The first issue of The Incredible Hulk hit newsstands back on this date in 1962. The super strong hero with a serious Jekyll and Hyde complex soon became one of the flagship characters at Marvel Comics. Since then, he’s appeared in cartoons, video games, and even a television show. Here’s a quick look at the green mountain of muscle’s journey from print to live-action star.
May, 10 1962 The Incredible Hulk #1 debuts. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, it relates the story of Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, who, after being exposed to gamma radiation, transforms into a 900-pound, grey-skinned behemoth at night. The story also introduces General Thanddeus E. “Thunderbolt” Ross, who would become obsessed with stopping the often misunderstood giant, along with his daughter (and Banner’s love-interest) Betty.
September, 1963 The now-green Hulk battles along side Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, and the Wasp against Thor’s malicious brother Loki in The Avengers #1. By the end of the second issue, the Hulk leaves the group.
April, 1967 The Hulk has the first of many battles with the Abomination (Emil Blonsky) in Tales to Astonish #90.
November 4, 1977 The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS. Developed by writer and director Kenneth Johnson, the two-hour, live-action television pilot stars Bill Bixby as Dr. David Bruce Banner and professional bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk.
November 28, 1977 The two-hour sequel The Return of the Incredible Hulk airs.
March 10, 1978 The Incredible Hulk debuts as a weekly series.
June 2, 1982 After five seasons and 82 episodes, The Incredible Hulk is cancelled.
May 22, 1988 The made-for-TV movie The Incredible Hulk Returns airs on NBC with Bixby and Ferrigno reprising their roles from the CBS series. The broadcast marks the first live-action appearances of Dr. Donald Blake and Thor though both characters differ from their comic book counterparts.
May 7, 1989 Bixby and Ferrigno appear in a second made-for-TV movie, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. The story features the first live-action appearances of attorney Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and crime lord Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). Hulk co-creator Stan Lee makes a cameo.
February 18, 1990 Bixby and Ferrigo return for a third TV movie outing in The Death of the Incredible Hulk.
November 21, 1993 Bill Bixby dies of prostate cancer at the age of 59. As his health began to decline, all additonal Hulk-related projects were cancelled.
June 20, 2003 Universal Pictures releases Hulk. Director Ang Lee’s foray into superhero cinema stars Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross, and Sam Elliott as General “Thunderbolt” Ross. Lou Ferrigno and Stan Lee appear briefly as security guards.
June 13, 2008 The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton is released. Directed by Louis Leterrier, the film also features Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, and Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination, and William Hurt as General “Thunderbolt” Ross. Lou Ferrigno once again has a cameo as a security guard and provides the voice of the Hulk. Robert Downey, Jr. appears briefly as Tony Stark.
April 11, 2012 The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon, is released by Walt Disney Pictures to both favorable review and box office success. The cast includes Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/the Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
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