Review: 76356 Venom Bust
Posted by CapnRex101,
Though not bad models, the two Marvel Busts released last year hardly raised my expectations for future sets. 76356 Venom Bust seems rather impressive though, faithfully capturing Venom's menacing visage and physique as this character appears in the recent Venom movies.
In addition, the set comes with a unique Venom minifigure inspired by the film trilogy, which is a surprise, arriving nearly two years after the series concluded! This minifigure, with decorated arms, seems worth the wait, nonetheless.
Summary
76356 Venom Bust, 413 pieces.
£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99 | 10.9p, 12.1c, 12.1c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
76356 Venom Bust is by far my favourite of this series, looking suitably ferocious!
- Expressive and movie-accurate face
- Great muscle sculpting
- Excellent minifigure
- A few incongruous colours around the mouth
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Venom is a towering figure in the recent Tom Hardy films, standing well over seven feet tall. A minifigure was certainly the right choice to represent this character though, rather than a bigfig or any other figure type. The design of his eyes and irregular teeth look perfect in relation to the films and I like the veins across the torso, which are a vital feature of this version of Venom.
The arms are decorated with veins too and they look excellent, although they do highlight the plain legs. However, I see no reason for printing on the legs when the visible veins only cover Venom's upper body, while his legs are plain black in the films. With that in mind, I think this is basically a faultless minifigure.
Reference
Source - digitalspy.com
The Completed Model
The shoulders on these busts have generally been very broad, which works for early Iron Man armour like 76327 Iron Man MK4 Bust, but should be avoided for organic characters. However, this design suits Venom's muscular physique, so the proportions of the model seem remarkably faithful to the Symbiote's depiction onscreen.
As ever, the base is very simple, but cleverly designed to have a distinct aesthetic, while only needing relatively few pieces. The printed nameplate matches prior Marvel busts and there is space for the minifigure to stand on the other side, while the bust itself is attached to the plinth on a 4x4 turntable.
You can construct the base without the A-frame plates too, moving the nameplate to the centre instead. However, whereas previous busts from Marvel and Star Wars contained a 1x5 plate to fill the space, this set includes a 1x4 plate and a 1x1 plate because those elements are already used elsewhere on the model.
Layers of curved slopes and shell elements form Venom's exaggerated muscles. The pectoral muscles in particular are very effective, fitting snugly between neighbouring elements and with veins printed on 3x3 quarter domes. Ideally, the 3x8x2 shells on the shoulders would be printed too, but they require stickers.
Flexible hoses wrap around Venom's chest, again denoting veins and making the shoulders of the bust feel more cohesive. Their connection points are visible from behind, although they are disguised fairly well against the other black pieces. Even the dark bluish grey clips do not stand out too much, but I am glad they are hidden on the back.
Great though the shoulders look, Venom's face is obviously the most important feature and the designer has done an exceptional job here too. The eyes make clever use of curved connector elements and teeth to recreate their elongated shape from the films, while the rows of tan teeth are packed as tightly as possible inside the mouth and look superb.
As you can see, the neck is constructed to bring Venom's head in front of his shoulders, which reflects his hunched posture in the movies. This design looks brilliant when facing forward, but becomes more awkward if turned to either side. However, the iconic tongue is well constructed, attached to a ball joint for maximum articulation.
That also means you can remove the tongue completely, which gives a better view of the trans-red tiles and pink elements inside Venom's mouth. Some of these are more visible than I would like though, especially when seen from the side, which is another reason to keep Venom looking ahead.
Overall
To my surprise, 76356 Venom Bust is a fantastic set! The earlier Marvel busts were reasonable models, but this one is truly exceptional because the face is so expressive. I love how the teeth and tongue are constructed, while the muscular shoulders are also fairly accurate to the movies, thanks in part to the printed and stickered veins.
The minifigure is a bonus as well. Venom minifigures became quite notorious for their frequent and unchanging appearances between 2019 and 2025, so receiving two new Venom figures in 2026 makes a nice change. Even the price of £44.99, $49.99 or €49.99 seems fair, costing less than last year's busts, so I can definitely recommend this set to Venom fans.
This set will be released on July 1st and it is available to pre-order now.
