Review: 76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster versus A.I.M. Agent
Posted by CapnRex101,Past minifigure-scale models of the Hulkbuster have appeared reasonably consistent in design and take inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this example represents an interesting departure from previous renditions and features distinct proportions.
While many recent Marvel sets are based upon the upcoming Avengers video game, 76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster versus A.I.M. Agent seems more reminiscent of Hulkbuster designs from the comics. This design looks quite appealing, although its head seems unusually flat in official images and has therefore elicited criticism.
Minifigures
The same Iron Man minifigure appears in multiple recent Marvel sets, taking inspiration from the Avengers video game. The helmet is exceptionally accurate when compared with its video game counterpart and I like the colour combination of dark red, metallic gold and metallic silver. The printed eyes and mouth look excellent too, resembling Iron Man's comic book design.
Dark red and metallic gold panels continue across the torso and legs. These look wonderful, due in particular to the realistic shading on each element. Rescue features similar detail and combines red with metallic silver to splendid effect, differing considerably from Iron Man. The angular printing on the helmet appears particularly impressive as many depictions of Rescue include similar decoration.
These helmets lack opening faceplates but double-sided heads are included. Tony displays smiling and determined expressions, the latter being hidden under a heads-up display, while Pepper features a smile and a grimace. Hair pieces are not provided, unfortunately, but each minifigure does carry a trans-light blue Power Blast to represent repulsor blasts.
A.I.M. Agents appear frequently throughout the 2020 Marvel range and two such minifigures are provided here. Their uniforms are identical, comprising pearl dark grey helmets and chest armour that complements their flame yellowish orange sleeves. The legs lack decoration but I like the torso design, especially on the reverse where a breathing tank is visible.
The orange visor looks splendid too, although I would prefer more traditional A.I.M. Agents instead of these characters from the Avengers video game. Nevertheless, these minifigures feature outstanding detail and different equipment. One trooper wears a large backpack with twin flick-fire missiles which can rotate in their housings, as demonstrated below.
Unfortunately, turbines have been omitted to accommodate the missiles but this design still looks good in my opinion. I like the A.I.M. stickers which decorate the housings, in particular. Moreover, the flying agent wears a breathing apparatus while the second minifigure features folding goggles and is accordingly unique within the 2020 selection.
Each minifigure also includes unique weaponry, befitting their respective equipment. The character wearing goggles, for instance, carries an enormous rifle with a stand for braced shooting underneath. This seems suitable for long-range attacks while the other character wields a more conventional rifle.
The Completed Model
This rendition of the Hulkbuster is substantially larger than past models, measuring 16cm in height and featuring unique proportions. The design is reminiscent of comic book Hulkbuster variants which distinguishes it from previous examples and I think this armour looks excellent, predominantly comprising red, dark red and pearl gold elements which match Iron Man.
Increasing the scale permits comprehensive articulation, including shoulder, elbow, waist, hip and ankle joints. These are suitable for creating numerous poses and the adjustable shoulder armour is effective. The fingers and toes are individually articulated too. The model lacks knee joints which is somewhat disappointing, although their angled appearance gives the impression of suitable strength.
However, the most distinguishing feature of this model is undoubtedly its unusually flat head. The head appears relatively inconspicuous in the images above, where the Hulkbuster faces downward slightly, but looks awkward when the model is standing at full height. Nevertheless, this can be disguised easily and I think the official images are rather uncomplimentary.
The metallic gold faceplate looks superb and I like the surrounding black bands, separating armour panels on the head. Additionally, this 6x6 cockpit component is combined beautifully with the 3x6x1 windscreens underneath, forming a smooth shape. The resulting design looks outstanding and presents an almost impenetrable shell around the pilot.
One minifigure can sit inside, controlling the Hulkbuster from a computer display. The cockpit seems fairly simple but I like the light bluish grey ingots which flank the pilot and the consistent dark tan colour looks great. The opening cockpit mechanism also works nicely, matching earlier versions of the Hulkbuster that feature similar hinges.
Two light bluish grey and dark red cannisters are connected to the back and these look nice, although the cannisters are only attached using single hinges so they become dislodged very easily. The golden ingots look splendid though and two clips offer storage for the Power Blasts. Moreover, I love the body structure which makes clever use of red mudguard elements around the rotating waist.
Several stickers are applied across the Hulkbuster, including two on each arm. However, the central arc reactor is printed on the chest and its triangular shape is superb. The surrounding combination of curved slopes seems equally effective as the same shapes appear across the whole model, including on the bulky shoulder panels which look magnificent.
