The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)

The Incredible Hulk
Genre Action/Adventure
Superhero fiction
Drama
Created by Jack Kirby
Stan Lee
Developed by UPN Studios
Starring Neal McDonough
Lou Ferrigno
Luke Perry
Genie Francis
Philece Sampler
John Vernon
Kevin Schon
Michael Donovan
Cree Summer
Matt Frewer
Mark Hamill
Richard Moll
Kathy Ireland
Narrated by Richie Johnson
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 21 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Avi Arad
Stan Lee
Rick Ungar
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) New World Animation[1]
Marvel Films
New World Entertainment
Distributor Saban/BVS Entertainment
Disney-ABC Domestic Television (currently)
Release
Original network UPN[1]
Audio format Stereo
Original release September 8, 1996 (1996-09-08) – November 23, 1997 (1997-11-23)
Chronology
Preceded by The Incredible Hulk (1982 animated TV series)

The Incredible Hulk is an American animated television series starring the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It ran two seasons, for 21 episodes, on the television network UPN from 1996 to 1997. Lou Ferrigno, who portrayed Universal's version of the Hulk on the live-action TV series from 1978 to 1982, provided the Hulk's voice.[2]

The show often featured cameo appearances by characters from other Marvel cartoons of the period. In the second season, the show's format, after UPN decided that season one was too dark, was changed, and to give "female viewers a chance",[3] the network ordered that She-Hulk be made a regular co-star. As a result, the series was officially renamed The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk. The second season also featured the Grey Hulk.

Series overview

Season 1

The first season begins with Dr. Robert Bruce Banner already established as the Hulk and on the run,[4] captured by the military after another attempt at ridding himself of the beast within goes awry. He eventually escapes, and falls into the hands of the Leader who is served by Gargoyle and Abomination. The intervention of mutated cave dwelling gamma creatures, Banner's loyal friend Rick Jones, and the love of his life Betty Ross (like in many comic book incarnations, Betty along with Doc Samson is seen here trying to find a cure for Bruce Banner, who becomes the Hulk whenever enraged), is enough to liberate the Hulk and he becomes a fugitive again, with a more aggressive General Ross, Betty's father, continuing his pursuit. However, in "And the Wind Cries...Wendigo!", Hulk and General Ross had to work together to save Betty after the Wendigo (a curse placed upon an Indian) captured her.

As in the comics, Thunderbolt Ross is a 3-star general who sends Army forces and Hulkbusters (Dr. Craig Saunders, Jr. and Dr. Samuel J. La Roquette (later Rock and Redeemer) were also mentioned as members) to capture or destroy the Hulk. He also fights the Hulk personally, using a laser gun Bruce Banner created against the creature in "Return of the Beast, part 1 and 2", and again in "Darkness and Light part 3". Glenn Talbot was shown acting as the right-hand man of General Ross. He is also shown to have a romantic interest in Betty Ross, but she constantly rejects him because he doesn't do a good job of hiding his disdain for either Bruce Banner or the Hulk.

Traveling across the nation and beyond, even venturing into the coldest depths of Canada, Banner meets kindred spirits also battling similar problems, fights beings of pure energy, and must endure an alliance with the Gargoyle to provide the antidote to a viral epidemic that nearly takes Betty's life and countless others. Not even his family is safe from the terror his hidden powers bring, as his best friend and cousin Jennifer Walters is critically injured by Doctor Doom, forcing Banner to give her a blood transfusion that transforms her into the She-Hulk. Jennifer takes immediate delight in her transformed body (in the model of Sensational She-Hulk) and chooses to remain in her She-Hulk form full-time.

Dorian Harewood reprised his role of War Machine from the solo Iron Man animated series in the episode "Helping Hand, Iron Fist". He originally stops Rick Jones from seeing Tony Stark (voiced by Robert Hays, who was also reprising his Iron Man role) at Stark Enterprises, but takes him to Stark after Jones explained that he needed Stark's help to find Bruce Banner. He later alerts Stark of the arrival of General Ross, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Gabriel Jones, and a squad of Hulkbusters. War Machine fights some of the Hulkbusters alongside Jones and Iron Man.

Sasquatch appeared in episode "Man to Man, Beast to Beast" voiced by Peter Strauss (Walter Langkowski) and Clancy Brown (Sasquatch). In that episode, Bruce Banner comes to Canada hoping to find his old friend, Dr. Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch) to get a cure for himself and get rid of Hulk forever, only to find that Walter has developed a bestial alter ego while using himself as a test subject to make a breakthrough in gamma radiation. After battling the Hulk, Walter/Sasquatch exiles himself to the wilderness when his actions put Hulk's friend, a small boy, in danger.

