The Incredible Hulk Volume 2 - The Legend of the Incredible Hulk

More Hulk action is upon us with this third volume of episodes cut from the classic TV series. On this disc we again receive three full-length episodes from the '70s and '80s. Focusing this time around on the Hulk as legend, we get two stories involving firstly a local legend of a hulking green monster and an ancient Native American green monster who was revered as a God to primitive peoples.

Fair enough, they both qualify as ‘legendary’, but I’m sure the DVD makers have kinda lumped the idea together to help flog a coupla discs, particularly as the episodes don’t run chronologically. Still, for the ongoing Hulk fans who can’t get enough of that sweet, sweet green candy, this is a slightly better disc than the previous Search for a Cure reviewed as a companion piece to this one.

No doubt this will be the last such disc released through Universal, though who can say what will occur when Hulk 2: Secret of the Ooze or whatever it may be called inevitably comes out? Fans will of course love seeing the old episodes look as good as ever and certainly better than the barely-visible quality of video episodes (if any are even available anywhere).

Included herein are those aforementioned tales told over three episodes and they run thusly:

• The First – Part I 1981, Runtime: 46:28
  Dr Banner learns of an existing machine to cure illness although it creates Hulks. The man who’s kept the machine running has been driven insane by his inability to use it and with Banner’s help makes himself into a Hulk with bad dentures.

• The First – Part II 1981, Runtime: 46:32
  With that new Hulk having just killed a man and on the loose, Banner is framed as the murderer. He finds a cure for his Hulkness, but it gets destroyed before he can use it and, in his rage, Banner becomes the Hulk. Now it’s Hulk on Hulk in the grudge match of the century!

• Kindred Spirits 1979, Runtime: 46:15
  An archeological dig unearths evidence of a prehistoric Hulk! However, local Native Americans hold this primitive Hulk in folklore and not all are keen on letting the ‘white eyes’ take bone samples. When a cave-in seemingly kills assistant Banner, the Hulk emerges to save the professor, but upon relating the incident he is labeled a fraud.

As far as acting goes there are some genuinely wooden performances, particularly from the grimacing Dick Durock as the other green meat; the Hulk from The First two-parter. However, it’s always interesting seeing the names of today getting a start in the biz and in Kindred Spirits we see a young Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) playing a young Native American woman.

Usual TV quality applies here in the 4:3 transfer and just off sharp picture. Occasional film artefacts prove nothing stays clean forever with some grainy scenes making their appearance felt. Again, stock footage is occasionally employed and this is grainier and in poorer condition than the surrounding film. There is some heavy wobbling going on in the vicinity of 35:41 – 36:56 that kinda induces seizures, but otherwise it’s alright as far a picture goes. Blacks are okay with shadow detail being a bit crappier in the night scenes (where some heavier grain also shows up). Colours are mostly okay, but they’re the usual old film stock/slightly washed out in texture.

Dolby Digital mono as usual here, and it’s entirely adequate for a television series of this one’s age. Dialogue is all clear enough but the ‘new’ Hulk’s roaring and attempts at acting do get mystifying in their annoyance level. However, the can of sound effects has been opened well enough here with sparking explosions and balsa wood doors all breaking in a realistically audible fashion.

Music too is fine, being understated and moody throughout. The piano the show is bookended by each episode is something I’ve not mentioned yet, but it is quite mournful in it’s objectivity of the show. Not so important in the opening titles, it does lend that ‘oh crap, we’re back on the road searching for a cure and avoiding that Magee guy again’ feeling to cap the show off. Solitary piano can be so effectual for a number of emotions and works splendidly here.

Just like the second disc of the series, we are granted nothing here but the three episodes. That sucks.

By this stage it’s probably only the completists who are still interested or the hardcore fans of this original series, however the show is quite watchable. I grew up watching it and used to hang out to see Banner go Hulk on anyone’s arse who got in his way. In watching these again for the first time in maybe 20 years, I’ve learned there just aren’t enough moments of Hulk going nuts and tearing shit up. Oh well. It’s kinda still cool to wait, like when you watch car racing to see the crashes.

It’s a bit of fun, albeit a shameless attempt to wring an extra coupla bucks out of the latest Hulkmania. Somehow I don’t think we would have minded so much if we were at least granted some extras for our money. Fans will eat it up at least.