He’s only in the two page splash that became the 2nd print cover. It’s a cameo.
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Cliffhangers in the old days were so much easier to follow. You always knew the next issue it was resolved in one issue; one cover; Nowadays, got to pay attention to multiple issue covers/variants/2nd,3rd,4th printings.
You don’t need to follow variants or later printings if all you’re interested in is a resolution to the cliff hanger from the previous issue. The guts are the same inside all of them.
Given that context about your opinion of what a full appearance is, can you define what is required to qualify as a full appearance, in your opinion?
Mine, personally, is the character is fully seen in any panel, in costume, and named. So, in my opinion, ASM299 is Venoms 1st Full appearance, and not ASM300. The last panel in ASM299 is a full page of Venom, in costume, and named. Full appearance as far as I’m concerned.
(Damn. Those McFarlane interiors are gorgeous)
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Yep. I meant from a collector perspective. Honestly, I have been collecting for 40 years and if you want to really maximize your collection you gotta watch much more coverage today than say in the 1980’s for the right covers.
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No argument there, Jimee. 
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I bought 299 when I got 300 I know what’s in it.
Is a full appearance in my opinion people just like that 300 cover. Had this been silver or Bronze Age 299 would be called first full Venom no problem.
Hulk 180 is Bronze and it’s called a cameo.
Same situation as ASM 299 with the full page and name on the last page.
I agree with that but the market always speaks for everyone it seems. I personally am very comfortable with Hulk #180 and ASM #299 being the very first and only first appearances of Wolverine and Venom.
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He isn’t named in the story in those panels above. Sure his name is under the final panel, but nobody NAMES “Venom” within the actual story. That’s why market goes 300. That’s a cameo right there. Yes you get a full body but in one single panel. The reason Hell Arisen 3 is first full is because not only does Joker NAME her within the actual story, but she is fully seen and in multiple panels. I almost always go market because the market typically gets it right in my opinion. In regards to FCBD Ven 26 I have no clue what to think LOL. But Venom 25 isn’t a full appearance if he’s only on The spread.
Gotta get away from the “name” being a requirement for full. Otherwise “The one we all call ‘Codex’” has only cameo appearances so far as he is not named yet…
What has challenged that is these reprints that are coming out with characters on the cover of the cameo (true first) appearance which makes them increasingly slab worthy relative to the second appearance (full) which may not have even a cover appearance as cover art is released so early now it would spoil the surprise of the previous issue.
Thanos 15 4th print is a prime example. It’s not even the first cover of the black surfer by release date. But it commands a higher value than he full appearance in issue 16 buy far…
The market does what it does. It’s neither right nor wrong. a book is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. No more, no less.
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That was my point. Discussing a first full or cameo is moot. Everyone has their own opinion, and that opinion doesn’t affect the market.
I call ASM299 his first full, but I’m also fine with others calling it a cameo appearance. I’m simply trying to point out that the whole ‘1st Full’ debate is moot. As I said above, it is all semantics and arbitrary labels. It’s really not worth discussing, outside of a friendly conversation. No offense to anyone, but, one can’t argue favourite colours, aka, opinions. And the 1st full convo is just that, an opinion. The market will do what the market does regardless of anyone’s opinion. M2c. 
(Apologies to Drog for essentially parroting his response (that I read after) in a long winded manner, 
)
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The problem with the Fallen One it’s just Silver Surfer cursed by Knull it’s not a new character so I don’t understand why anyone cares about that 4th print with 1 panel and that same panel repeated on the cover. We don’t call Professor X cursed by Shadow King Professor Malcolm X so I don’t know why we give Silver Surfer some remotely racist nick name Black the Fallen One and act like he is a new character. ASM #299 is 4 panels 3 of the face and the character is named it says Venom if you don’t think that’s a first full than half of what you call a first full appearance is wrong.
If you leave it up to the market to decide they will decide on whatever takes more of your money like $3500 ASM #300 not what appears first for $50 ASM #299. If the internet existed in its modern form and people actually read comics in the early 90s then ASM #299 would be the thousands of dollar book and ASM #300 would be $50.
Currently they’re doing both. Without a doubt. Every single new issue seems to have a new characters appearance. It drives sales and it’s a cliffhanger.
You got to collect both cameos and fulls it saves much of your time from not having to take sides of the arguments. You also get a sense of completion for the character. I collect ads and first appearances in print too, but you don’t have to be that crazy of a comic enthusiast.
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Codex is named multiple times in Venom 27. The symbiotic captain America says we are taking you to codex when speaking to virus. I’m not saying it’s the right way I’m just saying this is how the market rolls.
Can you upload a pic of that please? I haven’t seen it yet.