I recently attended the Toy and Doll Collectors Supershow locally in Thornton, Colorado.\. There were many treasures to be found, but one item really caught my eye.
Item:
Hot Toys Hulk 1/6th figure
What it is:
It is an amazingly detailed action figurine of The Hulk. As a character, The Hulk generally needs no introduction as he has made a huge “impact” in the Marvel Universe spanning many decades. The Hulk likes to be a loner, but he’s also a member of The Avengers. This particular action figure was created to scale along side the other Avengers in this line. Each of these Hot Toys figures was created with an incredible amount of detail and attention to match the movie versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
A company named Hot Toys out of Hong Kong creates these figures. They are well known for creating very detailed and collectible action figures. I had the pleasure of speaking with Brandon, working the booth for BigTop Collectibles. He was able to give me some great information about this Hulk and the history of The Hulk in general. Brandon has a great deal of knowledge when it comes to collectibles, comics and general geeks subjects all around. It was a bit noisy at the convention so please forgive the background sounds but in this video you get some info from Brandon and a demonstration of how this Hulk moves.
How Much it Costs:
As you heard in the video, these action figures are made in a limited run. They are not serial numbered but Hot Toys does as much as they can to ensure price protection. Brandon even told me that BigTop received some damaged Hulks. Hot Toys asked that they destroy those Hulks and show proof of the destruction. They were sent replacements right away. Hot Toys does not want any poor quality products reaching the secondary market. The manufacturer generally does an announcement when they are going to do a run and you can pre-order these. The initial price for this Hulk was somewhere around $200-300. Now that the production run is over the price has gone up quite a bit. I have seen them being offered from $399-$499 around the net.
Is It Worth It?:
For any Avengers, or Hulk collector for that matter, this would be could be the prize of your collection. It’s an exceptional piece, very well made, and created exclusively to reflect the recent Avengers movie.
I want to thank Brandon and BigTop Collectibles for the interview and time they spent with me to create this review. If you are interested in seeing this Hulk or any number of other collectibles like this, you can visit BigTop Collectibles in Arvada Colorado 12650 W. 64th Ave, Unit E or online at http://www.bigtopcollectibles1138.com .
*Hush Comics is not affiliated with nor receives any compensation from BigTop Collectibles. This article is intended for informational purposes only and not as an endorsement of any one company or business.
In this consumer-based industry, it can be easy to forget the years of hard work that the people in the business put in. Behind every panel, it takes a skilled writer, artist, inker and colorist to make the product complete. Behind each scene goes hours of preparation. Hush Comics’ weekly article “Respect My Craft” will dive into the history of these comic book and pop culture greats that will hopefully give a new perspective on how the men and women behind the pen (or stylus) contribute to the collective awesome-ness of the nerd world, or at least give you a reason to invest in their work.
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Name: Louis “Lou” Ferrigno
Profession: Actor, Body-builder
NotableWork: The Incredible Hulk TV series (1978-1982), Hercules (1983), Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989), The King of Queens (2002-2007)
“The Hulk was a unique character because of his strength and power. He doesn’t have a costume like Spider-Man or like Superman – The Hulk is more visual. His passion and his strength, that is what separates him from anything else.” – Lou Ferrigno.
Want to hear something crazy and exciting?! Lou Ferrigno and all his muscles will be at Denver Comic-Con this year! Due to his accomplishments both in the entertainment industry and his personal life, we at Hush only feel it is appropriate to show our respect for the man who once picked up a bear and through it like a mile away into a river…no lie.
Louis Jude Ferrigno, better known as Lou was born on November 9th, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Growing up Lou was a skinny, introverted child who struggled coming to terms with who he was. As a young boy he had an ear infection, which caused nerve damage, ultimately leading up to him loosing 80% of his hearing. Lou wasn’t perfect in his father’s eyes, yet he taught him to never feel sorry for himself.
Without a doubt, Ferrigno was a huge comic book fan who looked up to heroes such as Spider-Man and most of all The Hulk. Because he was so introverted, he fell in love with comic books because they were very therapeutic for him. It gave him a vision of who he wanted to be and the power he could one day have. He would stare into comic books and find a sense of peace, relief, and solace with them like many comic book fans do. In fact, comic books were what influenced Lou to start body-building. Seeing the Hulk, with his muscles and power, made young Ferrigno take his first step toward becoming the person he grew up to be.
