So Hulk has arrived.
Here is a piece I never thought I would own. when it was first teased, I thought it looked great but had no idea how I would get it. Then the Iron Studios Hulk got announced and I did not know which one I wanted to get. I liked the IS size and pose and some of the switch out heads were very good and while I liked the XM Hulk, he looked a tad too villainess with the pose and facial expression... So I passed.
After getting IS hulk I felt good about my decision but slowly but surely, I found that the size of it was just too much for my display areas and I was falling out of love with the head sculpts.... They needed to be sculpted a little better and they needed much better paint apps. I also did not like that the hulks fingernails and toenails had no color to them other than green just like the rest of him. During this time I also decided to get the XM Gladiator Hulk and I just had no idea how to display both.. But the bigger problem was that they will not display well together due to the size of IS.
So I thought.. Well the Planet Hulk story is easily my fav Hulk story. Hell its my fav comic story period.. I will sell my IS Hulk and be happy with the just owning the Gladiator.
That lasted about 5 days after I had someone put in an offer for IS Hulk
I needed to have a classic Hulk representation also.. I had to have purple pants Hulk
So I started watching the XM transformation video reviews again.
Now I have had a lot of Hulk statues over the years always looking for that perfect representation of the hulk in my collection. I have come close a few times but something always messes it up.
OG PF Hulk - Ape Head and uninteresting pose.
Hulk Comiquette - bad paint apps and goofy hair
Green/Red/Grey PF - Hunched pose was a bit off and the head sculpts on Green were OK (EX) to awful (reg)
IS Hulk - Some uninteresting Paint apps and head sculpts were lacking a bit
Hulk Avengers Maquette - Bad paint.. Pose was boring.
Gladiator/King Hulk PF - Nice but lacking in excitement a bit.
all of these have been in my collection and then saw their way out the door as I continued to look for perfect Hulk.
So I decided to try and get the XM Hulk...
In all honesty when he first arrived, and I put him together I was slightly disappointed. IS Hulk had spoiled me in the wow factor category. That thing is so big that it just demands to be gawked at with your mouth ajar. Some of my excitement I am sure was dulled by the fact that I knew the piece very well from vids and pics.. Later that night though I started to exam him and fell in love
The Great!
1. That Head sculpt is perfect. Right now, its easily the best out there. So much rage and fury. I used to think he looked to evil but in person he is perfect. Its sculpted so well. It really is a case of pics not doing the piece justice.
2. Body sculpt - Is also great. I love all the veins. Just a very realistic body sculpt. I also like the pose. Pics and videos made him look more like he was in a villain pose ala Dr. Doom or Lord Sauron. But in person it works and I cant think of one I would prefer for this piece.
3. Those paint apps on Hulk.. WOW!!! The OG PF Hulk was the winner in the best paint apps category forever. This guy is right there with him. Both use more of the olive green, which IMO, works much better in statue forum then the brighter greens that are out there.
4. Overall story the base tells.
The Good
1. Banner is a great sculpt also. He looks good as a standalone piece or with the Hulk
My Only complaints.
1. I would like to have more debris on the base and maybe a bit more realistic paint apps on the base also.
2. I really think this Hulk is closer to 1/5 then 1/4. But its so freaking perfect I really dont think it matters.
So in the end I would say this is the best "regular" Hulk on the market. The face sculpt, body sculpt, and story it tells solidifies that position.
My top 3
1. XM Transformation Hulk
2. IS Hulk
3. Hulk Comiquette - This is one better haircut and better paint apps away from being my fav. The sculpt on that piece is unreal.
Anyways here is the set up.. I also noticed his head sculpt looks to have been influenced by one of the Savage Hulk comic covers.