Venom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a symbiote, a life form that bonds with a host, often a human, enhancing the host's physical abilities in return for a shared life force. The Venom symbiote is one of the most popular and recognizable characters in the Marvel Universe, and it has appeared in numerous comic books, television shows, and movies. The Venom symbiote was created by writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane. It first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May 1984). In the comic, the symbiote was created by the alien race known as the Klyntar. A fanart Marvel progress bar for YouTube with Marvel Chibi Angry Venom.