The Incredible Hulk
One of the biggest frustrations, at this point, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is the lack of a current standalone Hulk movie. For such a great and iconic character, it seems improper to have him play a supporting role to his avenging colleagues. What makes it stranger still is the fact that, before the advent of the MCU, The Incredible Hulk actually had more of an established cultural presence than Captain America, Thor or Iron Man, because he had his own excellent show that ran for five seasons from 1978.
With the late, great Bill Bixby as Dr. Bruce Banner, the show takes an entirely different approach to the various movie reboots (and the comic book source material) that have been produced over the years. Rather than focussing on a military antagonist, the series sees Banner haunted by the fact that his wife died in a car crash, and subsequently go to work with Dr. Elaina Harding Marks (played by Susan Sullivan) with the intention of recreating the phenomena of people generating superhuman strength when their loved ones are in mortal danger. Attempting to manufacture the effect, Banner bombards himself with gamma radiation – leading to the creation of his green rage-monster alter ego (played by Lou Ferrigno).
Jack McGee (played by Jack Colvin), a tabloid journalist, soon picks up the trail of The Hulk, and sets about tracking him down with the intent of exposing him. In the process, he accidentally starts a chemical fire at Banner’s lab, which not only kills Dr. Marks, but also leaves authorities believing that Banner has also perished – resulting in The Hulk being implicated for murder. Banner goes on the run, with McGee in hot pursuit – creating an episodic drama in a similar vein to the TV show The Fugitive, but with a rage-monster slant.
With the current television landscape filled with superhero shows, such as Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Gotham, Arrow, The Flash, and the upcoming Supergirl, the time is right for The Incredible Hulk to return to the small screen. Recapturing the spirit of the original series, the show would have Dr Banner face tragedy, before fleeing his home to drift between communities through small-town America – helping those he encounters on the way, and battling the monster within.
