F.M. :: LIGHTLE STEVE

Spirits of Venom by Steve Lightle

Artist: Steve Lightle (Penciller)

5 Comments - 1,845 Views - 2 Likes

Spirits of Venom by Steve Lightle Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	Spirits of Venom by Steve Lightle
Artist:	Steve Lightle (Penciller)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Pin Up
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,845
Likes on CAF:	2 3
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	2/16/2018
Comic Art Archive:

Description

A big purchase for me in 2017 as well.

A splendid piece by Steve Lightle.

This Spirits of Venom by Lightle was clearly intended to be used as a cover for the crossover that ran through Spirits of Vengeance and Web of Spider-Man in 1993 for 4 issues. It was later published in the crossover collection but given the quality of the piece, there is no doubt in my mind that it was a cover. The sheer quality of the art for one and second the way Steve signed it which is commensurate with his cover work in those days as opposed to the way he signed commissions, conventions sketches or sometimes inside pages. Was he too late in delivering the cover that then was selected to be part of the tpb? Was the crossover intended to be longer than it ended up to be and were more covers commissioned in that sense? Was it an inventory cover for Marvel Comics Presents which featured both characters’ serials for a time? Or simply intended as the pinup it became? We will likely never know. Not that it matters much.

Now this piece and me, we have a bit of history. I missed it by a heartbeat when it was for sale in a CAF gallery for 400$. I bought a piece from that owner then and when I visited his for sale gallery to see if I could add something else to our deal, I saw this one marked as sold, much to my horror.

Then it popped somewhere else on CAF and…went away again without any mention of it having been for sale or sold.

Then it popped up again in yet another gallery and was offered for trade or sale. I contacted the owner who got it in a trade and had no interest in keeping it. He asked me to make an offer and I mentioned that it originally went for 400$ not that long ago which I would top. He politely answered that we would be too far off each other expectations and it disappeared again soon afterwards. I asked if he would mind telling me how much it went for and I was told it went for 2000$.oh-kay…

THEN it popped on a well-known dealer’s site for strangely less than that. It was quite the mark up from the original 400$ (which would have been a very good price indeed) but I was a bit hotheaded for having missed it so many times so I sent an email. Between the time I sent my email and the time I received an answer from said dealer, the price strangely (again) had come up. What? Really? We still managed to agree on a deal and now it is finally mine and will not change hands again.

I realize that this may make me sound like a drug addict (aren’t we all in this hobby?) but I feel these stories need to be told for the sake of transparency which the hobby is lacking more and more these days. And you don’t know what the final price was either ,)

Now that the saga has been told, what can I say about this piece?

It is simply put, perfect for me. I ADORE Steve Lightle’s art and this was a prime period for his art which matured a lot during the 90s. The technique here is incredible with pencil, inks, watercolor and zipatone even.

I also really liked Spirits of Vengeance (and Ghost Rider) back when for the incredible art by the Kubert family, especially Adam who was drawing this title like his life depended on it.

Venom is one of my favorite characters and even though he has been drawn by many artists who portray him in a very wild way, I find Lightle’s take to be very his own and still wild as he should be. Look how monstrous he is with the huge tongue, all these sharp teeth and the way Steve drew the saliva both coming out of his gums and how the droplets merge with his costume’s eyes. The Ghost Rider behind is not too shabby either and the scythe is a very nice different touch for the character. The design with the moon is simple but strong and the mood quite ominous with all the clouds.

I.LOVE.IT.

This is part 8 of my B-day on CAF this year.

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About the Owner

	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
On CAF:	F's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan
Member Since 2013

Posted on 2/16/2018

Verrray Naaaice! Love the giant moon. Huge congrats on a fun piece

S Riz
Member Since 2014

Posted on 2/16/2018

It was destiny man. Always loved Lightle's Venom. Congrats!

James S
Member Since 2017

Posted on 2/16/2018

Very nice!

Ted Latner
Member Since 2005

Posted on 2/16/2018

Congrats on getting this! I love Steve Lightle's art too!

Nick-le-Fou !!
Member Since 2016

Posted on 2/19/2018

Awesome cover, and man, that Venom!!! Glad you managed to get hold of that piece and thanks for sharing this story with us.

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