Venom Suit

Venom started as a costume. In The Amazing Spider-Man #252, cover-dated May 1984, Peter Parker came home from the Secret Wars in a sleek new black suit that could change shape and make its own webbing. It turned out to be alive. Peter got rid of it, the angry alien found a reporter named Eddie Brock who hated Spider-Man just as much as it did, and in The Amazing Spider-Man #300, in May 1988, writer David Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane gave the world Venom: huge, toothy, drooling and a little bit funny. Tom Hardy played him in three movies, ending with Venom: The Last Dance in 2024, and an animated Venom movie was announced this February. For kids, he's the perfect "bad guy" costume, since he's scary enough to be cool and silly enough to be fun. HalloweenCostumes.com sells a Boy's Marvel Zentai Suit Venom Costume by Jazwares for $44.99 to $49.99.

It's a full-body spandex suit that covers your kid head to toe in the classic black-and-white Venom design. Here's what that means, what's in the bag, how the sizes work and how to turn a slim spandex suit into the giant Venom your kid actually has in mind.

What a zentai suit means for Venom

Zentai is a full-body suit made of stretchy fabric, covering everything from the head to the feet. It fits close, like a second skin, and it's how a lot of superhero suits look in the comics.

For Venom, that's an interesting fit. The original symbiote was literally a skin-tight suit, so a zentai is very true to where Venom came from. But the Venom most kids picture is bigger than the person inside, with broad shoulders, huge arms and a giant head full of teeth. A zentai can't give you that bulk on its own. It gives you the look, and you can add the size. More on that below.

What's in the bag

The Boy's Zentai Venom costume (item JWC7326) is officially licensed by Marvel and includes two pieces: a jumpsuit and a detachable mask.

The jumpsuit is a full-body printed spandex suit, made of polyester and spandex. The design is printed with sublimated graphics, which means the colors are dyed into the fibers rather than stuck on top. So the big white spider on the chest and the black symbiote texture won't crack or peel when your kid stretches, bends or crawls along the floor pretending to climb a wall.

The listing describes it as capturing "the iconic black-and-white Venom look from Marvel Comics." That's the classic comics Venom, with the white spider stretched across the chest and back.

The mask is detachable, which is a big plus. Your kid can wear it for photos and take it off for the walk between houses, without having to unzip the whole suit.

The practical features

A few details on this suit make life easier on Halloween night.

There's a zipper down the center back, so getting in and out is easy, with a little help from a grown-up.

There's a zippered opening in the front for using the toilet. The listing says it plainly: "Front has a zippered opening to use the toilet." On a full-body suit, that's the difference between a quick bathroom break and having to take the whole costume off.

There are openings at the wrists to free your hands. So your kid can pull their hands out to hold a candy bag, grab a snack or open a door, then tuck them back in for the full Venom look.

And the feet are fully enclosed, like footie pajamas. That looks great, but you'll need to plan for shoes.

How the sizes work

The suit comes in five sizes, from X-Small to X-Large, and the chart lists height, which is the best number to use for a full-body suit.

The X-Small fits kids 39 to 44.5 inches tall, with a 24-inch chest, a 21.5-inch waist and 24-inch hips. The Small fits 45 to 50.5 inches, with a 25.5-inch chest, 23.5-inch waist and 26-inch hips. The Medium fits 50 to 53.5 inches, with a 26-inch chest, 24.5-inch waist and 27.5-inch hips. The Large fits 54 to 58.5 inches, with a 28-inch chest, 26.5-inch waist and 30-inch hips. And the X-Large fits 59 to 64 inches, with a 31-inch chest, 29-inch waist and 33-inch hips.

The prices vary a little. Right now, the Medium and Large are on sale for $44.99, and the X-Small, Small and X-Large cost $49.99.

Reading the chart

Go by height first. A zentai suit stretches from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. If it's too short, it pulls at the shoulders and the crotch, and the mask tugs down on your kid's face. Height is what makes or breaks the fit.

Watch the overlap. The Small and Medium both cover kids who are 50 to 50.5 inches tall. If your kid is right there, pick the Medium. A slightly long suit in stretchy fabric is fine. A short one isn't.

Notice how narrow the Medium is. It only covers 3.5 inches of height, and its chest is just half an inch bigger than the Small's. So a lot of kids will be near the edge of it. If yours is close to 53.5 inches tall, look at the Large.

And the X-Large goes up to 64 inches, or 5 feet 4 inches. That fits a lot of tweens. For bigger kids and adults, there's a Men's Marvel Zentai Suit Venom Costume on sale for $54.99, down from $59.99, so a parent and child can match.

