Hercules (Marvel Comics)
The Adventures of Hercules
Hercules searches for the Seven Thunderbolts of Zeus, which have been stolen by renegade gods.
The Incredible Hercules #126 (Feb. 2009). Art by Ed McGuinness.
Hercules is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (1965) and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby.
Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character is based on Heracles of Greek mythology, although the name ‘Hercules‘ is associated with the version from Roman mythology. The character has starred in three self-titled limited series and been a perennial member of the superhero team the Avengers, appearing in each of the three titles. In 2008, Hercules debuted in his own series titled The Incredible Hercules. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series; toys; trading cards and video games.
Publication history
Hercules debuted in Avengers #10 (Nov. 1964) as a minion of Immortus, although his appearance was revealed in the limited series Avengers Forever #1 – 12 (Dec. 1998 – Nov. 1999) as being an impostor. The character’s first formal appearance in the Marvel Universe became Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (1965), which established Hercules as being a rival of the Thunder God Thor.
Hercules became a regular guest star in the title Thor, appearing in issue #126 (March 1966). The character guest-starred in Tales To Astonish #79 (May 1966), and a deadlocked battle with the Hulk established Hercules as a powerhouse. The character teamed up with the Avengers, as of issue #38 (March 1967), but was not yet an official member; he was merely a guest of the Avengers during his banishment from Olympus. In issue #45 of The Avengers, Hercules became a “Full-Fledged Avenger” by way of Goliath’s announcement to the press during the first annual “Avengers Day”. Hercules also guest starred in Marvel Team-Up #28 (Dec. 1974) and Marvel Premiere #26 (Nov. 1975) before starring along with four other heroes in the Champions which ran for 17 issues (Oct. 1975 – Jan. 1978). After this, Hercules made a guest appearance in Marvel Two-In-One #44 (Oct. 1978).
Hercules starred in two limited series by writer-artist Bob Layton, with both set in an alternate universe. A 24th century version of Hercules starred in Hercules #1 – 4 (Sep. – Dec. 1982), which was popular enough to spawn a sequel, Hercules vol. 2, #1 – 4 (March – June 1984). The storylines dealt with Hercules’ exile from Olympus, completion of a series of quests and opportunity to leave his past behind and create a new identity.
Hercules remained a constant guest star in both Thor and the Avengers, playing a significant role in the “Avengers Under Siege” storyline in Avengers #270 – 277 (Aug. 1986 – March 1987), involving supervillain team the Masters of Evil. The story lead directly into the “Assault on Olympus” storyline in Avengers #281 – 285 (July 1987 – Nov. 1987), in which Hercules left the team.
The character starred in the self-titled limited series Hercules vol. 3, #1 – 5 (June – Sep. 2005), and guest starred in limited seriesThor: Blood Oath #1 – 6 (Nov. 2005 – Feb. 2006), a retrospective story that depicts the second meeting between the Greek god and Thor.
At the conclusion of the “World War Hulk” storyline, Hercules received a self-titled publication when Marvel changed the name of the third volume of the Incredible Hulk series to The Incredible Hercules, effective as of issue #113 (Feb. 2008), and written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente. The series concluded with Incredible Hercules #141 (April 2010), and was followed by the 2-issue mini-series Hercules: Fall of an Avenger (March – April 2010). The mini-series is scheduled to lead into the relaunched new title, Prince of Power #1 (May 2010), also written by Pak and Van Lente.
One 2010 comic includes a development which suggests that Hercules had an off-panel sexual encounter with gay male superhero Northstar at an earlier point in time.
Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente started a brand new Hercules series, entitled Herc, featuring the hero without powers, but wielding mythical arms.
Fictional character biography
1960’s
Hercules first appears when pulled from the past by the villain Immortus to battle the Thunder God Thor. This story is not referenced in the character’s next appearance, which depicts Hercules and Thor as apparently meeting for the first time. The discrepancy is eventually explained when it is revealed that the first “Hercules” encountered was actually an alien Space Phantomin disguise.
