A personal grail has landed... cover to Planet of the Symbiotes Part 1 (ASM, Venom) 0

[exitmusicblue]

I hardly if ever write actual descriptions for my collection on CAF to refrain from gushing about everything I love.  Much prefer letting the audience view without my input.  Or it may come down to pure laziness...

But I have a new centerpiece to my Venom collection, the (anti)hero of my childhood, and this cover I must showcase a bit for nostalgia's sake.  The Planet of the Symbiotes arc along with Lethal Protector was the inspiration for the recent Tom Hardy film, per Wiki:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom_(2018_film)

As most Venom OA collectors know (all of the ones driving Bagley prices, not to mention McFarlane's and Larsen's), the earlier covers are subject to black hole syndrome and very rarely come up; e.g., those covers to ASM 316, Venom: Lethal Protector 1, etc. remain sacrosanct.  I'm happy to have done my part, and much respect to Steve Lightle for his brilliant work.

 

So without further ado... Amazing Spider-Man Super Special #1 (1995):

https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1611694

 

Addendum: My romance with Venom began in elementary school, around 3rd grade, largely via the Marvel cards (Series II iirc).  My best bud would be Spidey in the swimming pool, and I'd be Venom.  A poster of ASM 346's Larsen cover adored my wall, a daily reminder of who was afraid of whom (sorry, Spidey).  The first Venom TPB was mesmerizing -- I still have it, in Good- condition due to endless reading -- and Lethal Protector drove me bonkers.  Stupidly, it took forever to get my own copy of LP #1, because my parents only let me go to the store once a month and I missed it, plus the back issues were all sold out at my LCS, while mainstream Internet was in its infancy (shout out to Red Dragon Inns on AOL).

I didn't read Planet of the Symbiotes as a kid due to being on comics hiatus by middle school, but became extremely intrigued upon hearing the film news a couple years back.  Been reading the arc -- how suitably wacko and creative.

It's a little past 6am on a Tuesday... enough.  I'm going back to sleep with this cover on the nightstand next to me in a mylar.  Hope you enjoy!

 

 

Edited April 16, 2020 by exitmusicblue

[JadeGiant]

Great art and great acquisition/background story. Personally, I love hearing a good story behind the art and would offer up that others perusing CAF might enjoy the story as well (as my comment indicates  ). I too am often too lazy to write a comment (and even too lazy to post most art I get these days) so I am not casting stones. Congrats!

[zhamlau]

That is a nice cover.

[AnkurJ]

Awesome! Congrats!

 

[Dick O.]

22 hours ago, exitmusicblue said:

As most Venom OA collectors know (all of the ones driving Bagley prices, not to mention McFarlane's and Larsen's), the earlier covers are subject to black hole syndrome and very rarely come up; e.g., those covers to ASM 316, Venom: Lethal Protector 1, etc. remain sacrosanct.

Yeah pre-2000s Venom OA is impossible to find nowadays; congrats on landing that sweet cover!

 

[The Cimmerians Purse]

Congrats! really really cool looking cover! 

I love how he played with the idea of the man on the moon ... it's a little terrifying and awesome! 

[exitmusicblue]

I really appreciate everyone's kind words.  Just one more update -- my Bagley commission arrived, very happy with it and love the dark pencils.  Bags went above and beyond... see that little TM next to Spidey's face!

Venom cravings satisfied, everything has come full circle.  Now back to the much more affordable Frazetta for me.  

 

https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1612319

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by exitmusicblue

[joefixit2]

very cool, gotta feel good to get a grail in your hands.  Nice looking cover too!

[Catwoman_Fan]

6 hours ago, exitmusicblue said:

I really appreciate everyone's kind words.  Just one more update -- my Bagley commission arrived, very happy with it and love the dark pencils.  Bags went above and beyond... see that little TM next to Spidey's face!

Venom cravings satisfied, everything has come full circle.  Now back to the much more affordable Frazetta for me.  

 

https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1612319

 

 

 

Whoa!  

Out of curiosity, when did you sign up with Spencer/Mark, and did you end up going for the recreation level  ?  Well worth it!!

I also have a piece coming, and wondering what I should expect for the wait.

Edited March 6, 2020 by Catwoman_Fan

[exitmusicblue]

7 hours ago, Catwoman_Fan said:

 

Whoa!  

Out of curiosity, when did you sign up with Spencer/Mark, and did you end up going for the recreation level  ?  Well worth it!!

I also have a piece coming, and wondering what I should expect for the wait.

I think I was among the first to respond/sign up, in early Feb!  And the cover recreation cost extra for sure.