[TheBlueMarvel]

The number one slot for the best Hulk fig, for me, results in a tie. Both the Toy Biz - Hulk Classics: Gamma Punch Hulk (series 2) and the Toy Biz Marvel Legends: Face-Off Hulk *snarling version* (series 1) approximate what I love about the jade giant.

Toy Biz - Hulk Classics: Gamma Punch Hulk - series 2


Pros:
- captures the look of the Hulk in those moments immediately following Banner's transformation

- impossibly mad howling with rage

- impossibly vascular and muscled (Banner gains some 2,200+ lbs of muscle; the proportions of the Hulk are otherworldly and not remotely human

- possessed of a wild look with eyes more befitting of an animal or 'monster'

Cons:
-Gamma punch feature greatly limits the ability to pose arms

Reference pic -


Toy Biz - Marvel Legends: Face-Off Hulk (snarling version) - series 1


Pros:

- an excellent homage to Sal Buscema's run of art work for the Hulk circa the late 70's to 80's (my time for reading Hulk as a wee tyke..well, the seventies stuff was a tad before my maturation as a reader, but that was when fans actually collected back issues)

- great for Defenders line-ups (see reference pics) since Sal illustrated that book also

- just an all around devastatingly beast sculpt

Cons:

- no ab crunch (with that one correction, it'd be perfect and my #1)

Reference pics -




Honorable mentions/Runner(s) up:

Toy Biz - Hulk Classics: Smart Hulk (Banner Hulk)

This Hulk also holds a great deal of nostalgia for me. "Smart" or "Banner-Hulk" was introduced when Dale Keown was the artist on the book. This was the era of Hulk-stories where he joined the "Pantheon" and Dale's art made the book pop for me. I know Dale might be better known for "Pitt", but I was introduced to him via a much earlier independent book by the name of "Dragonforce"...man. did I love his art as a kid...Banner Hulk has it all; stronger than most incarnations of the Hulk and Banner's genius to boot. Irresistible force? I think so...really cool books!

Toy Biz - Hulk Classics: Smart Hulk (Banner Hulk)


Reference pics -


SDCC 07 Hasbro: Marvel Legends Exclusive She Hulk

While not my choice for number one Hulk, I must concur with ChuckSass regarding the special nature of the SDCC 07 Hasbro: Marvel Legends Exclusive She Hulk. John Byrne is one of my all-time favorite artists/writers and his epic run on FF is stuff of legend. The Thing leaves on sabbatical to work for Project Pegasus (got his own book of sorts with Marvel Two-in-one) and Shulkie joins the crew. While there was some shameless and sexist T&A associated with She-Hulk, the depictions (and my pre-teen sensibilities - thank goodness) matured allowing (youthful) me to recognize that female heroes (and women by extension) could be strong and in command. I wish She-Hulk wasn't treated in large part as a throwaway "female-Hulk", because the character is so very much more than that...

SDCC 07 Hasbro: Marvel Legends Exclusive She Hulk


Reference pics -


Caveats: I could add many more Hulks to this short list. I luvs ALL of my Hulk figures and picking a favorite is very, very hard...Everyone has their preference and I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention that all our opinions are equally valid. There are so many Hulk figs to choose from that as Hulk fans, we are all winners in the end. HULK SMASH, baby!