I love the pearl gold rings at the centre of each shoulder, providing connection points for the rotating spring-loaded shooter turret. This weapon contrasts with the Hulkbuster which looks slightly odd, although the trans-light bluish screen in front of the gunner is perfect. Even so, I prefer to exclude the turret attachment when displaying the Hulkbuster as I think this armour should be focused upon brute strength, rather than projectile weaponry.
The arms include several joints, providing extensive articulation and therefore permitting impressive motion for the turret. The forearms appear appropriately powerful and I love the trans-light blue repulsors inside each palm. The articulated fingers are splendid too, although their connection is reliant upon individual clips which feel reasonably fragile.
Both legs appear similarly proportioned to the arms, including broad feet that ensure stability. The adjustable toes are also important in that regard but the ankles cannot move far in either direction, preventing the feet from resting flat on the surface underneath. This problem is very minor and does not compromise the model but I think it could have been resolved.
Unlike the majority of LEGO mechs, this Hulkbuster includes ample detail on the reverse of each leg. The golden thrusters look brilliant, presumably permitting assisted jumps, while the knees ingeniously incorporate dark bluish grey arms. These prevent any motion but their fixed position is ideal for display in my opinion. Knee joints are always welcome but might not have proven particularly useful in this situation.
Overall
76164 Iron Man Hulkbuster versus A.I.M. Agent has surpassed my expectations. The head seems too flat, as official images suggest, but the prevalence of this issue depends upon the posing of the Hulkbuster. I think the model looks rather striking when the torso is angled down and I appreciate the dramatic difference between this creation and previous sets.
The accompanying minifigures are relatively bland, due in particular to the ubiquity of A.I.M. Agents across the 2020 Marvel range. However, the exclusive Rescue minifigure looks great and I like this version of Iron Man. The price of £34.99 or $39.99 does exceed other minifigure-scale Hulkbuster models but that seems justified given the increased size of the newest design.
74 likes
30 comments on this article
Rescue is a huge draw, undoubtedly, but the rest is pretty cool too.
Getting closer to Moko. I’m sure we’ll see official knee joints again at some point in the future.
I like the majority of the set, but the choice of that dish element is REALLY throwing me for a loop.
Seems a bit excessive, using a Hulkbuster for two puny human agents....
The more you really think critically about this set, the more absurd it gets. For starters, Hulkbuster looks rather Hulk-busted with that pancaked noggin. I had to look up a box image to make sure I wasn't just getting hung up on a typo, but no, it really is "Iron Man Hulkbuster versus A.I.M. Agent". Agent. Singular. There's two of them in the box, so apparently one of them is just spectating? Maybe he's filming his buddy doing something stupid so they can get tons of views on Youtube. I'm sure that will bring in enough to cover all the hospital bills. There's a gun that mounts to the shoulder of the Hulkbuster armor...and it has a chair on it. If someone needs that much protection, I'm not sure I'd want to be seated at an awkward angle in such a vulnerable location, while trying to aim heavy munitions from a position that's highly unlikely to stay still long enough to get a bead on your target. That just screams "decoy seat". And if neither Tony nor Pepper comes with hair, does that mean they got a little too carried away trying out the repulsor blasts? And does he _REALLY_ need such overpowered armor to take on a flunky goon?
I'd rather get a version based off of the Square Enix Avengers game rather than the comics. this is branded as being from the game, but look up "Comic Hulkbuster" and "Square Enix Hulkbuster"
The Age of ultron version was better...
I still think that flat head was a mistake, it just looks terrible
I'm disappointed that they seem to have phased out the old opening helmet in favour of this 4+ looking one. Iron Man's HUD only really makes sense when he still has his helmet on, so you either can't see it at all, or he's bald (at least for the other face you can just put on a hairpiece, but that doesn't make sense with the HUD...).
So is the 'Hulkbuster' becoming the 'helicopter' for the Marvel theme?
And what is with this insanely cartoonish looking model? Is this Juniors or 4+ and I just overlooked that?
Why does the Hulkbuster keep growing in scale? Is it going to fight the Venom mech (which is another laughable model IMO), or is it going to climb the empire state building with Aim agents swirling about it?
I'm getting a bit tired of AIM agents.
Why are we still getting the HUD as Tony's second face? It was a clever idea on the old opening helmet, but it doesn't really make sense with the new single piece element they introduced a year later.
Posed right, this Hulkbuster can look pretty good. I like how it's silhouette is different from the previous movie inspired versions. Still, that "posed right" is a more serious conditional statement than normal for a lego model!
