Hot Toys Bruce Banner 1/6th Scale Figure

Hot Toys is still not done with the Avengers as they're about to release *gasp* the 1/6th Scale Bruce Banner figure based on the likeness of actor Mark Ruffalo.

Dr. Bruce Banner was one of the great highlights of The Avengers. Mark Ruffalo’s wonderful performance as the gamma radiated doctor has been well-received by fans and critics.

Now Hot Toys is excited to present this widely anticipated 1/6th scale Bruce Banner Collectible Figure from the movie for fans to complete their Avengers collection. The movie-accurate collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner in the film, featuring the newly developed head sculpt, highly-detailed costume and accessories.

Check out more photos below:

Not too impressed. Can't say they nailed it. For me, it's really so-so. Still it's a must have for collectors and completists.

Also it's the perfect figure if you're a big fan of Ruffalo's other big movie "Now You See Me" where he plays the role of the Fifth Horseman/ Mastermind behind the "Four Horsemen" outfit.

Indestructible Hulk # 9 Review

Mark Waid and Matteo Scalera bring us an unlikely team-up in Indestructible Hulk # 9 which is also brought to us in partnership with Castle Geek and Comicx Hub!

I wasn't supposed to pick up Indestructible mainly because I still thought that this was an issue drawn by Walt Simonson. Imagine my relief however when I open the book and I see Matteo Scalera's artwork plus Daredevil to boot. Then there's also Mark Waid, who's name alone is worth every penny you spend in buying the issue.

So what should you look forward to in IH # 9? Well aside from the very blatant appearance of Daredevil in this issue, there's also a looming threat in the horizon. This threat isn't someone from Hulk's veritable stable of gamma-powered villains. Clue, it's actually somebody from Captain America's past.

Wild as it may seem, the team-up between this iteration of the Hulk together with the Daredevil from Waid's current run is somewhat fun to see. It's further proof that this Hulk should be definitive version of the Green Goliath as he's both interesting and entertaining at the same time. Plus it doesn't hurt that he works well with Bruce Banner.

Speaking of Banner, amongst all the different Banners written throughout Marvel's NOW books, I have to give the highest praise to this Banner. He's got some coolness and smugness in him that I haven't seen before in past versions and volumes of Hulk. Waid makes it a point to really show us that when Banner's doing the driving and there are even some light moments during the mission:

Don't let that fool you though as this book is still all about punching and smashing, and although that's been tapered down, it doesn't mean that it won't pack a punch.

Between this issue and Avengers # 14, I can really say that this week is all about Bruce Banner and the Hulk doing good things and standing by his promise of not hurting people. I implore Marvel to stick with this characterization of the Hulk as long as possible because if they do, then I really might stick around until the end of the road. For now though, I'm just enjoying the ride and I sincerely hope that you do too.

Get your copy of Indestructible Hulk # 9 HERE.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Special thanks to Castle Geek and Comicx Hub.

Best of Marvel Minimates Wave 2 Officially Announced

Art Asylum just released the breakdown of the characters that will be appearing in their upcoming "Best of Marvel Minimates" set:

Collecting Marvel Minimates can be daunting — after all, they’re celebrating their tenth year in 2013, and releasing their 50th consecutive series of mini-figures. So where does a new collector start? Which are the “best” Marvel Minimates? Diamond Select Toys answered that last year with the first Best of Marvel Minimates assortment, which featured the best-ever versions of some of Marvel’s top heroes and villains. Now DST is bringing you more of the Best in Series 2!

This time, eight more of Marvel’s most famous heroes and villains get the ultimate Minimate treatment: Mr. Fantastic and Doctor Doom, Daredevil and Venom, the Punisher and Deadpool, and the Hulk and Loki! They’re the best versions of Marvel’s best characters, and each 2-inch mini-figure comes with additional parts and accessories — the Hulk can actually transform into Bruce Banner! This series will only be available at comic shops and specialty stores starting in Spring 2013, but Series 1 is available now, with Wolverine and Sabretooth, Captain America and Thor, Iron Man and the Thin,g and Spider-Man and the Green Goblin.

Pick up Series 1 today, and pre-order Series 2 though your local comic shop or favorite online retailer!

Indestructible Hulk # 1 Review

Got my hands on Indestructible Hulk # 1 by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu Sunny Gho and Gerry Alanguilan.

A new direction for the Hulk is given in this new relaunched title featuring the badass art team behind Mark Millar's "Super Crooks" and the man responsible for making Daredevil cool and hip and significant.

In this new book, some things are still the same; Bruce Banner is still the Hulk and he's still bound to become very angry and smash things but the more interesting bit for me happens to be Bruce Banner himself.

This new 'Banner' is something more akin to Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner. He's grown to accept that the Hulk is a condition that needs to be checked once in awhile like cancer or diabetes. He's accepted that he will no longer be able to get rid of his big green counterpart and has started down a path towards redemption. 

I liked the book because of the dialogue that Waid infuses the characters with; from Maria Hill's anxiety over her work schedule to Bruce Banner's wit and later his dedication to his new goal. The Hulk might not have any significant dialogue here but the frenetic action sequences are glorious and lets us remember that "actions speak louder than words". 

Goals are something that gets played pretty well in this relaunched title. Banner wants to join his peers Tony Stark and Reed Richards in terms of developing technology but is unable to because his flat-ass broke. He strikes a deal with SHIELD on both ends. It's this kind of smart writing that got me hooked in the book. 

The art team did an incredible job in this book like the boyband that they are they manage to kick some serious ass. First there's the sharp and dynamic pencils of Leinil followed by the sick inks of Gerry Alanguilan and then there's the really great colors provided by Sunny. Explosions and rubbles never looked as good as what they've managed to do here in issue number 1. 

Of course I'd like to thank Comicx Hub for the support for this review. 

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK # 1 Preview

INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #1
Written by MARK WAID
Art and cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Hulk - Indestructible force more weapon than man. Banner – smartest man alive. Combined they are the strongest, smartest Weapon on the planet! And NOW! the Indestructible Hulk is an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

Incredible Hulk #7.1 Spoilers - How Hulk Celebrated the Death of Banner

Spoilers for Incredible Hulk # 7.1 written by Jason Aaron with art by Jefte Palo (who I am looking forward on seeing in this book after the next arc Stay Angry).

The new issue picks up instantly after the supposed "death" of Bruce Banner. Rather than mourn for his death, the Hulk is rather apathetic about the whole thing and even shuns the sexual advances of his short-term ally Amanda Von Doom.

Von Doom orders the surveillance of the Hulk, who at the time starts enjoying his newfound freedom and does all sorts of cool things like swimming with a pod of killer whales...

He also:

- barbecues a great white shark
- Gets "sacrificed" by a tribe of cannibals
- rides a Triceratops into the sunset
- turns a volcano into his own private jacuzzi

He also...

Just Who Did Hulk Turn to for his Split with Bruce Banner

Incredible Hulk # 3 gave more questions rather than answers with regards to the question of "How Hulk and Banner Split". The issue did confirm that Hulk had some "outside help" in doing the deed.

The Incredible Hulk # 3 Preview

Preview for The Incredible Hulk # 3 by Jason Aaron and Marc Silvestri.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #3
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by MARC SILVESTRI