Costume Rating 24: Original Venom

[Podmark]

Continuing the Symbiote series, we move onto the original Venom Eddie Brock:

So what do you think of Venom's first look?

[crimsonquill]

The original Venom has always been a thing of nightmares for many Marvel fans and even non-fans just as a creature which hides in the dark with millions of sharp teeth.

No matter which version of Venom's look has changed from host to host.. the symbiote always seems to default into it's first Black Spiderman look with teeth when wounded, enraged, or scaring the heck out of some poor victim.

- CQ

[bat1987]

The first and the best Venom. Really like this look, they frequently go back to the design like CQ said.
Even Agent Venom, when he looses control of the symbiote, looks like that.

[BentonGrey]

4.5: This is a great costume, perfectly suited for what it does, as CQ said.  I hit 4, largely because that panel feels pretty dated to me.  I think that the whole Venom thing, despite originating in the 80s, just feels very 90s to me.  That's probably causing me to be a bit too harsh, as the costume itself is unique and effective.

[Cyber Burn]

Easily one of Spidey's best villains. This costume has always been a classic for me. Again, I gave this a 4, while a really good look, it's not quite perfect.

[Tomato]

5. What I think of when I think of Venom.

[Podmark]

I gave it a 4 but I feel like I should give it a 5. I feel the Spidey suit is a 5 and this is almost the same except the mouth, but to be honest too often I've seen this drawn in a way that looks boring. Mostly the fault of poor 90s artists but I think there are some subtler changes that make it lose it's luster a little. Regardless it's a good look, and I'm sure it's mostly responsible for his popularity.

[BentonGrey]

Yeah, all of the 90s art hurts this for me too.

[murs47]

The first time I ever saw this as a kid I was both horrified and blown away by it's awesomeness. I can't rate this without bias. Absolutely a 5!

Also, Ryan Ottley's son requested a Venom drawing from his dad. But he wanted it to be "...a happy Venom, not a scary Venom." And boy did he deliver:

Spoiler