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Whew!  That guy can draw AND talk a whole lot!

Marvel Covers Sticker Set

While I am digging other things out and rearranging the Hulk room (cleaning it) in order to take some decent pictures for you lovely people – here is a set of stickers that I picked up at my LCS sometime last year.  I think I liked this because of their choice for the Hulk cover.  Too many times Hulk #1 or #181 or #377 – some iconic cover is chosen – which is fine, really.  I get why – but this is the first time I saw them use the cover to #105.  Nice choice – classic Hulk stuff is the best!

Amazing Heroes #198

This mag from the 90′s was actually quite interesting to go through again – Keown talks about how he was looking forward to inking his stuff and that Marvel was going to give him that chance in TIH #400 – an issue he never came to draw.  He jumped ship to Image to create PITT – a book that lasted, what? 20 issues over 10 years or something like that?  How many people are still waiting for PITT to return?  I remember reading an interview with McFarlane saying that they started to limit the number of books they were producing and WHO produced them – mainly because they did not want another “Keown” situation to happen.  He’s infamous!  That means he’s MORE than famous!

Dr. Strange

I know I will start to hear the debates on here – I can already hear some of you chiming in – but the REAL Defenders set can now be displayed thanks to the MU addition of Dr. Strange being released.

Namor - "Panties" Version

To me, it’s Namor, Hulk and Strange – and you can throw Surfer in there too if that’s your thing – I can take or leave the Surfer as a team member – but I also wouldn’t toss him out if someone added him in there.  Now, I know they released a “fully clothed” Namor – but the better version just came out a bit ago.

Silver Surfer

So yeah, like I said, get these – add them into your collection and display them proudly as a CLASSIC Defenders lover.

P.S. – I know they released a translucent variant for Strange – and no – I didn’t get it.  I just wanted these guys for a Defenders display – not a completest of Non-Hulk figures.  I mean, sometimes I will pick up a variant, sure – but in this case… oh lord, I am already bored of my blathering…

Lex - Age 2 1/2

It’s been a while since I updated you on my daughter – and I must say she is growing up quite wonderful… and beautiful!  Of course she gets that from her Daddy!  And just to set the record straight – her Mother dressed her this morning – and I came downstairs this evening to see her playing with her Hulks.  The Mighty Muggs one she calls the Mommy Hulk while the bubble head one is the baby.  How stinkin’ cute is she?

Mommy and Baby Hulk

Dormammu Bust

Last year I picked up one of Bowen’s best busts – admittedly it is not the Hulk so I have yet to show it – but Dormammu is one of Dr. Strange’s (and the Defenders) best villains.  His look, though, is one that some thought to be pretty impossible to capture in 3 dimensions.  But Bowen was up to the challenge – and he delivered a likeness so amazing – the only thing that could top it would be sitting this amazing bust on a phenomenal base.  Bowen, once again, delivered!

The head is the hardest part to capture - and Lloyd did it with flying colors!

Whenever a sculpture is trying to display fire it is a bit tricky – the only way to do it right is to make it look as real as possible.  You can’t just, for example, sculpt some fire and paint it orange!  This was the challenge that BD and Jeremy Lloyd, the sculptor, was facing and they solved the problem by having a translucent plastic surrounding the head.

Back View

This Ditko based sculpt is one of my favorite I own – the base, like I mentioned before, has a heavy Asian feel to it which is perfect for the character with the magical energies that encompass him.  One of the better Defenders stories is the mini-series called Indefensible and if you have not read it, you should.  It really captures everything that makes the Defenders so great!  And of course D-Man here is a HUGE part of it!

From top to bottom!

Hey Hulk! Where did you get those snazzy shorts?

Not only that they put the “Hulk” on the cover – but they actually have the word “Incredible” at the top as well!

