Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out another Dan's ToyBox review. Today we're going to be discussing the Hasbro Marvel Legends Walmart Exclusive Venom Action Figure. I was looking forward to this one arriving and it didn't disappoint.
The symbiote originally made its debut as Spider-Man's black suit in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 (May 1984), which was part of the "Secret Wars" storyline in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 (December 1984). During that event, Spider-Man found the black suit on an alien planet, unaware that it was a living organism.
Initially, the symbiote provided Spider-Man with enhanced powers, including unlimited webbing, increased strength, and the ability to mimic any clothing. However, it soon became apparent that the suit was alive and had its own consciousness. When Spider-Man discovered that the symbiote was trying to permanently bond with him, he rejected it, eventually using the church bells’ sound to drive it away, as seen in The Amazing Spider-Man #258 (November 1984).
The Birth of Venom After being rejected by Spider-Man, the symbiote found a new host in Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist who harbored a deep hatred for Spider-Man. Eddie Brock’s fall from grace began when he incorrectly reported on the identity of a serial killer called the Sin-Eater. Spider-Man revealed the real Sin-Eater, which discredited Brock, ruining his career and life. This, combined with his intense hatred for Spider-Man, made Brock the perfect host for the symbiote, which also sought revenge on Spider-Man.
When the symbiote bonded with Brock, Venom was born. Unlike Spider-Man, Brock fully embraced the symbiote, allowing them to merge into a single entity with a shared goal of destroying Spider-Man. Venom possesses all of Spider-Man’s abilities, but with greater strength and a more monstrous appearance. The symbiote also shields Brock from Spider-Man’s spider-sense, making Venom an even more dangerous adversary.
Character Evolution Over time, Venom evolved from a straightforward villain into a more complex anti-hero. In various storylines, Venom has been portrayed as a protector of the innocent, albeit with a violent and brutal approach to justice. This complexity has made Venom a fan-favorite character in the Marvel Universe.
Venom's influence extends beyond Eddie Brock, as the symbiote has bonded with several other hosts over the years, including Mac Gargan (formerly the Scorpion), Flash Thompson (Agent Venom), and others, broadening the symbiote's mythos.
Accessories: 8/10
The Retro Venom figure includes a solid selection of accessories. You get two head sculpts: one with a classic menacing smile and another with Venom’s iconic tongue sticking out. Both head sculpts are fantastic, with sharp detailing and expressive faces that capture Venom’s terrifying presence. Additionally, the figure comes with two pairs of hands—open, clawed hands and closed fists—allowing for a range of poses. While this is a good variety, it would have been nice to see an extra accessory, such as some webbing or symbiote effects, to elevate the figure’s display options.
Appearance: 8/10
The overall sculpt of the figure is well done, with Venom’s muscular build being accurately portrayed. The head sculpts are the standout feature, with fantastic paint applications, especially around the mouth, teeth, and eyes. The glossy finish on the tongue really adds to the figure’s menacing appearance. However, the paint on the spider logo leaves something to be desired. It’s thin in some areas, resulting in a lack of consistency in the white color, and there are a few small scratches and blemishes on the back. This detracts from an otherwise great-looking figure. While these issues aren't dealbreakers, they are noticeable, especially for collectors who value paint precision.
Articulation: 7/10
As with most Marvel Legends figures, Venom has a good range of articulation, allowing for dynamic posing. The articulation includes double-jointed elbows and knees, a ball-jointed head, and an ab crunch, making it easy to achieve those classic Venom crouches and attack poses. The joints are solid, with a good range of motion, though the bulkier build of the figure may limit some extreme poses. The clawed hands add a lot of visual interest in action poses, but overall, the articulation is what you would expect from this line—good, but nothing groundbreaking. The figure uses older body parts as you can tell from the knee and elbow joints, showing the pins. Sadly, the neck limits the ball-peg joint, which reduces the amount of movement for the head. You can get some side tilt, but looking up and down is pretty limited, which is disappointing, especially because his crouching poses are solid.
Affordability: 8/10 (Original Price)
5/10 (Current Price)
Given that this figure is a Walmart exclusive, it’s priced competitively with other Marvel Legends figures at $24.97. Unfortunately, the secondary market has already jacked the price up, given that the figure has sold quickly on Walmart's website. In fact, I looked it up for this review and Walmart has already started gouging collectors! For the price point, you’re getting a solid figure with good accessories and sculpting. However, the quality control issues with the paint could make some collectors feel like they didn’t get full value for their money. That being said, it’s still a very affordable way to add a classic Venom to your collection, especially if you appreciate the retro carded aesthetic.
Overall, the Walmart Exclusive Retro Venom is a solid addition to the Marvel Legends line. It boasts excellent head sculpts, strong articulation, and a suspect price point, earning the figure a reasonable rating of:
8 out of 10 ToyBoxes
The thin paint on the spider logo and minor blemishes are the main drawbacks, but they don’t completely overshadow the figure's strengths. If you’re a fan of Venom or the retro packaging, this is a figure worth picking up—just be aware of some possible paint imperfections. Thanks, as always, and until next time... GEEK OUT!!!