Released only a few months before the Savage version, the Hulk Variant substantially anticipates its main features, although using a mirrored figure, a different sculpt
of the face and a decidedly darker green coloring. In this way, the statue (digitally sculpted by Khurram Alavi and Randy Bowen) can boast the same grandeur and beauty
of the “twin” Savage, but a more limited run, as it was produced as a Website Exclusive version, in 1235 samples worldwide. Not surprisingly, the piece has been a
great success among all collectors and its market quotations are always rather high. Also in this case the attention is focused on the physicality of the monstrous
Goliath: each muscle fiber is oversized to excess and emphasized by an excellent sculpt and very well finished color shades.
In this Variant version the mouth is open with
the dental arches and the green tongue on display and two deep wrinkles stretching from the nose up to the chin, thus perfectly outlining its wide open mouth. The eyes
(defined and colored in a masterful way) are dilated into an expression of furious anger, with bushy and arched eyebrows and a pronounced furrowing of nose and muscles on
the forehead. Compared to Savage statue, the hair is shorter, slightly more irregular, and the background black color combines well with the (just sketched) green shades. Note
the presence of veins, more evident at the base of the neck and barely visible on his left biceps, and the monstrous fists clenched, that stand out for their grandeur
and sculptural definition. Still compared to Savage, the pants exhibit a slightly darker purple which fits perfectly with the green hue used for the figure, while the
base is strangely different from the promotional photo, where it appeared taller and with a sandy soil. In all likelihood, over the years the Hulk Variant is destined
to become a highly prized item in the collectors' market, because of its top-class quality, the remarkable aesthetic impact and the more limited edition with respect
to the other Bowen statues dedicated to the hero. An excellent representation of this key-figure of the Marvel Universe and a top-quality piece for all fans!
