Venom
Venom is a fictional extraterrestrial entity in Marvel Comics, often appearing in Spider-Man comics. It is a symbiote, an intelligent organic life form that manifests in a liquid-like form and requires a host (usually a human) to survive. The symbiote grants its host enhanced powers and abilities, but can also affect the host's mind over time. When the Venom symbiote bonds with a person, this entity becomes Venom.
The first encounter Spider-Man had with the Venom symbiote was in “Secret Wars” #8, where he unintentionally bonded with it. After Spider-Man rejected the symbiote, its most famous host became Eddie Brock, in “The Amazing Spider-Man” #300 (May 1988). In the original story, the Venom symbiote was depicted as a voiceless and lonely creature yearning for a host. However, it has recently been portrayed as a being that can control its host and speak. Originally, the symbiote had no name, with Venom essentially representing the intersection between Eddie Brock and Spider-Man.
The main body measures over 38 cm tall, with accessories including two head sculpts: one with a grimace and one with an open mouth. The open mouth sculpt includes three different interchangeable tongue parts. Other accessories include a scythe on the right arm, an extended claw on the left hand, a knife formed from the symbiote, and a symbiote component that can be attached to Venom's back, equipped with bendable wire. Customers who pre-order the Venom figure at the HT20THPlus store in Causeway Bay Fashion Walk can receive a symbiote accessory that can be mounted on the back, showcasing a tongue-out pose!
The body features over 24 points of articulation, designed with a complex body shape. Made from black soft rubber, every muscle texture is meticulously carved, from the visible neck arteries to the muscle tension. The reflective quality of the black symbiote is vastly realistic and detailed, with clear muscle layers; the head connects via magnets—a nice touch! The entire figure is made of black soft rubber, creating a convincing muscular feel, while also finely detailing the shimmering blue vein aesthetics over the upper body. The joints in the arms and legs are cleverly hidden within the soft rubber, enhancing the figure's aesthetic appeal. Additionally, a color-shifting black paint is used on the figure, which reflects shades of purple under different lighting angles. One highlight is the grimace and open mouth head sculpts along with three large tongues, which can be swapped to emulate the character's various expressions and postures. Though it is a large figure, its maneuverability is surprisingly good, stable even without support. Impressive!
Areas for improvement on this product include larger gaps when bending the knees, average mobility, and careful handling with a stand... Given its massive bulk, it is easy to understand why!
In terms of the product, both its appearance and playability are remarkable, making it a definite must-have for fans of Venom!
D.M.S. Play Scoring Play Scoring
Look (40) 34.5
Articulation and Poseable (20) 14
Accessories and Gimmick (20) 15.5
QC (10) 7.5
Price (10) 5.5
Total Score: 77.5 points