Hercules guest stars in an extended Thor storyline, defeating a depowered Thunder God (punished by Odin for loving the mortal woman Jane Foster). Hercules unwittingly becomes the slave of fellow Olympian god Pluto when he signs a contract which he thinks is for a film, meaning that he will now rule the Netherworld instead of Pluto, but is eventually rescued by Thor (now at full strength) who battles and defeats Pluto’s underworld minions, meaning Pluto destroys the contract rather than have his realm destroyed. Hercules also has a brief encounter with the Hulk, fighting the monster to a standstill.
Hercules reappears as the thrall of the Asgardian villainess the Enchantress who is using water from the spring of Eros and tries to use him to destroy the Avengers, but after being freed from the spell by one of Hawkeye’s arrows using brimstone, and being banished from Olympus for one year by Zeus for going to Earth without permission, aids the team for an extended period against foes such as the Mad Thinker; Namor the Sub-Mariner; Diablo; Dragon Man; the Red Guardian; Whirlwind and the Titan Typhonwho has imprisoned the Olympians in the Land of Shades, until leaving for Olympus. The character returns briefly during a storyline set directly after the Kree-Skrull War in which the returning Avengers witness an amnesiac Hercules being abducted by two Titans. After dealing with a disruption in New York City caused by the Olympian Ares, the Avengers travel to Olympus and free both Hercules and the Olympian gods who have been turned to crystal by Ares using the Ebony sword. They find out from the Black Knight’s spirit he lost his memory after being thrown from Olympus and drifting for six days and nights.
1970’s
Hercules continues to aid Thor in several connected storylines. Thor mistakenly battles Hercules when trying to rescue an Asgardian goddess from the underworld, but together they defeat instigators Ares and Pluto who are trying to take over Olympus; battle the Destroyer and then Herald of Galactus Firelord before a confrontation with Ego the Living Planet on Galactus’ behalf, as Galactus has been defeated by Ego. Hercules is temporarily possessed by the entity the Dweller-in-Darkness and guest stars with hero Spider-Man in title Marvel Team-Up. before reappearing in the title Thor, aiding Asgardian goddess Sif locate an artifact called the Runestaff of Kamo Tharnn. Hercules also visits California and battles old foe Typhon.
Hercules becomes a founding member of the superhero team the Champions, aiding the mortal heroes against the machinations of Olympians Pluto and Hippolyta. The character appears during the Korvac saga, and after being kidnapped by the Elder of the Universe the Collector is freed (with the other Avengers) by comrade Hawkeye to battle the cosmic entity Korvac who has absorbed power from Galactus’s ship, giving him god-like power, and travelled from the 31st century to remake the Universe. Although killed in battle, Hercules and many of the Avengers are resurrected by the entity before dying. Hercules also appears in a humorous story with Fantastic Four member the Thing.
1980’s
Hercules reappears during the “Celestial saga”, joining an invasion force comprising Olympian gods and other allies that storms the realm of Olympia (occupied by the Eternals). After a cameo appearance with the Avengers, Hercules reappears and aids the heroes of Earth against an invasion of New York City by the legions of the fire demon Surtur. Hercules rejoins the Avengers and aids the team against threats such as Maelstrom; the Blood Brothers; the android Vision when malfunctioning; Terminus; the space pirate Nebula and the villains Kang the Conqueror and Immortus.
