Amazing Spider-Man #252 is an issue of the Amazing Spider-Man series from Marvel, released May 1, 1984. Written by Roger Stern with artwork by Ron Frenz. Notable appearances include Venom, Spider-Man. This page represents the regular first-print edition. Separate pages are available for the 21 incentive, retailer-exclusive and later-printing variant covers.
1st appearance of Spider-Man's black costume
Cited as being tied with Marvel Team-Up #141 as the first appearance of the black costume, this issue went on sale January 31,1984
Marvel Team-Up #141 went on sale February 14,1984
Cover art inspired by Amazing Fantasy #15
The symbiote costume was designed by a Marvel fan from Illinois named Randy Schueller who was paid $220 by Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter for the concept
[March 2026 - the evolution of Spider-Man in the Spider-Man (Tom Holland franchise) may be building toward a symbiote bond, based on clues in the latest Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer]
