The origin of the television series' Hulk differs greatly from his original comic book incarnation. As the story goes, Doctor David Bruce Banner, M.D., Ph.D. (Bill Bixby, January 22, 1934-November 21, 1993) (born and raised in Trevorton, Colorado in 1937 to D.W. Banner and Elizabeth Banner, and had a sister 4 years his junior named: Helen) was a genius physician and research scientist who was employed at the fictional Culver Institute headed by Doctor Benjamin Culver in Sacramento, California. He was traumatized by a car accident that killed his beloved wife: Laura and haunted by his inability to save her. Dr. Banner, in partnership with Doctor Elaina Harding Marks (Susan Sullivan, November 18, 1942) (who also worked at the Culver Institute), conducted a study on people who, while in danger (or somebody they loved was in danger), summoned superhuman strength in order to save their loved ones. After months of work, the only found two significant common factors they could find between the subjects, which were: (1.) extreme emotional commitments and (2.) an abnormally high percentage of the adenine/-thymine link in their DNA—an insufficient explanation, since Dr. Banner has even higher levels of adenine/thymine than any of the subjects, yet he was unable to summon the strength he needed to save Laura. Dr. Banner was intensely (even obsessively) trying to ascertain how to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. While studying a chart of gamma ray activity from the past year, it was discovered that all the subjects performed their feats during periods when their bodies were the most receptive to the sunspot-based gamma augmentation (i.e. high gamma activity), while his wife's death occurred during a period of low gamma activity. Thus, it was hypothesized that high levels of gamma radiation from sunspots contributed to the subjects' increase in human strength. Impatiently, Dr. Banner conducted an unsupervised experiment in the radiology lab, bombarding his own body with gamma radiation. Unbeknownst to Dr. Banner, the equipment had been upgraded, causing him to administer an accidental over-dosage of gamma radiation to himself—a dose six and two-thirds times as high as that with which he had intended to bombard himself, resulting in his body chemistry being altered. Later that night, Dr. Banner over-went his first metamorphosis into the Hulk. The next morning, the Hulk morphed back into Dr. Banner who had no memory or knowledge of what took place after his metamorphosis. Later that evening, during a clandestine experiment in a laboratory isolated from the rest of the Culver Institute (but still on the grounds), they tried to re-create the circumstances of the phenomenon to no avail. Then, while Dr. Banner was sleeping and dreaming of the accident that killed Dr. Banner's wife a year prior, he under-went his second metamorphosis in the Hulk, which Dr. Mark witnessed. Dr. Marks carefully took a blood sample from the Hulk, then sat him down to become calm enough to return to normal. After testing the Hulk's blood sample, they see that his Basil Metabolism (or Resting Metabolic Rate), which is the amount of calories needed to sustain all the body's operations (e.g. maintain temperature, transport nutrients in and out of cells, pump blood, breathe, etc.) while the body is at rest. Thus, they realize that the Hulk had a very high Basil Metabolism and healing rate. They theorized that the Hulk was a reversion to some kind of primal state; a primitive double of Dr. Banner with incredible strength and human productivity guided his inherent personality. Later that afternoon, Dr. Banner and Dr. Marks were confronted about Dr. Banner wrecked and burned car by a highway patrolman and an investigative reporter: Jack McGee (Jack Colvin, October 13, 1934-December 1, 2005) who was employed at a tabloid newspaper called: The National Register who said he found enormous footprints near the wreckage and a father-daughter duo said they saw a green hulking "creature." while camping in the woods that morning. To keep things under wraps, they both denied knowing anything about the wrecked car or the "creature." In the early evening hours, Dr. Banner and Dr. Marks left to go back to another laboratory to try "X-Ray Reversal," as radiological treatment to try to counteract the gamma rays, also to no avail. Meanwhile, Jack McGee, who believed the two doctors were feigning ignorance, suspected they knew something, and sneaked into the secluded laboratory to investigate what his suspicions. When Dr. Banner and Dr. Marks came back, McGee hid in a chemical storage room. When Dr. Banner caught McGee hiding, the startled reporter inadvertently knocks a chemical off of a storage shelf. Neither of them noticed the chemicals seeping into other chemicals and the machinery. As Dr. Banner takes McGee outside, the spilled chemicals set off a accidental laboratory explosion. McGee is dazed by the explosion, but Dr. Banner rushes back into the lab to save Dr. Marks. Seeing Dr. Marks injured and in grave danger triggers another metamorphosis into the Hulk. The Hulk carries Dr. Marks away from the inferno into nearby woods, but she dies from injuries sustained in the explosion. When McGee comes to, he witnesses the Hulk carrying her away, and surmises that the Hulk killed both Banner and Marks. Dr. Mark's body was found in the woods the next morning. Dr. Banner's body was never found. However, Dr. Banner was declared legally dead (a.k.a.: "declared death in absentia"), due to being exposed to "imminent peril" and failed to return from it (i.e. the laboratory fire). And because McGee witnessed Dr. Banner running back inside; into the building of