The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) and the Comics

[Silver Nemesis]

The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) TV series ran for five seasons before being cancelled in the early eighties. To this day the show is regarded as a classic of the genre, and much of the credit for its longevity must go to its creator Kenneth Johnson. Johnson developed a take on the material that eschewed many of the comics' more fanciful elements in favour of a grounded approach that emphasised characterisation and psychological depth over effects-driven action sequences. No small feat when you consider the premise of the series involves a man transforming into a rampaging green monster.

Several years after the show's cancellation, the franchise returned for a series of TV movies that saw the Hulk teaming up with other characters from the Marvel canon. However Johnson himself was not involved with any of these, and consequently the mature psychological tone of the original programme was sidelined in favour of a more cartoonish approach which fans generally regard as being inferior to the TV series.

The 1988 film The Incredible Hulk Returns saw the not-so-jolly green giant team up with Thor, while the 1990 film The Death of the Incredible Hulk gave audiences a tearjerker finale that offered closure to the entire saga. But in between these two films was a TV movie that showed the Hulk joining forces with another Marvel hero to do battle against a classic comic book villain. That film was The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989).

There's not an awful lot of documentation about the making of this film, so it's impossible to tell how much research the writers did with regards to the comics. I'm just going to go ahead and list a few similarities I've spotted between the comics and the film. Whether they were intentional or not is anyone's guess.

The opening scene reunites us with Dr David Banner, played once again by Bill Bixby. Interestingly, Bixby also directed both this film and the one that followed it. In the comics the Hulk's human alter ego is called 'Robert Bruce Banner', but in the TV show he was renamed 'David Bruce Banner' to avoid the alliterativeness of his original name (or the possible homosexual connotations, if certain sources are to be believed). While Banner was a physicist in the comics, the Bixby incarnation is a medical doctor specialising in radiation therapy. Like his counterpart on the printed page, he was exposed to a dangerously high dose of gamma radiation that afflicted him with a monstrous alter ego driven by pure rage.

Banner is meant to be 5'10 in the comics, with brown hair and brown eyes. Bixby's height is listed by various sources as having been anywhere between 5'9 and 5'11. He had brown hair and his eyes were either green or brown. When we catch up with him in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, Banner has grown a beard and is working as an itinerant labourer.

Dr Banner first appeared in the comics in 'The Hulk' (The Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #1, May 1962). Bixby played the role in over 80 TV episodes and several TV movies spanning 13 years in total, so there's a lot more to be said about this particular incarnation. However a more in-depth analysis is probably best saved for a separate thread.

At the beginning of the movie Banner is trying to keep a low profile while earning his keep on a farm, but some of the other workers persist in provoking him. He gives notice to his employer and leaves in the hopes of avoiding a confrontation that might awaken the Hulk. To this end he journeys to an unnamed city situated close by.

Already living in this city is blind defence attorney Matt Murdock, played by Rex Smith. At 6'0, Smith is around the same height as the Murdock in the comics. His chiselled jaw line and slim athletic build evoke the look of the eighties Daredevil. However his curly blond hair is at variance with the source material, as is the fact he never wears the character's signature red glasses. But overall he's a decent match for the comic book Murdock. Matt first appeared in 'The Origin of Daredevil' (Daredevil Vol 1 #1, April 1964).

Instead of 'Nelson & Murdock: Attorneys-at-Law', Matt works at 'Murdock & Klein: Attorneys-at-Law'. His two colleagues, Christa Klein and Al Pettiman, seem to be this film's answer to Karen Page and Foggy Nelson. Only Christa is Matt's partner and Al is their secretary, which is a reversal of Karen and Foggy's roles in the comics. Christa is played by Nancy Everhard, who that same year appeared in another Marvel Comics movie starring one of Daredevil's greatest rivals: The Punisher (1989). Her short haircut is similar to the one Karen had in the nineties comics.

Pettiman may have been inspired by the comic character Willie Lincoln. Both are African-American allies of Matt Murdock who had previously served in the US Army. The main difference between them is that Lincoln was blind, while Pettiman is sighted. Lincoln also wasn't a legal secretary in the comics, though he did occasionally help out Matt and Foggy during the latter's tenure as district attorney. Willie Lincoln first appeared in the classic Silver Age story 'Brother, Take My Hand!' (Daredevil Vol 1 #47, December 1968).

Banner rents a room in the middle of the city. Dominating the skyline outside is the Fisk Tower, the edificial abode of business magnate Wilson Fisk.

Fisk first debuted in the comics in 'Spider-Man No More!' (The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 #50, July 1967) and is better known by his alias 'Kingpin'. In the TV movie he is played by John Rhys-Davies, who lacks both the baldness and humungous physical proportions of the comic book Fisk. He also doesn't smoke cigars, wears mirror shades and is never directly referred to as the Kingpin.

He is shown to have an obsession with cameras and surveillance equipment, which he uses to coordinate crimes throughout the city. This may have been inspired by David Mazzucchelli's artwork in Daredevil: Born Again (1986), which depicted Kingpin sitting in front of multiple television screens in his office.

