Yesterday I spent 10 minutes talking about the relationship between heroes and villains. Tonight I sat down and watched Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. with the kids followed by a few other shows that featured the great green one. I find the Hulk to be a prime example of a poorly designed character. Once upon a time the Hulk was a modern representation of Jekyll and Hyde. Today he is a washed out super who seems to fill the ‘adequate thug’ roll without any attention being paid to the nuance of character and character development that made the Hulk an attention grabbing character and someone, who at one point, could carry a TV series.
The Hulk I was raised on shared a body with scientist Bruce Banner. When Banner lost control the monster would come out. Hulk had little self control and a strength that had no ceiling. In fact, the angrier he became the stronger he grew. It was once said that the Hulk could destroy the Earth if he was pissed off enough. One day a bunch of heroes figured that out and launched him into space, figuring a preemptive strike was the best way to go. It wasn’t. Needless to say he was pissed when he came back and wreaked havoc upon the world. That World War Hulk highlighted the relationship between big green and Banner as well as creating a sense of character for the once unthinking beast. It showed that he was vulnerable emotionally.
Today’s cartoon Hulk is big and strong and occasionally stupid. All he wants is to be appreciated. As a bit character in every show but his own, he is treated like a character with a strength ceiling and one who is easily knocked down or knocked out to the point where he is defeated every episode. In essence, the Hulk has been degraded to a Green Man’s B.A. Baracus. That is not enough of a strong man character to make a difference.
I think it is time to bring back powerful characters whose power is their curse. I want to see a Hulk afraid to let go. I want to see the beast unchained and the beast that loves and fears and hunts. I want a character that is funny, thoughtful, and powerful. I guess I must not want the Hulk.