Movies
Concept Artist Shares Alternate ‘Venom’ Design Inspired by the Great Mark Bagley!
While Todd McFarlane gave birth to Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote known simply as Venom back in 1988 (“The Amazing Spider-Man” #298-#300), Erik Larsen integrated the notable tongue design before the character was refined even further by Mark Bagley when he introduced Carnage into the equation back in 1991.
When the character returned to the big screen in Sony Pictures’ Venom solo film, the design would be an amalgamation of all three artists’ interpretations with McFarlane even critiquing and tweaking the design on social media.
Many artists and designers would take a stab at creating the look for the Ruben Fleischer-directed Spider-Man spinoff, but only one would make it to the screen. Concept artist Matt Millard shared his work last month, revealing a take that was directly inspired by the work of Mark Bagley, while also integrating some of the more grotesque features introduced by Larsen.
While the final look is nothing to scoff at, it’s fun to think about various interpretations that may have been used instead. What do you all think?!
Here are a couple of the multiple head studies I had the pleasure of doing for the #venom movie 4 or so years ago . Channeling the great Mark Bagley in these designs – #conceptart pic.twitter.com/mwQbtFqscb
— Matt Millard (@ItchyTasty_) May 4, 2021
Movies
‘Rubberhead’ Documentary Spotlights The Wild Life & Work of SFX Raconteur Steve Johnson [Trailer]
Few in the industry are as candid as Emmy-winning artist Steve Johnson (Fright Night, Poltergeist II, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and that rare honesty is on full display in the first trailer for documentary Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson.
The doc is headed to the Fantasia Film Festival for its world premiere on July 23.
In Rubberhead, “Known for his intense work ethic, perfectionism, and obsession with breaking new ground, Steve Johnson created iconic creatures and effects for some of the most beloved horror and sci-fi movies in cinema history. RUBBERHEAD is a humorous and heartfelt portrait of the life and times of one of Hollywood’s most prolific monster makers, as well as a historical journey through the golden age of special effects makeup.”
As the trailer previews, Johnson shares outrageous anecdotes about his freewheeling adventures in Hollywood, chronicling his meteoric rise and subsequent fall. The doc also highlights cinema’s most groundbreaking effects and techniques, along with Johnson’s deeply personal account of self-sabotage, divorce, and serious struggles with addiction.
Linnea Quigley, John Landis, Tom Holland, and Oscar-winner Bill Corso also contribute as talking heads in this illuminating doc. Director Nick Taylor co-writes with Joseph Krings.
[Related] Steve Johnson Details the ‘Incredible Hulk’ Monster Movie That Never Was!
If you want to dive into Steve Johnson’s wild career in the meantime, check out his two-book saga Rubberhead: Sex, Drugs and Special FX, which serves as the basis for the documentary.
Stay tuned for more from Fantasia 2026 and Rubberhead. In the meantime, check out the first trailer and poster below.