I've been mourning the death of The Incredible Hulk for many years. It is a pain I silently bear because quite frankly no one else in this modern, heartless world seems to care. I care. I have always cared. I was devastated when he was taken from us. In 1977 I had nightmares of him for weeks when the program first aired. By 1982 when the series ended, he was my hero.

I watched what I thought to be the final episode in 1990, just knowing The Death of The Incredible Hulk would not actually end with his demise. David was in love and he and Jasmin would live happily ever after, that was how it was supposed to end. I sat wide eyed and watched as The Incredible Hulk fell from the sky.

"David . . . no don't die. We can be free now." My world spun madly when he spoke these final words, "Jasmin . . . I am free." Jasmin weeps and the credits began to roll. I know I cannot be the only person on earth who felt that pain. There simply has to be others out there, who like me, miss the big green lug desperately.

Over time I came to accept his untimely and unfair demise, it did not occupy my every thought and I slowly began to rejoin the world. But those old wounds were reopened in 2003 with the release of "Hulk". The pain I thought had subsided was joined and worsened by anger and frustration.

At whom you ask? Hollywood . . . the sellouts who took the Hulk and twisted his innocence and his story and turned it into something unrecognizable. I was actually a bit excited when I heard they were making a big screen version of my favorite, misunderstood monster man. I couldn't wait to introduce my children to him.

I sat in the theater anxiously awaiting Hulk, but I never saw him. They changed every aspect of him. Bruce Banner? No such man. David, a madman? No way. Mutant dogs and military might . . . oh my. David Bruce Banner was both man and beast, at least the real David was. I left the theater with my head hung low. When we returned home I sat my children down and told them the real story.

They deserved to know the truth. I had to right the wrong. They were confused at first but I was determined to show them the light. I decided they had to see it to believe it. I combed the video stores for weeks until I found it, a 14 episode set of DVDs, The original Hulk, the true Hulk, the only Hulk.

It only took one episode and they were hooked. The new computer generated phony meant nothing to them. I'd succeeded. I wish Hollyweird would stop revamping our superheroes. They have changed them so much most are unrecognizable as the heroes they once were.

If children must watch movies and television I would encourage parents to plop their young ones in front of the television to watch the real Incredible Hulk. Show them the old Batman & Robin . . . Pow! Wham! Introduce them to Christopher Reeves, he was a Superman. Kids need superheroes not freaks of nature that curse and kill and use adult humor to sell themselves.

I recently heard yet another movie will feature Hulk; The Incredible Hulk will star Edward Norton. Seems like an odd fit to me. It's scheduled to release this summer, June of 2008. I think I'll be washing my hair that day so I'll wait to read the reviews.

By the way . . . The real Incredible Hulk is not dead. If Elvis is still out there so is my softhearted, bushy eyed green hero.

*Disclaimer I do in fact realize David Bruce Banner and his Hyde-like inner self the Hulk are not real; I do not need any more therapy than I am presently receiving.

Learn more about this author, Crystal Cook.
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