massive flames, everyone's assumed that he was incinerated in the laboratory fire of which McGee thought the Hulk was responsible. Dr. Banner could not prove that he or The Hulk was not responsible for the laboratory explosion that killed Dr. Marks. A cenotaph was placed adjacent to Dr. Marks' grave with Dr. Banner's name on it. McGee, then, began a quest to find and capture the Hulk. He continued following up on reports of the Hulk from November of 1977 well into the mid-1980's. But, somewhere around early 1986, reports of the Hulk stopped coming in (i.e. the two year period when Dr. Banner kept himself from becoming the Hulk, which led to the television movie: "The Incredible Hulk Returns"). With no leads to pursue, McGee finally had to go back to the standard tabloid stories. McGee averred that the Hulk was his means of escape, to get out of working for the National Register, so he could "stop banging out pap for the supermarket masses," and get hired by a real newspaper, maybe even win the Pulitzer for journalism. He believed that a person has to make a choice, to help himself or "the other guy" and he chose himself because those that chose "the other guy" are idealistic fools who would help their worst enemy and condemn themselves. As far as Dr. David Banner went? Well, from 1977 on, he became a drifter under assumed names (keeping his first name and having his last name always starting the letter "B"), working odd jobs back and forth across the country, avoid being spotted by Jack McGee, and letting the world believe he was dead until he found a cure for his sporadic transformations. That is, whenever something triggered a primitive emotion in Dr. Banner (such as fury, terror, or physical pain), he underwent a startling metamorphosis into that huge and strong creature we know as: The Hulk (Lou Ferrigno, November 9, 1951). After destroying whatever threatened Dr. Banner (such as people or dangerous situations) or after The Hulk became tired or felt safe, he morphed back to normal human form with only amnesia and tattered clothing as evidence of what had just transpired. So, unlike any superhero, he didn't change clothes or have any special abilities He was simply Dr. Banner's primitive emotions run-wild. It was undisciplined and driven by rage. And yet, there was one thing that continuously stood out. The Hulk was not evil. Sure, by sight, he make LOOK evil. Due to his monster-like qualities and enormous strength, people would confuse his motives. But he did have a human side. His "soft-spots" seemed to be women, children, and animals. And through it all, the only faith that Dr. Banner could hold on to was the conjecture that The Hulk would NEVER kill anyone, because Dr. Banner would never kill anyone. Keep in mind: The Hulk was a part of David Banner. It was his "Id," as Dr. Sigmund Freud would put it. However, because Dr. Banner was a kind and gentle physician and scientist, The Hulk had a bit of that solicitous disposition within him as well. And as the series went on, both Dr. Banner and Jack McGee discovered more and more that The Hulk was not nearly as dangerous as they both started out believing. Still, without ever seeing the creature, Dr. Banner's main goal was to find a cure; to see that the recurrent metamorphosis would never happen again. Sadly, Dr. Banner never found a cure and Jack McGee never made the connection between Dr. Banner and The Hulk.
So, why "The Incredible Hulk?" Okay, sure, when I was a child, I wished that I could turn into The Hulk so that I could save other kids and maybe even find a hero within myself. Honestly, though, I think that whether we have heroes or not, there is a "Dr. David Banner" in us all. I know there is one in me. Not because he was my childhood hero; not per sé; not in itself, by itself, or intrinsically. The truth is: whether we are Christians or not, we all have our moments (whether it be moments of rage or doubt). We all have them. Whether it is in secret or in front of people, we all have times when we are depressed, or confused, or feel helpless, or angry at the world, and even lose our faith (whether it be for a minute or for a period of months). But like Dr. Banner's metamorphosis (whether it be a fester over time or sudden), each and all of these times were ego dystonic (unwanted by the person). But there is one thing to remember, having a "Dr. Banner" within you is not a sign of weakness, no matter who tells you differently. After all, when Dr. Banner "Hulked-out", he was anything BUT weak. Christians or not, our times in the valley, our hardships, even our anguish is what makes us emotionally stronger - and if you are a Christian - closer to God. Our faith might be questioned, but it is there. And that is why people say "your faith is stronger than you think." Through our heroes; the very role models we choose determine our strengths and weakness. Whenever I see an old "Incredible Hulk" rerun, I can't help but watch and reminisce. This proves to me that, in our minds, our childhood heroes never truly go away. They are never completely forgotten. They live and glow within us like a night-light in a dark room.
So, in closing, I have to say that Jesus Christ (whether you believe in Him or not) can be a hero of yours if you want Him to be. But the truth is: He is more than that. He is our Lord and Savior. He was the perfect man who led a sinless life, rarely (if at all) having those Dr. Banner moments. So, no, "The Incredible Hulk" is not my Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is more my "Incredible Hulk". Kind and gentle like Dr. Banner; emotionally strong, robust and influential like The Hulk.... What better person to exemplify then Jesus!