Fisk oversees a robbery at a jewellery store, following which his henchmen scatter with their ill-gotten gains. Two of these crooks take refuge on the subway where they begin harassing a female commuter named Ellie Mendez. The situation escalates to the point where the two crooks attempt to rape Ellie, prompting Banner, who also happens to be present on the train, to intervene. During the ensuing skirmish, Banner transforms into the Hulk. It may be a coincidence, but there's a Daredevil/Hulk crossover story illustrated by Frank Miller in which Banner also Hulks out on a subway train. The issue in question is 'Blind Alley' (Daredevil Vol 1 #163, March 1980).

Unlike the computer animated Hulks we're accustomed to seeing in modern films, this version is a live action beast played by two-time Mr Universe Lou Ferrigno. In the comics the Hulk's height and weight vary depending on how angry he is. In real life Ferrigno is 6'5 and weighed almost 300 lbs in his prime. He's about as close as a real human being can get to the Hulk's comic book proportions.

Curiously, Banner's beard disappears when he becomes the Hulk, only to return when he reverts to human form. Thus one of comic fandom's most enduring philosophical questions is answered.

The Hulk attacks the two crooks and one of their guns is accidentally discharged, firing a shot through the window of the train that hits a bystander on the platform outside. The Hulk flees the scene and changes back into Banner. Shortly afterwards he is discovered and arrested by the police, who charge him with attacking Ellie on the train and shooting the bystander on the platform.

Matt Murdock suspects David is being framed by Fisk and decides to offer him legal representation. The plot about Banner being put on trial was perhaps inspired by 'The World, My Jury!' (The Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #153, July 1972). Only in the comic it was the Hulk that was on trial, not his human alter ego. In both stories he is defended by Matt Murdock.

During his first meeting with Banner, Matt references his internal lie detector: "I know the truth when I hear it. It's a... compensation." He also makes a subtle allusion to the comic character's religiosity when he tells Banner to "Have a little faith."

If I may digress from The Trial of the Incredible Hulk for a moment, it's worth mentioning that Matt was not the first blind martial artist to be encountered by Bixby's Banner. Japanese actor Mako had made several appearances in the original TV series as a blind stick-wielding martial arts instructor named Li Sung. This character has obvious parallels with Daredevil's comic book mentor, Stick.

Li Sung's first appearance in the episode 'Another Path' (s2e6) actually predates Stick's debut in 'Hunters' (Daredevil Vol 1 #176, November 1981) by over three years. It's possible Frank Miller was inspired by Mako's character when he first created Stick, though I think it more likely both Li Sung and Stick were inspired by the more famous character of Zatoichi. If Marvel ever decides to publish a Hulk '77 comic similar to their X-Men '92 line, it might be an idea to explore connections between Li Sung and Matt Murdock, perhaps even having the former character serve as this universe's version of Stick.

[Silver Nemesis]

Returning to the movie, Ellie Mendez is resting in a hospital bed while she recuperates from her ordeal. She has told the police that it was Banner who assaulted her, so Murdock goes to question her. Ellie sticks to her original story, but Matt can tell she is lying. Before leaving the hospital, he uses his enhanced hearing to eavesdrop on a nurse as she reports his visit over the telephone. This nurse was probably inspired by the character of Lois, the agent Fisk assigned to observe Nick Manolis while he was in hospital in Born Again. Both nurses were ordered to keep tabs on a potential witness to Fisk's criminal doings, and both were ultimately sent to murder that witness as they lay helpless in their hospital bed.

The person the nurse reports to is Edgar, Fisk's right-hand man. He was probably inspired by the comic character Wesley. As Edgar relays the nurse's message to his employer, we see Fisk gazing out of his penthouse window overlooking the city – an image evoked many times in the comics.

Fisk orders Ellie to be killed. Lois succeeded in killing Manolis in the comics, but the nurse in the movie is foiled by Daredevil. Smith's Daredevil costume is very different from the traditional outfit. It's completely black instead of red, and it lacks the 'DD' emblem on the chest, as well as the horns and eye lenses on the mask. He wears a billy club holster, only it's strapped to his right calf instead of his left thigh. Matt did wear an all black costume during his rookie phase in the Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (1993-1994) miniseries, but that wasn't published until a few years after this film's broadcast.

In the comics Lois was defeated by Daredevil and subsequently murdered in her prison cell by Kingpin's assassins. In the TV movie, the nurse is electrocuted when Daredevil trips her into some electrical apparatus in the hospital room. He does this using his billy club, Daredevil's signature weapon from the comics.

In the comics he generally wields two billy clubs, but in the movie he only uses one. It doesn't feature the same gadgets as the comic book version.

Regarding the scene where Daredevil saves Ellie from the nurse, I'd just like to quote something I wrote in the Netflix Daredevil comic analysis thread:

The scene where Daredevil tries to prevent Blake from being murdered in his hospital bed is similar to a scene from the 1989 TV movie Trial of the Incredible Hulk. In both stories an agent of the Kingpin enters the hospital room of a patient who is witness to Fisk's criminal machinations. The agent attempts to murder the resting patient, only for Daredevil to emerge from the shadows and attack them. In the 1989 film Daredevil (played by Rex Smith) is successful in saving the witness, but in the TV episode he's too late.

