The Incredible Hulk: Married (AKA Bride of the Incredible Hulk)

Dir: Kenneth Johnson

1978

***

As the first series progressed, Banner's character and the animalistic nature of the Hulk were explored, with each episode explaining more about the psychology of each identity. The Hulk, as full of anger and rage as he was, would still reflect Banner's good nature. He would kick the bottoms of the bad guys but had a soft spot of children, animals and of course, the ladies. However, while the Hulk may regain much of Banner's personality, he is dormant in the mind and body of Banner. So after each angry green episode, Banner is left without memory of the event, wondering if he may have done something terrible. So in order to restart the program with series two, another feature length episode was made whereby Banner would seek out a leading psychologist, who specializes in hypnosis, to try and find where the two characters meet, in order to understand and ultimately control Banner's rage, and in turn, control the Hulk. The Hulk was always a cross between Frankenstein's monster and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and generally after the initial success of each of those came the 'Bride of' stories. Hulk: Married is essentially that. There is a really cringe-worthy moment of oriental-based racism that is shockingly repeated later on in the film that is fairly inexcusable, I'm sure it wasn't meant to be offensive but it's really not funny either. Humour and this particular incarnation of the Hulk never went well. The really winning scene in this made for TV feature is the existential hypnotherapy scenes that see Banner and the Hulk face off in the desert (in Banner's mind). Banner plays a giant game of what is essentially scissors paper stone while Hulk watches rather helplessly and uninterested. Banner imagines various different methods of containing the Hulk that get more and more elaborate until he finally keeps him controlled, although this is probably more down to the Hulks bored rather than lack of strength. It's all rather ridiculous but also strangely brilliant. I'm not sure the series ever looked as good, with some really striking imagery and ideas.

The Incredible Hulk

Dir: Kenneth Johnson

1977

***

By the late seventies TV studios had finally discovered the popularity of comics and realized the potential of Superheroes. The kids who grew up watching the early serials of Superman, Batman, The Shadow etc had grown up. Marvel were doing very well and Universal Television (now known as NBC) purchased the rights of several of their characters. At first, writer Kenneth Johnson refused the original offer to pick any character he wanted to develop but soon changed his mind and decided to write a Hulk show. When asked what it was that changed his mind he said he was inspired by Les Miserables and the similarities Hulk had with the story. I'm not sure I see where he was coming from, the character Jack McGee (that I always thought was a little bit pointless) is supposedly based on the character of Javert in Les Mis but I don't quite see it myself, still the man did good. Spider-man and Captain America hadn't quite got it right in the late seventies but DC's Wonder Woman had shown the way somewhat and of all the characters on offer Hulk was probably the most interesting but also one of the hardest to get right. Johnson stated his dislike for the comics (amazing he got the job really) but Stan Lee was ever the gent and allowed him to make necessary changes without argument. Lee agreed that Hulk should no longer be able to talk and understood why he should have a reduction in strength. Johnson's simplistic and lower-key origin story was far more intelligent and believable than in the comic, even though it was as nonsensical. Lee praised the changes and credited Johnson in making an adult show that teenagers could also enjoy. However, Lee, Lou Ferrigno and others at Marvel were a little disappointed that CBS changed the name of Bruce Banner to David Banner because they said openly that they thought the name Bruce sounded 'too gay' and bit their collective tongue when no other character from the comics appeared in the script but they put their foot down when Johnson wrote the Hulk as being bright red ('a more human colour' as he put it) rather than classic green. It worked, and 1977's feature length original pilot episode was a huge hit that pretty much stands up today. Bill Baxby was first choice for Banner and he played the part brilliantly. Arnold Schwarzenegger was rejected after auditioning as he was seen as being far too short and Richard Kiel was hired. However, Johnson's son is said to have persuaded his dad to sack him as he clearly didn't look anything like the character from the comics. What a brat. Kiel didn't mind so much though as he said that the contact lens worn for the part hurt his eyes and he could never get scrub the green paint off at the end of the day. Lou Ferrigno was hired (although Kiel's Hulk can be seen in certain scenes of the original episode) and it is now impossible to see anyone else in the part. The series wasn't always perfect with episodes ranging from amazing to absolutely diabolical but the original feature length episode isn't too shabby at all.