The Incredible Hulk (TV Series)

The Incredible Hulk was the fifth series to air in the Marvel Animated Universe. The series premiered on September 8, 1996 and ended November 23, 1997, 1996. There were two seasons and a total of 21 episodes.

The Hulk was voiced by Lou Ferrigno who played the Hulk in the 1977 live action series, and the first time Ferrigno had speaking Hulk lines.

The series was eventually named The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk for the second season after the introduction and inclusion of She-Hulk.

Season 1
The series started with Dr. Robert Bruce Banner having already become the Hulk and on the run. This season saw the introduction of allies such as Betty Ross and Rick Jones as well as villains such as The Leader and General Ross, Betty's father. Banner's cousin Jennifer Walters was introduced and made into She-Hulk, though she would not became a major character until Season 2. The season also saw numerous subplots that slowly developed over the course of the season. Betty, along with Doc Samson, attempted to make a Gamma Neutriant Bath that would separate Banner from the Hulk. The Leader was bringing mutant Gamma Warriors to life, along with a failing alliance with The Gargoyle. General Ross also had a fragile association with S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Gabriel Jones, who was ordered to destroy the Hulk completely while Ross wanted to capture and harness the power of the Hulk. All the subplots eventually came together in the three-part season finale which also introduced the Gray Hulk.

This season was particularly dark in terms of the story. Endings were bittersweet or complete downers. Ghost Rider, a dark yet popular comic book character, appeared during the season's darkest phase.

Season 2
This season was renamed The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk after UPN felt that the first season was too dark, wanted more female viewers, and more emphasis on humor. This was mainly done by the inclusion of She-Hulk as a major character alongside Banner and Hulk. The season started off with the wrapping up of Season 1's story lines. She-Hulk and Banner partnered up and went on further adventures.

This season's episode The Lost Village won an Emmy award for "best audio editing."

Reaction
Unlike Iron Man and Fantastic Four, fan reaction was generally positive for the first season but worsened during the second. Fans felt the darker tone of Season 1 was more in tune with the comics. Fans also felt that guest stars such as John Rhys-Davies as Thor and Mark Hamill as The Gargoyle were well played.

The second season's lighter tone was intended to increase the series' appeal. However, it alienated the show's core fanbase and ended up backfiring. Rick Jones, Doc Samson, The Leader, The Gargoyle, and the Gamma cave dwellers eventually disappeared, while Betty Ross became less important.

Because of the backlash due to the changes, the show was quickly cancelled.