With the Marvel Universe 3 3/4″ action figure line in its death throes, Hasbro is determined to keep things “interesting” (if that’s what you want to call it) until the very end. Almost every Marvel Universe 2013 wave of figures is coming with some unannounced surprise variants of old figures mixed in, and Marvel Universe Wave 23 keeps the fun going with new Grey Hulk and Ghost Rider figures…

When I posted the case ratios for the Marvel Universe 2013 Series 3 (Wave 23 overall) cases, I was operating user the assumption that all of the old figures in the case were going to be mere repacks. They’re not. Just like the repainted variants of Iron Spider-Man, Iron Fist, Black Costume Spider-Man and Silver Surfer in 2013 Marvel Universe Series 1, a pair of figures in this newest assortment have been reissued with new deco: Ghost Rider and Grey Hulk.

When I first saw the Marvel Universe Ghost Rider 2013 variant figure, I was pretty indifferent toward it. Then I compared it with the original version of the figure and realized what a monumental difference the new and improved shiny paint makes.

This new Marvel Universe Wave 23 Ghost Rider figure variant has much darker paint, and almost metallic nature of it makes it a lot more eye-grabbing. It doesn’t look quite as “classic” as the original light blue Ghost Rider Marvel Universe figure, but I do consider it a visual improvement over its predecessor.

The other variant figure won’t surprise anyone, because it’s a figure we saw leaked photos of from the factory in Hong Kong–we just weren’t sure that it was going to be in this assortment. It’s a Grey Hulk repaint of the Marvel Universe 2012 Hulk action figure. I’m not a groupie for Grey Hulk, so the Marvel Universe Wave 2 Grey Hulk figure from way back when is good enough for me, but I know completists will want this figure.

The Marvel Universe 2013 Wave 23 cases are now in-stock and available with free shipping, and should be hitting physical retail stores in the next several weeks. If you just want the Gray Hulk or Ghost Rider Marvel Universe variants, both variant figures are readily available on ebay for $8-$11. What do you think of these new versions of Ghost Rider and Grey Hulk, Marvel Universe collectors? Are these worth your money or just needless repaints to you?