The original: 

The Incredible Hulk TV Series (1977-1982)

​

Created/Produced by: 

Kenneth Johnson (The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, V, Alien Nation) 

​

Starring: 

Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno and Jack Colvin;

with Susan Sullivan, Roger Robinson, Charles Siebert, Brenda Benet 

​

What’s it about? 

Doctor David Banner (Bixby) is looking for a way to tap into the hidden strength all humans can display when under extreme pressure.  When he accidentally over-doses on gamma radiation, he soon learns that anger or outrage will transform him into the mindless rage-monster, soon labelled The Incredible Hulk. 

 

Forced to go on the run and believed to be dead, Banner moves from place to place, meeting a wide assortment of folk, good and bad, using his intelligence, compassion and secret power to help all who need it. 

 

A show tinged with at times unbearable melancholy and deep pathos, aided by often excellent writing and constantly superb acting from its lead, The Incredible Hulk is fun, silly, exciting, tragic, smart and tense. 

 

The formulaic structure allowed for its hero to move from one adventure to the next, meeting vastly differing characters in wholly distinct locations. 

 

In an era of some warmly remembered Superhero classics (Wonder Women, The Six Million Dollar Man), some half-forgotten curios (The Amazing Spider-Man) and some utterly expelled TV movie clangers (70's Doctor Strange and Captain America!), The Incredible Hulk really had no business being as good as it was. 

 

It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be.  It was big.  It was green.  It was, frankly, smashing. 

​

“Mister McGee, don’t make me angry.  You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” 

​

“Damn! Car, you’re making me angry. Now, if you make me angry, you know what I’m gonna do? I’m gonna turn you into a tin sandwich!”