In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Venom comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Venom. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

Venom has had a long publishing history, and not everything is in print at all times.

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Venom, if it's within your budget. The alien symbiote is an integral part of Venom as a character, so it's a little more than just academic to note the symbiote's first appearance, in addition to Venom's first appearance. The first appearance of the symbiote/black costume is a little tricky, but it can be disentangled. The black costume appeared in three different series as part of the story only a few weeks apart. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #252 was the first and is easily the most valuable of the group, indicating fans place more weight on its significance. Two weeks later the costume appeared in both MARVEL TEAM-UP [1972] #141 and SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN [1976] #90 simultaneously. But even before these story appearances, the black costume was shown several times in preview sketches, but not part of any comic book story. Appearances such as this include the slightly more mainstream MARVEL AGE [1983] #12 and fanzine appearances in HEROES HOTLINE #8312, COMIC READER #215 and AMAZING HEROES [1981] #35 (likely the first sketch appearance in print). Rarely has a costume change alone warranted such publishing-wide scrutiny, but the black costume turned out to be not just a costume change. It turned out to be an alien symbiote which would go on to have a long story destiny of its own. The black costume was revealed to be an alien symbiote in MARVEL SUPER HERO SECRET WARS [1984] #8, published 28 Aug 1984.

Although Peter Parker (and a few other minor characters) hosted the alien symbiote first, Eddie Brock is the first host to be called Venom proper. Eddie's first appearance (without the symbiote) was in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN [1985] #18. Several characters have hosted the symbiote since Eddie and called themselves Venom. Two are worth mentioning, as they had more significant stories than the minor hosts. Max Gargan is the original Scorpion and merged with the alien symbiote as Venom. Norman Osborn used him as part of his Sinister Twelve and Dark Avengers. Flash Thompson, a character who--along with Peter Parker himself--first appeared way back in AMAZING FANTASY [1962] #15, is the most recent host to the alien symbiote as a character named Agent Venom. He was a government agent as first, but then went into space as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, calling himself Venom, Space Knight. In terms of pure value, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #300 is the winner as the most collectible first full appearance of Venom. While ardent fans may disagree--and courteous debate is healthy, most of the other items in the following list hold significance for valid reasons other than the '1st appearance' of Venom. They are included for completeness.

• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #252  (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 31 Jan 1984)
• MARVEL TEAM-UP [1972] #141  (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 14 Feb 1984)
• SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN [1976] #90  (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 14 Feb 1984)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #299  (1st cameo appearance of Venom (Eddie Brock))
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #300  (*** 1st full appearance of Venom (Eddie Brock) ***)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [2003] #654  (1st appearance of Venom (Flash Thompson))

• MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS [1984] #8   (origin of alien symbiote/black costume)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #298-300   (introduction/origin story arc)
• WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL [1985] #7   (3-page origin of Venom)
• UNCANNY ORIGINS [1996] #7   (origin retold of Venom (Eddie Brock))

Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Venom comic books. Venom got his start in the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963]. This list concentrates on his main headlining series after his initial appearances in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963]. Venom was a hugely popular character and made numerous appearances throughout the Marvel Universe in the early to mid 90's. From 1995 to 1998 Venom starred in a staggering string of 17 mini-series, all published back-to-back-to-back, equalling 60 issues total. Given there are nearly zero breaks between these mini-series, this could easily be considered technically one long series with numbering restarts at every single story arc (the mini-series' subtitles). After a five year break, Venom returned in his first 'long-numbered' series, VENOM [2003]. The venom symbiote would go one to bond with subsequent hosts and cause more mayhem. The 2017 event, VENOMVERSE, has done for Venom what SPIDER-VERSE did for Spider-Man: introduce a plethora of alternate versions of Venom, where any and all Marvel heroes are imagined to have become the Venom symbiote host.

• WEB OF VENOM: WRAITH [2020] #1   
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #298-300, 315-317, 330-333, 344-347   (introduction/origin; early subsequent appearances)
• VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR [1993] #1-6   
• VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE [1993] #1-3   
• VENOM: THE MADNESS [1993] #1-3   
• VENOM: THE ENEMY WITHIN [1994] #1-3   
• VENOM: THE MACE [1994] #1-3   
• VENOM: NIGHTS OF VENGEANCE [1994] #1-4   
• VENOM: SEPARATION ANXIETY [1994] #1-4   
• VENOM: CARNAGE UNLEASHED [1995] #1-4   
• VENOM: SINNER TAKES ALL [1995] #1-5   
• VENOM: ALONG CAME A SPIDER [1996] #1-4   
• VENOM: THE HUNTED [1996] #1-3   
• VENOM: THE HUNGER [1996] #1-4   
• VENOM: TOOTH AND CLAW [1996] #1-3   
• VENOM: ON TRIAL [1997] #1-3   
• VENOM: LICENSE TO KILL [1997] #1-3   
• VENOM: SIGN OF THE BOSS [1997] #1-2   
• VENOM: FINALE [1997] #1-3   
• VENOM [2003] #1-18   
• VENOM VS. CARNAGE [2004] #1-4   
• VENOM: DARK ORIGIN [2008] #1-5   
• VENOM [2011] #1-42   (Flash Thompson version)
• THUNDERBOLTS [2013] #1-32   (Flash Thompson version is a team member)
• VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT [2016] #1-13   (Flash Thompson version)
• VENOM [2017] #1-6, 150-165   
• EDGE OF VENOMVERSE [2017] #1-5   
• VENOMVERSE [2017] #1-5   
• VENOMIZED [2018] #1-5   
• VENOM [2018] #1-   
• VENOM: FIRST HOST [2018] #1-5   
• VENOM ANNUAL [2018] #1   
• SPIDER-MAN/VENOM: DOUBLE TROUBLE [2020] #1-4   (mind-swap story)
• VENOM 2099 [2020] #1   (2099 relaunch tie-in)
• VENOM: THE END [2020] #1   (part of a collection of 'last' stories for select major characters)

