'Avengers' Hulk To Look More Likely To Pass Steroid Test?

The Los Angeles Times has some curious news about the changing face of a certain Marvel Comics mainstay with a frequent . . . well, um . . . changing face.

In words much more precise than what I can evidently vomit forth, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige explained why the most recently released concept art for Mark Ruffalo’s upcoming portrayal of the Hulk in Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” boasts a shorter stature and much less ripped physique.

“He’ll be about the same size he was in ‘The Incredible Hulk’ [which was about 9 feet tall] or maybe a little bit smaller,” Feige said. “His muscles won’t be quite as cut. We figure he’s been the Hulk now for a few years and [his physique is changing]. He’s not as cut or as ripped as he was in ‘The Incredible Hulk.’

“The most important thing is that face. As you can already see in that concept painting, it is — more than any Hulk that’s ever been done in live action — a Hulk that let’s you see the actor in there,” Feige continued. “You will be able to see Ruffalo in there. That was a big revelation for us. It’s just a concept painting, but in that you can see the [influence of Marvel Comics pioneer and original Hulk artist Jack] Kirby, as people have already pointed out, but also, and equally important in this case, Ruffalo’s eyes and his cheek structure. It is him.”

Feige explained that the shift in design will help audiences make a real connection with Ruffalo both as Banner and Hulk, as opposed to shifting from seeing Ruffalo/Banner to a rampaging green CGI beast.

There have been three notable actors to step into the roll so far, and this would mark the first time there’s been such a strong connection. In the “Incredible Hulk” original TV series and made-for-TV movies, it was Bill Bixby as David Banner transitioning into bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno as Hulk. In Ang Lee’s disastrous “Hulk,” it was Eric Bana making a CGI shift into what looked like a big, pissed Shrek.

Finally, and most recently, Edward Norton stepped into Banner/Hulk’s famous purple undies.

“We’ve taken a different approach because Hulk is Banner and, frankly, we came to question our approach. Why are we not doing it this way?” Feige said. “So we did a few designs that put Ruffalo into it, and we immediately saw how much more you feel for the creature. When you keep that connection going between Banner and the Hulk and you have characters around him trying to reach Banner inside — ‘Bruce, calm down,’ and all of that classic Hulk stuff — it means more if you see the same actor throughout. I think before it was something we thought might look silly.”

Well, readers – what do you think?