The Incredible Hulk and The Incredible Hulk: Death in the Family (1977)
**Two episodes of the series appeared first as stand-alone movies, but were later re-edited into one-hour length (two-parters) for syndication. They were produced as pilots before the series officially began in 1978**
Doctor David Banner is a physician/scientist who is traumatized by the tragic car accident that killed his beloved wife Laura. Haunted by his inability to save her, Banner studies incidents of people who, while in danger, somehow managed to summon superhuman strength in order to save their loved ones. He concludes that high levels of gamma radiation from sunspots are the cause, and the emotional stress experienced in these situations combined with the gamma radiation altered the body chemistry to cause an increase in strength. In a tragic twist, it is revealed that while his own body would have been the most receptive to the sunspot augmentation, the car accident that claimed his wife occurred on a day with the least sunspot activity. To test his theory, he bombards his own body with gamma radiation. Unknown to Banner, his equipment has been upgraded, causing him to administer a far higher dose than he intended. He attempts to lift a heavy object to test his strength, but is unable to, so he leaves the lab angrily, thinking the experiment has failed.
Driving home in a heavy rainstorm, he suffers a flat tire and injures himself while trying to change it. The anger resulting from the pain triggers his first transformation into the Hulk, a seven-foot tall, 330 pound, green-skinned savage sub-human with near superhuman strength. The Hulk destroys Banner's car and wanders off into the nearby woods. The next morning, the Hulk stumbles upon a girl who is camping with her father, and attempts to befriend her (a la The Monster in Frankenstein). In the ensuing confusion, the Hulk is shot by the girl's father, but manages to escape. Once calm and unharrassed, he eventually transforms back into Banner -- who has no memory of the tire-changing incident, or the events thereafter. Unsure of how to proceed, Banner seeks out his research partner, Dr. Elaina Marks. Her amazement at Banner's healing powers (his gunshot wound is nearly healed) is replaced by shock and horror when Banner tells her that he bombarded himself with gamma rays.
Banner and Marks relocate to a laboratory isolated from the rest of the research institute but still on its grounds, locking him in an experimental pressure chamber designed for deep underwater use; they hope that if he metamorphoses again, it will hold the creature. Banner initially suspects that his transformation had been caused by the lighting and/or rain, both of which he was experiencing at the time, and they simulate analogous conditions in the chamber. When this fails to induce a transformation, he lies down to get some sleep. Banner then has his recurring nightmare of the accident that killed his wife, which causes him to transform and the creature violently escapes from the chamber. Dr. Marks takes a blood sample from the Hulk's wounded hands and guides him to a couch where he calms down and returns to normal. They then realize that the Hulk has a very high metabolism and healing rate and that the transformation is caused by strong negative emotions, such as anger.
While Banner and Dr. Marks try to reverse the process, a reporter named Jack McGee, who is investigating the reported sighting of the Hulk, intrudes on the lab. When the scientists refuse to speak to him, McGee suspects they know more than they are letting on and sneaks into the lab, hiding in a cupboard where he accidentally knocks over a chemical container. Banner catches McGee hiding and removes him from the premises, but as he confronts McGee outside the spilt chemicals (unseen by Banner) result in the lab catching fire. Banner rushes back into the lab to save Elaina, and the stress of the smoke fumes triggers a transformation into the Hulk. The Hulk carries Elaina away from the inferno into the woodland. She reveals her love for David before she dies from injuries she sustained in the explosion. McGee witnesses the Hulk carrying her away, and surmises that the Hulk started the fire and killed both Banner and Marks. Although the authorities are skeptical of the existence of the creature McGee tells them about, he reports the creature to the police and publishes a front page headline in his newspaper proclaiming 'Incredible "Hulk" Kills Two', before vowing to track down the creature so he can catch it and bring it to the law's attention. It is at this point the series begins - McGee vows to capture Marks and Banner's killer. Banner, now presumed dead, is forced to go into hiding while trying to find a cure for his condition.
The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)
Two years (Six years in real life) after he walked off into the sunset in the episode "A Minor Problem," we find that David Banner has been gainfully employed at the Joshua-Lambert Research Institute where he and a team of scientists are putting the final touches on a Gamma Transponder. It has been two years since his last transformation into the creature and Banner is now happily involved in a relationship with a young widow. Banner hopes to put all worries about the risk of transforming into the Hulk to rest by using the Gamma Transponder to reverse the effects of gamma radiation on him.
Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan. David is surprised by the arrival of Donald Blake, a former student of his. Blake explains that he now shares a mystical bond with a Viking god named Thor. Blake calls upon Thor to appear in order to prove the validity of his story. The Viking god causes David to transform and a battle between the Hulk and Thor leaves David's lab severely damaged.
With his experiment now set back, David and his transponder become the target of a crime organization that is spurned on within the ranks of the Joshua-Lambert Institute.
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)
On the run again after the events of the last TV movie, we find David Banner working up north. Disenchanted and at the end of his rope, David makes his way towards a large city with the hopes of renting a room and staying buried. Unbeknown to him, the city he arrives in is under the control of a powerful underworld kingpin known as Wilson Fisk. When David witnesses an attempted sexual assault by one of Fisk's men, he transforms into the Hulk) and all hell breaks loose. A short while later, David is arrested by the police and wrongfully charged with the crime. While awaiting trial, blind defense attorney Matt Murdock is assigned to David's case. David is uncooperative but Murdock has faith that he is innocent and is determined to prove so. One night while fast asleep, David has a nightmare about his upcoming trial and dreams about transforming into the Hulk on the witness stand. The stress of this causes him to transform in reality and the Hulk subsequently breaks free of the prison. Murdock manages to track David down in a seedy part of town. In order to win David's trust, Murdock reveals that he is the blind vigilante Daredevil and that he needs David's help to take down Wilson Fisk. David is initially suspicious of how a blind man can be a costumed crime fighter, but Murdock shows David how his other senses are heightened to compensate for his blindness. The two eventually form a mutually dependent friendship and set out to stop Wilson Fisk. Banner and Murdock help each other with their own problems, and together battle the Kingpin of Crime Wilson Fisk, and clear Banner's name. During the course of the adventure, Banner triumphs by realizing for the first time in his life his integral role in saving several lives using the powers from his perceived cursed condition.
The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990)
David Banner masquerades as David Bellamy, a mentally-challenged janitor in order to gain access to a scientific research facility. He has determined that the studies of one of the scientists there, Dr. Ronald Pratt, may hold the key to curing his condition. Pratt takes a liking to the man he sees only as a building custodian. Bypassing security, Banner enters Pratt's laboratory, examines the formulae on his blackboard, making corrections and filling in gaps. After Pratt catches him doing this, Banner reveals his true identity and history. Both scientists agree to work together to cure Banner and perfect the formula harnessing gamma radiation believed to provide ordinary humans to possess superhuman strength when under periods of stress.
The two men become friends and Banner is accepted as part of Pratt's family. One day, the pair decide to experiment with Banner's metamorphosis, which leads to another experiment that could cure Banner or kill him. However, an Eastern European spy network dedicated to using Pratt's (and Banner's) work for corrupt purposes breaks into the lab, halting the experiment and kidnapping Pratt and his fellow scientist wife Amy.
Banner falls in love with Jasmin; a reluctant spy in the network who returns his affections, and with her help, rescues the Pratts. While pursuing the kidnappers, Banner once again turns into the Hulk, and manages to climb aboard their small plane as it's leaving.
The Hulk overpowers those on board, but then the plane explodes in mid-air, with the Hulk taking a fall to the pavement with an impact so terrific that it splinters the asphalt beneath him. Jasmin rushes to his side and holds his hand. The creature, calmed by Jasmin's soothing words and actions, slowly morphs back into Banner. The Pratts also rush to his side.
"David, no...don't die." Jasmin says with tears in her eyes. "We can be free now."
"Jasmin...I am free," Banner says with his last breath. Jasmin and the Pratts weep around him as he expires.
Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)
Nick Fury, retired, is approached to return to duty to take down agents of the terrorist organization HYDRA, led by the children of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, an old enemy of his. HYDRA has reconstituted a pathogen known as the Death's Head virus, and threatens to attack Manhattan with it, barring payment of US $1 billion.
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR PART THREE OF THIS EPIC TRILOGY. . . NEXT I TACKLE LIVE ACTION TV SERIES!