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SALT LAKE CITY — The Incredible Hulk is on the streets of Salt Lake City for the city's first Comic Con.
Lou Ferrigno played the Incredible Hulk on CBS between 1977 and 1982 and said he is enjoying the opportunity to continue to be a part of the Hulk story.
"The legacy is over 40 years and it is more exciting than ever because the series has over 40 films; now we have the Avengers and the Hulk movie," Ferrigno said. "The Hulk saved the day in the last Avengers movie and they're making another Hulk movie, so I'm excited to be part of it."
The Hulk was one of Ferrigno's heroes when he was young. "I loved reading Hulk comics and Superman comics because I was fascinated with power; that led me to bodybuilding and fitness," Ferrigno said.
Ferrigno said he was training for a competition when he got the call saying they were casting for the Incredible Hulk.
"I was there the next day pumped up," Ferrigno said. "I landed that part because I knew I was the Hulk my whole life."
Ferrigno beat out Arnold Schwarzenegger for the part of the Hulk. He said he won't mind being the Hulk for the rest of his life; he has done many different films, but he said people identify with the Hulk the most because it is his trademark.
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The SLC Comic Com opens Thursday at the Salt Palace Convention Center downtown. If you have already donned a costume and are sitting at your house waiting for the hours to draw closer to when the doors open, you probably already have your tickets.Ferrigno said playing the role of the Hulk took commitment. The makeup process took 3.5 to four hours when he was filming the show and he had to wear the makeup for sometimes 14 to 15 hours a day. When he was bodybuilding, he would eat around five or six meals a day.
Early ear infections cost Ferrigno about 80 percent of his hearing.
With current technology and hearing aids he said he is now able to hear perfectly.
Ferrigno has also worked in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff so he said he's been able to see a different perspective from the role he played on screen and know how to deal with people.
Salt Lake City is a great venue for Comic Con and it will be great for the city and families of all ages, Ferrigno said.
"Utah needs something like this," he said.
The Salt Lake Comic Con is at the Salt Palace beginning Thursday and running through Saturday. Other special guests include William Shatner, Kevin Sorbo, Adam West from "Batman" and Henry Winkler from "Happy Days."
