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For the DC Comics version of Hercules, see Hercules (DC Comics)

Hercules is a Marvel Comics superhero and is based on the Greek demi-god and hero Heracles. Called Hercules by the Romans, the character was adapted and introduced by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-coplotter Jack Kirby in Journey Into Mystery Annual #1 (1965).

Fictional character biography

Origin

Hercules was born to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman. Blessed with extraordinary strength imparted by his father, his history is similar to that of the mythical Hercules. The Marvel version of Hercules deviates from myth in that Hercules did not die courtesy of a poisoned robe, but rather remained in Olympus until the dawn of the Silver Age and the rise of the superhero.

Modern era

Hercules' first appearance was technically when Immortus pulled Hercules from the ancient past to battle Thor. As this was the Hercules from the past, the "modern" Hercules had no memory of the encounter when meeting Thor months later. It was revealed later that the historical Hercules that Thor first met was in fact a Space Phantom in disguise - which retroactively explained the identity conundrum.

Hercules' first appearance in the Avengers was as a thrall of the Enchantress, although he goes on to aid the team against the likes of the Mad Thinker, the Sub-Mariner, Diablo and the Dragon Man, the Red Guardian, Whirlwind, and Typhoon. Hercules also appears in the Olympian arc and returns for the final battle against Korvac. Hercules makes a guest appearance some months later before eventually rejoining the team on an ongoing basis.

In the "Avengers Under Siege" storyline, Baron Zemo assembles a super-sized version of the Masters of Evil and courtesy of a pawn drugs Hercules at a bar. Returning to the Mansion during the the siege, a now-drunken Hercules ignores the Wasp and attacks the Masters of Evil. Hercules holds them all off until being surprised and viciously beaten by Goliath. Hercules falls into a coma as a result of his beating, and is eventually retrieved by Hermes and taken back to Olympus, setting the stage for the "Assault on Olympus" storyline. Blamed by Zeus for Hercules' condition, the Avengers battle the gods and finally Zeus himself. Only the intervention of a recovered Hercules ends the conflict, and Zeus, forgiving the Avengers, forbids any born of Olympus from visiting Earth again - the catch being of course that Hercules was born on Earth.

Exile

Angered by his son's preference for the mortal world, Zeus strips Hercules of his immortality and a great deal of his power, then exiles him to Earth. There, the traumatized Hercules drew support from the Avengers, especially Deathcry, whom he helped to return to her Shi'ar homeworld. Upon returning from space, Hercules discovered that the Avengers had apparently sacrificed themselves to stop the being known as Onslaught. Distraught over the loss of his comrades, he took to drinking, becoming an alcoholic.

Hercules traveled in search of adventure, briefly serving with the Heroes for Hire. When the Avengers and other heroes returned from their exile, Hercules joined the reformed team, opting to be an inactive member rather than serve as an active member. Hercules also sought out Goliath, now known as the hero Atlas, in order to extract revenge for his coma. Hawkeye convinces Hercules to stand down, at the cost of their long friendship.

New Labors

With the dissolution of the Avengers during the "Disassembled" storyline and the destruction of Asgard, Hercules falls back into old habits, frequenting bars and putting forth the image of a drunkard. Seeing that Hercules is vulnerable, Hera attempts to humiliate him by devising a new set of Labors. To this end, she utilizes Eurystheus - now the head of a modern company - to film a reality television show of Hercules completing the Labors, which have been updated for the modern age. Hercules successfully completes all Twelve Labors and defies Hera once more.

Hercules goes on to fight and seriously injure the supervillain the Constrictor, who then sues Hercules and sends him into financial ruin. After helping Zeus and Ares unite the gods to defend Olympus against invaders, Hercules returns to Earth, and rejoins Damage Control in order to earn money. Previously Hercules had to perform community service with Damage Control, as a result of his drunken stupors. This time, however, he is an employee, working in construction and demolition. Hercules recovers and when he participating in a poker game organized by the Thing and wins much of his fortune back from the Constrictor.

