The Incredible Hulk

I still remember the episode "Enter:She-Hulk" where they introduced us the cousin of our troubled gamma-genes doctor. I must say the 1996 series treated her better as the witty and extravertido character she was rather than "Ms. Broken Clothes". Yet that episode was powerful stuff. Jen could change at will, maintain her 'human' mind and regenerate her clothes too! While in the current cartoon Dr. Banner changed only one or two times into Hulk, Jen changed a total of FOUR times and do a lot of damage to their enemies, crippling whole bases of HYDRA in a matter of minutes! (I suggest strongly to see the fourth transformation where she reduces her own car to scraps in order to save her life and Bruce's). And better yet, Bruce looked at her as a way to cure him form being the Hulk. As well as I remember the Hulk gained a doses of intelligence in the chapter...hmmm, too bad she never got her own toon.

This show is another under the radar gem, this is another of the lost visual Marvel Comic show treasures. Believe it or not, I never even heard of this show despite being a kid from the 80's, though I'm honestly not alone in that as this show didn't really last that long. Let alone I honestly was a rookie in the comic book game as I haven't read enough Marvel comics at the time, I never got to nor was into the Hulk at least not until the 70's live action TV show which is a story for another time.

However, for those that have seen this it was a huge hit with them and as time went on it's became a sleeper cult gem. In a way this show was a gateway show for viewers that never read the Hulk series let alone Marvel comics; much as the Ruby Spears "Superman" show (another under the radar gem and one I've reviewed) was my gateway show into "Superman" and DC comics.

The animation is solid, it's your basic classic 80's animation but for that decade I wouldn't want it any other way as it's accurate to some of the silver age comic issues of the series at the time. From the character models down to the action scenes and effects, watching this show now is interesting as it can be a little educational giving new generation viewers a feel of what the comic run back in the decade looked and felt like.

The voice acting is solid, has a good cast of a few veteran voice actors that are probably well known now. Really like the voice of the Hulk as it' s played by one of my favorite voice actors Michael Bell. He's one of my favorite Hulk voices as it really feels like that what the character would sound like mainly in some of the retro issues of the series in my book. I really like how it's true to the character balancing between raging mainly but also a strong gentle spirit. Like in the comic I really like that we have him in the Hulk form longer which means a little more dialog and action, but this gives us a better glimpse and handle on his character. Despite not too strong or slow in the intellect department, he has a strong sense of ethos and common sense which we see him utilize well in this show.

Of course there is his alter ego and human identity Bruce Banner whom is still the torture soul on a never ending journey for salvation while doing good in the process. Though I like that Bruce is a little less moapy and is actually not afraid of being assertive but still keeping his emotions in check. I also like that we also see in episodes some of his back and forth with the characters from the lore like his significant other Betty Ross, cousin Jennifer Walters whom we all know as She Hulk, and of course side kick and best friend Rick. And last there was the late great comic creator Stan Lee, as the narrator for the show.

I really like the theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs, it fits the comic series as it's a big orchestra score which just makes you excited and sings out big hero and big action coming your way.

The writing and stories are solid, feels true to the silver age run of the series. There are some memorable episode, the one that of course stands out the best is when Jennifer Walters/ She Hulk and Bruce Banner/Hulk team up to stop a current threat. Always like the stories whenever both of them work together, it was always interesting but always had a good character dynamic going on.

But of course, there is the action which is solid, for the fans of the comic series we always love seeing the Hulk doing what he does best which is to wreck things and put on the hurt business toward evil. There are plenty of well-choreographed fights and animated effects from property destruction to the explosions.

The only depowering part of this show was that unlike the Hulk didn't jump the long distance. The show was a hit but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get a second season. Which was really too bad for fans in the 80s, there was so much more they had yet to see, made me wonder if this show was going to be the start of a Marvel Comics 80's animated block, with She Hulk in one episode it made me wonder if any other characters from Hulk lore would come. Or better yet may 'be other heroes/superheroes from the Marvelverse; that could have been awesome and part of the start of something even bigger but sadly this never happened for this show. Though I wouldn't fret too much as Hulk smashed and stomped once more in the 90's cartoon which is a story for another time.

If you're a fan of the Hulk comic series or Marvel, or even just vintage 80's cartoons then this lost visual Marvel comics green gem is worth uncovering.

Rating: 3 stars.

Though I found, the 1996 animated series the most visually superior, the 1982 series was visibly created with a lot of effort by its animators and it clearly shows a labor of love.

Make no mistake, each of the episodes(13 in all) have a captivating storyline. Incredibly in the pilot episode of the series, Hulk battles Dr. Octopus, who is normally linked to Spider-man.

And in the second episode, Bruce drinks an ancient potion that cures him completely! It is a shame that only 13 episodes were made.