Lou simply became obsessed with working out, and how pumping iron made him feel. That power and that feeling never went away. He entered his first body building competition when he was 19, and took 23rd place. That loss motivated him to never lose again. He started putting in twice the effort and achieved quadruple the results. After that first competition, he never took less than 3rd place. Through his stupidly cut muscles and his put-others-to-shame strength he has earned a victory in IFBB Mr. America, IFBB Mr. Universe, and Mr. Olympia. I’m not jealous at all, nope.
During the time when the production of The Incredible Hulk was starting to get under way the director casted 7‘2’’ Richard Kiel, who is famously known for playing the infamous Bond villain, Jaws, to play the green goliath. However, one day, the director’s infant son told his father that “that man” (Richard Kiel) couldn’t be the Hulk. Curious, the father asked his son why not. And the son told his dad that the Hulk has a lot of muscles and that “that man” does not. BURN, RICHARD KIEL!! Rethinking his approach, the director decided to call Lou Ferrigno and offer him the role. For Ferrigno this was a dream come true, being given the opportunity to play a hero he has always looked up to.
While filming the television show there were certainly ups and downs. For one, Lou absolutely hated spending the time in make-up. Between the four hours to apply the prosthetics, body paint, and hair and the hour it took to take all that off, Lou was eager to get through the day of shooting. Due to his unique body, Ferrigno had to perform his own stunts which often left him uneasy. I don’t know about you all, but I would be unsure too if I were doing stunts like running through walls, doors, and glass, and even jumping off of high surfaces. But in true Hulk fashion, he gathered the courage and plowed through those doors, walls and glass, and jumped off those tall building and landed right into our hearts.
Even through those less favorable times, Ferrigno never lost motivation. With long days of filming ending at all different times of night and day, he always found the time to gather himself and make it to the gym for a work out. I’m still not jealous. And even though Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno went through several changes (HA! Get it?), Ferrigno’s thoughts and appreciation for the Hulk never changed. He has said time and time again that even though a lot of people thought the Hulk was a monster, he only saw him as a gentle soul that didn’t want to hurt anybody. Yet, no matter what he did, he was always running because people would still only view him as a monster. Ferrigno wanted to express that feeling when he played the character; because the Hulk was a silent role, he worked really hard to act through his emotions to convey his thoughts and feelings.
Well, you know what they say, you can take the Lou Ferrigno out of the Hulk, but you can’t take the Hulk out of the Lou Ferrigno. Or is it the other way around? I’m not sure. Either way Lou and the Hulk didn’t split ways once the television series ended. He has made an appearance in both Hulk films (crappy and Incredible) and even voiced the Hulk in The Avengers and the animated series. Sadly, he didn’t get to say “Puny God” but all of the grunts, huffs, puffs, moans and roars all came from the original. And with the new Avengers movie set to drop, Lou has said he will be right there once again to make poetry come out of the Hulk’s mouth. There is even rumored to be another solo Hulk movie come out after Age of Ultron, and I am willing to bet my metaphorical Incredible Hulk #1that he will make an appearance in some sort of way once again. Once his stretch with the television show was over he focused a lot of his attention back to fitness and created Ferrigno Fitness. Selling his own equipment, having workout and diet plans for the masses Lou looks to turn the world incredible. He even has a 12-week program called, Incredibly Fit.
Yet like I said before, comics will always be part of Lou’s life and this is evident with the work he has done with one of Denver’s most notable comic shops, Mile High Comics. That’s right, all you puny humans out there, the Incredible Hulk has a partnership with OUR local comic book store. For years now they have been teaming up with various different ventures. He often sits in on booths for Mile High Comics, where he signs autographs, takes photos, and just chats it up with fans; 2014 DCC this will be no different. He will even be at the Mile High Comics warehouse for the opening night party on June 12th at 5:00pm. Lou represents the Mile High City, from doing simple signings, to attending mega-store sales, and even sitting at Mile High Comic’s booth at the San Diego Comic-Con for six out of the last seven years. Maybe because our altitude is higher, it gives him an opportunity to train harder. Either way, Lou Ferrigno has shown major love when it comes to the Denver comic book scene.
Lou with Mile High Comics’ owner Chuck Rozanski at their booth at San Diego Comic Con
So when it’s all said and done, why does it matter? It matters because Lou Ferrigno IS the Hulk. He made this character what he is today, and gave him relevance. From the anger he felt as a child, growing up to be this powerful being showed people that you are not bound by your circumstances. If Lou was never the Hulk, the character would simply be seen as “that big green guy that always acts like someone pissed in his Wheaties.” But because of Lou, the Hulk is more than that. He is more than the monster people see, he is the rage filled goliath in purple pants that stole our hearts. Lou has said, “The truth is, I’ve been the Hulk my whole life…The Hulk was the beginning of me, a platform as an actor to grow. I don’t think anybody else can play the Hulk like I could. I was able to show emotions even with all of the makeup. I don’t think it can be duplicated.” Honestly, I’m inclined to agree with him. Lou Ferrigno is the Hulk, and the Hulk is Lou Ferrigno, and it is impossible to love one but not the other. And due to what he has achieved in life, and the character he has brought to the screen I will forever be an Incredible Lou fan.
