Those are some big shoulders, but this boxier version of the Hulkbuster looks undeniably formidable.
It's easy to imagine there being a lot of power in those arms as Iron Man attempts to match strength with The Hulk, but it's hard to imagine Tony not toppling over due to being so top heavy!
View this post on Instagram Time for another random #hulkbuster sketch from #avengers #ageofultron. Wanted to emphasize powerful shoulders to grapple Hulk. Not sure I went far enough though...:). #ironman #mcu #marvelstudios #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalillustration #digitalart A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 21, 2020 at 10:12am PDT
Time for another random #hulkbuster sketch from #avengers #ageofultron. Wanted to emphasize powerful shoulders to grapple Hulk. Not sure I went far enough though...:). #ironman #mcu #marvelstudios #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalillustration #digitalart
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 21, 2020 at 10:12am PDT
There are more powerful shoulders on display here, but this Hulkbuster looks a little more in proportion.
This take on the armour makes him look a little more like a grappler, something that Saunders points out was his intention. After all, Iron Man had to do something to slow the Green Goliath's rampage!
View this post on Instagram Random #hulkbuster of the day! #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #digitalillustration #digitalart #conceptdesign A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 23, 2020 at 8:00am PDT
Random #hulkbuster of the day! #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #digitalillustration #digitalart #conceptdesign
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 23, 2020 at 8:00am PDT
There's definitely a lot in this design that should remind fans of the comic books, though there's no denying that this Hulkbuster almost looks a little too small and not quite formidable enough.
Despite that, this version could have very easily ended up working in Avengers: Age of Ultron!
View this post on Instagram Another #hulkbuster from the #avengers #ageofultron series. Trying for clear simple silhouettes. #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #ironman #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 24, 2020 at 8:09am PDT
Another #hulkbuster from the #avengers #ageofultron series. Trying for clear simple silhouettes. #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #ironman #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 24, 2020 at 8:09am PDT
This Hulkbuster is, well, kind of square! That works, though, and is arguably in-keeping with the armours Tony Stark donned in the MCU before taking on a more streamlined look in Avengers: Infinity War.
Ultimately, there were probably better directions to take the Hulkbuster in for this movie.
View this post on Instagram More #hulkbuster! I call this one the quarterback. #ironman #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #avengers #ageofultron #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalillustration #digitalart A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 25, 2020 at 9:03am PDT
More #hulkbuster! I call this one the quarterback. #ironman #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #avengers #ageofultron #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalillustration #digitalart
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 25, 2020 at 9:03am PDT
Saunders calls this Hulkbuster "the quarterback," and it's not hard to see why that is!
It's easy to imagine this being an armour Tony Stark uses to charge into action against The Hulk, but the billionaire doesn't really strike us as a massive football fan, so this might have been a bit of a stretch.
View this post on Instagram A much different approach with this #hulkbuster. I tried to match the proportions of @ryan_meinerding_art and @imcharliewen ‘s #hulk design and interpret it as an #ironman suit. The floating panels are meant to be shock absorbing so #tonystark can take #hulksmash!! #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #avengers #ageofultron #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 26, 2020 at 6:29pm PDT
A much different approach with this #hulkbuster. I tried to match the proportions of @ryan_meinerding_art and @imcharliewen ‘s #hulk design and interpret it as an #ironman suit. The floating panels are meant to be shock absorbing so #tonystark can take #hulksmash!! #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #avengers #ageofultron #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 26, 2020 at 6:29pm PDT
This is a completely different take on the Hulbuster, but one you can't deny looks awesome!
Similar in some ways to the more advanced suits Tony Stark donned in the last two Avengers movies, seeing this in live-action would have been a lot of fun, but likely divisive among fans.
View this post on Instagram A quick peek into my process for painting one of these #hulkbuster concepts. Swipe for a step-by-step. I start with a loose rough-out of the pose and silhouette, then gradually focus in with lighting, form, color breakups and cut lines. #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #blackwidow #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 29, 2020 at 7:48am PDT
A quick peek into my process for painting one of these #hulkbuster concepts. Swipe for a step-by-step. I start with a loose rough-out of the pose and silhouette, then gradually focus in with lighting, form, color breakups and cut lines. #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #blackwidow #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 29, 2020 at 7:48am PDT
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Hulkbuster fighting alongside any other members of the team in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Black Widow definitely looks cool alongside the giant-sized hero.
Scroll through the post above and you'll see Saunder's step-by-step process creating this artwork.
View this post on Instagram This #hulkbuster was originally done for #ironman3 ‘s house party protocol, but eliminated when they wisely decided to save Hulkbuster for a more featured role. I polished it up for #avengers #ageofultron but it’s proportionally the weakest of the bunch. #ironman #mcu #marvel #marvelstudios #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 30, 2020 at 8:06am PDT
This #hulkbuster was originally done for #ironman3 ‘s house party protocol, but eliminated when they wisely decided to save Hulkbuster for a more featured role. I polished it up for #avengers #ageofultron but it’s proportionally the weakest of the bunch. #ironman #mcu #marvel #marvelstudios #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 30, 2020 at 8:06am PDT
Interestingly, this Hulkbuster was once set to debut in Iron Man 3, but Marvel Studios changed tact when it was decided the armour should have a much larger role in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
This version again looks quite a bit smaller, but would no doubt still be pretty damn formidable.
View this post on Instagram Okay, I promise I’m almost done with harassing you all with #hulkbuster sketches! This was the second in a series of three inspired by construction equipment detailing and exploring exposed structural framing (in yellow) as a design theme. I had fun with the lighting on this one too. #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration #mecha A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 31, 2020 at 9:26am PDT
Okay, I promise I’m almost done with harassing you all with #hulkbuster sketches! This was the second in a series of three inspired by construction equipment detailing and exploring exposed structural framing (in yellow) as a design theme. I had fun with the lighting on this one too. #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptdesign #conceptartist #digitalart #digitalillustration #mecha
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Aug 31, 2020 at 9:26am PDT
Another cool alternate take on the Hulkbuster armour, this design was inspired by construction equipment, and definitely looks like a grounded, believable take on Tony Stark's most badass armour.
The feet look a little strange, but this is an otherwise awesome take on the MCU's Hulkbuster.
View this post on Instagram Okay, last one in the #hulkbuster series. Third attempt at using exposed structural framing as a theme. Enjoyed doing this pose too! #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Sep 1, 2020 at 6:38am PDT
Okay, last one in the #hulkbuster series. Third attempt at using exposed structural framing as a theme. Enjoyed doing this pose too! #ironman #avengers #ageofultron #marvel #marvelstudios #mcu #conceptart #conceptartist #conceptdesign #digitalart #digitalillustration
A post shared by Phil Saunders (@philjdsaunders) on Sep 1, 2020 at 6:38am PDT
What do you guys think of these alternate Hulkbuster designs from Avengers: Age of Ultron? Would you have preferred to see any of them on the big screen back in 2015?
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