The Incredible Hulk

In case (like me) you missed it, here’s The Incredible Hulk trailer.

Created in 1963 by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby, the Hulk has been a major mover in the comic book world for generations. Originally colored gray as an error, the jade behemoth is power and rage incarnate. Much like the Thing in the Fantastic Four, Stan Lee wanted to turn the tables on the status quot that stated monsters must be villains. In the Marvel Universe, the monsters were often flawed heroes.

The result of the nuclear scare of the Atomic Age and pulp comics of the era, the Hulk was a walking talking depiction of mild mannered Bruce Banner’s id. You want proof? Just look at the first appearance of the Hulk. His initial thoughts are not to destroy, but to pursue Betty Ross (played by Liv Tyler in this sequel), the very object of Banner’s desire, only he was never man enough to admit it. Hulk is an embodiment of the rage found in the sensitive male typified by Banner. I mean look at the set-up of the comic. Banner is a frail awkward scientist on an Army base full of fit aggressive men trained for battle. When the Hulk comes out, his rage expresses itself wildly. Say what you will, but the Hulk is not an intelligent fighter. He often just flails with his massive arms and whatever he strikes usually breaks to pieces.

The massive level of destruction that the Hulk wrecks on the army base of General Ross is awesome. Again and again he matches the power of the military with bare strength and stamina. In the early age of the series we are told that there is little the Hulk cannot do, aside from live a normal life. He is constantly hounded by General Ross‘ men, labeled an enemy of the state based on his actions and even shot into a rocket into space (much earlier than Planet Hulk).

But nothing can stop him.

As the series progressed, the attention toward Banner wavered and the character all but disappeared from the series. The Hulk still despised his alter ego of the soft weak scientist Banner, but we never saw him. Instead, the Hulk became more intelligent and aware of himself. The line between Banner and Hulk softened.

This film, The Incredible Hulk, seems to be directed toward that ideal, of the usefulness of the Hulk’s destructive power. We see Emil Blonski (played by Tim Roth) utilizing Banner’s research to turn him into the monstrous Abomination (comic version to the right) we see ravaging Manhattan. Only the power of the Hulk that has been so misdirected and devastating stands a chance of stopping such an enemy.

But will it be a good movie?

Many movie viewers and comic book fans hated the first film by Ang Lee. This movie looks to be a crowd pleasing monster mash that will have the popcorn munching audiences seeing green all the way to their local Target. That’s not a snub, by the way. I like a good action film. Both the X-Men and Spider-Man franchises are at heart action films.

But will this one be any good?

Last year we had Fantastic Four 2 and Spider-Man 3 which were both disappointments. This year has the triple threat of Dark Knight, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.

See you in line this summer to find out the long wait is worth it.

Recommended:

Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk
Incredible Hulk: The End (Marvel Premiere Classic)
The Incredible Hulk Omnibus, Vol. 1

Incredible Hulk Trailer

From comicbookresources.com:

Superhero Hype has a press release from Universal Pictures noting that “The first teaser trailer for hotly anticipated summer superhero epic ‘The Incredible Hulk’ will have its exclusive broadcast debut in a simultaneous ‘roadblock’ on seven networks on Wednesday, March 12. This first opportunity to see material from the motion picture will be aired at approximately 9:56 p.m. EDT/6:56 p.m. PDT on MTV, MTVU, MTV2, VH1, Spike TV, Nick at Nite and CMT. Following the on-air premiere, the trailer will be immediately posted on MTV.com for an exclusive period. The trailer will begin showing in theaters across the country on Friday, March 14, with prints of Rogue Pictures’ ‘Doomsday.’”

Starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross (I prefer Jennifer Connolly), Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky (expect him to steal the show) and William Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, this film has been a virtual ghost in comparison to compatriot super hero flicks The Dark Knight and Iron Man.

