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‘Venom War’ Reading Order: Where To Start With Marvel’s Latest Symbiote Event

Marvel is back again with another symbiote event, and this time it’s a family feud. In Venom War, Eddie Brock and his son Dylan must decide who is the true Venom, dragging the whole universe with them.

If you want to catch up on everything that has happened until now, check out Venom’s 2021 series and Torunn Grønbekk’s Carnage series. This is not obligatory reading, but it can make the event less confusing.

If you don’t want to miss any action, follow our Venom War reading order. Besides the main story, we’re also listing the prelude and tie-in issues, so you can choose the most interesting ones — or have the full experience.

1. Carnage #8 (Prelude)

carnage #8

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Pere Pérez

A fun conclusion for Grønbekk’s Carnage, which also sets things in motion for the Venom War event.

2. Venom #35 (Prelude)

Venom #35

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: CAFU

Marvel has been doing many things with the symbiotes recently, but Al Ewing has been one of the best at it. Here he shows us glimpses of what might define Venom’s next phase.

3. Black Widow: Venomous #1 (Prelude)

Black Widow: Venomous #1 cover

Writer: Erica Schultz

Artist: Luciano Vecchio

Natasha and her symbiote still aren’t in complete sync, hindering their teamwork. Besides adding more depth to their relationship, this is a good introduction to this new side of Black Widow’s story.

4. Venom War #1

Venom War #1 cover

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Iban Coello

Everything starts here! Eddie and Dylan finally face each other, only to find out someone else has the Venom symbiote.

5. Venom #36

Venom #36 cover

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: CAFU

Old Man Dylan Brock steps up and goes on a mission to stop the future from going awry. If you’re missing some Cable-like time-travel action, this might be for you.

6. Venom War: Spider-Man #1

Venom War: Spider-Man #1 cover

Writer: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Artist: Greg Land

Peter is back in black and this time it seems to be a perfect fit. It’s both nostalgic and refreshing to see him and Venom together.

7. Venom War: Carnage #1

Venom War: Carnage #1 cover

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Pere Pérez

Carnage has a new deadly weapon and wants to take part in Eddie and Dylan’s war too. But which side will he choose?

8. Venom War: Venomous #1

Venom War: Venomous #1 cover

Writer: Erica Schultz

Artist: Luciano Vecchio

After finding out Alchemax is running shady experiments with symbiotes, Black Widow and Agent Anti-Venom team up to take them down.

9. Venom War: Zombiotes #1

Venom War: Zombiotes! #1 cover

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Juan José Ryp

Already missing Halloween? A new type of symbiote reanimates the dead and wreaks havoc in New York City in an unexpectedly gruesome manner.

10. Venom War #2

Venom War #2 cover

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Iban Coello

As we find out more about how the zombiote outbreak started, Spider-Man and Bedlam fight it out.

11. Venom War: Spider-Man #2

Venom War: Spider-Man #2 cover

Writer: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Artist: Greg Land

Spider-man and MJ (aka Jackpot) team up in this fun issue, but Venom and Peter’s interactions are the highlight of the series.

12. Venom #37

Venom #37 cover

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: CAFU

Future Dylan Brock, Old Man Venom, joins Doctor Strange and we get a new glimpse into the possible, terrible future he comes from.

13. Venom War: Wolverine #1

Venom War: Wolverine #1 cover

Writer: Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs

Artist: Kev Walker

Wolverine clashes head-on with the zombiote outbreak and tries to save New York while also avoiding infection.

14. Venom War: Carnage #2

Venom War: Carnage #2 cover

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Pere Pérez

Carnage mindless fun almost reaches its end while investigating the K-chemical (an anti-symbiote substance). Fortunately, an unlikely ally saves him.

15. Venom War: Deadpool #1

Venom War: Deadpool #1

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Roberto Di Salvo

Cullen Bunn is back at writing Deadpool, and this time the Merc with a Mouth goes zombie hunting.

16. Venom War: Venomous #2

Venom War: Venomous #2

Writer: Erica Schultz

Artist: Luciano Vecchio

Misery joins Black Widow and Flash Thompson in an action-packed issue to stop the zombiote horde.

17. Venom War: Lethal Protectors #1

Venom War: Lethal Protectors #1

Writer: Sabir Pirzada

Artist: Luca Maresca

Silver Sable receives a mission from Alchemax’s CEO and must join the zombiote fight, too. However, she has her own symbiotes to tear her enemies apart – fighting fire with fire.

18. Venom War: Daredevil #1

Venom War: Daredevil #1

Writer: Chris Condon

Artist: Lan Medina

The zombiotes are a larger problem than ever, even reaching Hell’s Kitchen. But the two Daredevils won’t let them do as they please.

