Comic Book Questions & Discussion

Originally posted by -Pr-
I likely asked this before, I just forget. Could someone please point me towards some good Venom arcs? Any good Venom stuff that is considered to have good characterization of the symbiote in particular would be great.

I've read his initial arc in Spider-Man, so basically anything after that is good.

Good stuff (I tried to keep it in the chronological order so you can read them from top down, there might be errors though):
I'll lump in the Carnage stuff aswell.

This is probably what you're mainly looking for:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 258, 300, 315-317, 332-333, 346-347

Amazing Spider-Man # 361 1st app. of Carnage

MUST READ: Maximum Carnage [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Carnage]

MUST READ: The great "classic" 90s stuff
VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR
Venom: The Madness
Venom: The Enemy Within
Venom: The Mace
Venom: Separation Anxiety
(basically all, try to get a proper list on these)

MUST READ: Planet of the Symbiotes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Symbiotes]

Agent Venom was pretty damn good too (especially the ones with Jack O Lantern), it stars Flash Thompson as a crippled war veteran with alcohol problems and no legs.
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Venom_Vol_2

MUST READ: CARNAGE: FAMILY FEUD

MUST READ: Carnage U.S.A. (probably one of my favorite stories overall, great shit)

Anti Venom 1-3

Axis: Carnage (Carnage turning hero is quite hysterical)

Superior Carnage

Carnage vs. Deadpool (#1-3)

Carnage's own mini
CARNAGE VOL. 1: THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
CARNAGE VOL. 2: WORLD TOUR
CARNAGE VOL. 3: WHAT DWELLS BENEATH

VENOM: WAR OF THE REALMS

Red Goblin arc: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 794-801

Cates Venom was actually pretty good for the most part:
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 1: REX
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 2: THE ABYSS
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 3: ABSOLUTE CARNAGE
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 4: VENOM ISLAND
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 5: VENOM BEYOND

Absolute Carnage [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_Carnage]

Savage Avengers [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Avengers]

Carnage: Black, White & Blood [https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Carnage:_Black,_White_%26_Blood_Vol_1_1]

Even though it's not Venom, the Symbiote Spider-Man books (from 2019 or so) are pretty good written too.

MUST READ: And a What if, Spider-Man: The Spider's Shadow. Spider-Man actually becoming Venom, that story is ****ing great.
___________________________________________

The no-no-list for pretty bad stuff:

Edge of Venomverse (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)
Venomverse (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)
Venomized (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)

VENOM: FIRST HOST (doesn't add anything and creates unneccessary continuety flaws)

And unfortunately King in Black is pretty bad too considering many people wrote the tie ins that were constantly contradicting each other. That event could have been absolutely stellar if written properly.

Extreme Carnage unfortunately was pretty lame for the most part too.

And most importantly whatever you do, stay away from Mac Gargan Venom at all costs. Even though some events with him are good (Dark Avengers) from a character point of view absolutely terrible shit.

I'm probably missing something here and there but you should be ok with that stuff.

Great post 👆

Poor Sam must be rolling in his grave, listening to you and Sin wanking Cletus, by the way vin

Anti-heroes are fun - not everything is black and white. The whole Lethal Protector thing worked fine for Brock.

Back on topic, just realized Pr wants the impossible here:

good characterization of the symbiote in particular

Sorry, but there is no chance in hell for that.

It changes literally from writer to writer. They can be anything. Studying human hosts and their symbiote-bonding history is one thing, but studying symbiotes themselves is more futile than observing Carver ripping tinfoil.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW

Starting a few issues before 347 would be smart, but not *that* necessary.

Then, as Sin mentioned, would be good to read the follow-up to that story, which involves the first actual appearance of Carnage (Cletus bonded with the symbiote).

And later, Brock's first encounter with Ben Reilly.

What else... Spirits of Vengeance Venom was sure a fun arc, but I've read it literally ages ago.

--
You should ask Sam and Parm, too.

