Superhero Movies: The Trial of the Incredible Hulk

This one gets some surprising things right, and has a dash of diverse representation as well. But don't let me over sell this hamfisted nonsense, I may have gotten punch drunk from the Captain America made for TV movie we watched right before this.

The plot unfolds something like this: Not long after arriving in New York City, David Banner crosses paths with some jewel thieves riding high from their successful heist. They (of course) anger Banner, causing him to unleash the green beast. But this time, cracking criminal heads lands Banner in police custody. Luckily a certain lawyer catches wind of Banner's case and offers his services pro bono, but Banner refuses to fight the charges. Being cross-examined in a courtroom is a sure way to make Banner angry!! But without the help of a lawyer, how will Banner ever bust out of jail?...

"David" Banner?: Apparently the TV version gave Banner a different first name.

Stan Lee cameo: This is the very first time Lee makes an appearance in a cameo, he appears as a juror in Banner's court room dream.

The director: Bill. Bixby. That's right, Bixby directed and stared in the first Marvel movie to feature a Stan Lee cameo!

"Stared in" might be misleading: Most of the story of this one revolves around Daredevil trying to take down Wilson Fisk, which is fine, but makes the title a stretch. (But what also makes the title a stretch is that the only trial happens in a dream sequence.)

How does Daredevil stand up?: There are weird echoes of the first season of the Netflix show: Murdock says "Wilson Fisk" eleven hundred times, he only wears the iconic black hood costume, and he's pretty dark and moody as well. (I mean, as "dark and moody" as you can get in a hamfisted 80s TV movie.)

Mildly more diverse: The Marvel TV movies up to this point are pretty white and are very bad a representing women. But in this one we're treated to Christa (Nancy Everhard) who takes the place of Foggy Nelson, and a their assistant (Richard Cummings Jr.) a Black man who's nerdy, soft spoken, and a war veteran. Neither of these characters show up a ton, but they do share a scene together where no other character comes in. It's surprisingly refreshing for such a tiny sip of diversity!

Actually kind of comic book like: Fisk and his head quarters are actually more comic book-like than most live action iterations of comics from the same period. I mean, one of the major fight scenes happens in an abandon warehouse that was last used to film a B movie involving giant spiders! It's almost like Bixby was sick of putting the Green Guy in everyday situations and wanted to unleash him in a surrounding that rose to the level of absurdity that is Lou Ferrigno airbrushed green. And he kind of pulled it off!

But was it good?: Yes, but also no. If you're looking for some nostalgia from this era of Marvel on screen this is the one to reach for, but set your bar accordingly.