Following the release of Quiet this past summer (read our review HERE), Gecco completes their Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain collection with a 1:6th scale PVC statue of Venom Snake. In-stock and ready to ship now through Gecco Direct, Venom Snake is priced at $299.00 with free shipping included.
The protagonist of the hit 2015 video game, Venom Snake comes to collectors with all the hyper-sculpted detail Gecco is known for… and then some. This is by far one of the most complex pieces Gecco has released, as well as being the most accurate depiction of this character in figure form.
Starting with the unboxing, Venom Snake arrives pretty much put together. Plug-on pieces include his red bionic arm and the option of displaying Snake with or without a scarf draped around his neck. The figure itself plugs into a sandy base, the same stage as the Quiet statue, the Aabe Shifap Ruins.
Before plugging on the arm (or scarf), you’ll want to first sling Venom Snake’s rifle on his back. This requires you to hook the plastic rifle strap onto the two carrying hooks attached to the gun, a very delicate process. The plastic hooks are extremely thin and I feared that a forced connection would result in breaking the piece. Thankfully that did not happen, but do proceed with caution. Once completed, unplug Snake’s head and sling the rifle over his body. The next step is whether you want Venom Snake wearing a scarf (pictured above). If so, place the scarf piece on and reattach his head. For a look without the scarf, Gecco provides a plastic collar that completes his camo jacket (pictured below).
The last detail to put together is Venom Snake holding his Phantom Cigar. Gecco provides three (3) of the stogies, each attached to a small plastic sprue tree, similar to how you find model kit parts. The extras are a welcome addition as I’m sure many fans are bound to loose at least one of these mini cigars at some point or another. To have Snake hold the Phantom Cigar, carefully push the stogie between his two fingers, carefully prying them open to do so. Once you release the fingers, the tension created by them closing holds the cigar nice and tight.
The slung rifle and Phantom Cigar add a lot of character to this statue. It shows Venom Snake relaxed, yet keenly alert – the soldier contemplating his next move.
Brilliant composition aside, it is the talented sculpting and paint work on this statue that truly amaze. All of Gecco’s statues show off extreme detail, but looking over Venom Snake blew me away. As illustrated in our story HERE, the Venom Snake statue is comprised of many different layers, each part of his kit sculpted separately.
Snake has ammo pouches, a sheathed combat knife on his back (not removable), his Sony Walkman, holstered pistol (again, not removable), belts, straps, buckles… oh my! And then there is his dead-accurate head sculpt. Extremely life-like, Venom Snake’s face is a battlefield of wounds, including the shrapnel “horn” still stuck in his forehead. His one eye, miraculously still intact, glistens with piercing realism.
Pulling all this jaw-dropping sculpting work together are paint apps to die for. Aside from the extremely complex camouflage – a cool jungle tiger stripe pattern – Gecco’s painters went all out on weathered detail.
There’s realistic dust on his boots and glove, oily grime and wear on his bionic arm (a wonderful pop of color in itself!), and super intricate patches (“Diamond Dogs”). You can actually read the words and see the numbers on his Walkman and watch! Insane, I tell ya.
Serious Metal Gear Solid fans will need no urging to buy this statue; it’s Gecco’s best work to date. However, Gecco is offering a unique incentive. Collectors that purchase both Venom Snake and Quiet will receive a free bonus figure: the puppy DD. To receive your free puppy DD figure (for customers outside Japan), find the 7 digit codes included with the Quiet and Venom Snake statues and enter the two codes at the campaign web page described on the application. Fans now have until February 28th, 2017 (extended from December 31st, 2016) to enter!
Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor
Review Sample Courtesy of Gecco
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