2. Spider-Man Birth of Venom
This trade paperback collects many key stories of Spider-Man with the black costume, but at its core features the first appearance of Eddie Brock, Venom, and the Life Foundation, reprinted from the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #298, #299 & #300. With various writers and artists telling stories in this graphic novel, the first battle between Spidey and Venom is written by David Michelinie and drawn by Todd McFarlane. If you want to see this first epic battle, the terrorizing of Peter Parker’s personal life by Venom, and why Eddie was originally planned to be a very bad guy by his creators, look no further than these pages.