As I’ve said before, I’m in that 5 person camp of tightly knit individuals who like the Ang Lee Hulk film. I firmly believe that one day it will receive the respect it deserves rather than being derided as ‘that terrible Hulk movie.’ Rather than a navel-gazing desert-set affair, this newer version of old jade jaws promises to be a wall-to-wall slam bang monster fighting affair.

Directed by Louis Leterrier (Transporter) and written by Zak Penn (X2), this movie should deliver to the popcorn munchers around the world who yearn to see The Hulk fight it out with fellow monster The Abomination in the heart of New York City.

We all get our first glimpse this Friday.

Oh, and go see Doomsday.

Missing line of Hulk Marvel action figures?

Looking around online, I spotted these pics from a line of Hulk Marvel Legends action figures that have yet to be released.

It’s always nice to dream of a Valkyrie action figure, isn’t it?

(the other two figures pictured are The Red King and Sakaar, Son of Hulk from the upcoming mini-series)

Hulk Smash! DVD details

As some Marvel Animated fans know, there is a Hulk animated feature on its way to coincide with the upcoming Ed Norton film, The Incredible Hulk.

So far, details have been few… until today, that it is.

From Toonzone

A recent email survey from Marvel/Lionsgate reveals their possible plans for the Hulk Smash! DTV or a future Hulk DTV. These were the synopsis’ provided for the direct-to-video feature, but please note, these projects are in the very early pre-production stages at this time and one, or neither, may actually come to fruition.

Hulk Vs. Wolverine
ALBERTA, Canada. The smoldering wreckage of a town-the latest casualty of a rampage by the monster known as The Incredible Hulk. Over the past week, Hulk has been tearing a line across the Canadian wilderness, leaving a swathe of destruction in his wake. He has to be stopped, and there’s only one man up to the job. He’s Wolverine, and he’s been put on Hulk’s trail with a single objective: stop the green goliath…at all costs. Hulk and Wolverine are about to enter the fiercest battle of their lives.

Hulk Vs. Thor
ASGARD, realm of the gods. For ages, Loki the trickster has sought a way to bring defeat to his accursed stepbrother, Thor. But for all the battles Thor has fought, in all the nine realms, only one creature has ever been able to match his strength-a mortal beast of Midgard known as The Incredible Hulk. Now, with Odin the almighty king of the gods deep in a regenerative sleep, and the forces protecting Asgard at their weakest, Loki is finally ready to spring his trap. In an epic battle that will pit gods against monsters, only The Mighty Thor can hope to prevail. But to do so he must survive a perilous quest that will take him into the very depths of the underworld itself.

What, no Hulk Vs. Spider-Man?

Iron Man/Incredible Hulk Movie News

William Hurt (A History of Violence) was recently interviewed by MTV and spilled a can-load of beans about the upcoming Hulk/Iron Man crossover filming. Hurt will be playing the part of General ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross who in the comic book series was a continual source of disapproval for both Banner and his jade-colored alter-ego. The part was played by the human mustache Sam Eliot in the Ang Lee film.

In his interview, Hurt talked at length about the crossover scene with Robert Downey, Jr., but the piece itself goes on about how this new film be such a radical departure from the previous film.

“There’s a scene, and during that scene there are a number of things happening. [Hulk] has beaten Abomination, and then there’s a crowd that gathers around, and they realize that he’s beaten Abomination. That Abomination was the one who was killing for just the joy of killing; Hulk is not the one.

“It’s the moment of turn,” Hurt added, “when society’s relationship with Hulk stops being so stupid.”

Unlike Ang Lee, director Louis Leterrier (the “Transporter” films) is intent on laying off the “Hulk as misunderstood monster” angle, thereby making him more heroic. “I want to see the relationship between Hulk and a world that realizes he’s not the villain,” Hurt said. “Hulk and [Tyler's Betty Ross] have their moment, and the crowd realizes he’s not the bad guy.”