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23 comments on this article
The previous busts were lackluster, but this one is fantastic. If they were all like this, then I'd be a much bigger fan of this collection. I think it's the bigger size that aids this one over the others. Darth Vader definitely could have benefited from more size.
Probably the best Marvel Bust they've produced so far, but still not something that's making me want to buy it. It feels like they cheaped out on the minifigure by not giving it leg printing... though really given the scale of the character in the movies, it should really be a Bigfig, but that would have added alot more to the price.
There should be something inbetween Minifigure and Big Fig. Hulk as the original generic big fig corresponds to a height of about 2,5 to 2,75 meters while a regular minifigure would be about 1,7 to 1,8 meters. Venom as a 2,13 meter character is actually closer to the size of Woody and Avatar Na'vi figures but those figures proportions are that of normal humans, making Venom too lanky. A Venom body type character is becoming increasingly more common such as Wrecker in Star Wars Bad Batch, it would make sense to have more body types to choose from but it also seems like something that Resin 3D printers were made for.
Another solution would be to me to just use 1x1 plates as leg extensions. It does work quite well for Venom if one ignores that the arms stay the same.
@Anonym said:
"There should be something inbetween Minifigure and Big Fig. Hulk as the original generic big fig corresponds to a height of about 2,5 to 2,75 meters while a regular minifigure would be about 1,7 to 1,8 meters. Venom as a 2,13 meter character is actually closer to the size of Woody and Avatar Na'vi figures but those figures proportions are that of normal humans, making Venom too lanky. A Venom body type character is becoming increasingly more common such as Wrecker in Star Wars Bad Batch, it would make sense to have more body types to choose from but it also seems like something that Resin 3D printers were made for.
Another solution would be to me to just use 1x1 plates as leg extensions. It does work quite well for Venom if one ignores that the arms stay the same."
I think we really need a generic muscular torso piece similar to Axl's from NEXO Knights or Mr. Incredible's in the LEGO video game. I was fine with the Thing as a minifigure but Venom really should be bigger and a large torso would be perfect. We've already got a larger-than-normal figure design for Hagrid, we just need a piece that's more versatile for these superhero characters who don't need a bigfig.
The bust looks great although compared to the reference image I wish another row of teeth could've been squeezed into the build! The Venom minifigure is well-detailed but I disagree with the lack of leg printing. His legs may not be covered in the white veins in the film but I think something could've been done with them, such as hip printing, slight muscle detail, or toe printing since Venom is always barefoot. I think any minifigure that's so detailed from the waist up looks entirely unfinished with completely plain legs.
@Anonym said:
"There should be something inbetween Minifigure and Big Fig. Hulk as the original generic big fig corresponds to a height of about 2,5 to 2,75 meters while a regular minifigure would be about 1,7 to 1,8 meters. Venom as a 2,13 meter character is actually closer to the size of Woody and Avatar Na'vi figures but those figures proportions are that of normal humans, making Venom too lanky. A Venom body type character is becoming increasingly more common such as Wrecker in Star Wars Bad Batch, it would make sense to have more body types to choose from but it also seems like something that Resin 3D printers were made for.
Another solution would be to me to just use 1x1 plates as leg extensions. It does work quite well for Venom if one ignores that the arms stay the same."
As much as I’d like a Clayface minifig like they use in the games, that is a character I think deserves bigfig treatment (or larger). Bane, as he appears on the Knightfall cover where he’s breaking Batman’s back, needs a bigfig, but any other depiction I’ve seen is quite a bit smaller (the cover depiction has a grotesquely exaggerated physique). Similarly, there are Venom depictions that would fit a bigfig, and it would be nice to get at least one at some point.
But the Hardy Venom is not that version. I’m fine with it being a standard minifig. Could it be a Nexo-sized depiction? Sure, but no such molds exist. If they decide to make one, it needs to work for Venom, Bane, Mr. Incredible, Killer Croc, possibly Clayface, and probably several other characters across multiple IPs. Basically, it would really need to be a bulkier minifig torso and legs. Something generic that can be repurposed for many other characters going forward. The downside is that would make those characters incompatible with any vehicles, where minifigs are not. The same is true for bigfigs, but I think with those, they’re more likely to supplement the character with an occasional minifig.
