archs, and the basic new look of Spider-Man. I love the classics, sure, but I feel like the original comics all the way up to the 80's are too cheesy to enjoy.

Just my $0.02, of course.

Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys if you want her father's death as well, or Spider-Man: The Death of Gwen Stacy if you just want hers.

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom

These are UK links, sorry in advance if you're in the US! Though I imagine if they're on Amazon UK they'll be on the US site as well. Hope you enjoy reading them!

Where are you seeing mixed reviews? Amazon and Goodreads are pretty positive.

Some of those Spider-Man issues are from the 1980s which still had a specific writing/art style that may be an acquired taste for some. You'll have to define "comprehensive" in this context. It definitely shows you how Peter Parker brings back a symbiote with him in Secret War (II), fighting crime in the black spider suit, gets help from the Fantastic Four about his suit, in comes Eddie Brock, etc. It's all the early days of Venom. Eventually, there will be other hosts and other characterizations.

This is what I'd recommend for Venom:

• Birth of Venom | Secret Wars #8, ASM #252-259, 298-300, 315-317, etc. | 1984-1989 | Shooter, Stern, et al.
  
• Lethal Protector | #1-6 | 1993 | Michelinie
  
• Thunderbolts | #110-121 | 2006-2008 | Ellis
  
• Venom vs. Carnage | #1-4 | 2004 | Milligan
  
• Venom | #1-22 | 2011-2012 | Remender

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom - Collects the first few stories with the black costume and Venom.

If you want to read Venom as a hero then try Venom by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2

Kraven’s Last Hunt. Also there’s a graphic novel on Amazon called Spider-Man: Birth of Venom. It covers alllllll the black suit stuff

Black suit was my favorite too since I was a kid :)

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom https://www.amazon.com/dp/0785124985/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TAz9BbV7G6DSD

Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Kraven's Last Hunt (Epic Collection: The Amazing Spider-Man) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1302907050/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hCz9BbSX0FZ64