Gallery: From the Hulk to Hacktivists: Wired's Best Videos of 2012

  • Hulk Avengers
    01

    hulk-avengers

    None of them got *quite* as many views as Psy's "[Gangnam Style](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0)," but Wired's best videos of 2012 still covered plenty of territory. From a real pain ray and a massive stash of *Star Wars* memorabilia to Anonymous and a self-balancing electric motorcycle prototype, the 10 original videos in the gallery above offer a unique window into the Wired world. __Above:__ Making the Hulk, the *Avengers*' Big Green Smashing Machine ----------------------------------------------------------- It's incredible but true: The Hulk stole the show in superhero blockbuster *The Avengers* this year. Industrial Light & Magic special effects supervisor Jeff White reveals the cinematic magic that turned actor Mark Ruffalo into the [best movie Hulk yet](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/hulk-avengers/).
  • Anonymous
    02

    anonymous

    A Brief History of Anonymous ---------------------------- Get a look at the origins of hacktivist group Anonymous, which has graduated from rickrolling unsuspecting web surfers to battling oppressive regimes and corporations. Wired's video team [chronicles the rise of Anonymous](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/01/anonymous-history/).
  • Lit Motors C1 electric motorcycle
    03

    lit-motors-c1-electric-motorcycle

    Lit Motors' CI Electric Motorcycle ---------------------------------- Fully enclosed and boasting twin gyros that keep it upright, [Lit Motors' C1 electric motorcycle](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2012/05/lit-motors-c1/) could revolutionize the way we commute. Wired takes a look at the San Francisco company's gnarly-looking proof-of-concept vehicle.
  • Metallica Kirk Hammett Horror
    04

    metallica-kirk-hammett-horror

    Metallica's Kirk Hammett: Some Kind of Monster Buff --------------------------------------------------- In this video, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett shows off his very cool collection of [old-school horror memorabilia](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/10/metallica-kirk-hammett-horror-collection/). He's got everything from a life-size Bela Lugosi to a *Re-Animator* head housed in his basement. It was cool visiting during the day, but we left before dark.
  • Mars Rover
    05

    mars-rover

    Meet Curiosity Mars Rover's Twin -------------------------------- Before the Curiosity rover landed on Mars, Wired checked out the space machine's twin at the Exploratorium. In the video above, you'll get a [tour of the rover's tech](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/08/video-mars-curiosity-twin/) and find out everything the rover needs to survey — and survive — the harsh Martian landscape.
  • Skylanders
    06

    skylanders-2

    The Hackers and Tinkerers at the Core of *Skylanders* ----------------------------------------------------- By mixing collectible action figures with videogaming, Activision created a cash cow called *Skylanders*. In the video above, Wired visits the Northern California offices of Toys for Bob to meet the hobbyists and hackers who developed the successful game series, and to get a behind-the-scenes look at [*Skylanders* prototypes](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2012/09/skylanders-giants/).
  • Pain Ray
    07

    pain-ray

    Getting Zapped by the Military's 'Pain Ray' ------------------------------------------- Wired.com senior writer Spencer Ackerman volunteered to step in front of the military's microwave "[pain ray](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/03/pain-ray-shot/)." The unconventional weapon, known as the Active Denial System, fried him from almost a half-mile away without so much as a flash or bang.
  • Rancho Obi Wan
    08

    rancho-obi-wan

    See Rancho Obi-Wan's Massive *Star Wars* Stash ---------------------------------------------- Rancho Obi-Wan houses the [world's biggest private vault of *Star Wars* memorabilia](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/11/video-rancho-obi-wan/). Ultimate *Star Wars* fanboy Steve Sansweet walks you through the massive collection of props, toys and rare collectibles in Wired's video tour above.
  • dead body cleanup
    09

    dead-body-cleanup

    The Messy, Dangerous Task of Cleaning Up After Dead Bodies ---------------------------------------------------------- Who cleans up the potentially hazardous mess left behind when somebody's shuffled off this mortal coil? To find out, Wired followed Steri-Clean, a company that specializes in "bio-remediation," including [cleaning up after corpses](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/10/dead-body-clean-up/) have been taken away from a crime scene or deathbed. Caution: This video might disturb some viewers.
  • diy zombie makeup
    10

    diy-zombie-makeup

    DIY Zombie Makeup ----------------- Learn how to [get that realistic zombie look](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/10/zombie-makeup/) with this how-to video. It's surprisingly simple to create "quick and easy wounds that will last for hours and hours," according to FX artist Jordan Plath, who walked Wired through a down-and-dirty undead makeover.
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