L'incredibile Hulk

If you remember the 1970s you will perhaps realize that film and television were not the best at distributing comic book adaptations until the year of 1978. This was partially due to the lack of visual effects which would encompass the characters in a realistic setting if they ever to arrive on the big screen.

"The Incredible Hulk" was one of the first comic adaptations to ever be distributed on the television screen. What could have been laughable television show about a giant green monster strutting around smashing things, instantly became a classic hit when it was deemed a serious and realistic drama for the time.

The show follows the compassionate and likable character Dr. David Banner who had been attempting to discover the secrets of human strength after his wife died in a car explosion. Banner is obsessed with finding these answers of hidden strength and ultimately renders himself to unpredictable experiment. He exposes himself to gamma radiation which unfortunately results in a horrifying metamorphosis. Whenever Banner becomes angry or outraged he transforms into massive green monster which we all know and love as the incredible hulk.

After the hulk is discovered and pursued by an investigative reporter named Jack McGee, Banner goes on the run hoping to stay hidden until he can find a way to cure himself from his dreadful manifestation I first discovered "The Incredible Hulk" In my teens when I was greatly entertained by comic books. When I first viewed the show I realized that it was different but different in a good way. Yes, the scenes with the hulk are slightly outdated but the story is where you really get involved. The show only features the hulk for about fifteen minutes at most sometimes even less.

People I'm acquainted with often complain that the hulk itself does not gain enough screen time. Simply this is because this show is not entirely about the hulk. Its a serious and persuasive drama that tells the story of man who has a condition that he desperately wants to rid himself of. The show may not be entirely faithful to its comic book counterpart but I believe the decision to alter the story line was well apprehended.

The hulk in this setting is more realistic and strays away from the comic book cheesiness. I honestly have to admit that this is one of the best live action comic adaptations to date. This show is well remembered and was apart of many people's childhoods. I greatly enjoy this series and I hope you will to.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK series was much like the series KUNG FU -- a sympathetic humanitarian and seemingly meek outcast rights wrongs using his very special abilities. However, THE INCREDIBLE HULK ran for 5 years with only three regular cast members. I am not sure if any other long running TV drama ever had a smaller cast.

Interestingly, Bill Bixby's COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER co-star Brandon Cruz appeared in the first season of the HULK in the episode "747."

Bixby oozed charm and charisma, and made believable the idea that he could so easily win trust and find employment in a new town each and every week.

The music was exceptional. Among the best Hollywood TV has ever produced.

I've been a fan of THE INCREDBLE HULK since 1979 (when I was only seven years old), and it is one of only two TV shows that matter the most to me (the other is UNSOLVED MYSTERIES).

Of all the comic book characters who have made the transition to television, THE HULK is one of the most effective ones. I don't remember what made start watching this excellent sci-fi/ drama, but I surmise that it may be due to the writing because it has many well-written episodes.

"Prometheus" is one of my favorites because of its science fiction approach. That's the two-hour episode where the Hulk is mistaken for an alien. The problem came after he was exposed to a meteor that crashed to the Earth. He is affected by its radiation, which enables him to revert only partially to David Banner. In other words, our hero gets stuck in mid-transformation!

My other favorite episodes include: "The First," "Married," "Mystery Man," "The Snare," "The Psychic," "Equinox," "The Harder They Fall," and "Interview With The Hulk." In addition, The 1977 pre-series pilot (simply titled "The Incredible Hulk") was a perfect way to start off the saga.

Another significant episode is "Proof Positive" because the Hulk's nemesis, newspaper reporter Jack McGee, is the primary focus. Plus, Dr. David Banner (played by the late Bill Bixby) is hardly even in this episode. And the only shots of him are distant to the point where you can't quite make out his face (meaning that a stunt double portrayed him in this episode). But the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) still appears in this story. (I mean, what's a HULK episode without the Hulk in it at all?)

A big gripe that many fans have about the HULK series is that a wrap-up episode was never made (because of the show's sudden cancellation). Still, it is a great show. And what pleases me is that THE INCREDIBLE HULK is now generating new fans, especially those who born after the series ended its primetime run.

My comments refer to the first season of The Incredible Hulk since it's the only one readily available as of yet.

Although the shows are fairly simple and monotonous they're very entertaining. Dr. Banner travels cross country hoping to some day finding a cure for his condition but along the way he gets into all sorts of trouble that forces the Hulk to surface and square matters. Every episode ends with David leaving before relentless reporter Jack McGee tracks him down.

The shows are made with passion, that's evident. Good quality writing for the most part, well done action sequences (compared to a 70's TV show anyway), compelling story lines in most episodes, nice location crew work and fantastic actors. As said, the premise is fairly simple as David transforms about 20-25 min. into each episode and during the climax. Also, he somehow manages to get into a whole lot of trouble by just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The first season shows are not all great and do showcase the limitations budget wise. The episode "Never give a trucker an even break" shamelessly borrows footage from Steven Spielberg's Duel, even the classic ending is fitted into the storyline. "Earhquakes happen" borrows quite a lot from Earthquake, the 70's disaster flick, but that's not as blatant as the previous example. Also there is a lot of stock footage used every now and then. Sometimes it's little snippets of Hulk action and sometimes it's David on the road hitchhiking.

But these quirks aside, there is a lot of professionalism on board here and a big effort put into making each episode. Series that are constantly on the road are expensive as there are no sets that can be used often and studio work is minimal. Instead viewers get a show that's always bringing new scenery in late 1970's America and the "on the road" feel has a big charm about it.

The Las Vegas episode "The Hulk breaks Las Vegas" is a personal favorite. Has some knockout Hulk action and a well written and suspenseful near confrontation between McGee and Banner. "747, The Waterfront story, Terror in Times Square and Life and Death" are all well written and produced episodes that should give a good example as to why the series has such a good afterlife.

And finally the cast is perfect. I doubt seriously that viewers would be as interested in David's quest had he not been played by Bill Bixby. Not only was Bixby a real quality actor with good range but also an irresistibly appealing guy who you find easy to sympathize with. Jack Colvin is also excellent as McGee, a convincing and charming actor who had a great presence on the episodes he was featured in. And Lou Ferrigno was the best possible choice to play the green giant. Managing to be both menacing and sincere is his depiction of David's primal side, he's simply great on the shows.

I have such nostalgic memories of this growing up. I look back on it now and I think the series itself holds up really well. A few things I would like to comment on:

When David went back to himself after a change.....his clothes were always evenly ripped and cut....as if someone had cut them with scissors!!!

David Banner could have been one of the most talented guys on the planet. The amount of different jobs and trades he had were endless!!!

Where did he get those endless supplies of brown chords, checked shirts and beige coloured jackets???

He was the most gentle, helpful and polite guy ever and wherever he went, people could not wait to pick on him. They sort of saw him as a know all!!!

He pulled more women than 007!!!

Where did he get those fake surnames......Becker, Beamon, Beddiger, Beckham, Bannon, Bander.....etc????

All of this said...what a brilliant show it was and I am proud to have grown up with it. I loved the suspense when he changed and I also felt really sorry for Dave when he was alone, walking to a new town at the end with the famous tearjerking piano music in the background!!!

Respects to the late Bill Bixby. RIP.