Simon Templeman reprised his role of Doctor Doom (who as previously mentioned, critically injured Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk) for guest appearances in two episodes, in which Doom held Washington, D.C. captive, only to be defeated by She-Hulk, whom he later attempted to claim revenge upon. With his appearance on this show, it can be assumed that Doom survived the fate he met on the Fantastic Four series, if both shows are to be considered within the same continuity.

Following Doctor Doom's first appearance (he would appear again in the second-season episode "Hollywood Rocks"), came the episode "Fantastic Fortitude" featuring his nemesis, the Fantastic Four. The episode seems to place this show in the same continuity with the Fantastic Four cartoon of the same decade as this episode plays off the Hulk's appearance in the other show. More to the point, Beau Weaver (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic) and Chuck McCann (Ben Grimm/The Thing) reprised their roles from the Fantastic Four series. In the episode, Mister Fantastic and the other Fantastic Four take their vacation prior to Hulk, She-Hulk, and Thing fighting Leader's Gamma Soldiers commanded by Leader's minion Ogress. Meanwhile, She-Hulk flirted with Thing, but Ben chose to rekindle his relationship with Alicia Masters. And while the Yancy Street Gang did not appear in the solo Fantastic Four cartoon itself, they did appear "Fantastic Fortitude", where they pull a prank on the Thing. After being defeated by the villain Ogress, the Gang, always off camera, distributes leaflets marked "The Thing Beat by a Woman!".

Also reprising his role from Fantastic Four was John Rhys-Davies as Thor in "Mortal Bounds", while Mark L. Taylor voiced his alter-ego Donald Blake. Donald as Thor brought Hulk to Detroit so that Bruce Banner can help cure a gamma-based outbreak unknowingly caused by Gargoyle (in his search to cure his disfigurement).

Over the course of the season running sub-plots gradually unfold, centering mostly on several of the supporting cast, the season slowly covers the following:

These plot threads converge in the three-part season finale "Darkness and Light", where Betty's gamble pays off and the Hulk and Banner are separated. The Hulk emerges virtually mindless and unrestrained. Banner feels responsible and confronts the creature in an armored battle suit. The Leader finally gains the power of the Hulk, but the strength drives him mad, forcing him to abandon the power and restore it to the creature. At the beginning of season two the Leader turned back in Samuel Sterns and is degraded by Gargoyle in the same way as before. With the help of Grey Hulk, the Leader went back to his old form.

Also in the season finale of the first season, Rick Jones falls into the radiation-saturated Nutrient Bath, (which had been used to separate Hulk and Bruce Banner, and was at that moment being used to fuse them back together), Rick soaks up enough of the gamma radiation to become his own teenaged version of the Hulk. Rick is later cured after The Leader absorbed his power in order to restore his own with the help of the Gargoyle.

Meanwhile, General Ross, betrayed by Agent Jones during the finale, breaks down. Though hospitalized and in critical condition, Ross interrupts Banner's wedding ceremony and threatens to kill Banner, who suffers a cardiac arrest, the separation from the Hulk finally taking its toll. This leads Banner's friends into concluding that he and the Hulk must be merged again, or both will perish.

Ross flees, but later returns in an attempt to sabotage the re-merge experiment. He is interrupted by Rick, whom he hurls into the vat containing Banner and the Hulk. The experiment malfunctions, and the vat erupts; from it emerges a gamma-powered, hulk-like Jones, who escapes into the night, as the grieving but healthy Banner transforms into the Grey Hulk.

Season 2

The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk begins where the first season concluded, with the Grey Hulk in the mountains, solely pursued by the still insane Ross. An altercation between the two results in an avalanche that puts Ross in a coma, and knocks out Banner. When Banner comes to, he is arrested and placed on trial, while Rick Jones, almost an afterthought, continues his own reign of terror.

Banner's cousin Jennifer, the She-Hulk, tries to help him out in court. After defending the entire court house from an attack by the Leader and successfully locating and restoring Rick to normal, both Banner and Jennifer travel together, lying low.

Aside from a small continuation of the premiere episode, the season featured very little ongoing arcs, the only ones of note were the following:

The remainder of the season saw Banner and Jennifer either team-up with characters such as Doctor Strange, battle Doctor Doom once more, or participate in a fight during Jennifer's high school reunion party (where She-Hulk temporarily changed back to Jennifer). The episode "Mind Over Anti-Matter" features Doctor Strange and She-Hulk journeying into the mind of Bruce Banner when Banner is possessed by an evil demon alien. Banner in the process turns into a monstrous Dark Hulk. She-Hulk provides levity at the sorcerer's expense by referring to him as Doctor Peculiar and other variations of his name. The Grey Hulk's mob persona of "Mr. Fixit" surfaced for a brief appearance.

