“HULK SMASH!!” Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Hulk was Marvel’s Jekyll and Hyde as well as Frankenstein, first appearing in The Incredible Hulk #1 in 1962. Dr. Robert Bruce Banner was a gamma expert who believed that Gamma radiation could cure many diseases but couldn’t get funding for his research. The US military agreed to fund Banner only if he made a weapon for them. Thus Banner created the Gamma Bomb under the watchful eyeful of General Ross. During the testing, Banner notice a teen had snuck unto the testing site and race out to save him. He manage to get the kid to safety only for the bomb to go off and blast him with Gamma Radiation. Later that night having surviving the blast, as the sun went down Banner was transformed into a giant behemoth of a man who was dubbed the Hulk by a soldier.

As hard as it is to believe these days Hulk’s first comic only lasted a few issues before being cancelled where he became a reoccurring villain for the Fantastic Four. When it came time to create the Avengers, Hulk was among the founders of the team. But because Stan knew he wasn’t really a team player he quit the team after, becoming a recurring villain for them before sharing a book with Ant-man and the Wasp. He eventually took over that book completely and the rest is history. Though he was a founding member of the Avengers he really wasn’t a core part of the team until recently  thanks to the MCU. He was a main member of the Defenders, which he was also a founder.

As for toys, as one might have guessed, he has had dozen if not hundreds of version done of him over the decade. However, mainly due to his size, he has fewer toys made today. So let’s have a look as the version of him that have been made.

Please note that, thanks to the ever-changing size of the Hulk, I will also be including some Marvel Select figures.

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Have

Dr. Bruce Banner

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends the Avengers: Beyond Earth’s Mightiest Anniversary Line 2-pack – Dr. Bruce Banner with Hulk

• Background:
  • Dr Robert Bruce Banner is the world leading expert on Gamma radiation. However, he suffered from watching his mother from being abused by his father. She died trying to protect Bruce from his father when he thought he was a monster. This lead to him developing Multiple-Personality Disorder, which manifest itself as various forms of the Hulk. He was sent to live with his relatives the Walters.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • Bruce Banner as he generally appears in his first appearance. This is needed for a Hulk collection as well civilian collections.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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First Appearance

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends the Avengers: Beyond Earth’s Mightiest Anniversary Line 2-pack – Hulk with Dr. Bruce Banner

• Background:
  • When the Hulk first appeared, he was Grey instead of the traditional Green. Not only that but he was much more intelligent and crafty then his green counterpart. While this was the first appearance of the Hulk, it was not seen for many year until they introduced Joe Fixit into the comics.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This figure is a great addition to your collection to show together with other FA figure. Other than that only essential for Hulk collections and there are other better Hulks out there. I recommend the Hasbro Vintage version or the Avengers Anniversary as it is a better representation of the art.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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Second Appearance

Recommend Figure: Toybiz Marvel Legends Series 9 / Galactus Series First Appearance Hulk

• Background:
  • Because printers were bad at the time and couldn’t get the same shade of grey the whole time, Hulk colour was changed to the more familiar green in him second appearance. It was years later that it was explained that the reason It changed is that Bruce was still going through a mutation after the bomb, and it was set in. You may also notice that Hulk was still quiet intelligence at the time before he became the more Savage version we know today.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This figure is not essentially but it is nice to have with the first team of Avengers, with the second Appearance Iron Man, Giant Man wave’s Thor and the mini-figures that came with the Goliath figure.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. Unless they want to release a First Appearance Avengers set like they did with the MU set, then it is not essential.

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Savage / Classic

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends 80th Anniversary 2-pack Hulk with Wolverine Or Marvel Legends 20th Anniversary – Hulk

• Background:
  • The most famous version of the Hulk. While his intelligence varies from child like to savage, Savage Hulk has been around for most of Hulk life. While Banner has tried to rid himself of this version of the Hulk for year, he has come to realise that this Hulk is an important part of himself. This is considered the classic version of the Hulk.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • There are tons of version of the Savage Hulks out there, from the TB series 1 to the recent Fan Poll winning 2 packs with the first version of Valkyrie. Like classic Spidey, you really have not an excuse not to have one in your collection. I recommend the 80th anniversary 2 pack.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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Joe Fixit

Recommend Figure: Toybiz Hulk Classics Series 1 Joe Fixit OR Hasbro Marvel Legends Avengers Gamerverse Joe Fixit wave Joe Fixit (BAF)

• Background:
  • After he was believed killed in a massive explosion, the Grey version of the Hulk was found wandering the Nevada Desert by a Los Vegas mobster, who took the now intelligent and crafty Hulk home. He was named Joe Fixit (after the ape Mighty Joe) and hired as a bouncer/bodyguard for the mobster and his casino. He eventually went be to being green but has returns on a number of occasions, like when a tribe of Wendigos attacked Vegas.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • One of the big turning points and iconic storyline of the Hulk saga, this figure is essentially for any Hulk fans. Unfortunately, as it was released at the end of the TB run, it is very rare and very expensive. There is also the Gamerverse wave BAF but that was designed to be the game’s version, so the colors are off but can still work for the comic shelf. I recommend waiting until Hasbro repaints the figure as a deluxe set.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • Yes, repaint the Hasbro game version in comic colors.

