A Classic Reborn: The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)

 Six years had passed since The Incredible Hulk ended its run on CBS, and had gone into syndication. The Marvel-produced animated series that followed had one season of original episodes, cycled over three seasons (1982-5) ad nauseum.

NBC, home to the animated Hulk, decided to bring the Jade Giant back for a TV-movie, reuniting series stars Lou Ferrigno & Bill Bixby. However, "The Incredible Hulk Returns" was also a backdoor pilot for a series that never saw the light of day.

If you saw "Avengers: Endgame", you will recall how Thor (Chris Hemsworth) had packed on some pounds and settled into a mortal existence of a sort. The producers of "Incredible Hulk Returns" tweaked Thor's Marvel origin, such that Dr. Donald Blake, cast here as a total nerd (Steve Levitt), summons the Thunder God, instead of transforming, by calling out the magic word, "Valhalla!". Okay, so this is a parody of Shazam!. Not good, and right away, you get the impression that this Thor is not cut out for primetime.

In the meantime, David Banner (Bixby) has finally settled down and found a girlfriend (Lee Purcell). Unfortunately, he & Hulk (Ferrigno), along with Thor, end up dealing with some mob types, and, another relationship bites the dust, as the general theme of the series, based upon Les Miserables and The Fugitive, continues. There would be a sequel. However, Jack Colvin, who played reporter Jack McGee, returned only for this film, and was written out.

Following is a teaser that aired before the movie began. NBC studio announcer Danny Dark (ex-Super Friends) narrates.

Bixby & Ferrigno would return for 2 more TV-movies for NBC, both co-produced by Bixby with New Line Television, of which Marvel was a sister company at the time.

Rating: B--.