My childhood monster was a super hero, actually. The Incredible Hulk. I was fascinated by Bixby's depiction of the green monster, and terrified that such a normal looking person could so easily turn into a raging beast. I'd beg to watch the show, only to have nightmares and scream to my parents that the Hulk was in my closet. I was all of 4 and 5 when watching the show, and would be devastated when my mom tried to deny my watching it to avoid those horrible nights. I'd quietly sneak into the living room, turn the volume on low, and watch it until I got caught.
These days, my almost-five-year old daughter shares the same fascination and fear of the Hulk. When we watch The Avengers, she screams "HULK SMASH" in victory when he's good, but she's so hurt and saddened during his bad times. The same is true of the Avengers cartoon I found on Netflix for her. I wonder what it is about him that captured both my imagination and hers?
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What was your childhood monster?
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31 comments:
The hulk's visual appearance is enough to scare the living daylights out of any kid... and it's amazing that your daughter shares the same childhood monster fear...
as a kid my monster was the hulk to it totally freaked me out when he would change
The Hulk can be scary to a small child!
The Hulk is a great character. He personifies each of us and how we can go from a benign being into a raging monster. I think kids are especially sensitive to this because of the correlation to their parents (or any close adult). Which is not to say that you or your parents have ever been a monster...
The Hulk is angry and I bet that's really scary for a kid. Thanks for sharing your monster with us and for helping promote my novella.
I can see why the Hulk would be bad - that much rage to a kid would be terrifying.
I didn't have a childhood monster, but you know what creeped me out? The tunnel boat ride in Willy Wonka. Most disturbing thing of my childhood.
That transformation can be scary. As a kid who believes such things are possible, it's easy to get caught up in something like that. I always found shape shifters in sci-fi shows creepy for the same reason.
The Hulk was terrifying! I can definitely understand that fear!
I never saw the Hulk when I was young. Wasn't until I met my other half that I got most of the comic hero stuff. But I think the Hulk may've gotten huggles from me.
I've heard a lot of people were scared of the Hulk, which is quite understandable. He is kinda freaky when he turns green, isn't he!
I remember Bill Bixby's series...I remember feeling so incredibly sad for him, for his loneliness and that he had no place he could call home. That theme music certainly aided in that sadness, as well.
Some Dark Romantic
The Hulk is an intimidating character!
I didn't see the Hulk until I was somewhere in my teens. He fascinated me at that point, and still does. Maybe that's why I keep writing about shape-shifters.
This is fascinating ;D Genetics has a hand in this one! I did a lot of sneaking when I was a kid. I use to sit on the stairs and listen to TV, till my parents heard me. My Dad knew...once in a while, he would say, "C'mon...you are a night owl just like me." lol
I loved the AVENGERS! :D
I loved the Hulk, but was probably closer to 10 or 11 when I watched it on tv as a kid. I was never afraid, but always felt bad for Bruce Banner when he came out of his Hulkness and had trouble remembering things.
Thanks for visiting my post- I enjoyed reading yours!
I can see why the hulk would be terrifying to a child - a person deforming into a green, huge monster... yep, scary.
I don't remember much from the hulk TV series except for the music... it was so sad sounding. :/
Michelle, that's true. I'm not sure which was freakier, the old one or the new.
Becca, glad it's not just me!
Alex, definitely!
Andrew, ah, good point on the parents. One minute mom and dad are perfectly happy, the next you're like, "What'd I do??" The Hulk and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are great commentaries on the dark inside us all.
Christine, that's true. What is more frightening than a big angry person to a child? It's something in the realm of their experiences. Good luck with your release!
Jamie, oh, no doubt! He did such a good job at being dark and freaky, and that boat ride was insane. I read trivia that said the actors had no idea what they were in for or what he was going to do.
L.G., I'm trying to think when my first experience with shapeshifters of any sort was, and I can't remember, but that's an interesting parallel. I can definitely see how that would be so.
Kyra, wasn't he? Yet I was just so intrigued by him.
Aldrea, lol, yeah? It was Lou Ferigno painted green, with a really bad green wig on! Maybe he would have.
Kathleen, he is! I guess it was better than red, say, but then green is often a bad sign, so maybe not.
Mina, I totally agree. Even as a child, that came through. Sadness, loneliness, desperation.
Golden Eagle, he is!
Lauren, cold be. I've long been interested in skinwalkers, as well, and yes, shapeshifters to a greater degree than vampires.
