Sunday, January 3, 2016

'Nostalgia' from SimonM - The Incredible Hulk


These two bulky 38mm tall plastic “Wizkids” models of the Hulk are both miniature number 58 from the Marvel “Heroclix” Infinity Challenge range. The figures have been given different paint-jobs in order to represent Bruce Banner’s grey alter-ego when the scientist first transformed into an “unidentified creature”, and then the gamma-powered monster’s more recognisable colour scheme; green skin with purple pants.


First published in May 1962 the creature’s co-creator Stan Lee chose grey for the Hulk because he “wanted a colour that did not suggest any particular ethnic group.” Unfortunately colorist Stan Goldberg had problems with the grey and this resulted in the behemoth appearing throughout the publication in different shades of grey, as well as green. After seeing Issue One of “The Incredible Hulk” Lee chose to change the skin colour to green and for the next two decades whenever the monster’s origin was retold he was depicted as being green. Indeed even the reprints of the original comic were recoloured…

In December 1984 however Issue 302 of “The Incredible Hulk” reintroduced the grey Hulk in flashbacks and confirmed that when the scientist was first struck by the detonation of a gamma bomb, his transformation was grey-skinned. Since then the reprints of the first issue have reverted back to displaying the original grey colouring, and the official “Marvel Worldwide” fictional canon states that the Hulk was initially grey.


In order to cover up the grey Hulk’s pre-paint I initially painted the model with “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and then pained his split trousers using a combination of Heavy Blue and “Citadel” Asurmen Blue. As Banner’s shirt during his first transformation is usually depicted as being a yellowy-orange in colour so I painted it using “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre. To dirty it up I gave it a wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Finally I applied more of the Shade to the anti-hero’s skin.

For the green Hulk I used a very similar approach and just changed the paint colours. I therefore used “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and “Citadel” Thrakka Green for his ‘gamma-irradiated’ skin, “Vallejo” Heavy Green” and “Citadel” Nuln Oil for his hair, “Vallejo” Heavy Violet and “Citadel” Druchii Violet for his trousers, and finally “Vallejo” White with some watered-down “Citadel” Nuln Oil for his torn shirt.

As a child of the Seventies I knew little of the situation concerning the change in the Hulk’s skin tone at the time. In fact most of my super-heroes were black and white, courtesy of the British weekly reprints of American comics which I constantly read. I was though collecting “The Incredible Hulk” in the Eighties, and my shock and confusion at his sudden appearance as a grey-skinned monster within that title still remains with me to this day.

30 comments:

  1. This entry is perfectly you Simon!

    It's really cool that you did him in both palettes. I actually prefer the grey for some reason.

    Well done!

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    1. Thanks Anne. You know I love my super-heroes :-)

      I prefer the Hulk grey too. Although the "Citadel" Nuln Oil came out a bit darker and more gloopy than I anticipated - possibly because the pot I used was half-empty.

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  2. Going old school will always work in a Nostalgia round - nice work with the ever-loving Hulk!

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  3. Never knew the Hulk was grey at first??? an excellent entry Simon!

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    1. Thanks Ray. Few people do, which is why I thought this'd be a good subject to cover. You can never talk too much about comics :-)

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  4. I never knew his skin changed colour. I learnt something today! Well done Simon...

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    1. Thanks Michael. I hoped the Hulk originally being grey would raise a few eyebrows.

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  5. Now I am looking for a conversation in which I can mention his skin was Grey to begin with. I want to run a comic book participation game at a few shows but am not a comic buff myself so may well need to pick your brain a little.

    If he had a pot belly he could easily pass as a "Reject". I am eager to see more comic book figures a the moment.

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    1. Cheers Clint. Loads of super-heroes on my blog as you know, and plenty more coming both there and here over the next few months :-)

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  6. Nice work Simon :)

    Like most of the others here, I've learnt something new.

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    1. Thanks Tamsin. There are some cracking back stories in this themed round, aren't there :-)

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  7. I've been looking forward to seeing this, great job Simon.

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    1. Most kind Mr Awdry. But I am but a humble Padawan to a Viceroy of the vignette like your excellent self :-)

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  8. I always enjoy your love of superheroes Simon. I have a passion for comics/graphic novels as well but the guys-in-outfits were never my thing. Nonetheless, I can fully appreciate the enthusiasm for them in others. Wonderful stuff.

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    1. Many thanks Curt. I have many more to come over the next couple of months ;-)

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  9. I've always enjoyed the Hulk, and you have done a great job capturing his likeness, twice!

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    1. Cheers Steve. As I say, I think the Nuln oil came out a bit gloopier than I'd have liked for the Grey Hulk. But he's still good enough for the tabletop.

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  10. Great one, Simon! The hulk is nostalgic for me as my favorite hero first appeared with him...Wolverine. logan was in turn crafted by an illustrator watching my favorite university( Michigan) playing football when he was drawing the issue.
    The Hulks turned out very well!

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    1. Thanks David. I was a big fan of Logan and was rather surprised that "Marvel Worldwide" killed him off. I've been reading "All-New Wolverine" since it started a couple of months ago but am struggling with Laura Kinney as Logan's replacement.

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  11. Nostalgia and history. I never knew the Hulk was Grey. Nice work.

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    1. Cheers Sean. I thought it would catch some people by surprise.

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  12. That was news to me too! Great story and miniatures, Simon.

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