The most iconic Venom cover remains Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988) by Todd McFarlane: a black-suited Spider-Man at the center of a frame of "300"s. It trades around a €529 median on eBay (101 listings, June 2026), with a documented record of $13,500 in high-grade CGC. Here are the most significant Venom covers and their real values.
An iconic cover is what separates a sought-after issue from a legendary one. For Venom, a handful of images became absolute touchstones of the Copper Age and the modern era, echoed in homages, figures and variants for decades.
This guide sticks to verifiable facts: creators, dates, documented sale records, and real-time eBay values via our estimator. When a value isn't indexed, we say so plainly rather than inventing a figure.
Amazing Spider-Man #300: the template cover
May 1988, written by David Michelinie, drawn by Todd McFarlane. The cover shows a black-suited Spider-Man leaping through New York, framed by a mosaic of "300"s. It's the first full appearance of Venom and the last issue in which Spider-Man wears the black costume (source: Marvel Database). Among the most recognizable images in comics, it has been parodied and reinterpreted countless times by Marvel.
On the market: an eBay median of €529 (101 active listings, June 2026), with a documented record sale of $13,500 in high-grade CGC (sources: QualityComix, GoCollect). The "all grades combined" median is pulled down by raw copies; a high-grade CGC copy sits well above it.
Amazing Spider-Man #316: Venom's first real cover
June 1989, again by McFarlane. It's only the symbiote's third appearance but his first on a cover: an all-jaw Venom, tongue out, looming over a terrified Peter Parker. McFarlane refined his design here (sharp teeth, elongated jaw), the visual that would define the character (sources: East Bay Comics, Bleeding Cool) . eBay median: €208 (100 listings, June 2026).
Venom: Lethal Protector #1: the 1993 foil covers
Venom's first solo series (1993), cover by Mark Bagley and Sam de la Rosa. The issue is emblematic of the 1990s for its foil-enhanced cardstock covers, released in several versions: red, gold and black. The "black" variant comes from an embossing flaw (foil not applied) and is a sought-after error (sources: Key Collector Comics, RecalledComics). Note: this series isn't indexed by our eBay estimator, which is limited to Amazing Spider-Man: check condition and variant case by case.
The modern era: the Venom (2018) #3 cover
Written by Donny Cates and drawn by Ryan Stegman, Venom (2018) #3 marks the first appearance of Knull, god of the symbiotes, now a key modern-era image (source: Marvel.com). The Stegman cover drove demand for this issue, reignited by Knull's arrival on screen. Again, this title isn't indexed by our eBay tool.
Verified value summary
| Cover | Artist / fact | eBay median (June 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ASM #252 (1984) | First black suit (Earth-616) | €244 · 99 listings |
| ASM #300 (1988) | McFarlane, first full Venom appearance | €529 · 101 listings |
| ASM #316 (1989) | McFarlane, first Venom cover | €208 · 100 listings |
| ASM #361 (1992) | First Carnage appearance | €115 · 101 listings |
To put original black-suit artwork in context: page 25 of Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8 (1984), drawn by Mike Zeck, showing the first time Spider-Man dons the black costume, sold for $3.36 million at Heritage Auctions in January 2022: a world record for a page of original comic art (sources: Heritage Auctions, Washington Post). This is original interior art, not a published cover, but it's the graphic DNA of the symbiote saga.
Own one of these Venom covers? Get a free valuation with our tool based on real eBay sales to find its low, median and high value.
Timeline and watch-outs for Venom covers
The covers in this ranking span four decades. Putting them in order helps you see what each one brings:
- Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984): first black costume in the 616 universe.
- Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988): first full appearance of Venom, last issue with Spider-Man's black costume.
- Amazing Spider-Man #316 (June 1989): third appearance of the symbiote, but the first on a cover.
- Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992): first appearance of Carnage.
- Venom: Lethal Protector #1 (1993): first solo series, foil-enhanced cardstock covers.
- Venom (2018) #3: first appearance of Knull, by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman.
This timeline highlights a distinction many beginners mix up: first appearance and first cover are not the same issue. #300 is the full appearance, #316 the first cover devoted to Venom. The former is the most expensive, but the latter is where McFarlane refines the design that became the character's reference.
Several precautions apply when buying:
- Read the median for what it is. On #300, it is pulled down by raw copies: a certified high-grade copy sits far above. Always compare equivalent conditions.
- Be wary of foil covers on Lethal Protector #1. Foil is the part most exposed to wear, and there are three versions (red, gold, black): identify the version before paying.
- Tell the error from the variant. The black version comes from an embossing defect, with foil not applied. It is sought precisely because it is an error, and titles outside our estimator's scope call for case-by-case checking.
- Don't confuse original art with a published cover. Page 25 of Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars #8 (1984), drawn by Mike Zeck, set the world record for a page of original comic art in January 2022. It is original interior art, not a comic you buy as a single issue.
On a tight budget, the best strategy is to aim first at issues with an iconic cover but moderate demand, then add the most expensive key once the set is coherent.
Frequently asked questions
The one on Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988), by Todd McFarlane on a script by David Michelinie: Spider-Man in the black costume leaping across New York, framed by a mosaic of "300". It is the first full appearance of Venom and the last issue in which Spider-Man wears the black costume. This image has been parodied and reinterpreted countless times.
Amazing Spider-Man #316 (June 1989), again by McFarlane. It is only the symbiote's third appearance, but the first on a cover: an all-jaw Venom, tongue out, looming over a terrified Peter Parker. McFarlane refines the design there (sharp teeth, elongated jaw) that would become the character's visual reference.
Venom's first solo series (1993), cover by Mark Bagley and Sam de la Rosa, with cardstock covers enhanced with foil in red, gold and black. The black variant comes from an embossing defect (foil not applied) and is a sought-after error. Since this title is outside our estimator's scope, check condition and variant case by case.
In Venom (2018) #3, written by Donny Cates and drawn by Ryan Stegman, the first appearance of Knull, the god of symbiotes. Stegman's cover drove demand for this issue, revived by Knull's arrival on screen. It has become a key image of the modern era.
Because the "all conditions" median is pulled down by raw copies. A high-grade CGC copy is worth far more, and the documented sales record concerns a certified high grade. Always compare equivalent conditions.