The Incredible Hulk Returns | |
---|---|
Genre | superhero film |
Starring | Bill Bixby as David Banner Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk Jack Colvin as Jack McGee Lee Purcell as Maggie Shaw Eric Allan Kramer as Thor Steve Levitt as Donald Blake |
Release date | 1988 |
Preceded by | The Incredible Hulk (TV series) |
Followed by | The Trial of the Incredible Hulk |
The Incredible Hulk Returns is the 1988 TV movie about David Banner, played by Bill Bixby, who has nearly cured himself from being the Hulk, played by Lou Ferrigno. This was also Jack Colvin's last appearance as Jack McGee.
As was the case with The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (featuring Daredevil) this television movie acted as a backdoor pilot to an unproduced television series featuring the Thor comic book character. The Thor depicted here bears little resemblance to the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name in terms of appearance. He was depicted as a more realistic version of the Thunder God of Norse mythology but still closely following the comic in that he is sent to earth to learn humility. This is also the first and only time that truly magical or supernatural elements have been used in the universe of the Incredible Hulk TV series.
Thor was played by Eric Allan Kramer, and Donald Blake by Steve Levitt. In this version Blake does not become Thor, who is a separate character. By holding the hammer Mjolnir and shouting "Odin!" Blake can summon the Viking warrior to help him, the two interacting and openly discussing their situations: Blake wants Thor off his back, but the latter will not be admitted into Asgard until he has proved himself worthy.
Plot
Two years (Six years in real life) after he walked off into the sunset in the episode "A Minor Problem," we find that David Banner has been gainfully employed at the Joshua-Lambert Research Institute where he and a team of scientists are putting the final touches on a Gamma Transponder. It has been two years since his last transformation into the creature and Banner is now happily involved in a relationship with a young widow. Banner hopes to put all worries about the risk of transforming into the Hulk to rest by using the Gamma Transponder to reverse the effects of gamma radiation on himself.
Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan. David is surprised by the arrival of Donald Blake, a former student of his. Blake explains that he now shares a mystical bond with a Viking god named Thor. Blake calls upon Thor to appear in order to prove the validity of his story. The Viking god causes David to transform and a battle between the Hulk and Thor leaves David's lab severely damaged.
With his experiment now set back, David and his transponder become the target of a crime organization that is spurned on within the ranks of the Joshua-Lambert Institute.
See also
External links
- The Incredible Hulk Returns at the Internet Movie Database
- Hulk Smash Television!
- Incredible Hulk News HulkRage.com Fansite, Toys, Statues, Comics, DVD's
|
|