19. Venom War: Zombiotes #2

Venom War: Zombiotes #2

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Juan José Ryp

She-Hulk, Hellcat, and Shocker’s oddball team continue their gory and bloody fight against the zombiotes.

20. Venom War #3

Venom War #3

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Iban Coello

Eddie, Dylan, and Peter have been having their fun in this three-way war. But their past and future visions clash, taking one of them out of the battle.

21. Venom War: Spider-Man #3

Venom War: Spider-Man #3

Writer: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Artist: Greg Land

We’ve seen the possible dark futures surrounding Dylan and Eddie, but what about Peter? It appears our friendly neighborhood hero might not be the best Venom host, after all.

22. Venom #38

Venom #38

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: CAFU

Even with Doctor Strange’s help, Old Man Venom might be out of his depth in the realm of Chthon, the author of the Darkhold.

23. Venom War: Wolverine #2

Venom War: Wolverine #2

Writer: Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs

Artist: Kev Walker

Wolverine is still on his mission to save himself and NYC from the symbiotes. Happily, the X-Men also join the battle!

24. Venom War: Deadpool #2

Venom War: Deadpool #2

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Roberto Di Salvo

Deadpool forms his own Howling Commandos as Man-Thing and Frankenstein’s Monster join him and two other symbiotes to fight the zombiotes.

25. Venom War: Venomous #3

Venom War: Venomous #3 cover

Writer: Erica Schultz

Artist: Luciano Vecchio

Black Widow and her symbiote became a team and went through a lot together. Unfortunately, it’s Natasha’s time to see what happens when your own symbiote goes bad.

26. Venom War: Carnage #3

Venom War: Carnage #3

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Pere Pérez

Carnage finally fights his creator, Meridius, in a battle that shakes up the Venom War.

27. Venom War: Lethal Protectors #2

Venom War: Lethal Protectors #2

Writer: Sabir Pirzada

Artist: Luca Maresca

Silver Sable’s squad becomes even deadlier as she gets a taste of the Agony symbiote. Can she still be trusted after this?

28. Venom War: Zombiotes #3

Venom War: Zombiotes #3

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Juan José Ryp

How can you talk about dumb fun and forget Boomerang? The Spidey foe joins She-Hulk’s team before the series conclusion.

29. Venom War: Fantastic Four #1

Venom War: Fantastic Four #1

Writer: Adam Warren

Artist: Joey Vazquez

If you thought this war couldn’t get more dangerous, Doctor Doom and Kang the Conqueror raise the stakes. Obviously, the Fantastic Four can’t sit back and watch.

30. Venom War #4

Venom War #4

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Iban Coello

With the zombiotes’ threat only growing, chaos escalates by the minute. Meanwhile, another player is taken off the board.

31. Venom War: Spider-Man #4

Venom War: Spider-Man #4

Writer: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Artist: Greg Land

The conclusion to Venom War: Spider-Man spins a twist on the hero’s motto and makes him choose what is more important: power, or responsibility.

32. Venom #39

Venom #39

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: CAFU

Release Date: November 13, 2024

Grønbekk reaches her final issue in the Venom series and the Venom War event. Unfortunately for Old Man Dylan, Loki is the key to his mission’s success.

33. Venom War: Wolverine #3

Venom War: Wolverine #3

Writer: Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs

Artist: Kev Walker

Release Date: November 13, 2024

When everything seems to be over, Flynn makes a choice he can’t turn back from. Wolverine definitely won’t be happy when he finds that out.

34. Venom War: Deadpool #3

Venom War Deadpool #3

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Roi Mercado

Release Date: November 13, 2024

Princess is dying, so she and Deadpool combine, creating a new, crazy, wolf-like symbiote. Deadpool’s team keeps getting so monstrous, you almost pity the zombie horde.

35. Venom War: Lethal Protectors #3

Venom War Lethal Protectors #3

Writer: Sabir Pirzada

Artist: Luca Maresca

Release Date: November 20, 2024

Silver Sable and her symbiote squad throw a last-ditch plan to stop the zombiote outbreak, but it’s impossible to know how well it’ll work. Shriek is back, and a traitor is hiding among them, only making things worse.

36. Venom War: It’s Jeff! #1

Venom War: It's Jeff! #1

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist: Gurihiru

Release Date: November 20, 2024

Is Jeff the Land Shark one of the best recent Marvel creations? He’s certainly the cutest, so he couldn’t be left out of such an important event!

37. Venom War #5

Venom War #5

Writer: Al Ewing

Artist: Iban Coello

Release Date: November 27, 2024

This final issue promises to change Venom and its chosen host forever. It’ll also set the stage for All-New Venom, Al Ewing’s newest series featuring the character. It has an interesting premise, with Dylan needing to investigate who is behind (or inside?) all the alien goo.

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