Both stories also resemble a scene from 'Trapped by... the Fellowship of Fear!' (Daredevil Vol 1 #6, February 1965) where Daredevil prevented the Fellowship of Fear from murdering Foggy as he slept in his hospital bed. Once again, the purpose of the murder was to eliminate a witness.

https://www.batman-online.com/forum/index.php?topic=3276.0

Over in the prison, the other inmates are planning to kill Banner on Fisk's orders. But Banner is called to a clandestine meeting with police Deputy Chief Tendelli, who, like Matt, suspects David's innocence. Tendelli was created especially for the movie and more closely resembles DC Comics' Commissioner Gordon than any character that'd appeared in the Daredevil comics at that time. It's possible he might have been inspired by the comic character Lt Bert Rose, who debuted in Daredevil Vol 1 #1 and appeared periodically throughout the Silver and Bronze Ages.

Ellie phones Matt and says she's willing to testify in Banner's defence and help expose the real criminals. But she is kidnapped shortly after this by Fisk, who wishes to use her as bait to lure Daredevil into a trap. Back in the prison, Banner has a nightmare about his trial in which he Hulks out on the witness stand. This scene was almost certainly inspired by the aforementioned The Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #153.

Look closely at the jury and you'll spot Daredevil creator Stan Lee making the first of his many live action cameos.

The stress of the nightmare causes Banner to transform for real and smash his way out of the prison. Murdock learns of Banner's escape and embarks on his trail as Daredevil. We see a POV shot conveying his radar vision in the form of green outlines against a black background. Daredevil's radar sense has been visualised in a variety of different ways over the years. Some artists have interpreted it using imagery similar to that shown in the TV movie. The following example is from 'The Secret of Ka-Zar's Origin!' (Daredevil Vol 1 #13, February 1966).

Daredevil corners an informant named Turk in an alleyway and presses him for information. Turk debuted in the comics in 'A Life on the Line' (Daredevil Vol 1 #69, October 1970) and has been a recurring element in the Daredevil mythos ever since. The most obvious difference between the comic book and movie versions of Turk is that in the comics he's black, while in the movie he's played by white actor Mark Acheson. However, nine months prior to Turk's debut in the comics, another character named Turk had appeared in 'Showdown at Sea!' (Daredevil Vol 1 #60, January 1970). This Turk was also a small-time crook that Daredevil beat up for information, and this incarnation of the character was white. Although the Turk in the movie is clearly based off his more famous namesake, the earlier Turk – generally accepted as a separate character – can be seen as a precursor and possible inspiration for his African successor.

The way Turk tries to attack Daredevil with a knife, only for the Man Without Fear to casually disarm and humiliate him, is very typical of their dealings in the source material.

Daredevil tracks down Banner, and as a token of trust reveals his true identity to him. The two of them then go back to Matt's house, which appears to be located in the suburbs. Like Matt's brownstone in the comics, this house features a secret roof exit that Daredevil uses to sneak in and out when he's in costume. It also contains a gym where Matt is shown training on a trampoline and other gymnastic apparatus.

While Banner's origin story was altered for the Hulk TV series, Daredevil's remains faithful to the comics. Matt tells David that he lost his sight as a boy when a radioactive liquid splashed in his face as he saved an old man from being hit by a truck. He also says that his father was a boxer who was murdered for standing up to the criminals that tried to control him, and he mentions that his mother died when he was too young to remember. Prior to discovering Maggie was his mother, the comic book Matt also grew up thinking his mother was dead.

At one point Matt says to David, "It's not revenge, I don't go out there to punish anyone." This could be an allusion to Daredevil's rival and occasional ally Frank Castle, who received his own movie that same year starring Dolph Lundgren.

It's during this conversation that Matt explains about his radar sense and demonstrates his ability to read print using his fingertips

The scene were Daredevil is lured into a trap in an old film studio recalls a memorable scene from 'Duel!' (Daredevil Vol 1 #146, June 1977) where Bullseye lures him to a television studio. In both stories the villain wants to capture Daredevil's defeat on camera for the world to see.

Fisk is able to incapacitate Daredevil using sound. Matt's vulnerability to sonic attacks is something that tends to get overstated in some of the screen adaptations. In modern comics his cowl contains sonic dampeners that protect him against such attacks, while the more recent stories have shown him to have conditioned his mind to reflexively shut out harmful sounds whenever he hears them. This has rendered him highly resistant to sonic attacks.

However this was not the case back when this TV movie was made, so I'll give the filmmakers a pass. The scene where Fisk watches as his henchmen beat Daredevil to a pulp might have been inspired by the beating Kingpin himself dished out in Born Again.

Banner arrives in time to see Daredevil in trouble. He Hulks out, makes short work of Fisk's men and carries Matt to safety. Obviously this wasn't an influence on the TV movie, but the image of Hulk carrying Daredevil would later appear in 'Blind Rage: Part II' (Indestructible Hulk Vol 1 #10, July 2013).

This scene also evokes the pietà image in Born Again where Maggie cradles the wounded Matt.