The series concluded on a heavily rushed and happier note than the previous one, with Ross emerging from his coma and deciding to end his hostility towards Bruce, but little else was resolved, including Banner's inner conflicts with his green and grey Hulk transformations.

This season won an Emmy Award for "best audio editing" for the work on the episode "The Lost Village".

Cast

Main cast

Guest stars

Crew

Episodes

Season 1 (1996–1997)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Return of the Beast, Part 1"Richard TruebloodBob ForwardSeptember 8, 1996 (1996-09-08)
2"Return of the Beast, Part 2"Leo SullivanBob ForwardSeptember 15, 1996 (1996-09-15)
3"Raw Power"Dan ThompsonJess WinfieldSeptember 22, 1996 (1996-09-22)
4"Helping Hand, Iron Fist"Ernesto LopezStewart St. JohnSeptember 29, 1996 (1996-09-29)
5"Innocent Blood"Richard TruebloodBob ForwardOctober 6, 1996 (1996-10-06)
6"Man to Man, Beast to Beast"Tom TataranowiczLen WeinOctober 27, 1996 (1996-10-27)
7"Doomed"Dan ThompsonBob ForwardNovember 3, 1996 (1996-11-03)
8"Fantastic Fortitude"Tom Tataranowicz
Ernesto Lopez		Bob ForwardNovember 10, 1996 (1996-11-10)
9"Mortal Bounds"Ernesto LopezWritten by Bruce Reid Schaefer, Story by Greg BlairNovember 17, 1996 (1996-11-17)
10"And the Wind Cries...Wendigo!"Tom Tataranowicz
Richard Trueblood		Meg McLaughlinNovember 24, 1996 (1996-11-24)
11"Darkness and Light, Part 1"Tom Tataranowicz
Ernesto Lopez		Bob ForwardFebruary 2, 1997 (1997-02-02)
12"Darkness and Light, Part 2"Ernesto Lopez
Richard Trueblood		Steven Granat & Cydnee ClarkFebruary 9, 1997 (1997-02-09)
13"Darkness and Light, Part 3"Ernesto Lopez
Dick Sebast		Greg JohnsonFebruary 16, 1997 (1997-02-16)

Season 2 (1997)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
14"Hulk of a Different Color"Ron MyrickBob ForwardSeptember 21, 1997 (1997-09-21)
15"Down Memory Lane"Ron MyrickMeg McLaughlinSeptember 28, 1997 (1997-09-28)
16"Mind Over Anti-Matter"Ron MyrickJohn SemperOctober 5, 1997 (1997-10-05)
17"They Call Me Mr. Fixit"Ron MyrickBob ForwardOctober 26, 1997 (1997-10-26)
18"Fashion Warriors"Ron MyrickJohn SemperNovember 2, 1997 (1997-11-02)
19"Hollywood Rocks"Ron MyrickDiane FrescoNovember 9, 1997 (1997-11-09)
20"The Lost Village"Ron MyrickAnn Knapp Austen & Douglas SloanNovember 16, 1997 (1997-11-16)
21"Mission: Incredible"Ron MyrickMeg McLaughlinNovember 23, 1997 (1997-11-23)

Broadcast history and Home release

The show was briefly aired on ABC Family following the release of the live-action movie in 2003, as well as a DVD release. The show also aired on Toon Disney as a part of their prime time block, Jetix. The show also became the last program to air on Toon Disney. The series previously aired on Disney XD from 2009 to 2012.

An episode of the show was released on the DVD with issue 17 of Jetix Magazine.

In 2008, the series was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK in by Liberation Entertainment as part of a release schedule of Marvel animated series.[5] Currently only two volumes which contain the entire first season were released. Since then the rights then went to Lace International, following Liberation Entertainment's closure. The rights have since been re-acquired by Clear Vision, who re-released the set on July 5, 2010, Season 2 (Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk) was released in the UK on September 6, 2010.

It is currently owned and distributed by The Walt Disney Company, which acquired all Fox Kids-related properties from News Corporation and Saban International in 2001.

All 21 episodes are currently available for streaming on Marvel.com[6] and Netflix.

References

  1. 1 2 Goldman, Michael. "Stan Lee: Comic Guru". Animation World Magazine. Animation World Network. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Hulk Smash Television!". IGN. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  3. ↑ Toonzone: Marvel Animation Age: Interview with Dick Sebast
  4. ↑ The Incredible Hulk Animated: Other Hulk Cartoons
  5. ↑ Liberation Entertainment
  6. ↑ http://marvel.com/videos/browse/tv_show/154/the_incredible_hulk_1996
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