Marvel Heroes Gummy Finger Puppets

Let me tell you something – when I walk into a store I am on the search for anything green – then the scope narrows from green to Hulk – then, even more so, to anything Hulk that I don’t already own.  Sometimes memory is a little fuzzy in that respect, but I digress, if I find nothing then I broaden my scope to anything Marvel.  When I do this I sometimes come across lamp shades, coffee mugs, notebooks that feature a whole slew of Marvel heroes.  I usually leave those items as I am more interested in things that are solely Hulk.  But every once in a while I find something Marvel that makes me chuckle or tickles my fancy enough that I pick it up.

What happened to Hulk's face?!?!?

This was a no brainer!  Gummy Finger Puppets?  Are you kidding me?  How awesome is that?  I hate fruit flavored candy though – so these went to my nephew who ate them all at once – except the Hulk – who he wore for most of the night “smashing” his cousins with his finger.  That is, until his mother showed up and told him to eat it or she would throw it away.  He argued that he couldn’t eat the Hulk, his mother asked why, he replied with “Because he’s the Hulk!” Classic.

The other crew from the box...

Hulk has the day off – all thanks to that amazing man, Martin Luther King Jr. – so Hulk is spending it doing his favorite hobby.  Pounding on the drums!  Click on the image for some MLK goodness!

The Incredible Hulk #4

And here I thought we were going to get something to look forward to… does that statement let you know where this review is going?  Let’s get started.

Story: Aaron is heading somewhere – I am sure of it – will it be a fantastic reveal?  Maybe – but most of the fun of a story is the journey it takes you on – and so far this journey is a mess.  Aaron has seemed to reverse the roles – Hulk is the more peaceful, reasonable one and Banner is the monster.  It’s not a terribly original idea – nor is it an interesting one.  Aaron might have his ultimate goal in mind – and like I said – it may be fantastic, but thus far it’s been pretty terrible.  Way back when, in the classic days, Hulk was an anomaly.  An “accident” that could not be re-produced.  Three years ago, with the collective minds of the Leader and MODOK they figured out how to make another Hulk.  Since then, Hulk is no longer special, there are Hulks of another color, Hulk Jr.’s, Warthog Hulks, Shark Hulks, Bat Hulks, Deadpool Hulks, Captain America Hulks and more… it’s getting quite ridiculous.  I was hoping with a new writer on board he might be interested in cleaning up the mess that others created before him – much like Parker is doing with Red, but sadly, that does not seem to be the case.

I think I had a badly drawn nightmare like this once...

Art: Silvestri (and the other 10 artists) are off the book – Portacio is in.  That may sound good – until, of course, you SEE it.  Portacio’s consistency seems to change not just from page to page – but from panel to panel!  Any action scene is full of awkwardly posed characters fighting off awkward looking creatures.  Banner has a maniacal Joker’s smile that’s both creepy and unsettling.  Hulk has an ever growing and shrinking brow.  I thought getting Portacio on the book was going to bring a little something to look forward to on the book – boy was I wrong!

Is the Hulk mad? Screaming? Scared? Constipated? I really can't tell...

Variants: None to speak of.  Funny, with a change like this, a new artist, you’d think Marvel would be throwing another rare “sketch” variant at us.  I am relieved to see that they did not.  I’d like to think they learned a lesson – but that’s just silly.  I think the real reason is that this relaunch is not the blockbuster (in sales) that they were hoping for.

Overall: This is another issue to skip.  Until things start more reflecting a Hulk book (like Parker’s Red Hulk book does) you might as well leave these issues sitting on the shelves.  Pick up Red instead (I can’t believe I just wrote that!) or dip into your long boxes and pull out a classic Trimpe issue to get this unfortunate nonsense off your palate.  Grade: F

DC gave the Joker rights to Marvel!?!?! This is HUGE!

Hulk Mug

One of the perks about Disney buying Marvel – Disney stores now carry Marvel merchandise!  And yes, a lot of the figures they carry are seen everywhere else – but they also have a few exclusive pieces.  The Disney store near me only had this – but it’s a start – I know there are a few other little Hulk items that other Hulk fans have gotten.  I will have to make a trip back soon.

