VENOM, VENOM AND VENOM!

Well, looks like Venom is the villain of the moment. Some say because of the launch of his new comic book. I don’t know what’s the cause, what I know is that the three major collectible powerhouses launched or will launch their 1:4 takes on the Spider-Man symbiotic foe. The 999 ES of XM Studios version was sold out from the site in 60 seconds, so the community says. They also say that the majority of these pieces were already sold along several conventions XM participate and that the rest of the stock was mostly gone due to the immense hype around it and grabbed by flippers (people who buy a piece with the sole intention of resell it for an astronomic profit). I don’t know how the 60 seconds thing happened but my bet is that XM Venom will be the weaker version among the three anyway. At least the less detailed one. And I personally don't like the glossy black stripes along XM Venom. But it's a clean streamlined version that many will certainly enjoy. Interesting will be see the clash of the other two titans, Sideshow and Prime 1 Studios.

We can have a good idea of how Sideshow Venom will look like by their preview pictures. One of the great mysteries would be how the Prime 1 Venom will look like since they only released two 3D rendered snippets of it (as far as I’m concerned), none of them giving a clearly idea of the finished piece.

The other mystery is the price tags both Sideshow and Prime 1 will practice. If they’re too close, if Sideshow decides to try to flush us with another $700 PF piece and Prime 1 keeps its less then $800 price tag for 1:4 scale figures, that will be a really interesting fight to watch. If the prices are really close, the chances of Prime 1 wins the battle is huge because the quality of their pieces, undeniably superior to even the best of Sideshow efforts. Fandom will play a huge role in this fight too, but I believe that if the prices are too close many Sideshow fans may turn their head towards Prime 1’s figure, since you can’t get that different on Venom, it is a two-expression character: all teeth, with or without his tongue sticking out. Both Sideshow and Prime 1 will go for the tongue pose as the main head display for the figure. The Prime 1 pose is a mystery too. Prime 1 is learning fast, as one can tell by another snippet released by them of the N52 Flash, which for a first exhibits a very cool, full of movement pose, all the movement a Flash statue deserves, what means a lot of movement. And Prime 1 pulled it out, as far as the snippet shows. So we have several variables at stake. Price, quality, pose, coolness, personality (I don’t even count this very much since Venom is so monochromatic in expressions) and release dates.

XM’s has come and gone (directly to eBay). The real fight will be between Sideshow and Prime 1 since all XM statues are already sold. I sure like to watch a good brawl as both companies clash directly. Let’s see who’s get bruised. Something buzzes in my mind telling that maybe Sideshow will learn a thing or two from this experience. But the outcome remains to be seen. Hope they launch both statues at the same quarter, even the same month. I think that may happen since nobody will want to give a head start to the opponent.

Well, now is take a good seat and wait the show begin. 2017 will already start very interesting. Besides that, the two companies will have Bane figures but not competing directly since Prime 1 figure is already on pre-order, poses 1:3 and is based on the videogame and Sideshow’s is 1:4 statue, totally based on the comics and yet to launch. But this fight will be much more based on fandom than on any other factor. Below images from the three Venoms, plus the snippet of Flash. And, why not, both Banes?


Addendum 2016-11-25: I just stumble on Sideshow's Venom full body picture. I would like to say that I'm not bashing XM, I'm just repeating what community said in Statue Collectors about how this 60 second thing happened. You're right, I'm a Sideshow fan but I've found the SS Venom's pose on the net and I didn't like it at all. I didn't know Prime 1 Venom was delayed and we don't know when Sideshow Venom will be launched. But I believe even Sideshow fans will wait to see Prime 1 Venom before they make their minds. I believe strongly that Prime 1's will be the winner of this battle. I'm a fan but I have a taste too. And I believe Prime 1 will bring the most impressive Venom of all.

Sideshow Venom pose. This foot on the ledge of the metal thing just ruins it for me.
XM's pose is much better albeit "classic". And now I think SS and XM Venoms are even,
with pros and cons on each side.

In case you lost Prime 1 Banes, here’s where to get them:

-x-x-x-x-

Oh, and to those interested in a good fight, or a fight for good, below is the link for the petition asking Sideshow to begin their payment plans as soon as the figures are out for pre-order, giving us more months to pay at smaller monthly fees. If you like this idea, just click the link below and sign the petition. It will take just a minute and can make a lot of difference to all of us average-pocket collectors. 

Sideshow payment plans starting along with the pre-orders means more months to pay, meaning cheaper monthly fees, meaning more easier payments. If you want this to happen, sign the petition. It only takes a minute but can bring long term facilities to all of us Sideshow (and Prime 1 and Hot Toy and etc.) collectors.

https://www.change.org/p/sidewhow-collectibles-sideshow-we-want-payment-plans-with-more-and-lower-monthly-fees