Daredevil learns the Hulk's true identity by touching his face when he transforms back into Banner. David then tries to nurse Matt back to health, but Murdock's spirit is broken following his humiliating defeat. This is another plot point that might have been inspired by Born Again, and Banner's role in it is similar to Sister Maggie's in the comic. As in Born Again, Matt eventually pulls himself together and starts training to get back in shape.

The finale sees Banner and Daredevil teaming up to storm the Fisk Tower and rescue Ellie Mendez. To access the tower, Daredevil uses a device that fires a zip line connected to a suction cup. This is similar to the grappling cable his billy club fires in the comics, only in the movie the baton and cable launcher are two separate gadgets.

Once inside the tower, Daredevil engages in a rematch against Fisk's henchmen. This scene is basically the first live action Daredevil hallway fight, foreshadowing those that would later prove so popular in the Netflix series. At one point Matt takes out a security camera in the ceiling by throwing his billy club at it. The comic book Daredevil frequently throws his billy club, but this is the only time in the TV movie that we see the Smith Daredevil do it.

There's not too much else to say about the ending. Daredevil and Kingpin don't actually come to blows, as Fisk escapes by helicopter before Daredevil can get to him, and Banner never Hulks out during the finale. But Ellie Mendez is rescued and Fisk's stranglehold on the city is weakened.

The film concludes with Matt and David saying goodbye, after which the good doctor sets off to resume his lonely odyssey.

Meanwhile Ferrigno would go on to encounter another Daredevil in 2016...

And that's all I've got on The Trial of the Incredible Hulk.

[Silver Nemesis]

While this thread is obviously about the 1989 TV movie, feel free to use it to discuss the Rex Smith Daredevil in general. Ideas concerning the unmade TV series that this film was intended to launch are particularly welcome here. We already started a discussion about that in another thread, so I'm going to quote some relevant posts from that topic here so the conversation can be resumed.

Well, tough break for John Rhys-Davies for a continued portrayal as Daredevil. Could have been interesting, but it is what it is.

As a "what if", I can't help but wonder which villains from Daredevil's rogues gallery might have made the transition from the comics, to a late 80's-early 90's Daredevil television series? We got the Kingpin making an appearance during Trial of the Incredible Hulk, who was noticeably visually different than the comic book Kingpin. I have to believe similar liberties probably would have been taken with Bullseye.

"If" the Daredevil show was successful, and "if" Elektra became a regular, or made sporadic appearances, it's interesting to think how she would have been interpreted? The thing about Miller wanting the late Gaylyn Gorg does come to mind when thinking about this...

Back to other villains, I can kinda see maybe the Owl, and Gladiator making appearances. Stilt-Man and Jester? Probably not. Unless of course NBC was going to push a much more cartoony/comic booky approach to the Daredevil series (akin to the 1990 Flash show), however by doing that, would be in contrast to what was established with Daredevil during Trial.

For me, I could "imagine" that John Rhys-Davies' Daredevil could co-exist with Bixby/Ferrigno's Banner/Hulk. Even when watching episodes from the TIH Seasons that predated Trial by a number of years. As TIH approach was a bit more grounded than the 1990 Flash series was. Which aimed to be much more stylized vision for the character, in light of Burton's 1989 Batman.

I'm sure Elektra would have appeared, but I imagine a Bixbyverse version of the character being more akin to Jasmin (played by Elizabeth Gracen, who coincidentally appeared in The Flash that same year) in The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990).

She probably would have worn a generic black catsuit instead of her classic red outfit, but would still have wielded her sai. Galyn Görg would have been the perfect casting choice back then.

Purple Man could have worked too, though they likely would have taken the Jessica Jones approach of ditching his purple appearance. To see what a nineties TV version of Killgrave might have been like, just watch The X-Files episodes featuring the villain Pusher.

Since Ann Nocenti's run was popular at the time, I imagine the TV show would have taken some cues from her writing. One Nocenti villain that would've suited the show's tone would be Bullet. I can imagine someone like Jonathan Frakes or Richard Moll guest starring in the role.

And how about Martin Kove as Nuke? Like the other villains in the show, he'd have been watered down quite a bit. I can see him being portrayed as a mentally unstable Vietnam vet battling drug addiction and committing random acts of violence in Matt's city. It could be one of those 'very special episodes' that tackles the issue of substance abuse.

A fight scene between Smith's Daredevil and Sensei Kreese would have been epic.

Please, by all means share what you came up with! Your latest post really fired up my imagination on what a Daredevil could have been like in the early 90's. Bilson and De Meo would have been ideal showrunners as they filtered the Silver Age era with the Modern Age era with The Flash. I always pictured Daredevil ideal for a 70's and 80's period piece. I was mostly happy with the Netflix series, but always craved for something of that era. The Trial of the Incredible Hulk movie seemed a bit old fashioned when it came out and would have benefited from being influenced by Batman '89 (I know Trial came out a month before it was released) and going for younger casting. Picturing Daredevil in a suit much like the one Affleck wore would have been suitable for this era as well.

