Venom: King in Black Saga, the Donny Cates Era Reading Order (2018-2021)

Venom got his biggest relaunch yet in 2018 when Donny Cates took over writing duties. Introducing a four-year arc alongside primary artist Ryan Stegman, Cates pushed Venom farther than ever before by combining a deeply persona story about Eddie Brock with the cosmic invasion of the Symbiote God. As ludicrous as that may sound, the story totally works, with Eddie's journey grounding the incredible cosmic threat. The story is punctuated by two crossovers, Absolute Carnage and King in Black.

This reading order covers 2018's Venom, most of the Web of Venom one-shots, 2018's Venom Annual, 2019's Spider-Man Free Comic Book Day special, Absolute Carnage, Silver Surfer: Black, and King in Black. General knowledge of Venom's history, as well as that of his evil offspring Carnage, would enhance the run but are not necessary to enjoy it.

Quality:★★★★★ Cohesion:★★★★★ Accessiblity:★★★★☆

Absolute Carnage Sub-Era (2018-2019)

The first half of this series introduces readers to Venom's new status quo, building up to Carnage's return in Absolute Carnage.

1. Venom (2018) #1-6
• The first arc of Cates' Venom run sets the stakes for what's to come, expanding on the mythology of the Symbiotes and guest-starring Miles Morales.
2. Web of Venom: Ve'Nam (2018) #1
3. Venom Annual (2018) #1
• These two one-shots provide some background to Cates' overarching narrative. Ve'Nam is the first of many Web of Venom one-shots that showcase characters connected to Venom in some way, with this one in particular focusing on Rex Strickland and SHIELD's first encounter with the Symbiotes. The Annual explores Venom's early days and introduces Scorpion to the overarching series.
4. Venom (2018) #7-8
• The Maker is introduced to the run here, as well as the first mentions of Carnage. While these two issues technically form a story arc with issues 9-12, they also stand on their own.
5. Web of Venom: Carnage Born (2018) #1
• A one-shot following up on the teaser at the end of Venom #8.
6. Venom (2018) #9-16
• Despite issues 13-15 being a Cullen Bunn-penned tie-in to the War of the Realms crossover, they stand well enough on their own and contribute to the main story. All you need to know is that Norse creatures are invading the Earth. Dylan Brock is also formally introduced during these issues.
7. Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man (2019) #1
8. Web of Venom: Cult of Carnage (2019) #1
• These two one-shots set the stage for the Absolute Carnage crossover, featuring Carnage's first victims. Cult of Carnage is written by Frank Tieri.
9. Absolute Carnage (2019) #1
10. Venom (2018) #17
11. Absolute Carnage (2019) #2
12. Venom (2018) #18-19
13. Absolute Carnage (2019) #3-5
• The Absolute Carnage crossover that the first half of Cates' run has been building towards. The main series sees Venom team up with Spider-Man and the Avengers to take on Carnage, while the Venom tie-in issues focus on Dylan and the Maker. While there is some overlap in continuity between the two sets off issues, this order seems to make the most sense based on whether dramatic events are framed as big reveals or time markers that show where the issues are occurring relative to each other.
14. Venom (2018) #20
• An epilogue to Absolute Carnage that sets the stage for the next half of Cates' story.

King in Black Sub-Era (2019-2021)

The second half of Cates' Venom simultaneously goes more personal and more cosmic, culminating with the invasion of Knull in King in Black.

1. Silver Surfer: Black (2019) #1-5
• A Silver Surfer series by Cates that re-establishes Knull as the story's major threat. Silver Surfer will also be important later.
2. Venom (2018) #21-25
3. Web of Venom: Wraith (2020) #1
4. Venom (2018) #26-30
• While the Wraith one-shot could go right before King in Black, it's last scene places it right before Venom 26.
5. Web of Venom: Empyre's End (2020) #1
• Written by Clay McLeod Chapman, Empyre's End picks up thematically from the end of Venom 30 and leads nicely into King in Black.
6. King in Black (2020) #1
7. Venom (2018) #31
8. King in Black (2020) #2
9. Venom (2018) #32
10. King in Black (2020) #3
11. Venom (2018) #33
12. King in Black (2020) #4
13. Venom (2018) #34
14. King in Black (2020) #5
15. Venom (2018) #35
• The massive King in Black crossover that this entire series has been building towards, featuring a whole bunch of guest appearances, call-backs, and conclusions to character arcs. The main series focuses on Dylan and the wider Marvel universe while the Venom issues focus on Venom, in reverse from Absolute Carnage. Like Absolute Carnage, though, some issues take place at the same time, but this order seems to make the most sense based on how the dramatic moments are presented. Venom #35 is the 200th Venom issue overall and provides a satisfying epilogue to Venom's story.