Incredible Hulk (1977)

The Incredible Hulk is an American science fiction television series of the superhero subgenre. It is based on the Hulk series of comic book titles created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby published by Marvel Comics. This live-action television series was produced by Universal TV and ran from March, 1978 to January, 1982 on CBS spanning a total of five seasons and 82 episodes. The series was preceded by two television pilot movies, both of which aired in 1977. The first was a two-hour pilot aptly titled "The Incredible Hulk" and the second was a two-part episode called "Death in the Family". The regular series did not premiere until the following year. The show also spawned three television movies that were made in the early 1990s, The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk and The Death of the Incredible Hulk, which actually did feature the demise of the titular character. The series starred My Favorite Martian actor Bill Bixby as tormented scientist Doctor David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as his monstrous alter ego, the Hulk. The show also starred Jack Colvin as dogged investigative reporter Jack McGee.

Premise
The premise of The Incredible Hulk focused on Doctor David Banner, a scientist seeking to tap into the hidden superhuman strength inherent in all human beings. Believing that he could stimulate this mysterious gene through Gamma radiation, Doctor Banner subjects himself to doses of gamma rays which triggers his body chemistry with unexpected and undesirable side effects. Whenever Banner suffers great anxiety or anger, he transforms into the uncontrollably strong green-skinned creature known as the Hulk. Only when the rage passes does the Hulk transform back into Doctor Banner. The general population is unaware that Banner and the Hulk are one and the same and most regard the Hulk's alleged existence as an urban legend. His first adventure resulted in the world believing that Banner had died as a result of a fire caused by the Hulk, so Banner changes his identity and travels the country seeking a cure that he prays will one day reverse his condition. Jack McGee, investigative reporter for the National Register is convinced that the Hulk is real, but is unaware of Banner's continued survival. Obsessed with tracking down the creature, he follows reports of Hulk sightings across the country, causing Doctor Banner no end of stress. Each episodes of the show featured Bill Bixby taking on a new alias, which was always some variation of his character's actual name and accepting odd jobs in his search for a cure. Invariably, these odd jobs always planted Banner into the middle of intense and often violent situations where he would transform into the Hulk and battle against various evil-doers, most of which were common criminals such as gangsters, confidence artists, car thieves, etc.

Collections

 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete First Season
 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete Second Season
 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete Third Season
 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete Fourth Season
 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete Fifth Season
 * Incredible Hulk: The Complete Series
 * Incredible Hulk: The Television Series Ultimate Collection