While Edward Norton has perfected his portrayal of such good-guy/bad-guy conflict in films from “Fight Club” to “American History X,” Hurt can’t comment on his co-star’s performance. “I don’t know. I only have two scenes with him,” he sighed, sounding a bit disappointed. “That’s not enough to get a whole taste of it.”

He is convinced, however, that the reboot flick is fully unrelated to Lee’s initial installment. “I saw that film. This is, stylistically, a completely different film. They just don’t relate,” Hurt insisted.

Hurt said Norton worked hard behind the camera to keep the new flick from either becoming too cerebral or falling back on a “Hulk! Smash!” mentality. “[Norton did] a lot of writing, and came up with a lot of ideas. I can’t relate them now, because there’s not enough time, but he had a lot of ideas.”

While the while Hulk as hero thing is a viable part of the comic book mythology, I really think that the misunderstood monster angle is where the heart of this movie franchise is at. I understand that the Ang Lee film was a disappointment to the studio, but making the Hulk movie into an action/adventure film sounds too much like a major knee-jerk reaction to me.

More Incredible Hulk images

I know I’m cashing in any hope of ever earning a ‘cool club’ membership by saying this, but I like the Ang Lee Hulk movie.

I know, I know… poodles are silly, Hulk looked like Skrek and Nick Nolte was off the hook and over the top, but I still respect and appreciate how the film boldly attempted to bring a Marvel Comics character forward and modernize the comic book ideas into a sophisticated blockbuster movie.

That said, it failed to do what many fans wanted, which was to replicate the Hulk 1970’s TV show with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. I hate that show. Nothing against Bixby, Lou or fans of the program. The Hulk TV series brought many a new reader to comics and did more to spread the mighty name of Marvel Comics than any other comic book-related project before or since (except perhaps for the Superman radio show), but… it puts me to sleep. Seeing David (Bruce) Banner take on odd jobs and a green-painted Lou Ferrigno tear apart drywall in slow motion is not exactly compelling entertainment for me.But like I said, I like the Ang Lee film, so what do I know?

In any case, it looks like those fans clamoring for a return to ‘greatness’ are being heard. As you can see from the above still, the Incredible Hulk sequel is building very consciously on the imagery of the classic TV series, something that will no doubt resonate with fans.

(in the opening sequence to the TV series featuring Banner hooked up to a device not dissimilar to the one Ed Norton is sitting in above)

That does not, however, mean that the new movie won’t suck.

Recommended

The Incredible Hulk - The Complete First Season

Mighty Marvel Team-Up

Ever since the first Marvel Comics movie was announced, two ideas popped into the heads of comic book readers across the nation… what story are they going to do and will X hero ever meet Y hero.This might be why Sabretooth was introduced in the first film yet so little was done with him. The whole idea may have been to just show him and Wolverine in the same film. But after so many films and the formation of the Marvel Entertainment Group, the dream of hero X punching hero Y in the jaw is finally here.

Word is that the upcoming Incredible Hulk and Iron Man movies are sharing a scene together. This could mean that we see Hulk fight Iron Man in the Hulk movie or Iron Man fighting Hulk in the Iron Man movie, or even the same fight seen from two perspectives!

For many unsure of what to make about either of these big budget films (I’m still not sold), this is major news and could revitalize the super hero movie genre that could be seen as running out of steam after both Spider-Man and X-Men franchises have enjoyed healthy runs.

After so many great (and not-so great) comic book movies, I’ve been awaiting a truly terrible super hero film that will close the book on the genre that so many Hollywood producers want a piece of. But this cross-over idea could change everything, couldn’t it?

Imagine the Hulk appearing in a Spider-Man movie (at the Winter Olympics, no less) or Iron Man in a Fantastic Four film. It could finally show so many non-comic book readers what it’s like to read a universe of comics rather than stand-alone franchises… and it might make those films a little cooler.