I agree with everyone else. This kids toy based on a video game based on a superhero comic book/s is just far too unrealistic for me. J/k, I’ll buy it when it goes to 20% off and mainly for the Rescue figure. Great review!
I think the Hulkbuster is cool with that flat head.
Anyway i don’t buy Marvel anymore. Too much the same stuff and ugly designs.
Who needs the same superhero a millionth time? And those AIMagents. Buêrrrrrk! (Sound of me vomiting)
I don't get why hairpieces weren't included for Tony and Pepper - their suits are awesome, but if they remove the helmet they should have hair.... The hulkbuster itself makes me thing of Juggernaut. I don't really like the head/face piece.
Personally I don’t mind the flat head; reminds me of the animated Hulkbuster that was my first experience with the concept. The chair turret is rather absurd, and the AIM agents seem woefully outclassed. Should have been another Mech or creature build to pit this thing against; a big fig would be outmatched.
I am still not the biggest fan of the new helmet for Iron Man. I enjoyed being able to flip open the mask; that feature goes perfectly well with Tony's reverse face printing, with the controls.
Pancake head buster and chewing head iron man. Not interested at all...
That poor substitute of a too-shallow dome head is a deal killer.
@sirventricle:
@HandPositions:
I don't know if this was just speculation, or if there's some validity to it, but I read that they may have abandoned the original head because the faceplates were too prone to being broken or lost, and the helmet really doesn't work without the faceplate. It certainly seems plausible.
at the current rate of advancement the hulkbuster will have a completely flat tile for a head by 2025
@alice_:
Maybe next is they use the same canopy as this set, but flip it over and print the head on the concave side.
I'm probably gonna pass on this one.
I own two Hulkbusters (three, counting the War Machine Buster), and this one just doesn't seem as good as any of those. I've found this year's Marvel line pretty disappointing in general (the same AIM soldier badguy in every set? I mean, I thought the point of these sets was the unusual and interesting minifigs the packed into each one). And the weird pancake-head design on this one is just really strange.
Another super hero set where I only need/want one figure...hopefully she will be a decent price on the ‘link.
The two shades of red makes me think that this was originally designed as some kind of 'combiner mech' as they just seem to clash and make it look like the brighter bits were stuck onto a skinnier and shorter proper Iron Man suit.
Other then that, agree with the whole 'pancake dome' and new style helmet thing. The older style was better for both.
That flat head is ridiculous, and absolutely kills this set for me.
@Sethro3 said:
"Another super hero set where I only need/want one figure...hopefully she will be a decent price on the ‘link."
Rescue? If so, the price is already fairly reasonable at $8.50 USD and it'll likely come down even more if you are patient.
Not gonna lie, the silhouette of the Hulk Buster looks more like a "Hell Guard" from Doom 2016 than the Hulk Buster. That smooshed face of this one just doesn't do it for me.
They used the canopy head for the last three Hulkbuster variations so count me the odd man out in appreciating the 'pancake' design as a welcome departure. I'm sure the canopy will return for future versions. Still, it's definitely a little too light fighting two simple AIM agents!
This actually looks like a better set than I expected, honestly, but I'm just not interested in more hero mechs.
Am I the only one who likes the new helmet? The flip up ones limit printing and make all the helmets look the same, see also the heartbreaker armour which lacks its distinctive ridges. The flat helmet allows much more detailed prints. Just look at how awesome the new war machine is.
Also when was the last time an iron man armour even had a lift up faceplate in the movies... Iron man 3?
@peterlmorris said:
"Getting closer to Moko. I’m sure we’ll see official knee joints again at some point in the future.
I like the majority of the set, but the choice of that dish element is REALLY throwing me for a loop. "
We already have started seeing some mechs beginning to include knee joints again over the past few years! Excluding those that have knees but no ankles (which is just a different sort of trade-off), there's:
• 71699-1 and 71702-1 in LEGO Ninjago
• 76140-1, 76141-1, 76146-1, and 76150-1 in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
• 70327-1 in LEGO Nexo Knights
Notably, these days it seems like smaller mechs are more likely to have better articulation than larger ones, whereas in mid-2000s themes like Exo-Force it was usually the opposite. But I am still amazed at how much articulation we've seen in some of the smaller Marvel mechs this year. It's a pretty big deal to see System mechs like those achieving greater articulation than the majority of Bionicle and Hero Factory sets, especially at such a low price point!
Ah yes a distinct lacc of necc