Modern Venom Key Issues (1988 to Today): Real Values

Unlike Silver Age heroes, Venom is a recent character: no false scarcity, no fanciful historical figures. His first issue dates to 1988 (Copper Age), and all the key material comes after. That's good news for collectors: values are traceable and the market is liquid.

This guide sticks to verifiable data: real-time eBay medians (via our estimator, limited to Amazing Spider-Man) and documented first-appearance facts. When a figure can't be verified as of today, we say so.

The foundational keys (1988-1992) and their real value

Three Amazing Spider-Man issues carry the entire origin story of the symbiote and its offspring. Values = median of active eBay listings, all editions and grades combined (our estimator, eBay.fr + eBay.com, June 2026):

The price gap mirrors the narrative hierarchy exactly: the first full appearance (#300) leads, followed by the first solo cover (#316), then the birth of Carnage (#361). At a ~€115 median, #361 remains the most affordable way into the symbiote family. Note: the "all grades combined" median for #300 is pulled down by raw copies and lots — the estimator records a top listing of €3,680 and an average of €575, a sign that high-grade CGC copies sit well above the median.

The Donny Cates run (2018): the modern keys

In 2018, Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman relaunched the Venom series (volume 4). This run became the modern benchmark for the character and introduced the key concept of recent years: Knull, the god of the symbiotes.

• Venom (2018) #1 — launch of the Cates/Stegman run. A highly sought first issue, but Knull does not appear yet.
• Venom (2018) #3 (August 2018) — first full appearance of Knull. This is the true collecting key of the run.
• Venom (2018) #4 — Knull introduces himself to Eddie Brock and tells his origin; this is where he is officially named.

These titles aren't indexed by our eBay estimator (limited to Amazing Spider-Man). The figures below therefore come from a third party: per GoCollect, Venom (2018) #3 in CGC 9.8 grade traded around $150 and up, and its third printing (considered Knull's first cover appearance) hit a documented record of $375 on April 28, 2020 (source: GoCollect). These readings date from 2020 — check the live value before buying, since prices move.

Knull's "issue zero": Thor: God of Thunder #6

For first-appearance hunters, an earlier issue matters: Thor: God of Thunder #6 (March 2013, Jason Aaron) contains the first (cameo) appearance of Knull — a black-armored figure that stayed unnamed until Venom (2018) #4 identified him retroactively. The issue is also known for the origin of Gorr the God Butcher. Per GoCollect, this issue in CGC 9.8 showed an FMV of roughly $240 (2020 reading) (source: GoCollect).

Collector strategy (grounded in real data)

• #300 as the cornerstone. Maximum liquidity (~100 active listings at all times) and durable demand, regardless of the film schedule. This is THE issue to secure if budget allows.
• #361 (Carnage) as the affordable entry. At a ~€115 median, it's the most accessible key in the lineage.
• Venom (2018) #3 for the modern era. First full appearance of Knull, now central to the films and the comics — a recent key with strong narrative potential.
• Always check condition and value at the time of purchase. The medians are from June 2026 and the GoCollect readings from 2020; use the estimator for live value.