None of the media in this article belongs to Hush Comics; it all belongs to their respective properties. Join us tomorrow as we continue our countdown to Denver Comic Con as we spotlight Star Trek: TNG and Reading Rainbow star, Levar Burton.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Pick of the Week:
Wonder Woman #28 – A-
This latest arc of Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman can be summed up in one word – EPIC. All I’ve ever wanted to see is Zeus’ first born tangle with the interim king of Olympus, Apollo. The use of Greek mythology, both public domain and vastly abundant in characters, has held my interest strongly the entire series. Wonder Woman herself is as bad-ass and beautifully-drawn as ever. The best part about her character in this series is that she isn’t just an inspiration to girls; her strength resonates in women and men alike. There is an epic God of War 3-esque build-up happening for the throne of Olympus, and you can’t help feel bad for First Born. I love this series because it feels so much more like a frozen movie than a book, a uniqueness that has made this a series in a league of its own. – S
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo:
Justice League #28 – B+
I don’t know how Geoff Johns did it, but he managed to make the Metal Men cool and modern. Sentient androids created from metal alloys, the Metal Men have been around for over fifty years. This iteration shows them as selfless heroes that Cyborg is trying to recruit to take on the Syndicate. They all play off each other well, and are given personalities that match the alloy; for example, Gold is the flashy self-absorbed one, Mercury is the hot-head, etc. The entire issue is full of silly banter that kind of makes the reader forget that the Justice League arc is smack-dab in the middle of a global takeover. I’m curious to see how Cyborg can rally the Metal Men. Alone, this issue was quite enjoyable, but I’m not too sure that it’s anything more than novelty. – S
Supergirl #28 – C
I won’t lie, this series had me at “hormonal Kyrptonian girl with a Red Lantern ring.” For those of us just joining the show, Supergirl had incorrectly thought that she killed Lobo (not the Bastich we remember, but a new skinner Lobo). As the awakened Lobo tries to calm Kara down, and even get her to join the bounty hunter, which would have made for a great story arc on its own. Supergirl, predictably, reacts to the situation like any hysterical teenager would, by punching and yelling. It’s become a tiresome pattern with her, and I was really hoping for some sort of emotional connection with her transformation, similar to the way they did with Rankorr in Red Lantern #5. But what really annoyed me about the issue is that the whole reveal that we were waiting for doesn’t happen until the very last panel, and that everything leading up to it was filler. Supergirl #28 is a taste of good things to come, but I feel it was introduced pretty poorly. – S
Harley Quinn #3 – C-
There comes a certain time in a new comic book that the novelty wears off and you expect an actual story to form. In Harley Quinn, that point was somewhere around the middle of issue #2. There’s plenty of things happening in this issue, but just like the puppies Harley is caring for, this issue chases its own tail the entire time. I really had high hopes for this series going in, and I still think Harley is capable of carrying her title, but taking a vacation from writing just to put out a throwaway Valentine’s Day issue. I’m not breaking up with Harley Quinn, but we’re definitely on a break. – S
Dark Horse Comics:
Terminator – Enemy of My Enemy #1 – A-
I really enjoyed this book and being a major fan of the films, would have thought it impossible to find a female lead that is more of a bad ass than Sarah Connor. Not only is the new lead more of a bad ass, she is able to go toe to toe with the T-800. That’s pretty much unheard of for any human in the current lore. Not much has been stated about the story other than there is no Kyle Reese and there is a woman the terminator is after. Other than that we are left guessing what is next and why this is happening. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be the same continuity as Sarah Connors story or if it is supposed to be an alternate universe. Either way, this was a very enjoyable first issue; things started off with a bang and it doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down from here on out. – R
Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #3 – B+
Cry of Shadow’s #3 is everything that should have been issue #1. From first panel to last panel I was completely engaged in the story of CT-5539 aka Hock Malsuum and his connection to Darth Vader. The insight readers receive in issues #1 & #2 verge on being pointless in the context of “The Shrouded Offensive,” the focus of this issue. Hock’s first person narrative does a lot for Cry of Shadows. Anticipation and suspense is really starting to build and for the first time in some months I’m really interested in what will happen next in a Star Wars series. The Vader and Hock dynamic promises to be very different (and more exciting) that the typical Dark Lord-Stromtrooper combo. Next issue is wide open for deeper developments and continued great story telling. Cry of Shadows will definitely be my first read next month! – T