Hercules suffers a serious setback during the “Avengers Under Siege” storyline, when Baron Helmut Zemo assembles an army of supervillains to form the fourth version of the Masters of Evil. Courtesy of a paid pawn, Hercules is drugged at a bar in order to incapacitate him. Hercules, however, manages to return to Avengers Mansion and singlehandedly engages the Masters of Evil, being eventually beaten unconscious by Goliath; Mister Hyde, and the Wrecking Crew. Although the Masters of Evil are defeated, Hercules remains in a coma as a result of his injuries. The next storyline, titled, “Assault On Olympus” deals with the consequences of Hercules’ injuries, as he is taken from the hospital by fellow Olympian Hermes and returned to Olympus. In his state he mentions the Avengers, causing Zeus to blame them. The Avengers eventually pursue – also aided by sometime memberNamor the Sub-Mariner who is kidnapped by Greek god Poiseidon – and discover they are being blamed by Zeus for Hercules’ condition, as Hercules mentioned them in his coma. After battling several of the gods and Zeus himself, the Avengers are forgiven when the Titan Prometheus restores Hercules to full health using part of his life force, Doctor Druid uses his powers to restore Hercules’s sanity, and Zeus accidentally attacks Hercules, after which he stops the fight. He hears from his son that the Avengers are not at fault. After that Zeus decides to ban the Olympians from Earth.
During the “Evolutionary War” storyline, Hercules defeats a misguided High Evolutionary by mutating “beyond godhood.” Hercules eventually returns to his normal form and aids Thor against villains such as the Mongoose and Doctor Doom. Hercules also encounters the female mutant Magma, an active worshipper of the Greek gods, and stars in a Hollywood film as a fictionalized version of himself.
1990’s
Together with Thor, Hercules confronted the Wrecking Crew once again, and recovers his confidence and defeats the villains when the Thunder God feigns defeat. After a brief appearance in the “Black Galaxy” saga, where he is trapped inside a Celestial briefly, Hercules rejoins the Avengers as a reserve member and is upgraded to active status during the “Collection Obsession” storyline, aiding the team against Thane Ector and the Elder of the Universe the Collector and then during theOperation: Galactic Storm storyline.
The other gods continue to feud with Hercules, with Ares – possessing the body of Eric Masterson who currently wields a missing Thor’s power – launching an unsuccessful attack. When Hercules falls in love with a mortal woman called Taylor Madison, the goddess Hera intervenes and attempts to kill her, although this is prevented when Ares warns Zeus. Hercules discovers that Madison was actually a construct created by Zeus to lure out Hera, and attacks his father. Zeus is angered by “his son’s lack of respect”, and strips Hercules of his immortality and half his strength, forbidding him from ever returning to Olympus.
A despondant Hercules helps the Shi’ar warrior Deathcry return to her homeworld, and on returning to Earth is devastated to learn that the Avengers – and the Fantastic Four – have apparently sacrificed themselves to stop the entity known as Onslaught, although they have really been sent into a pocket universe. Hercules briefly joins the commercial superhero team Heroes for Hire, and travels to Greece with Spider-Man to meet the threat of Dr. Zeus. He eventually reunites with his Avenger comrades, aiding the team against Morgan Le Fey. before choosing to remain an inactive member.
After a misunderstanding Hercules is manipulated into fighting Thor, but aids the Thunder God (together with the Asgardian entity the Destroyer) against the Dark Gods, who have conquered Asgard.
Hercules decides to locate Erik Josten – now reformed and renamed “Atlas” and a member of Thunderbolts – who as Goliath participated in the beating of Hercules by the Masters of Evil. Hercules finds and attacks Josten until former Avenger Hawkeye (now leader of the Thunderbolts) convinces him to stop, although at the cost of their friendship. Hercules also aids the Avengers against the avatar group, the Exemplars.
2000’s
Hercules becomes a drunkard, dismayed at the dissolution of the Avengers during the “Disassembled” storyline, and the destruction of Asgard and disappearance of Thor. Hera takes advantage of Hercules’ vulnerability and via her pawn Eurystheus (an ancient rival of Hercules during the Twelve Labors) proposes he complete a modern version of the classic Labors for a reality television show. Despite opposition from villains such as the Abomination; the organization HYDRA, and awkward tasks such as retrieving the shield of Captain America, Hercules is successful. Hercules is also forgiven by former wife Megara, who Hercules accidentally killed (together with his children) – a deception revealed by a humbled Hera.
Hercules encounters Thor for the second time in a retrospective story; and guest stars in a humorous story with heroine She-Hulk, Hercules being successfully sued by the villain Constrictor for injuring him. Hercules also aids fellow Greek god Ares against the Japanese gods when they attempt to overrun Olympus. Hercules eventually wins back his lost fortune in a poker match with the Constrictor.
During the Civil War storyline Hercules is depicted as an opponent of the Superhuman Registration Act, and calls the pro-registration heroes “traitors”. Taking the alias of “Victor Tegler” – an information technology consultant with help from Nick Fury – to hide from pro-registration forces, Hercules is dismissed by Iron Man, believing he cannot even spell ‘registration’.” Hercules helps the Secret Avengers escape after the Thor clone is first released. Hercules, however, kills the pro-registration’s team’s “secret weapon” – a clone of Thor – in the final battle between the two sides, claiming that it is an insult to the Odinson, before smashing its head open with a hammer while yelling ‘Thou art no Thor.’ Hercules also stars in the World War Hulk storyline, featuring a flashback to a period when the superhero team the Champions are still together. In the flashback the team mistakenly attack the Hulk, with the delay almost killing a gravely ill Jennifer Walters. Hercules and former Champions teammate Angelreconcile with the Hulk. Together with several other super beings, Hercules forms a loose-knit group called the “Renegades” to attempt to stop the Hulk when he invades New York City, then helping with rescue and recovery operations in the ruins of the destroyed city then departing before being apprehended.
After the conclusion of World War Hulk, Hercules embarks on series of adventures with companion Amadeus Cho, a teenage genius and “sidekick.” Hercules encounters long-time foe Ares, who poisons the hero with venom from the mythical Hydra. After being driven mad by the venom and embarking on a destructive rampage, Hercules is evenutally stopped by former Champions team mate the Black Widow (who also neutralizes Cho when he attacks spy organization S.H.I.E.L.D.).
Hercules plays a pivotal role in the Secret Invasion storyline, forming a team called the God Squad (consisting of Ajak; Amatsu-Mikaboshi; Demogorge and Snowbird) to neutralize the Skrull gods directing the invasion of Earth. Hercules is made leader of the team, as the representative of the Western Gods. When Nightmare asks for the team’s fears as they try to get his help to get to the Skrull gods, he sees Hercules’s fear from losing his armor bearer Hylas. Hercules and Snowbird form a romantic attachment, and together slay Kly’bn, the leader of the Skrull pantheon by impaling him with the dead Atum’s spine (with Amatsu-Mikaboshi assuming this role and ending the intervention by Skrull divinity). This event is immediately followed by the storyline “Love and War”, in which Hercules and allies Cho; Namora and the goddess Athena attempt to thwart Amazon leader Artume, who reshapes so that the world is dominated by the Amazon females. Hera and Pluto take advantage of the chaos and an absent Zeus to attempt to kill Hercules and Athena. Hercules aids Cho’s lover – Delphyne – slay Artume and take her place as queen, and with Athena is able to reset reality.
Although successful, Athena dispatches Hercules and Cho to Hades to find Zeus as he is needed to counter Hera. The pair are waylaid in Hades by the Dark Elf Malekith the Accursed – disguised as the Asgardian god Balder the Brave – who requests the characters embark on a mission into Svartalfheim, the home of the Dark Elves. Despite Pluto using the spirit of Hercules’s adoptive father, they are able to retrieve Zeus. During a humorous series of events, Hercules is forced to disguise himself as Thor and eventually marry Alflyse, the Queen of the Dark Elves.
During the Dark Reign storyline, Cho is alerted to the activities of the Elder God Chthon, which cause a “chaos cascade”. Cho and Hercules form a new team of Mighty Avengers along with U.S.Agent, Vision, Hank Pym, Stature, Quicksilver and Jocasta in order to meet the threat. The team goes on to break into the Baxter Building, battle the Unspoken in China, visit the Inhumans to return the Xerogen crystals, fight a cosmic cube empowered Absorbing Man, and capture Loki for information about the Scarlet Witch. Due to Pym’s strange request to have Loki join the team, the others lose faith in him and quit.
