The Hulk is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The Hulk is one of Marvel Comics' most recognized characters.
The Hulk is cast as an emotional and impulsive alter ego of the withdrawn and reserved physicist Dr. Robert Bruce Banner. The Hulk appears shortly after Banner was accidentally exposed to the blast of a test detonation of a gamma bomb he invented. Subsequently, Banner will often involuntarily transform into the Hulk, depicted as a giant, raging monster, leading to extreme complications in Banner's life. While the coloration of the character's skin varies during the course of its publication history, the Hulk is most often depicted as green.
As the Hulk, Banner is capable of immense feats of strength, which increases with his feelings of rage and anger. Anger is a common trigger of Banner's transformation. A common storyline is the pursuit of both Banner and the Hulk by the police or the armed forces, due to the destruction he causes.
The Hulk character has since been depicted in various other media, most notably by Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk in a television series and three television movies, by Eric Bana in Hulk (2003), and Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk (2008), as well as in three animated series and various video games.
