So, over on (a pirate site) I see they have Venom Wars #2.

Hey, great! I like Venom. But I’m not a regular comic book reader. I’m very much a newbie. So I figure “Well, thats part 2, I should get part 1 first.”

And that’s where all the trouble began. There’s like 10 different comic branches all called “Venom Wars 1” and they all have different covers. And they all have assumingly different stories!

I just want to read a Venom comic book, where he does the Venom things! And now I see the description “The symbiot has bonded with Eddie, and his son Derek”

WHO THE FUCK IS DEREK??? I thought Eddie was supposed to be a high schooler in Peter Parkers class! How does a 16 year old have a son???

So now I’m REALLY confused! I feel like I need a comic before the comic to get me caught up to the comic, but only if THATS the comic I’m supposed to read, because there’s also 10 comics all named the same thing…and I’m not experienced enough to know what the fuck I’m doing.

I assume I’M the probem, with my lack of knowledge on the subject, but also…what the hell even is this? I thought “Venom Wars #1” would be enough in the search bar to get me the comic to read about Venom.

I’m not even sure what “Venom Wars” is, but I assume it’s Venom, having some kind of war from Venom’s perspective with Spiderman, or maybe Carnage. Or whomever. But I assume it’s a story told through Venom/Eddies perspective. But where do I start? I assumed #1 would be the start of the story.

And now I’m overwhelmed, and don’t know what is going on.

  • @UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    https://www.howtolovecomics.com/2020/11/04/donny-cates-venom-reading-order/

    I like to aim for the collector’s edition volume sets if I’m going through a long-running series. So starting with

    Venom by Donny Cates Volume 1: Rex Collects: Venom (2018 series) #1-6

    and working your way down the list is a good way to go.

    Alternatively, just go with the VENOMNIBUS By Cates & Stegman which came out in 2022.

    I agree that it sometimes feels like the industry is designed to confuse you. But the good news is that you’ve got a full 36 books and change to work through and enjoy.