The ‘Red’ Hulk

Just loosed upon the web, an image of the upcoming ‘Red’ Hulk by Daniel Acuna (Freedom Fighters). Word is still mum on exactly who the Hell this Hulk is, but the visual is very exciting. I know that planning for this Red Hulk has been in the works for about two years with an action figure surely on its way.

Ever since the heroes of the Marvel Universe shot the Hulk into space, the (not so) jolly green giant has enjoyed a brilliant new hight of popularity not seen since the days of the Hulk TV program.

The Hulk’s adventures on the strange planet of Sakarr in Planet Hulk was such a gigantic hit that few believed it’s follow-up ‘World War Hulk’ would live up to its glory.

While World War Hulk disappointed some, but for me seeing John Romita Jr. delineate the most powerful heroes of Marvel Comics was treat enough and to be honest, it was a great read in my opinion. In the World War Hulk mini-series, Hulk set himself against the entire Marvel Universe by turning Manhattan into his own private arena. After battling the combined might of the Avengers, X-Men and a barrage of killer satellites, a defeated Bruce Banner is shown the prisoner of a deep-sea prison, so who can this Hulk be?

Until January’s highly anticipated issue #1, we’ll have to settle for the above image and speculate.

Recommended Reading:

Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk
World War Hulk: Front Line
Hulk: World War Hulk - Marvel Universe TPB (Incredible Hulk)

3 new Hulk comics

After the excitement and destruction of World War Hulk, many thought that the jade giant would take some well-earned vacation time.

Hardly. In fact, there are currently three different Hulk related projects coming your way.

“The Incredible Herc” by Fred Van Lente & Greg Pak and artist Khoi Pham
Formerly The Incredible Hulk, Incredible Herc was originally envisioned as a new teambook starring Hercules and his fellow Renegades members - Amadeus Cho, Scorpion, and Namora - the decision was ultimately made to go in a different direction. “So we thought we’d try something a bit different and do more of a buddy book, with Hercules and Amadeus Cho going on adventures together,” said writer Fred Van Lente. “Greg’s schedule was pretty crazy at the time this was being developed with ‘World War Hulk’ and everything else, so they asked me to come aboard and it’s been a lot of fun.”

“Skaar: Son of Hulk” maxiseries by writer Greg Pak (artist TBD)
Series number two (a 12 issue maxi) will follow the adventures of the Hulk’s ’son’ Skaar. “He is very much indeed his father’s son as you’ll see-in many ways, but hey, if you grew up in a radioactive puddle on a world as savage and brutal as Sakaar (and no comic shops in site, to boot), you probably wouldn’t be smiling either,” series editor Mark Paniccia said.

“The Hulk” by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness
The third title is the features the mysterious ‘Red Hulk.’ Banner is in a deep sea prison, so who is this new Hulk… or is it a new Hulk at all? “There is indeed a mystery beyond the question of who is the Red Hulk but I’d be spoiling if I went into details,” series editor Paniccia said. “Just know that Jeph’s planning on giving fans a conspiracy they can sink their teeth into.”

That’s a whole lotta Hulk. 

More here

Incredible Hulk script leaked

A full review of the Incredible Hulk movie script has surfaced over at Comic Book Resources’ Lying in the Gutters:

The Incredible Hulk - script by Edward Norton. A review by Brendon Connelly. I hated David Benioff’s script for “Wolverine” so much that Fox muscled up to me with 100% unjustified legal bullying just for publishing my opinion. I wonder if I can inspire the same kind of bitter stupidity in Universal? Let’s give it a go, shall we?

The first page of this Incredible Hulk script was marked “Part One Flight,” though the subsequent two acts aren’t eventually labeled once (or, indeed, if) you read that far. They are, however, really rather clearly delineated and I would suppose they were probably supposed to be called something like “Discovery” and “Confrontation”. You can file those as pretty conclusive plot spoilers, if you want, because the story really is that linear, predictable and simplistic.

You can read the rest here.