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The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk is a Marvel Comics superhero, in later years often simply called Hulk, and the name for the original comic book title. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962, the comic focused on Dr. Bruce Banner, who due to a gamma radiation accident, becomes a musclebound behemoth (initially gray but more familiar as a green giant, often clad in torn purple trousers). The transformation was originally triggered by sundown, but later was directly tied to Banner's emotions, especially anger.

The character's popularity led to several TV series, beginning in 1966, as part of The Marvel Superheroes syndication package. A successful live action TV series, starring Bill Bixby as Banner (renamed David) and Lou Ferrigno as the Incredible Hulk, aired on CBS from 1978 to 1982, and a string of TV movie sequels followed until 1990. Two theatrical films have been produced to date, Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008), along with scores of video games and other merchandise.

In December 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment (the parent company of Marvel Comics), placing the Incredible Hulk character under the same ownership as the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House characters.

1 References
2 Muppet Mentions
3 Connections
4 Sources
5 External links

ReferencesEdit

In the 1989 Muppet Babies episode "Comic Capers," the Incredible Hulk appears, in stock footage from Marvel Productions' 1985 animated series, in the song "The Sunday Funnies." He later makes a stock footage cameo when Baby Rowlf (as Peter Barker) opens an elevator door (with the growls supplied by Frank Welker.)

A "Global Grover" segment on Sesame Street about Angola includes a shot of a child wearing an Incredible Hulk sweatshirt.

Muppet MentionsEdit

"Captive Night", a 1979 episode of The Incredible Hulk features background appearances by Sesame Street plush toys. The episode is set in a department store, and during a lengthy sequence, the Hulk roams around the toy department, curiously gazing at the strange faces on the various toys and dolls. Several shots feature a stuffed Herry Monster atop a mushroom, the longest being a tracking shot. A Mr. Snuffleupagus is also briefly glimpsed near a large stuffed dog.

In The Incredible Hulk issue #474 (1999), a journey into Bruce Banner's mind includes a symbol of anger from his childhood: "Edgar the Grump", who lives in a dumpster on "Sassafras Street". The character is a parody of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.

The 2008 feature film The Incredible Hulk begins with Bruce Banner living in Brazil while hiding from the military. To learn the local language, he reads a translation dictionary and watches Sesame Street. Footage of Grover performing "Over, Under, Around and Through" is used, and Joe Raposo receives acknowledgement for the song in the film's credits.

ConnectionsEdit

Loni Anderson played Sheila Cantrell in The Incredible Hulk episode "Of Guilt, Models and Murder" (1978).
Bill Capizzi played Ben in The Incredible Hulk episode "My Favorite Magician" (1979).
Jennifer Connelly played Betty Ross in Hulk (2003 film).
Jesse Corti played a colonel in Hulk (2003 film).
Robert Downey, Jr. played Tony Stark in The Incredible Hulk (2008 movie).
Matt Frewer played the Leader on The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997) and The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk (1997-1998).
H. B. Haggerty played Gregor in The Incredible Hulk episode "Half Nelson" (1981).
Mark Hamill played Gargoyle on The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997) and The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk (1997-1998).
Mariette Hartley played Dr. Caroline Fields in The Incredible Hulk episode "Married" (1978).
Sherman Hemsley played Robert in The Incredible Hulk episode "No Escape" (1979).
William Hurt played General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in The Incredible Hulk (2008 film).
Kathy Ireland played Ogress on The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997).
Stan Lee, in addition to co-creating the character and serving as producer or consultant on most adaptations, provided narration for the 1982 animated series, played Cliff Walters on the 1996 animated series episode "Down Memory Lane",^[1] a jury forman in the 1989 TV movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, a security guard (sharing a scene with Lou Ferrigno) in the 2003 film Hulk, and a man poisoned by a soft drink laced with Banner's gamma infected blood in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk.
Richard Moll played the Abomination and a homeless man on The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997).
Pat Morita played Fred in The Incredible Hulk episode "Stop the Presses" (1979).
John Stephenson supplied additional voices on the 1985 animated series.
Cree Summer played Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk in The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk (1997-1998).
John Vernon played Major Glenn Talbot on The Marvel Superheroes (1966), General "Thunderbolt" Ross on The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997), and The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk (1997-1998).