Originally posted by Sin I AM
What Stilt said...I guess you could add Flash in there... because some of the Agent Venom stuff was pretty cool. Especially the disabled angle. The problem with Venom is Carnage. Carnage is just overall a better character and consistently outshines Venom. They also need to choose whether he's a hero or villian and like stick with it. Magneto is another character who's suffered from trying to be good.

Good stuff, thanks.

Originally posted by Parmaniac
The overall problem is Venom came a really, really long way as a character. Started out as a flat out hateful villain became an anti hero and from there over passing the torch and road to redemption type of stuff and of course entirely new hosts.

Good stuff (I tried to keep it in the chronological order so you can read them from top down, there might be errors though):
I'll lump in the Carnage stuff aswell.

This is probably what you're mainly looking for:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 258, 300, 315-317, 332-333, 346-347

Amazing Spider-Man # 361 1st app. of Carnage

MUST READ: Maximum Carnage [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Carnage]

MUST READ: The great "classic" 90s stuff
VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR
Venom: The Madness
Venom: The Enemy Within
Venom: The Mace
Venom: Separation Anxiety
(basically all, try to get a proper list on these)

MUST READ: Planet of the Symbiotes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_of_the_Symbiotes]

Agent Venom was pretty damn good too (especially the ones with Jack O Lantern), it stars Flash Thompson as a crippled war veteran with alcohol problems and no legs.
https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Venom_Vol_2

MUST READ: CARNAGE: FAMILY FEUD

MUST READ: Carnage U.S.A. (probably one of my favorite stories overall, great shit)

Anti Venom 1-3

Axis: Carnage (Carnage turning hero is quite hysterical)

Superior Carnage

Carnage vs. Deadpool (#1-3)

Carnage's own mini
CARNAGE VOL. 1: THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
CARNAGE VOL. 2: WORLD TOUR
CARNAGE VOL. 3: WHAT DWELLS BENEATH

VENOM: WAR OF THE REALMS

Red Goblin arc: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 794-801

Cates Venom was actually pretty good for the most part:
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 1: REX
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 2: THE ABYSS
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 3: ABSOLUTE CARNAGE
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 4: VENOM ISLAND
VENOM BY DONNY CATES VOL. 5: VENOM BEYOND

Absolute Carnage [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_Carnage]

Savage Avengers [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Avengers]

Carnage: Black, White & Blood [https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Carnage:_Black,_White_%26_Blood_Vol_1_1]

Even though it's not Venom, the Symbiote Spider-Man books (from 2019 or so) are pretty good written too.

MUST READ: And a What if, [b]Spider-Man: The Spider's Shadow. Spider-Man actually becoming Venom, that story is ****ing great.
___________________________________________

The no-no-list for pretty bad stuff:

Edge of Venomverse (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)
Venomverse (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)
Venomized (Some nice character designs but bad story, execution without any good action to make up for the rest)

VENOM: FIRST HOST (doesn't add anything and creates unneccessary continuety flaws)

And unfortunately King in Black is pretty bad too considering many people wrote the tie ins that were constantly contradicting each other. That event could have been absolutely stellar if written properly.

Extreme Carnage unfortunately was pretty lame for the most part too.

And most importantly whatever you do, stay away from Mac Gargan Venom at all costs. Even though some events with him are good (Dark Avengers) from a character point of view absolutely terrible shit.

I'm probably missing something here and there but you should be ok with that stuff. [/B]

That's a hell of a list, thanks. Should give me plenty to read.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
Great post 👆

Poor Sam must be rolling in his grave, listening to you and Sin wanking Cletus, by the way vin

Anti-heroes are fun - not everything is black and white. The whole Lethal Protector thing worked fine for Brock.

Back on topic, just realized Pr wants the impossible here:

Sorry, but there is no chance in hell for that.

It changes literally from writer to writer. They can be anything. Studying human hosts and their symbiote-bonding history is one thing, but studying symbiotes themselves is more futile than observing Carver ripping tinfoil.

lol, i didn't expect it to be easy. I'm just hoping I can find something common (or at least, interesting) in seeing how the symbiote interacts with and without its host.

