The Incredible Hulk (1977): The Retrospective on One of Marvel’s Most Underrated and Influential Adaptations.
“Mr. McGee, Don’t make me angry… you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
Those words are arguably one of the most iconic lines in the history of television but it can be argued few from the Millennial generation would know where they came from.
Back in the ’70s, Stan Lee of Marvel Comics wanted to naturally branch out his expansive universe of iconic superheroes to television. This included TV series and movies for characters such as Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man. They were all failures with critics and audiences… except for one.
Enter “the Incredible Hulk” starring TV actor Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the title character. The show followed David’s attempts to find a cure while avoiding the authorities all across the country. Developed by Kenneth Johnson of “V” (1983) fame, the show did what would be usually considered the worst move one could do with an adaptation: it changed nearly everything.
Gone were his supporting cast, the gamma bomb origin, and Bruce Banner’s name. In their places were the addition of Mr. McGee, a tabloid reporter who pursued the Hulk, a new origin story that was more realistic, and Banner’s name being now David Bruce Banner.