Episode Guide: 1. "Tomb of the Unknown Hulk": When high cosmic ray activity triggers Bruce's transformations without him getting angry, he tries to lock himself in a cave to protect his friends, but the cosmic rays also block communications and allow Doctor Octopus an opening to stage an attack on Gamma Base.

2. "Prisoner of the Monster": Rick stumbles upon a map for a potion held by a lost tribe that can cure Bruce of the Hulk, but the cure becomes bitter sweet when the Spymaster kidnaps Betty and her father, stealing a deadly weapon from Gamma Base that only the Hulk can defeat.

3. "Origin of the Hulk": The retelling of the origin of the Hulk, with the original Russian Cold War spies replaced with aliens seeking the secrets of Bruce's Gamma Bomb.

4. "When Monsters Meet": Arriving in Paris for a scientific conference, Bruce is given a possible cure for his condition, but his chances of using it are threatened by the appearance of a descendant of Quasimodo who wreaks havoc in the city. (This episode was adapted in comic book format by Marvel, in the one-shot "The Incredible Hulk versus Quasimodo". A back-up, one-page comic featuring editor Al Milgrom disguised as the Hulk explained how this book fit into the animated cartoon continuity, and not current Marvel Comics continuity[1]) 5. "The Cyclops Project": Due to the inadvertent actions of the Hulk, Cyclops, the most world's powerful military defense computer malfunctions and seeks to take over the world, trying to obtain the aid of the Bruce Banner and Hulk to do so.

6. "Bruce Banner Unmasked": When the Puppet Master attempts gain control of the Hulk as a part of his plan to take over Mesa City and its surrounds, the army are finally able to defeat the creature and learn of Bruce Banner's secret identity.

7. "The Creature and the Cavegirl": Bruce learns of a colleague whose developed a working time projector, seeing it as a chance to go back and stop the creation of the Hulk, only for the device to malfunction and transport the entire lab and its occupants back to 1,000,000 B.C.

8. "It Lives! It Grows! It Destroys!": A rival scientist at Gamma Base develops a part plant, part animal lifeform which can eat almost anything in its path, but the creature escapes and threatens the planet as it grows uncontrollably.

9. "The Incredible Shrinking Hulk": After his latest gamma experiment malfunctions, Bruce is shrunk down until he is one inch tall, as two spies attempt to steal a new tank.

10. "Punks on Wheels": When a motorcycle gang kidnaps Rita, Bruce and his friend discover the gang is secretly working for the Leader, who seeks their aid in stealing a shipment of Vibranium.

11. "Enter: She-Hulk": Bruce and Rick travel to Los Angeles to visit Bruce's cousin Jennifer Walters to try and learn how she is able to maintain her intelligence when she changes into the She-Hulk, but their attempt is endangered thanks to the efforts of terrorist group HYDRA to take over the city.

12. "The Boy Who Saw Tomorrow": Betty's nephew Jonah arrives at Gamma Base to demonstrate his amazing psychic ability, able to predict the future with uncanny accuracy he has a vision of Betty's space shuttle crashing into a mountain, with the Hulk and a mysterious madman involved.

13. "The Hulk Destroys Bruce Banner": While testing his new Transmat teleporter on himself, Bruce transforms into the Hulk in mid-teleportation, convincing Betty that the Hulk interfered and leading the charge to capture the creature to attempt to save Bruce.

Verdict: BUY THIS PRICELESS COLLECTION, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

The 1982 Incredible Hulk cartoon series was apart of the saturday morning "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends\Incredible Hulk hour" on NBC. The Hulk however, was more faithful to the comics than Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. The animation quality was great and on par with the other Marvel cartoons of that era (Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Transformers, GI.Joe, Defenders of the Earth, Inhumanoids, Visionaries, Gem, etc.). The art style and animation quality hold up well even today; and in my opinion is slightly better than the 1996 Hulk cartoon.

The story line was faithful to what was arguably the best years of the Hulk comics; the years before the Hulk had Banner's mind. The Hulk is supposed to be a savage monster and that's what makes the 1982 series more enjoyable than the 1996 cartoon. If you can find this cartoon, and your a fan of the Hulk, this one is worth checking out. It's the best Incredible Hulk cartoon so far.

I grew up with Spider-Man, Hulk and the other wonderful Marvel characters and I really love this version of the Hulk! This show and "Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends" are my two favorite cartoon series of all-time! It is not silly like the muck that we have on TV today. Also, as with all SunBow shows the animation and stories are top notch! The voice work is amazing as well. Michael Bell is the perfect choice for role of Bruce Banner other than Bill Bixby. There was a new Hulk series in the 1990's but it could not capture the sense of drama that this series has. I really wish that Disney would get cracking and release this great show on DVD in season sets, along with Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends!