George R.R. Martin Slams Two Classic Marvel Projects: “I Didn’t Watch Them Again”

George R.R. Martin, the famous author behind Game of Thrones, once shared his thoughts on some old Marvel shows in an interview with Independent.

While he’s a big fan of Marvel in general, Martin admitted that a couple of classic TV projects didn’t impress him.

“I was a big Marvel fan, and I tried some of those Marvel shows that were on in the Seventies, The [Incredible] Hulk with Bill Bixby and [TV movies about] Captain America. I tried them once and I didn’t watch them again because I didn’t like them very much,” he said.

Martin didn’t explain exactly why he disliked the shows, but fans know he cares deeply about strong characters and layered storytelling, something he’s famous for in his own books.

The Incredible Hulk series aired on CBS in the late 1970s. Bill Bixby played Dr. David Banner, a scientist who turns into the Hulk, a massive green-skinned being, whenever he gets angry.

Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk, and Jack Colvin was the persistent reporter Jack McGee, trying to uncover Banner’s secret. The show followed Banner as he traveled across the U.S., helping people while searching for a cure for his condition.

Reviews were mixed. The two-hour pilot scored 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the first season averaged 75%. Critics praised Ferrigno’s physical performance, with the Tallahassee Democrat saying he “did the strong, silent type like nobody’s business.”

Captain America, released in 1990, was another project Martin tried. The film starred Matt Salinger as Steve Rogers, battling the Red Skull during World War II before being frozen and revived decades later.

The movie was widely criticized for its weak script, low budget, and lack of star power. On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored just 16% from critics. Variety described it as “a strictly routine superhero outing” and Entertainment Weekly gave it a harsh “F,” calling it “a shapeless blob of a plot.” Some fans later appreciated the director’s cut for improving the tone and ending, but it still remained a minor piece in Marvel history.

Martin’s comments show that even someone who loves comics and superheroes can have strong opinions about how they’re adapted for TV or film. He seems to value depth and complexity in storytelling, which might explain why these older adaptations didn’t work for him.

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