Venom: Lethal Protector ##1
Marvel Comics • Venom: Lethal Protector Vol. 1
Writer
David Michelinie
Interior Artist
Mark Bagley
Cover Artist
Mark Bagley
Publication Date
February 1993
Cover Variant
Regular / Direct Edition
Printing
First Printing
Comic Description
Venom reaches an agreement with Spider-Man to leave New York and heads to San Francisco, where he becomes the protector of an underground society of homeless people while battling the Life Foundation and their spawned symbiotes.
Condition & Value
Condition Grade
Very Fine+ (CGC 8.5)
Condition Details
Minor spine stress lines visible near the top staple, slight corner blunting on the bottom right, and mild overall surface wear consistent with a well-kept mid-to-high grade raw modern book. No major tears, heavy creasing, or color breaks.
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $25 - $45; Graded (CGC 8.5/9.0): $60 - $90
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in similar Very Fine condition have sold consistently in the $30 to $40 range on eBay and at local comic shops.
Grading Recommendation
Not strictly recommended for professional grading unless part of a bulk submission or being paired with the full 6-issue set, as the raw value closely aligns with grading fees. However, a press might bump it up to a 9.0 or 9.2.
Notable Features
First solo limited series for Venom, origin of the five Life Foundation symbiotes (Scream, Phage, Riot, Lasher, Agony), and features the iconic foil-embossed logo on the direct edition (though this specific standard version is the non-foil variant or standard cardstock cover depending on printing variants, this copy shows the standard red background title treatment).
Authentication Notes
Appears authentic with proper Marvel Comics branding, correct Direct Edition box, standard 1990s newsprint/glossy cover stock quality, and appropriate color registration matching genuine first print issues.