Bringing the Marvel anti-hero Venom to life on the big screen must have been a daunting task, especially given how many comic book artists have interpreted the character throughout the years. In the end, the filmmakers wisely decided to stick close to the original 1990s comic book interpretation of the character, and the movie performed well because of it.
Still, concept designs are all about bringing fresh new ideas to the table, sometimes to score a win, and sometimes as a stepping stone to achieving a better vision. Here are 10 pieces of Venom concept art by some of today's most talented artists. Some chose to stay true to the source material, while others jumped the track in favor of something completely different.
David Masson
Marvel Studios concept designer David Masson captured the spirit of Venom perfectly with this pre-production work that translates the character's most well known physical features to the canvas, especially the signature maw and tongue.
The overall design of Venom would change slightly for the filming of the hit 2018 film, most notably in the height of the facial structure, but the jagged teeth and tongue design would remain. A striking shot.
Jared Krichevsky
Jared Krichevsky has been working on some fantastic creature and character designs over the years, and his take on Venom is every bit as chilling as it is abstract. While purists may decry this concept piece as navigating too far away from the source material, it does attempt to take the symbiote design in a unique direction.
The upward-flowing symbiote strands are a nice touch, and this extends into Venom's eyes, as well. The rows of jagged and uneven teeth help sell the idea that the character is disted, and barely keeping it together from a psychological perspective.
Matt Millard
noir thriller aesthetic of the movie.
Venom's pose and appearance feel plausible and real, with true-to-life proportions accented by a few exaggerated sections, such as the hands. The understated and rounded head strays far from Venom's traditional oval shape, but it's an excellent first pitch concept design.
Ivan Dedov
Venom/Spidey matchup.
Proportionally, Venom seems to be on par with his comic self, but the haphazard lashings of his symbiote and the crisscrossing textures have made the creature feel far more alien, as opposed to a manifestation of the host's own self.
Brent Hollowell
Brent Hollowell puts all the emphasis on Venom's tongue in this concept design— perhaps a little too much. Overall, Venom looks spot on, and fans of the series no doubt approve. The shape of his eyes, the elongated jaw and rows of teeth feel a little more grounded in reality.
Still, the abnormally long tongue detracts away from the impact of the shot somewhat, perhaps in order to give the creature a more horrific appearance. Either way, it's an excellent piece of concept art.
BossLogic
BossLogic is no stranger to fantastic fan art and concept designs, and his take on Venom is interesting for a number of different reasons. It's one of the few pieces to feature Eddie Brock's human form, along with his white web shooters on top of his hands.
The artist puts prominent attention on the real subject— an interpretation of actor Kellen Lutz as Eddie Brock, who seems to be pulling the symbiote off of his own face. It's an eerie take on the character that hops back and forth between dreadful silence, and horror.
Ian Joyner
parasitic life form. The beaded eyes are a complete departure from the traditional comic book version of the character, as is the gaping mouth and rows of vertical teeth.
While it's doubtful this concept design would ever have received a green light for the movie version of the character, it is an imaginative take on Venom that goes more for repugnant horror than cool sci-fi monster.
Randis Albion
Randis Albion swaps Eddie Brock for Peter Parker in this shot of him attempting to tear the symbiote from his body, which could be a direct nod to the original comic book storyline. The look of agony on Peter's face is mixed with fatigue, suggesting that the symbiote is winning the conflict.
The tears in the symbiote on the suit, particularly the arms, are an interesting touch, suggesting Peter is summoning all his strength to try and rid himself of it once and for all. The backdrop consists of ominous webbing in a darkly lit environment, adding to the creep factor.
DNEG
DNEG (formerly known as Double Negative) is one of the most popular visual effects and animation companies in the movie business, and their concept designs are striking all on their own. This particular shot is part of a series of concepts done for Venom which feature Eddie Brock at odds with his symbiote.
The traditional painted style and smooth, waxed inks draw clear distinctions between man and alien, with elements of Venom's facial characteristics clinging to its shredded alien physiology. Simple, but highly effective and worthy of a comic book cover.
Zahid Raza Khan
Zahid Raza Khan gives Venom an injection of Hollywood Godzilla in this particular concept design with a rounder, more bestial head and prominent gaping mouth. His interpretation robs Venom of a lot of his teeth, instead focusing on the jaw physiology which suggests crushing bite strength.
The strands of drool and bladed tongue help sell the look, but the prominent jawline blades are a new addition never seen before. Audiences know it's Venom thanks to the chest insignia, which has been dosed heavily with a Lovecraftian, Gothic look.