"We Are Venom!"

"Eyes! Lungs! Pancreas! So many snacks. So little time -- !"

This 50mm tall hard plastic figure of Eddie Brock's alter-ego is produced by “Atomic Mass Games” and can be found in the Marvel Crisis Protocol expansion box CP09 Venom. Assembled using thirteen separate pieces, not including its stand, the model depicts the Klyntar symbiote striding forwards across a piece of concrete rubble.

The miniature was initially primed using two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, mercilessly dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and shaded using "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then set to work patiently 'picking out' all the lines of the disgraced journalist's spider-symbol with a couple of coats of watered-down "Vallejo" White.

"Atomic Mass Games" WIPs - Black Widow is slowly having her red and metallic areas 'picked out'

To be honest, despite the model's formidable size and the raised detail of his torso's emblem, I was rather put off by the complexity of the symbiote's veiny motiff. I find drawing anything even closely resembling a straight line extremely difficult with a paint-brush, and the thought of patiently tracing across the anti-hero with my tip had already resulted in the miniature being repeatedly side-lined in the past.

Luckily however, it suddenly occurred to me that I could 'cheat' by applying a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil over the bothersome pattern, and use the shade's pooling effect to help me better work out the actual lines. I then applied some additional "Citadel" Abaddon Black over any stray areas of "Vallejo" White which the "Citadel" Nuln Oil hadn't completely masked. The end result turned out a little darker than I'd have liked but resulted in a significantly saner painting process.

"Atomic Mass Games" WIPs - The two Black Widow sculpts are slowly being progressed

As some final touches, I used a combination of "Vallejo" Squid Pink and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson for Venom's curling tongue, as well as some "Vallejo" White and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade on his razor-sharp teeth. Brock's pre-modelled circular base was layered with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

With Spider-Man's arch-nemesis finished, I have focused my attention upon the three sculpts I own of the Black Widow. Two of these are identical, as I wanted to pigment the Russian spy in both her classic all-black and all-white costumes. Whilst the third shows Natasha Romanova sporting an updated look which arguably seems more suited to her adventures within the Marvel Cinematic Universe than those within the printed page of a comic book.