Character of the Week: The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk was introduced to the world in May of 1962.  In the very beginning, he was given his own comic book, “The Incredible Hulk #1,” created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and published by Marvel Comics.

The Incredible Hulk is the alter ego of Bruce Banner, a mild mannered scientist, who invented the gamma bomb.  During an experimental detonation, Banner is exposed to massive doses of radiation.  That night, he transformed into a hugely muscular “hulk” of a man.  At first, the Hulk was grey to avoid association with any ethnicity.  After the first issue, the Hulk was shown with green skin.

Surprisingly, the comic book series was cancelled after 6 issues, in March of 1963.  The Hulk made several appearances in comic books such as “The Fantastic Four” and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” ending up on the cover of “Tales to Astonish” in 1964.  It was here that the public was reintroduced to the Incredible Hulk, and in 1968 the comic book was retitled “The Incredible Hulk.”

In the comic book series, the personalities and abilities of both Bruce Banner and the Hulk are explored in depth.  Banner is a brilliant scientist with expertise in biology, chemistry, engineering, and physiology, and holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics.  He is depicted as emotionally withdrawn; tortured by the fact that he can’t control his transformations into The Hulk.  He never knows when he will change, so it is hard for Banner to become close to anyone.  When he turns into the monster, he is capable of superhuman feats of strength, which increase with anger or emotional stress.

The Incredible Hulk does not possess the level of intelligence that his counterpart does.  Instead, he is driven by emotion and adrenaline.  The Hulk is stronger than most beings, and he also has healing regenerative powers.  In the comic book, he even has the ability to breathe underwater, survive in outer space with no air, and his legs are powerful enough to jump across the oceans.

In the 1970s, a television series called “The Incredible Hulk” aired on CBS.  Starring Bill Bixby as Banner and Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk, the show was a hit, lasting until 1982.  Many changes to the story were made, including how Banner became the Incredible Hulk.  Instead of being radiated by a gamma bomb explosion, Banner was affected by experiments he was conducting with adrenaline on human strength.  Also, Banner’s first name was changed to David.  Another difference was with the enemies of The Hulk.  In the comic book, he is chased after by other superhuman beings and the United States Army heralded by General Ross.  In the television series, his main antagonist is Jack McGee, a tabloid reporter bent on getting proof that The Hulk is real.  Other differences were that the TV Hulk did not speak, and he was vulnerable to being hurt by weapons.

Despite the differences, the main point of the stories stayed the same.  A human tortured by the monster inside of himself desperately tries to keep his transformations under control.  The Incredible Hulk embodies the human life in all of us.  Do we resist temptation?  Do we fight that which is evil in all of us?  Does love trump all and triumph in the face of adversity?  These are the questions David Banner asks, and these are the struggles he goes through as the Incredible Hulk.  There are raw human emotions and struggles most people can relate to, although not usually of superhuman proportions, that created a story that many were interested in, and still are today.

“The Incredible Hulk” comic book series is still in publication, and his popularity continues to grow.  A whole new generation was introduced to The Hulk with 2008’s movie “The Incredible Hulk” starring Edward Norton as the big green man.  Over the years, and through the variations of comic books, movies, television series, and animated series, the Hulk has remained in the public eye and is a popular character.  Merchandise such as action figures, clothing, and videogames are still big sellers, made even more so by the recent film.  It seems as if the Incredible Hulk does have super human powers to be able to remain so popular for so many years.

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