How The Five Venoms pioneered the superhero team in Chinese martial arts cinema
The Five Venoms launched the iconic run of the Venom Mob, a group of actors brought together by Chang Cheh that appeared in various films
Hong Kong martial arts maestro Chang Cheh’s legendary acrobatic fighters, the Venom Mob, have remained firm favourites of genre fans abroad since their screen debut in 1978. The bedrock of that enduring popularity is The Five Venoms (also known as Five Deadly Venoms), the cult classic that launched their iconic run.
Whether the “sixth Venom”, Chiang Sheng, who plays the student Yang De in The Five Venoms, counts as one of the titular Venoms in the story is still hotly debated by ardent fans of the franchise.
The Venom Mob appeared in films from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Fans generally agree that a true Venoms film must feature at least three of the core actors in major plot-advancing roles, though exactly how many films meet these criteria – usually estimated between 13 and 15 – remains a subject of debate.