The Good: Excellent sculpt, Good skin coloring, Good balance
The Bad: Helm coloring, A little expensive
The Basics: The 2017 Hulk from Thor: Ragnarok Hallmark ornament is pretty awesome, but it is a little light on some of the coloring detailing needed to make it perfect.
Hallmark does a pretty good job of rendering ornaments pretty fast from the year's current blockbusters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This year, Hallmark focused on the autumn film release from the MCU: Thor: Ragnarok and produced two ornaments from the film. The second of the two Thor: Ragnarok ornaments is the Hulk, in his gladiator costume!
For those unfamiliar with it, in Thor: Ragnarok (reviewed here!), Hulk is found by Thor fighting as a champion for the Game Master on a distant world. Having been hulked out for years, Hulk fights as a gladiator until he is stopped by Thor.
It is Hulk, with his helmet on, in mid-leap, which is the subject of the Hulk Thor: Ragnarok ornament.
Basics
The Hulk ornament recreates the gladiator version of the mutated Bruce Banner in solid plastic, with his plumed gladiator helmet. The ornament, released in 2017, is a decent recreation of the violent, insensate, character as he appears in the cinematic rendition of Hulk from Thor: Ragnarok. The Hulk ornament looks just like the crazed version of Bruce Banner from mid-fight with Thor.
The Hallmark 2017 Hulk ornament is made of a durable plastic and has him in an action pose. This Thor: Ragnarok ornament measures out at 4 1/4" tall, 3 1/4" wide and 2 1/2" deep. Hulk is sculpted with bulging muscles, with his arms raised as if he is about to pound the crap out of Thor. His legs, chest, and arms are all well-muscled and Hallmark even made strain lines in the character's neck. Hulk's mouth is open as if in a roar and the rest of his head is covered in a helm. The plumage on the helm is one of the ornament's weak spots, but to be fair it is very hard to make something based on something that fine look like it is realistic.
The coloring for the Hulk ornament is generally good. The paint job includes the handprint - like war paint - that Hulk has on his chest. The helmet's plumage is not colored with a realistic sense of depth and shading, so instead of looking like hair or feathers, it looks like a solid block, which is not at all realistic. The Hulk ornament features skin coloring that is generally accurate, though.
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Hulk could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for those who might not want to shell out for the more expensive Marvel ornaments. This Hulk simply hangs on a tree.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Hulk ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Marvel Universe Christmas Tree, Hulk is essential, but the gladiator Hulk version is really only for those who love that incarnation or Thor: Ragnarok. The ornament has a steel hook loop embedded in the top center of the character's back. From that hook, the Hulk ornament hangs perfectly level. This is a well-balanced ornament!
Collectibility
Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (click here for my review of that!). Since then, Hallmark has gotten into every major franchise from Disney to Twilight to the Marvel Comics universe. This Hulk ornament was not at all limited. I would not bet, given how late in the season it was released and how it has not sold out at any of my local Hallmark stores, that it will not be an ideal investment piece.
Overview
The 2017 Thor: Ragnarok Hulk ornament is cool and a neat rendition of the Hulk, but not a flawless ornament for fans who truly want the depth of the rendition of the Hulk from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
For other Marvel Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2017 Deadpool
2017 Thor Thor: Ragnarok ornament
2017 Spider-Man: A New Kind Of Hero Spider-Man: Homecoming ornament
2016 Team Captain America ornament
2011 Thor ornament
2010 Defender Of Justice Iron Man 2 ornament
7/10
For other ornament reviews, please check out my Ornament Review Index Page!
© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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