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Smart / Professor Hulk

Recommend Figure: Toybiz Hulk Classics Series 1 Smart Hulk

• Background:
  • After a session with Doc Samson, Bruce learned that he had MPD. With Samson’s help he was able to merge his various personalities together into a Merged Hulk. Having Green savage strength, Grey’s cunning and Bruce’s intelligence, the Hulk began calling himself The Professor. He joined up with the group The Pantheon, until they were betrayed by this leader.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • Again part of another important storyline for the Hulk. However, while I do recommend getting him, he is not absolutely essential.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. This one is good as it is.

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Horseman of Apocalypse War

Recommend Figure: Toybiz Hulk Classics Series 2  War Hulk

• Background:
  • For 2 issues, Hulk was captured, tortured and brainwashed by Apocalypse into being his latest War. Hulk of course broke free but Apocalypse later sent Wolverine, the then Death, to kill him which he failed.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • A fun but really obscure figure, this one can be skipped. It is not an important version of the character.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. Unless they want to release a Horsemen of Apocalypse set with maybe a Death Wolverine, Death Gambit and Archangel, then it is not essential.

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Planet Hulk / Gladiator Hulk

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends Annihilus Wave Planet Hulk

• Background:
  • After the Hulk has destroyed a big part of Los Vegas, The Illuminati took it upon themselves to send Hulk into space to a planet that he could live in peace. However, his ship crashed landed on Sakaar, he was force to fight as a Gladiator for the planets ruler, the Red King, before he led a revolt and became king himself.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • A story that has been made into a cartoon movie, This figure is needed to fight against the Silver Savage figure. If you include the MS Brood, then we have a few figures of that story. Given that Korg was made into a MU, it seems likely that he will be made into  a ML, so you would need this figure for stand next to that.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • Yes, with the Thor:Ragnorok movie being based on this storyline then Hasbro should recreate this Hulk, or use the MCU version.

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World War Hulk

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends Fin Fang Foom Wave World War Hulk

• Background:
  • After his ship exploded killing most of the planet of Sakaar and his wife, the Hulk sought revenge against the Illuminati. He journeyed to Earth and capture each member and made them fight like Gladiators. After a fight with the Sentry, he learned the truth of the explosion and gave himself up to the Avengers.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This figure is awesome and I would definitely recommend getting it.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. One of the few figure from early Hasbro that is perfect.

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Compound Hulk

• Background:
  • When a ship crash landed, it turned out to be Impossible Man on the run from Xemnu. Both Hulk and Red Hulk arrive and Impy asked them for help but the two would argue with each other. So to stop them arguing, Impy used a device to fuse the 2 Hulks together into the Compound Hulk. They defeated Xemnu and were split apart. They agreed never to talk about it again.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • Unless you have to have every Hulk figure (Green or Red), then this can be skipped. It was an One issue design. Surprisingly it is one of those things that keeps getting figures, with Hasbro, Diamond, Funko and more making a version.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No.

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Barbarian Hulk

Recommend Figure: Marvel Select Barbarian Hulk

• Background:
  • After a Hulk had psychically spilt up with Banner, Hulk was living with a tribe of Moloids underground when he was found by Maria Hill to stop a deranged Banner.
• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • This can be skipped as it is not essential, but still looks nice.
• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. Not essential

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Doc Green

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Target Exclusive Marvel Legends Infinity 3-Pack Hulk with Vision and Ultron

• Background:
  • After Bruce was shot in the head, Tony Stark tried to cure his friend by inserting Extremsis into Bruce. During the Original Sin saga, Hulk used the Extremsis to boast his intelligence to the extreme. After a run-in with Iron Man and beginning to call himself Doc Green, he began tracking down and curing all of the Hulks out there, leaving only himself and She-Hulk.

• Why you need it for your collection?:
  • I would only recommend getting this figure it you want to get the Vision and Ultron.

• Does it need a remake?:
  • No. Just released so there is no need.

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Needs

Below you will find a gallery of suits that still need to be made. I have included what I think are the possibilities of them being made. Note that these are my personal opinions and not fact. Please let me know if I have missed anything.