Ella, I remember a couple times my dad letting me come and watch something with him. Pretty sure mom would not have been delighted that he let me watch a couple episodes of V, but she worked evenings. Avengers was awesome!
Tracy, I did feel bad for Banner, too. I imagine it was him I was watching the show for, and the Hulk who terrified me.
Tania, well, when you put it that way...!
Jackie, I don't remember the music at all, but a couple other people mentioned it, which makes me want to look it up.
Oh my gosh I loved the Hulk! Bill Bixby was such a wonderful actor and he did such a great job as David Banner, mild-mannered until you enraged him. Those transformation scenes were scary, though.
Heavens! sounds like your parents probably regretted you ever seeing The Hulk!
Using doll representations and drawings to work through the storylines can often help children in similar circumstances get their head round scary things they can't quite resolve. It reminds me I was scared of David Bowie when I was a child as Ziggy because I couldn't quite comprehend if he was male or female. I think for me an explantaion would have helped. LOL!
I never was truly familiar with the old television series, but I remember my older ones being terrified by the transformations. :)
Oh, I understand your fear.The hulk is truly terrifying-exciting-gaspworthy in all his green glory. When I was a child, my siblings and I used to love the Incredible hulk, and when he'd transform, we'd go like, Oooh then clutch on one another, terrified...haha
Super interesting insight here, Shannon. I remember that series, and although it never creeped me out--like some of the earlier commenters, I found David's situation sad and lonely--I can totally see how the green self would be terrifying. Kind of touches on a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type of thing, doesn't it? The idea that there's two people in everyone, opposites in many ways. Of course, Hulk wasn't evil (just angry), but the double-personality thing is a powerful symbol. Thanks for sharing, and for stopping over at my post earlier. Have a great weekend!
I loved David Banner, but when he changed into Lou Ferrigno, it used to freak me out too.
When I took my girls to see the Avengers, my little one's favorite line from the whole movie was when Capt. America said "Hulk Smash"
She loves The Hulk! Zero freak factor for her. LOL
I've never seen the Hulk, but I could imagine it's frightening to a child. Interesting that your daughter follows your patterns!
My daughter was scared of Big Boy (it's a restaurant logo), but she did not tell me until she was a teen. We had a Big Boy bank next to her bed because we thought it was cool, but she told me she used to dream he chased her down the stairs.
Now she is a total horror flick junkie (she is almost 21), although she definitely did not get that from me.
On the other hand, I read Dean Koontz and Stephen King when I was pregnant with her. Hmm.
Melissa, unfortunately, I haven't watched it since I was old enough to really understand the acting, but if he got through to a 4-year old, he must have been good!
Madeleine, that's funny about Bowie!! Sounds like a good way to help kids through something like that. And, yes, they definitely regretted their decision, haha!
Michael, they are freaky transformations!
Cecilia, haha, I think that's exactly how I felt, only by myself!
Guilie, definitely fascinating when we split someone in two in the fashion of Hulk or Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. It's a literal visual of the way we all are.
Jaybird, my daughter cheered and clapped when he Hulked out in the theater, haha! But then she got upset when he went after the Avengers, and back to cheering and clapping when he went after the baddies. Quite the emotional roller coaster, but a kick to watch.
Alexandra, is that Bob's Big Boy or a different one? The round guy with, I think, a checkered apron or some such? I could see how he could be the stuff of nightmares! Sort of like Stay Puft in Ghostbusters.
The Hulk? Aw, c'mon. The acting isn't that bad. Wait a minute, I remember watching the original movie last year with my wife - it was horrible to be seen.
I definitely can see why you feared the Incredible Hulk. He's probably one of my least favorite superheroes.
Fascinating! I think that the idea that people can be so radically different than what they seem is something that could scare any child. 4 years old is when kids begin to understand deception and lying, after all, and I would imagine a creature like the Hulk would demonstrate an extreme case of this circumstance. It's kind of a scary life lesson, I think...how much maliciousness and anger (and ugliness) an ordinary person might be hiding...
Randy, that, too! Ha!
Cherie, mine, too. He sort of epitomizes an anti-hero.
Drea, that's a really interesting point. I didn't realize that was the age kids start to really understand that. I imagine you're quite right about that being a shock to a child, that someone can go from being so benign to so terrifying. Maybe they should have The Hulk give stranger danger talks to illustrate the point. Yikes.
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