The King in Black storyline 👆

Lol

Originally posted by -Pr-
lol, i didn't expect it to be easy. I'm just hoping I can find something common (or at least, interesting) in seeing how the symbiote interacts with and without its host.

They can be innocent creatures or evil incarnate.

Confused and scared or organized and driven.

Perfect partners or sadistic parasites.

Completely alien or somewhat relatable.

Originally posted by -Pr-
I likely asked this before, I just forget. Could someone please point me towards some good Venom arcs? Any good Venom stuff that is considered to have good characterization of the symbiote in particular would be great.

I've read his initial arc in Spider-Man, so basically anything after that is good.

That's like asking for a good Wolverine story.

Alas, some things simply do not exist. 🙁

Originally posted by cdtm
That's like asking for a good Wolverine Iron Fist story.

Alas, some things simply do not exist. 🙁

Fixed it for you, Todd 👆

Originally posted by DarkSaint85
The King in Black storyline 👆

It looks shit tbh.

Null of whatever you call him does not interest me whatsoever.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
They can be innocent creatures or evil incarnate.

Confused and scared or organized and driven.

Perfect partners or sadistic parasites.

Completely alien or somewhat relatable.

It's not so much their alignment that I'm interested in. More like how the symbiote interacts with the host. How the blending works, and how they refer to each other. And nerdy shit like how long a brain sustains them, and how long Venom can be in its Venom form while outside of its host.

Again, it changes from writer to writer - symbiotes are arguably the most inconsistent thing in the MU.

You can get some answers, but it's like an ocean of sperm - too many people came in it, can't isolate the specific spermatozoa you need.

And since you mentioned brains, go check the brain-eating, chocolate-eating arc:

Carver-level idea.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
And since you mentioned brains, go check the brain-eating, chocolate-eating arc:

Carver-level idea.

I mean.....

Originally posted by carver9
You're letting this chocolate thunder get to you.

Originally posted by carver9
Cho is shaking planets and taking on teams with Heralds on it. He deserves the chocolate thunder riding him.

Weapon H took down Weapon X wirh ease. Defeated an amped Man Thing who was powered by Groot. Defeated the most powerful version of Wendigo and was brushing off its attacks. Chocolate Thunder applies here as well.

Originally posted by carver9
PM me if you're ready to see spoilers of my new vid called "chocolate thunder pancaked by 2 amazonian women".

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
Again, it changes from writer to writer - symbiotes are arguably the most inconsistent thing in the MU.

You can get some answers, but it's like an ocean of sperm - too many people came in it, can't isolate the specific spermatozoa you need.

And since you mentioned brains, go check the brain-eating, chocolate-eating arc:

Carver-level idea.

Ah, yeah, I've been reading up on the phenethylamine. It's been an interesting read, tbh, at least in thinking about how it applies to venom.

sounds like if it's that inconsistent like you said though, it's headcanon time!

Originally posted by DarkSaint85
I mean.....

****ing hell.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW

Carver-level idea.

Originally posted by -Pr-
and how long Venom can be in its Venom form while outside of its host.

The first issue of Venom was awful, imo. Doesn't even feel like reading a Venom comic.

Originally posted by Philosophía
The first issue of Venom was awful, imo. Doesn't even feel like reading a Venom comic.

Which makes it better then Superrainbow Man and his Magical Boy Toy.

Originally posted by Philosophía
The first issue of Venom was awful, imo. Doesn't even feel like reading a Venom comic.

Originally posted by Parmaniac
You mean his original 90s comics? I haven't read any of those in ages.

Huh, I remember the team up books being pretty good. The one with Wolverine going after... Nightmare, I think? In a dream world or something. Logan gives the mother of all guttings as payback for an earlier attack so there's no grudge between them.

Originally posted by Parmaniac
You mean his original 90s comics? I haven't read any of those in ages.

Originally posted by Parmaniac
Eternally, the "I need a host or die" shit was made up for the movies. You might get a comic where they treat it like this (most likely along with that brain eating bullshit) but the overwhelming majority of times they do just fine without any host. Especially most recently since hostless symbiotes formed a cage for Knull.

Then why bond in the first place? Loneliness?