Another villain that I think would have worked well in the TV series is Stunt-Master. He could have been depicted as a stuntman turned getaway driver, similar to Ryan Gosling's character in Drive (2011). He would have worn ordinary black biker leathers and a crash helmet rather than his more flamboyant comic book outfits, but the essence of the character would have remained intact.

The vehicular stunts in this episode would have been a nice throwback to Rex Smith's earlier superhero series Street Hawk (1985).

Regarding Smith's costume, I think it might've been modified for the main series. The version in the TV movie is obviously a bit rough. However I think they would have stuck with the all black colour scheme following the positive reception of Keaton's batsuit in Batman '89. Would they have gone for a sculpted costume like John Wesley Shipp's Flash wore?

Maybe. Sculpted muscle suits were certainly in vogue in the nineties. But in the case of Daredevil, I think considerations of budget and practicality might have precluded such a costume. The nineties Flash series was supposedly the most expensive TV show Warner Bros had made up till then. By contrast, the Daredevil series would probably have had a smaller budget. Smith and his stunt doubles also needed to be able to fight and perform gymnastic feats that wouldn't be possible in a rubber suit. So I expect they would have stuck with the same basic black outfit from The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, while perhaps adding a faceplate to the cowl to give his mask eye lenses and devil horns.

[thecolorsblend]

Regarding Smith's costume, I think it might've been modified for the main series. The version in the TV movie is obviously a bit rough. However I think they would have stuck with the all black colour scheme following the positive reception of Keaton's batsuit in Batman '89. Would they have gone for a sculpted costume like John Wesley Shipp's Flash wore?

Maybe. Sculpted muscle suits were certainly in vogue in the nineties. But in the case of Daredevil, I think considerations of budget and practicality might have precluded such a costume. The nineties Flash series was supposedly the most expensive TV show Warner Bros had made up till then. By contrast, the Daredevil series would probably have had a smaller budget. Smith and his stunt doubles also needed to be able to fight and perform gymnastic feats that wouldn't be possible in a rubber suit. So I expect they would have stuck with the same basic black outfit from The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, while perhaps adding a faceplate to the cowl to give his mask eye lenses and devil horns.

Pretty much. My sense of what the show would've been is that the producers would've taken a bit more care with his suit, added horns and (I suspect) a splash of red somewhere on the main body suit. You know, to tip the hat to the comics. Perhaps a red DD logo somewhere? Or maybe red accents like gloves, boots and/or face plate?

As it was the Nineties and comic book shows weren't ubiquitous as compared to now, I think the show would've emphasized dramatic elements like the Murdock/Fisk dynamic for adult audiences and martial arts fights, stunts, motorcycle chases and whatnot for the younger audiences. On that basis, I don't see a viable alternative to a fabric costume. My memory is the 1990 Flash show didn't feature a lot of pitched battles involving the Flash very often. He might zip in, throw ONE PUNCH and then that's that. Or he'd throw lots of punches at superspeed. I think a sculpted costume wouldn't have lent itself to the ninja stuff that I, at least, expect from Daredevil.

To be perfectly honest, I see a lot of potential in an early Nineties Daredevil show. It would've been a lot easier to do a "grounded" (and TV-budget-friendly!) version of Daredevil in the Nineties than it would've been, say, the Fantastic Four in live action.

I don't know how much of an audience rly would've been attracted to such a show. I was a kid back then but I watched anything if it was about comics. So, I definitely would've been there with bells on for a Smith Daredevil show. But if this show had been made and attracted an audience, it's a good bet that a lot of them wouldn't have realized that Daredevil is a comic book character.

In fact, one thing that might've hurt the show is a mistaken assumption that "This is a B89 ripoff". Obviously, that wouldn't have been accurate of the show. And Daredevil is certainly not "Marvel's Batman" (a fact that Marvel itself sometimes needs to be reminded of). But mainstream audiences would've seen a guy in a black suit beat up bad guys in the Burton movie and then seen Rex Smith in a black suit beat up bad guys on TV. So, I can understand where the lack of knowledge about comics might've hurt the show's credibility to start with. Even The Flash received minor (and I *DO* mean minor) scorn in zines like Comics Scene for occasionally have a tone similar to that of B89.

I imagine that a Daredevil show might've had an image problem at a certain point.

In the end, I do lament the fact that this show was never made. I grew to love Daredevil in high school. And I wonder if I would've become a fan sooner if I'd had a show to work with. I enjoyed his appearance in TTOTH and found the concept of a blind hero captivating and original as a kid. It's not a stretch at all to think I would've followed a Daredevil show closely.

We'll never know. But that's what I think would've happened.

[Silver Nemesis]

My memory is the 1990 Flash show didn't feature a lot of pitched battles involving the Flash very often. He might zip in, throw ONE PUNCH and then that's that. Or he'd throw lots of punches at superspeed. I think a sculpted costume wouldn't have lent itself to the ninja stuff that I, at least, expect from Daredevil.

Agreed. The Flash performed a dropkick in the episode 'Fast Forward', but other than that his fighting style was limited entirely to throwing basic jabs and haymakers. They relied heavily on the super speed effects to make his combat scenes credible. By contrast, the fighting style of Smith's Daredevil was obviously a lot more elaborate, and as such required far more flexibility. I just can't see him pulling off all those somersaults and other acrobatic moves in a sculpted muscle suit. A sculpted nineties Daredevil costume would have looked amazing, but it would have been too impractical when it came time to film the action scenes.