" @PurpleDave said:
As much as I’d like a Clayface minifig like they use in the games, that is a character I think deserves bigfig treatment (or larger). Bane, as he appears on the Knightfall cover where he’s breaking Batman’s back, needs a bigfig, but any other depiction I’ve seen is quite a bit smaller (the cover depiction has a grotesquely exaggerated physique). Similarly, there are Venom depictions that would fit a bigfig, and it would be nice to get at least one at some point.
But the Hardy Venom is not that version. I’m fine with it being a standard minifig. Could it be a Nexo-sized depiction? Sure, but no such molds exist. If they decide to make one, it needs to work for Venom, Bane, Mr. Incredible, Killer Croc, possibly Clayface, and probably several other characters across multiple IPs. Basically, it would really need to be a bulkier minifig torso and legs. Something generic that can be repurposed for many other characters going forward. The downside is that would make those characters incompatible with any vehicles, where minifigs are not. The same is true for bigfigs, but I think with those, they’re more likely to supplement the character with an occasional minifig."
To echo your final comment, we can look at Hulk and Thanos where big figs and mini figs are used interchangeably depending on the need of the set.
@ohrmazd said:
"To echo your final comment, we can look at Hulk and Thanos where big figs and mini figs are used interchangeably depending on the need of the set."
And Bane and Killer Croc. Both first appeared in the Batman theme as minifigs, and both have received at least one more since. Both got TLBM bigfigs, and Croc got one more (admittedly bad) one in DCS. Leatherhead did get a more size-appropriate “minifig”, which I sometimes use for Croc, but that required two custom molds, and looks very stiff as a result of sharing one design for both arms. Plus, no articulation of the head at all.
I don't like Venom but this is a great looking set
Venom bigfig worked in the games.
Shrek will be the second "modern Hagrid-style" minifigure, according to some images that slipped out, so maybe more irregular figures for different statures and shapes are being implemented after all.
@Kre_O said:
"Venom bigfig worked in the games."
Yeah, he was pretty fun because you could transition between the two forms. I can't remember if there was ever a DC character that could do the same.
@8BrickMario said:
"Shrek will be the second "modern Hagrid-style" minifigure, according to some images that slipped out, so maybe more irregular figures for different statures and shapes are being implemented after all."
Wouldn't the second irregular figure be Robotnik? https://brickset.com/minifigs/son003/dr-eggman-(doctor-ivo-robotnik)
I’m reading parts of this review with Venom quotes in my head, not gonna lie!
“Eyes… Lungs… Pancreas…
So many snacks, so little time!”
“NO ONE LIKES YOU, DAN!!”
That first picture of the bust without its tongue weirdly reminds me of the Surprised Pikachu meme…
Oh look. It's Venomised Venom.
You've gone too far, Science.
@Legomaster2026 said:
"I’m reading parts of this review with Venom quotes in my head, not gonna lie!
“Eyes… Lungs… Pancreas…
So many snacks, so little time!”
“NO ONE LIKES YOU, DAN!!”"
I'm hearing the Eminem song in my head.
Is this a bust?
I think it’s nice, but the last thing I need now is a black set. Hahaha.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Kre_O said:
"Venom bigfig worked in the games."
Yeah, he was pretty fun because you could transition between the two forms. I can't remember if there was ever a DC character that could do the same."
Clayface.
@LuccaTalksYT said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Kre_O said:
"Venom bigfig worked in the games."
Yeah, he was pretty fun because you could transition between the two forms. I can't remember if there was ever a DC character that could do the same."
Clayface."
Which game?
@PurpleDave said:
" @LuccaTalksYT said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Kre_O said:
"Venom bigfig worked in the games."
Yeah, he was pretty fun because you could transition between the two forms. I can't remember if there was ever a DC character that could do the same."
Clayface."
Which game?"
DC Super Villains.
@LuccaTalksYT said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @LuccaTalksYT said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Kre_O said:
"Venom bigfig worked in the games."
Yeah, he was pretty fun because you could transition between the two forms. I can't remember if there was ever a DC character that could do the same."
Clayface."
Which game?"
DC Super Villains."
Kinda what I figured. I haven’t played that one yet.
> €49.99 seems fair
I have to disagree. Model is very small: 17cm height and stickers. It doesn't seem fair.