Venom: Lethal Protector # 1 2022 NM-

Venom: Lethal Protector #1 (2022) is the first issue of a five-part Marvel Comics miniseries released on March 23, 2022. It features the return of Venom co-creator David Michelinie to the character, telling an "all-new" story set in Venom's earliest days. 

Creative Team

• Writer: David Michelinie
• Artist: Ivan Fiorelli
• Colorist: Bryan Valenza
• Letterer: Travis Lanham
• Cover Artist: Paulo Siqueira 

Story & Plot Details

The issue, titled "Heart of the Hunted," is a "throwback" story designed to feel like a mid-90s comic. It takes place during Eddie Brock's early career as a vigilante in New York City, long before modern events like King in Black. 

• Vigilante Struggle: The story explores Eddie Brock's internal conflict as he tries to be a hero while still harboring a deadly obsession with killing Spider-Man.
• Classic Action: The issue begins with Venom fighting a trio of C-list villains in a parking garage—including Humbug—before they retreat.
• New Threats: While Venom deals with his own depression and "poetic" musings, a shady science lab and its slimy CEO are revealed to be watching him, setting up a larger conspiracy.
• Tone: Reviews highlight the issue's dramatic, over-the-top 90s dialogue and art style, featuring a hulking, muscular Venom with iconic "black speech bubbles".