Back in 2006, Greg Pak and company crafted one of Marvel’s truly memorable Hulk stories in Planet Hulk. Tricked into saving the world yet again, Hulk was shot into outer space by his so-called friends, only to learn that they didn’t actually book him a return ticket. Reed Richards and the Marvel Mensa intended for the Hulk to live out his days on a peaceful and uninhabited planet, but instead he ended up smack dab in the middle of the violent Sakaar, fighting for his life and his freedom.
Sideshow collectibles have just released the Hulk in his Planet Hulk gladiator garb in their Premium Format line. For the uninitiated, Premium Format figures are quarter-scale polyresin statues that feature an element of mixed media, such as metal and soft goods. This is not Sideshow’s first stab at the Planet Hulk storyline, as they’ve previously released a Green Scar vs. Silver Savage diorama, but this is the first in their Premium Format line.
Any quarter-scale statue is going to be large. It’s just expected. When it’s a character like the Hulk, though, the word large simply doesn’t do it justice. For starters, the shipping box is just enormous. We’re talking hernia levels here. This statue itself is over 30 inches tall and 19 inches wide, so you can only imagine how much packing material that requires. The Hulk comes in pieces, so some assembly is required. Lucky for me, it’s pretty idiot-proof and the various parts are held firmly in place with magnets. I will apologize in advance for the photos, as there was no way I was getting this beast in my normal little studio.
This statue, sculpted by Martin Canale and based on artwork by Ariel Olivetti, is superbly done. Generally speaking, sculptors don’t much get the chance to go nuts when working on the Hulk, but that’s definitely not the case here. This figure is chock-full of interesting design elements and no detail was overlooked. Even elements hidden by the removable armor and the enormous shield are fully sculpted.
Apart from the sheer WOW factor of this guy, what draws my attention most is the head sculpt, and I’d have to put it in my top 5 all-time sculpts for any Hulk toy or statue. He’s jumped right past anger and rage and gone straight to utter contempt. The deep scowl and curled lip so completely illustrate what Hulk felt as he spent those first few days as a gladiator. The helmet is loaded with tiny details and the feathers give just enough so that they don’t feel like they’re going to snap if you brush up against them.
I could rave about every other aspect of this sculpt, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking. This is a 10/10 in my book and I can’t find any flaws worth mentioning. Some other highlights include the obedience disk (which is magnetic and removable), the level of detail in the sandals, and the overall weathering of the armor, sword, and shield. This is armor that has seen some action, as it’s full of scratches and chunks of missing metal. If I had to make one criticism, it’s that the shield is so large that it hides much of the amazing sculpt, including the armored arm, which is one of the key design elements of Planet Hulk. The shield sculpt is accurate to the source material, so I don’t see much way around it.
The paint work on this piece is almost as spectacular as the sculpt. One of Sideshow’s biggest achievements is how they are able to mimic multiple materials on polystone. The metal armor looks like metal. The leather straps on the torso and sandals actually look like leather. The skin isn’t so overly shadowed that it loses its natural appearance. The lines are clean and well done and there is virtually no slop on mine.
I will admit that the eyes do look slightly off at some angles. It’s something that I only noticed after taking photos, so it’s no major complaint. The base, which is a typical building ruin sculpt, could definitely use some more detailed paint apps. As is, it’s pretty simplistic and not quite on par with some of the other Premium Format bases I’ve seen. The only upside is that your eyes are completely drawn to the Hulk figure and nothing else.
The soft goods on this statue is what makes it “Premium Format,” and with the Hulk, you get a cloth loincloth that attaches via velcro over his sculpted burlap undies and the leather skirt, which also attaches with velcro. Both are well scaled and weathered. I would have liked to see a little more paint work on the ring belt clasp as it’s a bit too clean. As with any soft goods that you have to attach yourself, some fidgeting is required to get it to lay correctly.
I’ve had this item on preorder for what seems like an eternity, but it has been well worth the wait. At nearly $700, this item lends itself to an entirely new level of scrutiny, and I’m happy to say that it’s worth every penny.
If you’re interested in purchasing Sideshow’s Gladiator Hulk, your best bet is to get on Sideshow’s waiting list or start checking eBay. Just do it soon, as this piece will no doubt go up in price as time goes on.
Thanks for reading!