To be perfectly honest, I see a lot of potential in an early Nineties Daredevil show. It would've been a lot easier to do a "grounded" (and TV-budget-friendly!) version of Daredevil in the Nineties than it would've been, say, the Fantastic Four in live action.

I expect the detective/courtroom angle would have featured very prominently, with maybe two or three costumed fight scenes per episode. I think John Rhys-Davies' role would have been bigger than it was in the movie, with more scenes of him interacting with other villains and perhaps even meeting Matt in his civilian guise. He would have been like John Shea's Lex Luthor during the first season of L&C, constantly lurking in the background and commenting on Daredevil's activities while he bides his time waiting for the right moment to strike.

I don't know how much of an audience rly would've been attracted to such a show. I was a kid back then but I watched anything if it was about comics. So, I definitely would've been there with bells on for a Smith Daredevil show. But if this show had been made and attracted an audience, it's a good bet that a lot of them wouldn't have realized that Daredevil is a comic book character.

In fact, one thing that might've hurt the show is a mistaken assumption that "This is a B89 ripoff". Obviously, that wouldn't have been accurate of the show. And Daredevil is certainly not "Marvel's Batman" (a fact that Marvel itself sometimes needs to be reminded of). But mainstream audiences would've seen a guy in a black suit beat up bad guys in the Burton movie and then seen Rex Smith in a black suit beat up bad guys on TV. So, I can understand where the lack of knowledge about comics might've hurt the show's credibility to start with. Even The Flash received minor (and I *DO* mean minor) scorn in zines like Comics Scene for occasionally have a tone similar to that of B89.

I can see the general public viewing it as a Batman rip-off, just as several ill-informed people claimed the 2015 Netflix series was a rip-off of The Dark Knight trilogy, but the comparisons might also have worked to the show's advantage. Audiences whose appetites for dark vigilante heroes had been whet by B89 might have turned to Daredevil to tide them over in their wait for Batman Returns. The success of B89 initiated a whole wave of superhero films and TV shows, and I've sometimes wondered if the 1989 Punisher and Daredevil films weren't green lit as a pre-emptive move to cash in on that success. It just seems a little too coincidental that both Punisher and Daredevil, two dark street-level vigilantes, would finally appear in live action in the exact same year that Warner Bros was launching a high profile and eagerly anticipated Batman picture.

In terms of setting, The Incredible Hulk TV series and The Incredible Hulk Returns productions were both based in California, whereas the productions for The Trial of the Incredible Hulk and The Death of the Incredible Hulk were based in Vancouver. I'm guessing the Daredevil TV series would also have been based in Vancouver, since that seemed to be the hub for many classic sci-fi and fantasy shows back in the nineties (The X-Files, Highlander,  Stargate SG-1, etc). It was particularly good at doubling for San Francisco (for example, in Sliders or the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie). So perhaps the Daredevil series would have been set in San Francisco rather than New York. In the comics Matt's relocated from New York to San Francisco a number of times over the years, so this wouldn't have been without precedent.

If the first episode began with Matt setting up his new legal practice in SF, then that would also be a good way of cleaning house and introducing new characters. If they didn't want to bring over Klein and Pettiman to the main series, then they could explain that those two had remained behind in whatever city The Trial of the Incredible Hulk took place in. This would create an opening for Karen, Foggy or anyone else to replace them. Perhaps Matt relocates to San Francisco in the first place because he discovers that's where Fisk has set up his new operation following his defeat in the 1989 movie. Or maybe they'd simply retcon it so that the city from the TV movie was always meant to be SF.

Or would the show have been set in New York? Would any other superheroes have appeared? Would they have brought in Black Widow, or would Bixby and Ferrigno have returned to guest star as the Hulk (assuming Banner's death in 1990 was undone, as was originally intended)?

[Paul (ral)]

Great SN!

I watched TTotIH countless times in my youth. Great to see the influences here!

[The Joker]

Or would the show have been set in New York? Would any other superheroes have appeared? Would they have brought in Black Widow, or would Bixby and Ferrigno have returned to guest star as the Hulk (assuming Banner's death in 1990 was undone, as was originally intended)?

Yes, that is an interesting question. Had Death of the Incredible Hulk performed better in the ratings, evidently there would have been the very real possibility of more Marvel characters making appearances in the Bixbyverse. Under this pretense, where Revenge of the Incredible Hulk would have gone into production, She-Hulk (Brigitte Nielsen) would have probably been the most likely to have enjoyed a guest appearance. As I think her inclusion could have been executed fairly easily within the context of Banner and his cousin choosing to accept the burden of becoming their own respective Hulk's in order to thwart the evil plans of the villains in creating a army of hulk-like beings.

Personally, I think given the plot of Revenge, David Banner making mention of Dell Frye ("The First"), thus warning the villains of what could go very wrong in attempting to create multiple Hulks, would have been very cool. However, given the network shift from the series on CBS, and the made-for-TV-movies being on NBC, any such mention to continuity like that would probably be slim to none.