Profile

The only thing is – the Disney Store is nowhere near me!  But that’s alright – I travel all over for work – I just have a new pit-stop to add in during my jaunts.  This Mug looks like an animated version – almost like the Avengers cartoon Hulk.  It’s pretty great but nothing beats the Applause mug from ’97 (remember this one?)

2-pack coming!

Yes, I think both of these figures have already been released – but the Wolverine looks slightly different – either way – this 2-pack is heading our way in 2012!  Keep an eye out for it!

Fast Forces Hulk Heroclix

These sets just came out – and as you know I am NOT into Heroclix – but damn, if these sets aren’t just like crack for Hulk lovers!  I only bought the large 6 pack and then a long box that comes with 5 – but even with those two purchases I now have most of the Hulk universe!  With the 6-pack you receive not only the Hulk – but Thunderbolt Ross, Betty, the Abomination, the Leader and a Hulk buster.  Here’s a shot of the Hulk:

Hulk Heroclix

And with Banner:

Two sides of a coin!

In the other 5-pack I was lucky enough to snag a Rick Jones, Grey Hulk, Punisher (waitaminute!  WHAT?), Lyra and a Bruce Banner!  So I was pretty happy.  Now I can act out all those romantic scenes from the movies – and even create a few of my own from the “uncut” version of the film that’s in my head.  I mean – WHAT?  Who does that?

Rick Jones and Fixit!

Anyways, I have seen that the sets also include some characters from Planet Hulk – which is cool – some AIM soldiers (bleh) – some Hulked Out Heroes (BLEH!) but I’ve also seen a whole set of Hulks – like House of M Hulk, Cosmic Hulk, Red, War Hulk and more!  While I most likely will not be picking any of these others up – it’s certainly cool that these were made!

Closer shot of the 6 pack.

Absorbing Man

I finally scored one – this surprised me – how hard it was to track this figure down.  I was able to get the variant at my LCS and it is a good thing I did because I never even saw the variant on the shelves of Target and TRU in my town.  But true to form after I found the regular at another LCS, and paid a premium, not even two days later I saw these figures at my local TRU.  That’s okay, I was more than happy just to finally bring this figure home.

A great sculpt!

I am even more excited because we now have the whole transformation of the Absorbing Man – we had the half transformation Absorbing Man that came in the 2-pack with Dr. Doom before.  Now all that there is left to do is to try to track down multiples so I can open them up!

Both versions

Hulk #47

Joey Q came up with a very interesting idea.  Ross, who hates and has hunted the Hulk his whole life, becomes the Hulk himself.  Brilliant!  The execution needed to be handled by someone who knew and cared about the history, respected the character and writes for the love of telling a classic, fantastic story – not for gimmicks.  Unfortunately, they got Jeph Loeb to do it.  The whole brilliant side of what could have been was replaced with one of the worst written pieces of crap storylines introducing the world to a character whose “fan boys” (or at least a great majority of them) would abandon as soon as a better writer came along to add some depth to him.

That is the unfortunate history of Parker’s luck with the Red Hulk.  Parker wasn’t interested in making Red beat up the Silver Surfer (which he had no business doing in the first place) instead he brought the character down to Earth, less powerful and… the only misstep that I see – a hero.  I like the idea that Red was a villain.  With the Abomination gone (for now) Hulk needs a villain that can match his power.

But I digress, still, even with my reservations, this is one of the best written comics in the Marvel line-up today.  This issue sees his daughter, Betty, coming back for a heart to heart – only to be squashed by Betty’s other self.  Meanwhile Zero/One comes back into the fray only this time it’s Red who’s attacking her/it.  I like the idea of a Hulk smashing big monsters – and that’s where this issue leaves us – with the promise of a fantastic beat down with oversized aquatic creatures!  I can’t wait for issue #48.

Grade: B+