39 Years Later: A Look Back At ‘The Incredible Hulk’s First Episode

Alex Logan

Most publications esteem traditional beauty and round numbers, but not here at Superfan! We like our bodies green, and our numbers as odd as they come! So today, we celebrate The Incredible Hulk on its 39th anniversary with this look back at the show’s first episode.

After CBS aired two TV movies based on the popular comic book character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, a series was developed to premiere on March 10th, 1978. “Final Round,” the regular series’s first episode, was about Dr. David Banner busting a heroin trafficking ring on the mean streets of Wilmington, Delaware. And the show wasn’t too cagey with its references to popular boxing movies of the day by naming the boxing character “Rocky.”

Watch episodes of The Incredible Hulk on Yahoo View

One notable change from the comic to the series is that Hulk’s human form, Bruce Banner, was changed to David Banner for the show. Well, according to Stan Lee, “Some genius at the network said, ‘Oh no, Stan, Bruce makes him sound homosexual. It sounds gay.’”

The episode featured a number of the series’ hallmarks that delighted fans every Friday night, including a transformation montage that scares an alley cat, a groundbreaking physicist achieving his ultimate potential in life by giving small-time boxers rub downs, and the Hulk smacking a boxer completely out of the ring.

And when it was all said and done, the episode ended with our favorite tradition on The Incredible Hulk, the sad walk away closing theme. It breaks our hearts every single time.

Watch: The Final Round episode:

Tell us what you think! What’s your favorite episode of The Incredible Hulk? And how are you going to celebrate its 39th? Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.