Would Rex Smith's Matt Murdock/Daredevil have appeared in Revenge of the Incredible Hulk? Perhaps. Chances of that would have been even greater had a early 1990's Daredevil series already being on the fast track. I think Revenge would have primarily focused on David and possibly his cousin Jennifer. Matt Murdock could have been incorporated in very brief stints within the movie, just to let you know he's around, where he *could* have perhaps made a grand entrance as Daredevil (thinking something like Han Solo in A New Hope aiding Luke during the Death Star climax) where, after a scenario the villains think they have the jump on Hulk and She-Hulk, Daredevil pops in and physically takes out the main villain/mastermind, while helping incapacitate weaponry that was keeping the Hulk and She-Hulk at bay. Thus aiding both Hulks to literally bulldoze thru the villainous agents.

I really like the Martin Kove as Nuke idea, BTW. That would have been aces. Man, the more I think about Galyn Görg as Elektra, the more I am convinced we really missed out on something special. The romance/sexual tension between Gorg's Elektra and Smith's Daredevil could have been a very real hook in drawing in more of the female demo towards this episodic show. As, I believe, the romance/tension between Dean Cain's Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher's Lois was indeed a major draw for female viewers back in 1993. Can't remember if that was expected or a pleasant surprise for ABC back then, but it did play a factor. Could have most definitely been a factor with a 1990-1991 Dardevil series just as well.

[Silver Nemesis]

Yes, that is an interesting question. Had Death of the Incredible Hulk performed better in the ratings, evidently there would have been the very real possibility of more Marvel characters making appearances in the Bixbyverse. Under this pretense, where Revenge of the Incredible Hulk would have gone into production, She-Hulk (Brigitte Nielsen) would have probably been the most likely to have enjoyed a guest appearance. As I think her inclusion could have been executed fairly easily within the context of Banner and his cousin choosing to accept the burden of becoming their own respective Hulk's in order to thwart the evil plans of the villains in creating a army of hulk-like beings.

I wonder how the plans to include She-Hulk in Revenge of the Incredible Hulk would have been impacted by Brigitte Nielsen's She-Hulk movie. Presumably the sequel to The Death of the Incredible Hulk would have aired sometime between 1991 and 1993, which is more or less when Nielsen's She-Hulk movie was meant to be released. For anyone who hasn't seen them, here are some of her promo shots as She-Hulk.

From what little I've read, Nielsen's movie was intended to be a theatrical release unrelated to the Bixby/Ferrigno Hulk franchise. But it seems strange not to connect them. Jennifer's origin story requires Bruce to exist in the same way as Supergirl or Steel really need Superman to exist before they can establish their own identities. Since there was already a popular and successful incarnation of the Hulk appearing in TV movies at the time, it would only be sensible to use him as a launching pad for Nielsen's She-Hulk. Studio rights permitting, of course.

Alternatively, if they were going to cast a new actress as She-Hulk for Revenge of the Incredible Hulk, then a good pick might have been six-time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson.

Her best known acting role is probably her villainous turn in the JCVD movie Double Impact (1991), but she also appeared in various TV shows throughout the nineties, including a guest shot on Lois & Clark during its second season. She'd have been perfect as the Bixbyverse She-Hulk. Everson could have played Jennifer Walters too, making regular guest appearances in the Daredevil show as one of Matt's colleagues.

I really like the Martin Kove as Nuke idea, BTW. That would have been aces.

When I posted that suggestion I neglected to mention that Kove had already appeared in an episode of The Incredible Hulk titled 'Final Round' (s01e03) in which he played a young boxer named Rocky who befriends Banner. This episode obviously took some inspiration from the first Rocky movie which had come out a couple of years earlier. On the trivia front, it featured actor Paul Micale in a minor role. Micale later went on to play Father Carmine in Rocky II and V. Did Sly cast him after seeing his performance in this episode? Is this why he cast Kove in Rambo II?

But yeah, I really dig the idea of Kove as Nuke. I hated the way the character was portrayed in Jessica Jones, and I reckon they could have done a much better job of it in the nineties Daredevil series. I see Kove's Nuke as a psychotic drug-addicted version of John Rambo; an unstable Vietnam veteran wandering the city in an M65 field jacket and lapsing into random acts of violence whenever something triggers his PTSD. There could be a particular politician or high-ranking military official that he blames for what happened to him, and whenever he sees a newspaper headline or TV report mentioning that this person is about to be awarded a civic honour it sets him off.

Daredevil investigates Nuke's activities and gradually unearths his impressive military record. Matt also discovers that Nuke was fed experimental steroids during his time in Vietnam which have ultimately led to psychosis. He's now haunted by nightmares and hallucinations concerning his fellow soldiers ("the boys") who were killed during the war. The episode would end with Nuke getting hold of an assault rifle, painting the stars and stripes on his face and setting off to the award ceremony to assassinate the politician/army officer he blames for his addiction (perhaps Fisk could manipulate him into doing this). Daredevil arrives in time to stop him, they fight and Nuke is defeated. Matt then uses his civilian persona to bring to light evidence exposing the illegal experimentations conducted on soldiers in Vietnam. The politician/army officer is arrested, Nuke is sent to a maximum security hospital, and Edgar informs Fisk that their agents have successfully procured a sample of the experimental steroid.

