Transformers Age of the Primes Venin review

The G1 Insecticons didn't just consist of three mostly samey characters who shared the same color and were seemingly indistinguishable from one another; the G1 toyline brought over four additional bugbots to expand the ranks (or, in actuality, Hasbro prevented other toy companies from selling imported transforming robots to compete against their line). Those were known as the Deluxe Insecticons, who were larger and more complex than the little Diaclone rebrandings we saw in the cartoon. The Deluxe Insecticons, designed by bankrupt animation studio Artmic in collaboration with the later bought-out Takatoku Toys, were intended to be made for a series called Armored Insect Corps Beetras before plans fell through. Bandai, the same company we know today as a direct rival to Hasbro, would later buy the molds and license them to their eventual enemy. While they weren't allowed to pop up in the cartoon, given that Hasbro didn't want to put Takara in trouble for promoting designs that may upset their Japanese competitors, we got to see Venom briefly in the Marvel Comics and some of the kiddie books they put out at the time. He did make some later appearances in the Dreamwave and IDW comics, but setting those aside, you may not only remember that we previously did the other Deluxe Insecticon members in the Legacy line, but Venom is now renamed as Venin. I don't mind since the only Venom I know is the Lethal Protector, who has beef with Spider-Man sometimes. Let's see how well this new mold Deluxe Insecticon turned out!

Here we have Venin in his robotic cicada mode, with the legs splayed out and the wings folded flatly in place. While it's a case where the altmode is boxy and the insect details are vaguely present, this still has a shape similar to the species in question. It matches the old toy to a tee, though with no other source material to work with, it only makes sense we'd go for the G1-with-knees approach. (right down to the bug head being the robot face, but upside down). I will admit that the bug legs are much skinnier than the rest of the body, but they are all articulated on ball joints at the base. Thankfully, they aren't going to pop off easily and weigh the body down (cough, flying ant toy promoting Ant-Man, Hasbro made 10 years ago). Honestly, the legs look like tentacles in this mode, but the rest of the bug mode is accurate to the toy made by an entirely separate company.

As for how he looks alongside the other Deluxe Insecticons, here we have him with Chop Shop, Ransack, and Barrage. The other three are retools of the other Insecticons, which made sense given they'd have similar bug modes, but having Venin be his own mold rather than sharing a figure with another character is Hasbro's best idea yet. It also helps that outside the cartoon, he was often described as the true Insecticon leader. For anyone wondering, his wings can move up and down as well as in and out.

Transformation is familiar to anyone who's messed around with the other Insecticons before: the abdomen is made up of the legs, the head is now in full view, and the arms are extended with the hands out. What makes him different is that the head is generally unchanged apart from the antenna poking out the back of his head, the wings are swept at the back via his waist, and the arms are better tucked away than with the other bugs. His resulting robot mode honestly gives off a mash up of an 80s robot mixed with a 90s paint job in a good way. He has a bit of that chunky muscular MOTU vibe in him, with a hint of a wrestler and an evil drone with the color layout and his univisor head. He feels weirdly organic with a design like this, almost moreso than any of the other Insecticons. Of course, he was made for a scrapped series prior to having his old toy licensed out to Hasbro, but it still has a different vibe than even the other Deluxe Insecticons. One big flaw I have is that with the position of the wings, his arms can't go all the way down. That and the back of the legs still have some hollow gaps, though not as bad (still questionable with the price hikes). On the bright side, those legs on the back make me think Movie Blackout's propellor kibble.

Since we know his head sculpt is there 24/7, his articulation consists of a double hinge for the neck, a swivel at the base, shoulder rotation, outward arm movement, bicep rotation, hinged elbows, a waist swivel universal hips, thigh swivels, hinged knees, and ankles that pivot. His axe and gun can be held separately, but I think they look better as a single weapon.

For an Insecticon comparison, here he is along with the other Deluxe Dudes we got in the Legacy line. It honestly feels more satisfying having these four together than the regular trio, even if three of them are retooled from said trio. Venin isn't 100% perfect but I always appreciate it when a figure feels like it's meant to be a loving tribute to an old toy without any of the corporate compromises or rush job cynicism that many describe G1 with knees at times. He's kind of like Legacy United G1 Prime, in that he feels like a great tribute to the old days and makes for a surprise hit. I recommend you get him in spite of his flaws.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