Packaging: The new MARVEL LEGENDS series is similar to several other TOY-BIZ Superhero action figures that have been marketed with a comic book included taped to the back of the card. In some cases (like with THE RHINO, whose first appearance and cover art in Amazing Spiderman #41 is reprinted) the comic book makes the action figure look even better. In the case of THE HULK, the comic book cover art does not add much to the packaging, and the reprinted comic book itself is one of hundreds of HULK comics that could have been used. The thin plastic window which covers THE HULK offers a clear view of the figure and his broken brick wall rubber stand.
The Headsculpt: This version of THE HULK is perhaps the most intense one I have ever seen. THE HULK's face is as brutal as he should look in the midst of a battle. The teeth are sculpted perfectly, and the facial expression borders on maniacal. The dark eye sockets and the thick wavy hair look wild and maniacal.
The Headsculpt: This HULK is perhaps the most intense one ever made. THE HULK's face looks brutal as if in the midst of a battle. The teeth are sculpted perfectly, and the facial expression borders on maniacal. The dark eye sockets and the wild sculpted-on hair create a menacing and sinister look.
The Figure: Champion bodybuilders like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman would have to double up on their steroids just to stand next to this HULK. The muscles are huge and the veins are all popping out, although more detail and more weblike vascular striations would have made this 6.75" HULK a work of art. The action figure itself has a weird shoulder action which has the two arms screwed on to the front chest as if they were latch doors. This seems to be so that the arms can literally wrap around the figure. The back of the figure has a two part shoulder which includes a sort of cod-piece on each side which is supposed to cover the holes in the back which are caused by the design that has the arms being latched into the front chest. The torso also has the extra-articulation feature similar to 12" Dragon, G.I. Joe, and other figures that split the upper body into a chest and abdominal area so that the figure can have a more human flexibility.
Paint-Ops: THE HULK's plastic seemed to have been mixed with some lack of uniformity. The photo on the right shows a couple of yellow spots in the HULK's triceps, and there is some yellowish tone in the HULK's shoulder blades too. While there are many variations of the HULK's color, this HULK seems to be a sort of vegetable Olive Green color that has too much yellow mixed in. The HULK does not have to be a pure Romaine Lettuce green (or gray if you like the gray HULK) but he should not look like an olive. On the other hand, the HULK's purple pants are perfectly purple!
The Gear: THE HULK brings a rubbery broken-brick wall with a couple of foot pegs so that you can pose the HULK standing in front of it. The stand also has a couple of holes in the back of the brick wall so that you can also hang the stand on the wall like you would hang a photograph or a ceramic plate or sculpture. The comic book itself is worth at least $1. although Marvel could have picked at least a hundred other issues of THE INCREDIBLE HULK which had better stories than this one. If you have seen "War of the Gargantuas," then perhaps you will agree that this HULK has an eery resemblance to those two creatures.
The Hands: Did I mention that THE HULK has a couple of gigantic open hands which seem to be intended so that the HULK can do his famous thunder-clap that generally shatters the windows of buildings and knocks down his foes?? At least one punching hand would have been a plus, considering that the expression on the HULK's face seems to be saying: HULK SMASH!!! The fingers on these hands are not bendable. The fingers are rubbery, and they are the only letdown that I have with this figure. The hardcore collector could bend the fingers by using a hair-dryer or other heating appliance in order to soften the fingers and then put them into a new position. However, since the hand is wide open, getting the HULK to make fists with these hands would take a lot of sculpting skill. Don't try it unless you are willing to end up with a hand that looks like a melted rubber ball.
Overall: This action figure is $6.99 at Toys R Us and most places that I have seen it. KB Toys has it at $7.99 and the Marvel Legends line at this point includes THE TOAD (a really nasty version), IRON MAN, and CAPTAIN AMERICA. The HULK is 6.75 inches tall and the other figures are only six inches tall. This figure would be a blast if he were 12" inches tall, like the 1970s Mego versions of The HULK were. All in all, this Marvel Legends line is outstanding!!!
Grade: A+
