WWE Mattel Ultimate Edition Fan Takeover Series; #1. Hulk Hogan

Hello everyone! Welcome to the inaugural blog post of The Figuressentials! Today, I'll be taking you on a deep dive into the WWE Ultimate Edition Fan Takeover Series, staring with #1 - Hulk Hogan (HH) by Mattel.

Part 1. Brand New in the Box (BNIB) - The Full Package.

This HH figure comes in the standard Ultimates packaging, but comes in a mostly red on white colour-way, as a way of differentiating this exclusive line from the main Ultimates line. It also features a see-through plastic window for collectors who like to keep figurines mint-on-card (MOC).

The back of the packaging features a backdrop of images of the HH figurine and its real-life counterpart. HH's accolades are printed on the left side of the packaging as well as the voting results and a short biography. The voting results on the bottom of the packaging are a unique feature of the Fan Takeover Series as Mattel, the toymaker, gave the fans a chance to vote for their character's favourite attire out of 3 choices. This HH figure's attire comes from the winning vote - Wrestlemania 9, where in an impromptu main event, The Hulkster faced Yokozuna for the WWF title and won it in 22 seconds.

Part 2. Unboxing - The Layout

HH comes with a whole bunch of unique and signature accessories. There's 2 additional interchangeable heads, 3 additional pairs of interchangeable hands, a weightlifting belt, a WWF Winged Eagle title belt, soft goods shirt, and a removable bandanna.

Part 3. The Breakdown - Back to Basics

The soft goods shirt has a velcro flap for easy removal and to re-create the signature look of The Hulkster ripping his shirt in half from the front. It also features his signature rips on the back of the shirt.

His sculpted arm bands are removable as well. These basically function as mini gauntlets that you can slip on or off after removing the interchangeable hands.

The arms are double-jointed and pin-less, allowing for a cleaner and more realistic feel to the figure.

The shoulder joints have a hinge that allows for slight forward and backwards movement, allowing the figure to be able to roll the shoulders slightly forward and backwards. This is an upgrade from previous styles of Ultimates figures, where they have no shoulder hinges.

The torso of the HH figure is moulded in a style that is unique only to the Ultimates line: a mid-torso, 360 degrees swivel joint. Both halves of the joint are solid plastic and while the range of motion is not as high as the bi-directional torso joints of the Elites line (that we will explore in future reviews).

The HH figure has toe joints, ankle joints, boot swivels, thigh swivels, and double-jointed knees on both legs. The ankle joints can go in 4 directions: up, down, left and right, while the other joints, save for the knees, can only move up and down. The double jointed knees have visible pins, unlike the arms.

Part 4. The Rating - Yay or Nay?

Since this is the inaugural blog post, I'd thought I'd introduce a rating and a final verdict in the form of a "Yay or Nay". Overall, I would give this figure a solid 7.5/10. It is everything you could ask for in a HH figure in his prime. The swathe of yellow really adds to the whole "Hulkamania" vibe and this figure has the build and the articulation to pull off any posing the Hulkster has ever done and will ever do. A definite "Yay" for me.