This new resurgence of the X-Files has been quite interesting. Following up January’s Ghostbuster issue (and preceding next month’s Transformers), the TMNT issue has government agents searching for the exploits of the turtles in Northampton as vampires attack. More than anything, it’s nice to see the turtles having fun. The ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is my favorite out right now, but it’s nice to see them take a break to crack jokes and fight ridiculous bad guys. The art in this issue, which focuses on shading a lot more than the ongoing series, and it’s a nice change of pace. It might be the vampires, but the humor remind me a lot of Joss Whedon’s style. So before I go off on my fanboy fantasy of a Whedon-created TMNT, I will say that this issue was a nice diversion – and an incredibly original idea to use other IDW staples to investigate via X-Files, but not much more. Also, when’s the last time you’ve read the word “Nincompoop” in a comic book? – S
Image Comics:
Undertow #1 – C
Image published a new series titled Undertow this week that explores a really neat concept – reverse scuba divers! Fish people from under the sea. Not mermaids and mermen though. These underwater dwellers have two arms, two legs and gills. Not to mention they live in Atlantis! And when a group of these Atlantians get the hankering for adventure they dawn scuba suits filled with water and explore the dry surface shores and landscapes. With the use of flying crafts that accommodate whole cities and other advanced gadgetry the explorers study pre-developed and conscientious humans and other creatures that live off oxygen. The ultimate goal is to find a way or method that will allow the gill-bearing society to also breathe the O2 and “free” themselves. Doesn’t all that sound awesome? I thought so too, until I read the issue. As an engineer by trade, I’m often given a hard time by other coworkers for turning something really simple into something really complex. In that sense – I empathize with Steve Orlando (author) and his intention with this story. For a premier issue, Undertow was overwhelming and downright tiring to read. Plot building content was so scattered and choppy that I was lost before I started. It wasn’t even until the very last panel that I saw a real story begin to develop. I get the feeling that Undertow may be one of those series you wait to buy when it comes out in trade paperback format. We’ll let you know if issue #2 is any better. – S
Marvel:
Daredevil #36 – A-
We’ve made it to the end of this chapter in Daredevil, but don’t be sad, because Marvel is finding it necessary to reboot everything in the line-up to attract new readers. In all honesty, though, this was a great place to wrap up this volume of Daredevil. The fight against the Sons of the Serpents is culminating and there is a definite change about to happen in Matt Murdock’s life. It’s not quite the epic conclusion that I was hoping for, but it was still a great send-off that has Daredevil, as Notorious B.I.G. said, “Going Back to Cali.” Should we be so lucky that Mark Waid continues to write for Daredevil, I will continue to read the book enthusiastically. – S
The Punisher #2 – B+
Another great issue to read for you Punisher fans out there in the world. What I really love about this comic is that it stays true to the character. They don’t try to put some different spin or twist on Frank Castle but rather, he is the same good old bad-ass in boots. With this comic, I can see the story development at just the right pace, and the introduction of some familiar characters gets me really excited to see how this story-line is going to progress. The way the panels are set up and the constant action that is happening, I feel like I’m watching an explosive action movie right before my eyes. Even though there weren’t tons of explosions or crocodiles in this issue, it was still really great to see the action that came in this comic…BOOM Head Shot!! Yeah there some of that in this book. Overall, I am very pleased with how this story is progressing and look forward to reading the next issue. – E
Uncanny X-Men #17 – B+
Yeah, so the next time you decide to go on location, do not visit the Savage Land. The Savage Land is some scary stuff, and that is just where Magik decides to drop off the new rectuits for field training. I do want to ask how Google Maps works out there, but there are more pressing matters at hand. The horrid environment makes for some great humor, as the naivity of the students and some exceptional writing by Brian Michael Bendis creates for some golden moments. The new recruits are becoming highly likable, but Cyclops is eager to let his team know that they are serious about the mission they are embarking. Uncanny X-Men #17was a rapidly-paced issue, which had both positive and negative effect on the reader. This high-octane laugh riot is definitely worth your time and money. – S
Dexter Down Under #1 – B+