Making Venom bigger

Here's the fun part. The suit gives your kid Venom's look, but not his size. If your kid wants the hulking version, you can build it up underneath.

The site actually recommends a Kid's Padded Muscle Costume Shirt for $24.99 with this suit. Worn under the zentai, a padded muscle shirt adds chest, shoulders and arms, and the printed spider stretches over it like the real symbiote. It's a simple trick that makes a big difference.

But there's a catch. A zentai suit is snug by design, and padding takes up room. If you plan to add a muscle shirt, size up. Pick the size that fits your kid's height, then go one size bigger to leave space for the padding. Check the height range on the bigger size too, so the suit isn't too long.

You can also try a lighter version. A thick hoodie or a sweatshirt under the suit adds a little bulk, and it keeps your kid warm. Again, size up first.

The mask

The mask is the face of Venom, so it matters. The listing describes it as detachable, but it doesn't give details on the eye openings or how it fits. So try it at home before Halloween.

Put it on your kid and have them walk around a room. Make sure they can see the floor in front of them, and that they can turn their head and still see. Have them try a few stairs. If they can't see well, plan on wearing the mask for photos and doorways only.

If the mask doesn't work out, the site sells a Marvel Venom Kid's Value Costume Mask for $12.99, which is a different style you can wear instead. And Venom's famous grin can also be done with face paint. A wide white mouth with pointy teeth, drawn on with face paint, looks great and leaves the eyes free.

The feet

Fully enclosed feet look sharp, but the fabric under them is thin. It won't protect your kid from cold or wet ground, and it can be slippery on wooden floors or stairs.

The easiest fix is to wear shoes over the suit. Black sneakers blend right in. The site also recommends Combat Military Kid's Costume Boots for $24.99 to $29.99, Kids Ninja Costume Boots for $15.99 to $17.99 and Black Costume Boots for Boys for $44.99 to $49.99. Any of them works with the black suit.

After a night out, check the feet for wear. Shoes on top of thin fabric can rub, and catching a small thin spot early can help the suit last longer.

Keeping your kid comfortable

A spandex suit is light, which is great on a warm night. On a cold one, there isn't much room for layers unless you sized up. A jacket on top for the walk between houses is the easiest fix. Venom can take it off at each door.

And make sure your kid stays visible. A black suit at night is hard for drivers to see. A glow bracelet on each wrist, or a small light on the candy bag, helps a lot.

The toilet zipper covers bathroom breaks, but practice using it once at home, so your kid knows how it works before they're out in the dark.

Care

The listing doesn't give care instructions. For a printed spandex suit, gentle care is the safe choice. Hand wash in cool water with a little mild detergent, and hang it or lay it flat to dry. Skip the dryer, since heat can damage both the spandex and the printed graphics.

Making it a Spider-Man rivalry

Venom is better with someone to chase. If you have two kids, a Spider-Man and Venom pair is the classic rivalry. The site sells plenty of kids' Spider-Man costumes, including other zentai-style suits, so the two can match in style.

And for a little extra fun, a parent in the Men's Marvel Zentai Suit Venom Costume next to a kid in the boys' version turns into a nice joke: the symbiote split in two. In the comics, that's how Venom's even scarier offspring, Carnage, came to be.

What it costs

The suit costs $44.99 in Medium or Large, and $49.99 in X-Small, Small or X-Large. Add a $24.99 padded muscle shirt, and the big Venom look comes to $69.98 to $74.98.

With a pair of $15.99 ninja boots on top, you're looking at about $86 to $91. Or keep it simple with sneakers from home, and the suit alone does the job for under $50.

Summary

The Boy's Marvel Zentai Suit Venom Costume from Jazwares is a full-body printed spandex suit with a detachable mask, for $44.99 to $49.99. It has a center back zipper, a front toilet zipper, wrist openings and enclosed feet, and it comes in five sizes from 39 to 64 inches tall. Pick by height, and size up if you want to add a padded muscle shirt for Venom's huge build. Add shoes over the feet, and test the mask at home before Halloween.

So, is it worth it?

Yes, for kids who want a sleek, comic-accurate Venom. At $44.99 to $49.99, it's a fair price for a licensed full-body suit, and the toilet zipper and detachable mask show that it was designed with real kids in mind.

I'll admit the muscle shirt idea is my favorite part of this costume. Venom is supposed to be bigger than the person inside, and a $24.99 add-on gets you there. Just remember to size up first, or the suit won't fit over it.

So measure your kid's height, decide whether you want the bulk and pick the size from there. Test the mask, grab some shoes and add a glow bracelet. Then let your little symbiote loose on the neighborhood. If anyone asks who he is, he has only one correct answer: "We are Venom.