History of “The Hulk” On TV

The “Incredible” Behind-the-Scenes Story of the ‘70s Superhero Series

It’s not easy being green…with muscles. Torn between ligaments, emotions, and the bright lights of television stardom, the behind-the-small-screen tales of The Incredible Hulk are large-scale hair-raising.

Anger, fury, isolation, loneliness, death, secrets, egos — alter egos — and jealousy, the green-eyed monster itself — these are the traits belonging to Dr. Bruce Banner and his mammoth, ultra-strong, oh-so-golly-green giant alter ego from the popular Marvel comic book The Incredible Hulk created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962. These are also the themes that run rampant throughout the very making of the popular sci-fi TV series adaptation of the franchise that initially ran on CBS from 1978 to 1982.

Bill Bixby portrayed the Dr.-Jekyll-like Dr. David Banner, with the first-name change from Bruce. The hearing-impaired Lou Ferrigno played the muscle-bound Mr. Hyde. Bixby, best known as the star of My Favorite Martian (CBS, 1963–66), The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (ABC, 1969–71) and The Magician (NBC, 1973–74) is a professional in every sense of the word. But like his David Banner TV- persona, he was unsettled, intense, aloof, searching — a fugitive from life. He participated not so much because he experienced joy, but rather out of obligation, via his contract.