My only gripe with this first issue, other than the fact that Dexter doesn’t slab anyone up, is that I cant stop picturing Michael C. Hall every time I look at Dexter’s face. This is a continuation or possibly a shoot off from the books from what I can tell. I won’t be sure until they reveal a little bit more of the story. This is a perfect way for people who want more Dexter after the recent ending of the show. I personally hated the way the last season of Dexter ended so this is a perfect opportunity to get that outta my mind and hopefully leave me with something better to remember. Nothing major happens story-wise which is to be expected but is still a little on the disappointing side just because I am used to at least one thing happening every episode. Being a major fan of Dexter I am looking forward to his first trip down under. – R
Marvel Knights: Hulk #3 – B
I may be a little biased this week, just because I am a big Hulk fan, but I love to see the raw power out of the Hulk and we sure get to see some more of it in this issue. I also like that they dove further into back-story. I will admit that part of this comic had me confused at times, with the progression of events or “memories,” but I’m not too hung up on it. As a Hulk fan, I appreciated this book – even with all the mystery surrounding it. It was flooded with amazing, action-packed panels, and good story-telling. So at a pure minimum, it was great eye-candy. I feel that, with this story, a lot of the pieces are there, and we just need a few more to make the whole puzzle in order to get the full picture. Either way, my confusion did not dictate my enjoyment. I look forward to seeing more out of this book, and I’m sure as it progresses I’ll love it even more. – E
Night of the Living Deadpool #3 – B-
I think Deadpool books get a bit of a break in standards. The stories are never great, but they’re regularly enjoyable. Parody some pop culture, shoot and stab some bad guys and make a lot of jokes in bad taste. Lather, rinse, repeat – Night of the Living Deadpool is no exception. And that’s not entirely a bad thing. There is a lot of entertainment value to this series, from Romero jabs to The Walking Dead Easter eggs. Zombie fans will get a kick out of this books, and Deadpool fans get to see a different spin on zombie Deadpool, as Wade has quite the odd reaction to being bitten. I’m also a huge fan of the return of A.I.M. scientists; I knew they would be the cause of the apocalypse some way or another. I wouldn’t buy into it too hard, but I have gotten a kick out of every issue so far. -S
Amazing X-Men #4 – B-
BAMF! Nightcrawler and the crew are back at it. Azazel is trying to hi-jack the after-life, and only Nightwing and his X-buddies can stop him. Most of this issue focuses on reuniting the team, which is scattered across hell. It all happens a bit too easily, because the gravity of the situation is lost when Nightcrawler is able to just teleport everybody out of danger. Amazing X-Men succeeds when it is able to fall back on the nostalgia of Kurt Wagner, especially with the use of flashbacks and his encounter with Wolverine. It looks like we’re finally gearing up for the battle with Azazel, so I hope the next issue has more to offer. – S
Avengers World #3 – B-
I don’t really know what to say about the story for this book. There is almost too much going on at the moment. The events of last issue went completely unmentioned and we are back to something that was mentioned in the first issue. For some reason, the city of Madripoor is on the head of a giant centurys old dragon flying around the ocean. And to make matters worse, we don’t end this issue knowing any more than we did when it started. All that being said, Shang-chi is a boss and is truly the Master of Kung-Fu. The art is amazing and the action sequences between Shang-chi and Gorgon are awesome. I particularly loved the panels they chose while he was channeling his chi from those before him. I’m still left wondering what the hell is going on and don’t really expect anything to be answered next time either, since there are three groups, it most likely won’t focus on either of the last two issues stories. I’m hoping for a bit more story cohesion in these next few issues because they really do have a great cast to work with and it would be a shame to see that get wasted. – R
New Warriors #1 – B-
Like any new comic that comes out, there is going to have to be some set up in order to get things rolling. What I really liked about this comic is that it successfully introduced the main story-line and the individuals involved with no background needed; it revealed the heroes names, their nicknames, and super-powers. With all that in mind, it is really easy for new readers to focus on the story rather than trying to figure out who everyone is. I believe this book has the potential to be a great read, depending on what happens next. No, there wasn’t a ton of action, more or less just set up for the action that is soon to come. Whatever is about to happen, it was intriguing enough for me to want to come back and read the next issue whenever it may come out. So even though most of the book was just set up for future issues, it was still a nice read and fans of the genre would find enjoyment from it. – E
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 1 A, 2 B’s and 1 C, averaging out to a 3.00
Marvel Comics: 1 A’s and 8 B’s, averaging out to a 3.11
Independents: 1 A, 2 B’s and 1 C earning a 3.00
Funniest Panel of the Week:
Iceman in Amazing X-Men #4
Epic Panel of the Week:
Hulk loses it in Marvel Knights: Hulk #3
Cover Art of the Week:
Justice League #28 Steampunk variant
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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