Hello there, fellow Questers!
It's TEX, back again with the skills to pay the bills and the comic books to hit your pocket-book! Today on TEX'S BACK-ISSUE QUEST, the anti-hero known as...
VENOM!!
Venom, originally a Spider-Man villain, made his first partial appearance on the final page of Marvel Comics' Amazing Spider-Man #299, printed in April of 1988. However, his first full appearance happened one issue later:
In this dynamic page from Amazing Spider-Man #300, printed in May of 1988, Venom explodes on the scene confronting a very bewildered Spider-Man, and reveals both, his identity, and his reason for hating Spider-Man!!
Venom was created by comics scribe, David Michelinie, and superstar artist, toy sculptor, and comics writer, Todd McFarlane. Klyntar (the actual name of the symbiotic), was chronologically first seen on Battleworld in 1984's Secret Wars #8; however, historically, it made its first appearance here:
The symbiote bonded with Spider-Man when his suit was damaged after a battle, and he found that it enhanced his strength, his ability to stick to wet surfaces, gave him stronger webbing that never ran out like his web-shooters, and it could mimic his everyday clothing which made crime-fighting a whole lot easier. However, through a series of unsettling events, Peter finds that the symbiote is alive with aid from Reed Richards, and removes and imprisons the symbiote. What Peter never figured on was that the symbiote had grown deeply attached to him - it escapes and re-bonds with him once more. When Spider-Man finds out, he uses church bells to drive the symbiote away. Enter Eddie Brock, a once-successful journalist who has, through his own carelessness, ended up disgraced with his life in shambles. Because he sees Spider-Man as having a hand in his downfall, Brock focuses all his blame and hatred on Spider-Man. Seeking a way to kill himself and end his suffering without violating his religious beliefs, Brock ends up in the same church in which Spider-Man had ejected the symbiote from himself! Sensing his rage, and hate, the symbiote attacks, and bonds with Brock! Twisted by the pain of Spider-Man's rejection and Brock's hatred and rage, Venom was born and made his first full appearance here:
Above is my well-read copy of Amazing Spider-Man #252.
The symbiote bonded with Spider-Man when his suit was damaged after a battle, and he found that it enhanced his strength, his ability to stick to wet surfaces, gave him stronger webbing that never ran out like his web-shooters, and it could mimic his everyday clothing which made crime-fighting a whole lot easier. However, through a series of unsettling events, Peter finds that the symbiote is alive with aid from Reed Richards, and removes and imprisons the symbiote. What Peter never figured on was that the symbiote had grown deeply attached to him - it escapes and re-bonds with him once more. When Spider-Man finds out, he uses church bells to drive the symbiote away. Enter Eddie Brock, a once-successful journalist who has, through his own carelessness, ended up disgraced with his life in shambles. Because he sees Spider-Man as having a hand in his downfall, Brock focuses all his blame and hatred on Spider-Man. Seeking a way to kill himself and end his suffering without violating his religious beliefs, Brock ends up in the same church in which Spider-Man had ejected the symbiote from himself! Sensing his rage, and hate, the symbiote attacks, and bonds with Brock! Twisted by the pain of Spider-Man's rejection and Brock's hatred and rage, Venom was born and made his first full appearance here:
Above is my copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300, CBCS grade, 4.0.
Venom gave Eddie Brock all of Spider-Man's powers, much greater strength...And all of Spider-Man's secrets, including his identity and those of his friends and family!! Venom went on to become one of Spider-Man's greatest, most dangerous enemies. Eventually, Klyntar, the symbiote, would bond with disabled war veteran, Flash Thompson, and be freed of its madness to become one of Marvel's coolest superheroes:
Agent Venom!
On the FUN FACTS!
FUN FACT 1: In 1982, Marvel ran a competition for artists and writers who wanted to break into comics. The idea for the black costume came out of that competition, submitted by a fan named Randy Schueller. The idea was then purchased for Marvel by then Editor-In-Chief, Jim Shooter.
FUN FACT 2: Todd McFarlane hated drawing the black suit.
FUN FACT 3: Venom made his first big-screen debut in 2007's much-maligned "Spider-Man 3." Topher Grace was a terrible choice to play Eddie Brock:
FUN FACT 4: Tom Hardy, who made his debut as a supervillain in 2012's much-lauded "The Dark Knight Rises" as Bane, jumps from DC to Marvel to executively produce and star in 2018's "Venom."
I enjoyed Venom VERY MUCH. I think it's probably the best Spider-Man-related film that I have seen since "Spider-Man 2," which in my opinion is the greatest Spider-Man film to date. I have seen Venom twice - once with Regal Theaters, and once with AMC. AMC get my vote. Why? They had lower prices (in my area), and cool Venom swag:
Check out "Venom" in theaters, and drop back by this blog and let me know what you thought about the film and this article! Thanks for reading!