Venom: Lethal Protector

February 1993 marked the moment Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote finally left New York behind. The pair relocated to San Francisco, shedding their identities as pure villains to attempt a life of redemption. This six-issue limited series by Marvel Comics charts that difficult transition as Venom targets violent criminals instead of Spider-Man. David Michelinie wrote the script while Mark Bagley provided the pencils for the first three issues. Ron Lim took over pencil duties for the final three chapters alongside inker Sam DeLaRosa.

The narrative introduces Cletus Kasady, a psychotic serial killer who bonds with a new red symbiote known as Carnage. Venom must fight this unstable counterpart while also confronting the supernatural entity Ghost Rider. The story explores the duality of Brock's nature as the symbiote's violent instincts clash with his desire for atonement. A brutal confrontation forces Venom to choose between survival and saving the city, solidifying his status as a Lethal Protector rather than a traditional villain. [edit]