Hey everyone, welcome to another Dan's ToyBox review. I sat down to start writing this and thought... I really should see how the movie origin for Carnage differs from the comic books. So, before I went any further here, I found the movie on streaming and settled in. Many people have panned the Venom movies and while I'll admit they aren't the greatest, I have enjoyed watching them. Certainly, the fact that they veer so wildly away from the real origin with Spider-Man is something to consider. However, they are fun. The buddy-cop style bickering between Venom and Eddie is fun listening. I'll confess that these are guilty pleasure movies for me.
In "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) struggles to coexist with the alien symbiote Venom, which gives him superhuman abilities. Eddie's life takes a turn when he interviews Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), a psychotic serial killer who becomes the host for a new symbiote, Carnage. Unlike Venom, Carnage is more chaotic and destructive, amplifying Kasady's violent tendencies.
As Carnage, Kasady escapes from prison, unleashing havoc on the city. Venom and Eddie must put aside their differences and work together to stop the monstrous Carnage before his rampage results in catastrophic destruction.
I have to admit this figure looked sweet when I saw it. It's much bigger than I expected, and towers over my other Marvel Legends, including my original movie Venom figure. I really like this but do have some issues to discuss.
Accessories: 9/10
The Hasbro Marvel Legends Carnage figure comes well-equipped with a variety of accessories that enhance its playability and display options. Included are an extra head sculpt featuring an extended tongue, which captures the character's menacing look from the movie perfectly. Additionally, there are multiple tendril attachments that can be plugged into his back, giving a dynamic and chaotic appearance. The alternate tendril blade hand attachments are a great touch, allowing for customization and posing versatility. The only minor downside is that more hand variations could have been included for additional display options.
Appearance: 10/10
Carnage's appearance is absolutely stunning and true to the character's depiction in "Venom: Let There Be Carnage." The sculpting details are impressive, with intricate patterns and textures that accurately represent Carnage's symbiotic form. The paint applications are clean and precise, with the contrasting red and black colors blending seamlessly to create a realistic and menacing look. The head sculpts are particularly noteworthy, with the snarling expressions adding a level of intensity and character to the figure. Hasbro has truly captured the essence of Carnage in this figure.
Articulation: 8/10
The articulation on this Carnage figure is quite good, offering a wide range of motion for dynamic posing. With multiple points of articulation, including double-jointed elbows and knees, as well as an ab crunch and ankle pivots, you can achieve a variety of poses that bring the character to life. However, some of the joints, particularly the shoulders and hips, can be a bit stiff and may require some careful manipulation to avoid paint rub or joint wear. Despite this, the overall articulation is impressive and allows for a high degree of expressiveness. The head actually sits on a double ball peg, normally a very good thing. However, the neck itself is molded and not on its own joint, which means that the head movement is still limited. He can look up and down, turn side to side, and does have decent head tilt, but the upward range isn't very good. The shoulder range is solid, with the arms raising to a decent T position. Rotation is unhindered and the bicep swivels work just fine. The elbows will bend in all the way, but the little tendrils on his forearms and biceps will bend. Thankfully, they are soft plastic, but be careful to not overstress them. The wrists all hinge and pivot with ease. The upper torso joint has much better range than I expected. It will crunch forward and backward, rotate, and tilt side to side with very smooth movement. There is a lower diaphragm hinge, which increases the ab crunch range, but eliminates any waist pivot. The legs will split remarkably far and can kick forward very high. The thigh cuts, as with the biceps will rotate easily. The double-jointed knees bend fully, allowing the foot to touch his back. My biggest area of concern, though, is the size of the feet. While they articulate nicely, they are rather small. This makes getting the figure to balance and stand properly very difficult. I have lost count of the number of times it's tipped over, not only during photo shooting for this review. When you do find that sweet spot for balance, though, this figure can really convey some menace.
Affordability: 7/10
Priced at $39.99 with online retailers such as BBTS, the Carnage figure falls within the typical range for Marvel Legends Deluxe figures. Considering the detailed sculpt, excellent paint applications, and the number of accessories included, the price is reasonable. However, it may still be a bit steep for some collectors, especially those who might prefer a lower price point for mass-market figures. That said, the quality and attention to detail justify the cost for dedicated fans of the character and the Marvel Legends line.
Overall, the Hasbro Marvel Legends Carnage from "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" is an outstanding figure that excels in appearance and accessories. Its impressive sculpting and paint work, coupled with a good range of articulation, make it a must-have for fans of the character. While it may be slightly pricey for some, the overall quality and included accessories make it a worthwhile addition to any collection. Altogether, this earns Carnage:
8.5 out of 10 ToyBoxes
If you haven't yet watched "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" I would suggest doing so. Sure, it's got some issues, but it's a fun ride. The Hasbro Marvel Legends: Let There Be Carnage Carnage action figure also has some issues, but just like the movie, it's a fun ride! Thank you as always and until next time... GEEK OUT!!!