Wizard World 2014: Cons are incredible, Ferrigno says

LOU FERRIGNO is, of course, best known for portraying the Hulk in various incarnations.

The still-muscular actor has also become a Con staple the past two decades and he says he still enjoys every one.

"When I was a kid, I didn't have Cons to go to. I was a very lonely child," Ferrigno said. "I would have loved conventions where I could meet celebrities in person. . . . I loved Sean Connery as James Bond [and] if I had the opportunity to meet him as a kid, it would have been very exciting for me.

"That's why, today, when I meet these fans of different generations who love the Hulk - when they come up and they're all excited to meet me and I talk about my movies, it's great. If I can give back, it's like charging my batteries . . . I like for them all to walk away with a smile on their face."

Ferrigno - who portrayed the Hulk in live-action TV, in animation and as the voice of Mark Ruffalo's Hulk in "The Avengers" - has actually had a lifelong love of the character.

"I've been involved with the Hulk my whole life," he said. "When I was young, I just wanted respect because there were bullies and I wanted to be like the Hulk because he could fight. Even when I started training as a bodybuilder, I wanted to train like the Hulk and look like the Hulk . . . and that helped with my training."

Ferrigno says Wizard Con Philly is one of his favorites.

"I love this show," he said.

So who would win in a battle between Ferrigno's classic live-action Hulk and Ruffalo's "Avengers" version?

"Who do you think?" he said with a smile.