Carnage First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #361 and How to Identify It

Carnage first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #361 (cover date April 1992), published by Marvel, by David Michelinie, Mark Bagley, Randy Emberlin. The source puts it this way: "Amazing Spider-Man #361, released in April 1992, is a milestone issue in Spider-Man's history as it marks the debut of one of his most formidable adversaries, Carnage.".

• CGC-confirmed creators and premise: created by writer David Michelinie and artists Mark Bagley and Randy Emberlin, this issue introduces Cletus Kasady, resulting in the birth of Carnage.
• Distinguishing from Cletus Kasady's earlier (pre-Carnage) appearance: although this issue introduces Carnage as a character, the first published artwork depicting Carnage was actually penciled by Chris Marrinan.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.