Superhero Week: The Incredible Hulk

Back again kids for day 2 of Superhero Week and let’s dive into a world of super science.  The in-depth look at the cause of gamma radiation and possible adverse effects it may have on a psychological and physical level.   So grab your knapsack, let’s hitchhike and above all else don’t make me angry.   This is The Incredible Hulk.

And you thought steroids are bad, avoid gamma radiation kids.

Spoilers smash puny humans!

Doctor David Bruce Banner (Bill Bixby of My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The Magician, Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love and True Confessions) is making a study of untapped potential.  The ability to harness strength that resides in the human cells during times of crisis for the betterment of humanity when he is accidently received an overdose of gamma radiation.  Now with cases of extreme stress he undergoes a transmogrification of unparallel proportions.  

Hard lenses make me angry!

From a body mass change from 5’9” to 6’5” his Hyde persona a.k.a. The Hulk (Lou Ferrigno of Hercules, Trauma Center, Desert Warrior, The Incredible Hulk Returns and Sinbad of the Seven Seas) is an easily upset rampaging monster when he feels threatened or if what in his primal mind he feels is an innocent threatened.   With every new transformation, Doctor Banner awakes in a new location that the Hulk has traveled great distances to.  After faking his death and not causing more issues for loved ones and colleagues, Banner must find peace and the ability to control his rage.  Doing odd jobs in order to access scientific research for a cure, Banner is also chased by a persistent reporter, Jack McGee (Jack Colvin of Jeremiah Johnson, Rooster Cogburn, Scorpio, The Stone Killer, The Terminal Man, The Incredible Hulk Returns and Child’s Play) who is attempting to prove that Doctor Banner in fact did not die in that explosion and his Hulk persona is linked to Banner.  Banner seems to have the worst luck as he is constantly running into people with hard luck stories, being bullied or otherwise unsavory characters about.  The Hulk becomes an unsung hero in these people’s eyes.   Granted if Banner is ever caught by the authorities or let alone it gets out he is this massive beast, the charges of destruction of property, private and city alone would leave him bankrupt.

And now a few fun facts of the show.    Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered for the Hulk role but his Mr. Olympia buddy Lou was taller and more the speed they wanted to go and besides no one wanted to hear the Hulk announce he’d be back.  Bill Bixby wouldn’t let his son watch the show due to the boy’s father transforms into a large creature of rage.   Bet he would have eaten his green beans, spinach and Brussels sprouts though.  The average cost per episode was $600,000.  As the Hulk is always barefoot from ruining Banner’s loafers, Ferrigno was fitted for some Hulk green colored slippers and you can occasionally notice this in the series but don’t go looking for flubs or it will drive ya crazy.

Psst your fly's open.

This show was also one of the few shot primarily on location via Universal Studios and regions of Las Vegas so Dan Tanna, don’t make him angry. 

This is a major element of my childhood and I would dare say I never missed an episode of The Hulk at all and while this is not completely faithful to the comics in the same way the Spider-Man series had with its comic, it is still one of the best representations of live-action comic book heroes on the screen.  Yeah take that Lois and Clark!