Venom has had countless appearances in the Marvel Universe. There is little utility in documenting every single guest appearance of Venom throughout his long publishing history. But there are some ancillary stories worth mentioning that do not fall into Main Publishing History of the previous section. These are Venom's one-shots and serialized arcs of particular note.

• AVENGERS: DEATH TRAP, THE VAULT [1991-GN] nn   
• WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL [1985] #26   (FIRST KILL!, Part 1 of 3; Venom solo story occurs chronologically prior to WEB OF SPIDER-MAN [1985] #18)
• SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL [1979] #12   (FIRST KILL!, Part 2 of 3)
• WEB OF SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL [1985] #3   (FIRST KILL!, Part 3 of 3)
• INCREDIBLE HULK VS. VENOM [1994] #1   (mail-order only one-shot)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL [1995] #1   (PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES, Part 1 of 5: THE FAR CRY!)
• SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL [1995] #1   (PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES, Part 2 of 5: LURKERS!)
• VENOM SUPER SPECIAL [1995] #1   (PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES, Part 3 of 5: MONSTERWORLD!)
• SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL [1995] #1   (PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES, Part 4 of 5: INVASION!)
• WEB OF SPIDER-MAN SUPER SPECIAL [1995] #1   (PLANET OF THE SYMBIOTES, Part 5 of 5: MORTAL VICTORY)
• RUNE VS. VENOM [1995] #1   (crossover with Malibu Ultraverse)
• SPIDER-MAN: THE VENOM AGENDA [1998] #1   
• VENOM/DEADPOOL: WHAT IF? [2011] #1   
• VENOM: FLASHPOINT [2011] #1   (reprints material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [2003] #654)
• WEB OF VENOM: VE'NAM [2018] #1   (WEB OF VENOM is a series of one-shots (published approx quarterly) that tie into story beats of the ongoing title)
• VENOM ADVENTURES DIGEST [2018-DIG]    
• MARVEL SUPER HERO ADVENTURES: INFERNO [2018] #1   (all-ages team-up one-shot)
• WEB OF VENOM: CARNAGE BORN [2019] #1   
• MARVEL TALES: VENOM [2019] #1   (one-shot reprinting noteworthy Venom stories)
• WEB OF VENOM: UNLEASHED [2019] #1   
• WEB OF VENOM: CULT OF CARNAGE [2019] #1   
• WEB OF VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE [2019] #1   
• WEB OF VENOM: THE GOOD SON [2020] #1   
• WEB OF VENOM: WRAITH [2020] #1   

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Venom, any one of which can be a good place to get started.

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Venom, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.

    *As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure

• MARVEL AGE [1983] #12   (preview of Spider-Man's new black costume)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #252   (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 31 Jan 1984)
• MARVEL TEAM-UP [1972] #141   (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 14 Feb 1984)
• SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN [1976] #90   (1st black costume in this series, May 1984 cover date, published 14 Feb 1984)
• MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS [1984] #8   (origin of alien symbiote/black costume)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #299   (1st cameo appearance of Venom (Eddie Brock))
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #300   (1st full appearance of Venom (Eddie Brock); last black costume)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #344   (cameo appearance of Cletus Kasady (pre-Carnage))
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #345   (1st full appearance of Cletus Kasady (pre-Carnage))
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [1963] #361   (1st full appearance of Carnage)
• VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR [1993] #1   (1st Venom solo issue)
• VENOM: FUNERAL PYRE [1993] #1   (1st issue of this series)
• VENOM VS. CARNAGE [2004] #1   (1st issue of series)
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN [2003] #654   (1st appearance of Venom (Flash Thompson))
• VENOM [2011] #1   (1st issue of series by Rick Remender)
• VENOM/DEADPOOL: WHAT IF? [2011] #1   (mega-hot back issue, collects the 4-part backup story from 4 other WHAT IF? Issues)
• VENOM [2017] #1   (1st issue of series)
• EDGE OF VENOMVERSE [2017] #1   (introduction of the Venomverse)