This could easily have been done on a fairly small TV budget. It would have made for a very intense episode and would have been reasonably faithful to the comics. The episode could have been titled simply 'Nuke'.

Man, the more I think about Galyn Görg as Elektra, the more I am convinced we really missed out on something special. The romance/sexual tension between Gorg's Elektra and Smith's Daredevil could have been a very real hook in drawing in more of the female demo towards this episodic show. As, I believe, the romance/tension between Dean Cain's Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher's Lois was indeed a major draw for female viewers back in 1993. Can't remember if that was expected or a pleasant surprise for ABC back then, but it did play a factor. Could have most definitely been a factor with a 1990-1991 Dardevil series just as well.

I remember John Wesley Shipp saying that one of the reasons The Flash failed to draw in a regular audience was that the show never really capitalised on the romantic tension between Barry and Tina. I think he's right about this. I've been re-watching the show lately, and I've noted that many of the strongest episodes are the ones that focus on the Barry-Tina relationship. The weaker episodes tend to be the ones that sideline Tina in favour of guest love interests. As far as I'm concerned, Amanda Pays was up there with Pfeiffer and Hatcher as one of the great beauties of early nineties DC adaptations.

She appeared in several cult films and TV shows in the eighties and nineties: Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (1985), Leviathan (1989) and The X-Files episode 'Fire' being my personal favourites. The Flash series should have focused more on her and Barry instead of bringing in a succession of forgettable love interests every other week. I don't mean that the series should have turned into a soap opera for shippers like a modern CW DC show, but it should have had more focus on the characters and their ongoing relationships. That 'will they, won't they' factor was one of the things that made Lois & Clark and The X-Files such hits and brought viewers back week after week. Daredevil would ideally have had a similar dramatic hook to secure regular viewers.

As for Görg, the timing would have been perfect. 1990 was the year she appeared in RoboCop 2 and Twin Peaks. She was a fashionable enough actress at the time to draw in viewers, but not such a big star that she would have been beyond the show's budget. She would have been the perfect Elektra for Smith's Daredevil and could probably have carried her own spin-off movie or TV show.

[thecolorsblend]

Man, the more I think about Galyn Görg as Elektra, the more I am convinced we really missed out on something special. The romance/sexual tension between Gorg's Elektra and Smith's Daredevil could have been a very real hook in drawing in more of the female demo towards this episodic show. As, I believe, the romance/tension between Dean Cain's Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher's Lois was indeed a major draw for female viewers back in 1993. Can't remember if that was expected or a pleasant surprise for ABC back then, but it did play a factor. Could have most definitely been a factor with a 1990-1991 Dardevil series just as well.

People tend to forget but L&C had a rough first season because of their format.

It was the Nineties. Things were different then. So, female audiences were leery of the Superman angle while male audiences were leery of the soapy/shippy angle. No exaggeration, it destroyed their ratings that first season.

I don't think it would happen that way nowadays. But it sure did back then. Speaking of...

I remember John Wesley Shipp saying that one of the reasons The Flash failed to draw in a regular audience was that the show never really capitalised on the romantic tension between Barry and Tina. I think he's right about this. I've been re-watching the show lately, and I've noted that many of the strongest episodes are the ones that focus on the Barry-Tina relationship. The weaker episodes tend to be the ones that sideline Tina in favour of guest love interests.

I wonder if Bilson and DeMeo didn't suspect that a Moonlighting type thing might chase off the male audience they needed for the show.

Today, I can watch the show and see potential in Pays and Shipp's chemistry together. But back then... well, I'd understand if that avoiding a steady romance wasn't the whole idea. Michael Knight and Bonnie Barstow had a mild attraction to each other that Knight Rider as a show pretty much never explored. Rather, the writers always threw one-and-done love interests Michael's way. And that show went for four seasons. I'm not saying Knight Rider was the model. But I am saying that a successful model did exist.

[Silver Nemesis]

I watched this movie on DVD again last night and really enjoyed it. The production values are modest, the script is rough in places and the portrayal of Kingpin deviates significantly from the comics, but where it really works for me is the characterisation of Matt Murdock and Bruce/David Banner. Both heroes are on point in terms of how they're written and played. Smith and Bixby give solid performances and have nice chemistry. I buy them as Daredevil and the Hulk, even if the world they inhabit isn't quite the world of the comics. It's a fun little movie that in several ways foreshadows the grounded sensibility of the Netflix Daredevil series.

Unfortunately online information about the film remains scarce, but I did find this recent interview with Rex Smith where he talks a little about playing Daredevil. He also reveals that he screen tested for the role of Batman in the 1989 film and claims that he was a serious contender before Keaton landed the part.

Here's an older clip of Smith and Ferrigno doing a Q&A together at a convention.

I'd love to hear John Rhys-Davies comment on this movie one day. I know it was probably just a minor side project for him around the time he made Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (one of the greatest films of all time IMO), but I'd still like to hear him reflect on being the first live action Kingpin.