Civil War

Hercules openly opposes the Superhuman Registration Act, and regards the Pro-Registration Heroes as "traitors". He takes the alias of "Victor Tegler", an IT consultant, to hide from pro-registration forces. In the first large-scale battle between the two opposing forces, Hercules is temporarily stunned by a bolt of lightning summoned by a clone of Thor.

Relationship with other gods

Thor

Thor and Hercules are close rivals, but neither has hesitated to help the other if needed. The second meeting between the two gods took place when Thor needed to borrow an enchanted animal from Dionysus. The third meeting took place when Thor battled the minions of Pluto to save Hercules from being trapped in the underworld forever. Hercules has returned the favor and assisted Thor on several occasions, a notable example being the final battle against the Dark Gods.

Other gods

For all Zeus' gruffness, he regards Hercules as his favorite - much to the chagrin of the other Olympians. Ares and Pluto are Hercules' mortal enemies.

Alternate versions

Hercules 2300

Hercules also starred in two miniseries set in the 24th century of an alternate Earth. In a bid to teach his son humility, an offended Zeus banishes Hercules. Loaned Apollo's chariot and steeds as a means of transportation, Hercules explores the cosmos. He encounters and befriends a Skrull named Skyppi and the Rigellian Recorder #417, who records Hercules' adventures. After numerous encounters with a variety of beings including Galactus, and siring a child, Hercules returns to Olympus to confront Zeus.

Powers and abilities

Hercules primary superhuman power is his physical strength. Hercules is the strongest of all Olympians, and while the limits of Hercules' strength have never been measured, he is capable of fighting and matching both Thor and an enraged Hulk.

Since Zeus' punishment (marked by a "lightning bolt" tattoo on Hercules' shoulder), he has reverted to his original, ancient strength level, which is on par with the Abomination, who is twice as strong the Hulk at his base (calm) level.

Like other Olympians, Hercules is immortal and cannot die under conventional circumstances. Hercules' body is highly resistant to physical injury and has withstood the impact of high caliber machine gun shells, falls from tremendous heights, exposure to temperature extremes and powerful energy blasts without sustaining injury. It took two point-blank blasts from the god Michael Korvac to bring Hercules' to the point of death, although he was revived with the other fallen Avengers by a dying Korvac.

Skills

Hercules is a highly skilled hand to hand combatant and an outstanding Greco-Roman wrestler. Hercules' weapon of choice is an adamantine mace forged by Hephaestus, the blacksmith of the gods. The mace has proven to be as durable as Thor's mystical hammer, Mjolnir.

References

1. Avengers Vol. 1, #10
2. Thor Annual Vol. 1, #1
3. Avengers Forever(1998-2000)
4. Avengers Vol. 1, #38
5. Avengers Vol. 1, #39-50 (offically joining in #45)
6. Avengers Vol. 1, #98 - 100
7. Avengers Vol. 1, #177
8. Avengers Vol. 1, #211
9. Avengers Vol. 1, #250
10. Avengers Vol. 1, #270-277
11. Avengers Vol. 1, #280-285
12. Hercules #1 - 5 (2005)
13. Civil War #3 - 4 (2006)
14. Thor: Blood Oath (2005)
15. Journey Into Mystery Vol. 1, #125 & Thor Vol. 1, #126-130
16. Thor Vol. 2, #10-12
17. Hercules: Full Circle Vol. 2, 4 (1984)
18. Thor Vol. 1, #128
19. Hercules: Prince of Power Vol. 1, #1 - 4 (1982) & Hercules: Full Circle Vol. 2, #1 - 4 (1984)
20. Thor Annual Vol. 1, #1
21. Tales To Astonish Vol. 1, #79
22. Avengers Vol. 1, #177
23. Thor Annual Vol. 1, #1

External links

• Database Project.com

• 1964 introductions
• Marvel Comics Olympians
• Mythology in comics
• Fictional characters with the power of accelerated healing