American Update: Spider-Mania: Amazing Spider-Man #298-300 – the Venom Trilogy
*Marvel: One conspicuous exception to our habitual ‘vintage only’ policy are debut issues of significant characters, and there a few more significant debuts in the latter days of the 20th Century than that of cuddly brain-sucking symbiote Venom, who graduated from being a genetically modified costume in a jar to the fully-fledged Emperor of Spidey’s Rogue’s Gallery! ‘The Venom Trilogy’, is Amazing Spider-Man #298-300, leading up to the first full appearance of Venom. Having debuted in Secret Wars #8 as a semi-sentient blob which configured itself into Spider-Man’s new costume, the ‘symbiote’ became a regular feature in Spidey’s own series before being revealed as a malevolent alien parasite which disclosed its true agenda in these very issues! #298, with the first brief appearance of Eddie Brock (the man who would become Venom) and the beginning of Todd MacFarlane’s run as artist, is VF p £25; #299, with the first cameo of Venom himself, is VF p £30 and the big one, #300 (pictured) – the first ‘Full Venom’ – is VF p at £175. SORRY, SPIDEY #300 HAS NOW SOLD