Venom: Lethal Protector #1

Venom is back in a big way with this 2022 Marvel series, and Paulo Siqueira's cover sets the tone immediately — a massive, grinning Venom lunges forward through a sewer tunnel opening, teeth bared and muscles coiled, while a mysterious figure in the foreground watches from the shadows clutching a bottle, a small spider-like creature skittering on the grimy floor between them. The tagline "Brains Are Back on the Menu!" paired with that predatory leer makes it clear the Lethal Protector is operating in his element — dark, dangerous, and thoroughly hungry. If you've ever wanted Venom at his most visceral and street-level, this first issue is a compelling place to start.