Hercules is a Marvel superhero character adapted from Greek mythologyby writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. The character first debuted on the comic series Avengers issue #10 in November 1964. In that comic issue, Heracles (also Hercules) appeared as an underling of Immortus. However, in the subsequent comic series of Avengers Forever, it was revealed that the Hercules, who initially appeared in the prior series, was an impostor. In 1965, Hercules formally appeared in a battle against Hulk, in the series of Journey into Mystery Annual issue #1.During the 1966 series of Thor comics, Hercules became a regular guest.
Aside from being Thor’s rival, he once again appeared in a fightwith Hulk, in the series of Tales ToAstonish issue #79. Nevertheless, the two teamed up in the Avengers issue #38 in 1967, although Hercules appeared only as a guest.Moreover, in Avengers issue #45, Hercules became a full-fledged member of the Avengers. He also appeared in the series of Marvel Team-Up issue #28, Marvel Premiere #26, The Champions series, and Marvel Two-In-One #44 in the year 1974 to 1978. From 1986 to 1987, Hercules remained a guest star that occasionally appeared in Thor’s and Avenger comic series.
Finally, in the year 1982, Hercules star on his own self-titled limited series, “Hercules, Prince of Power,” that lasted for four issues. Due to its popularity, the “Hercules, Prince of Power Volume 2,” issues #1 to #4 was released in 1984. Following the release of his 1982 and 1984 limited series, Hercules Volume 3 was released with five comic issues that run from November to February 2006. Aside from his limited series, Hercules also starred in Thor’s limited series, Thor: Blood Oath #1 to #6. In February 2008, Hercules obtained his own titled publication after Marvel Comics changed The Incredible Hulk series into The Incredible Hercules. Greg Pak wrote the Hercules series that runs with 141 issues alongside Fred Van Lente.
Hercules Comic Origin
Hercules is the son of the king of the gods of Olympus, Zeus, to Alcmena, a mortal who lived three thousand years ago. Hercules was conceived after Zeus seduced Alcmena in the guise of King Amphitryon of Troezon, her husband. Due to Zeus’ enchantment, Hercules was born with an extraordinary strength, which he showcased after he strangled two serpents when he was only one year old.When Hercules became an adult, he was renowned for his Twelve Labors, which he performed to prove his worth for immortality to his father, Zeus.
However, in the course of his Labor, he had created enemies. The first of these three immortals was the god of war, Ares. Hercules enraged Ares after he had slaughtered the Stymphalian Birds, which were considered sacred to the god. The second was when he captured the three-headed hound and Olympian underworld guardian, Cerberus. As a result, he had offended the god of the underworld, Pluto. The third was when he killed the Namean Lion, Hydra, and other creatures that were spawned by Typhoeus. With this,, Hercules obtained the enmity of Typhon, the offspring of Typhoeus.
It was Nessus the centaur, however, which caused the death of Hercules. Nessus kidnapped Hercules’ wife, Deianeira, although Hercules shot him with a poison arrow. After feigning his willingness to make amends, the dying centaur taught Deianeira how to make his supposedly enchanted blood, a charm of love. Unbeknownst to Deianeira, the centaur’s blood was now contaminated by a lethal poison.Following the death of Nessus, Deianeira was distracted by the latest infidelity of her husband, Hercules. Thus, she rubbed the assumed charm of love into Hercules’ shirt. The poison worked very quickly when Hercules put the shirt on, causing great pain to Hercules. In his attempt to end his suffering, he created a funeral pyre for himself and set it on fire. Nevertheless, Zeus intervened and took the pyre with his thunderbolts and brought Hercules to Olympus, making him a true immortal.
Superpowers and Abilities
Hercules has the strength, durability, speed, reflexes, endurance, and stamina more than a typical Olympian god. He is the strongest among the Olympians, with the power to lift and throw out a huge sequoia tree, to crush a large rock to powder, seal a cliff using his bare hands, knockout a yellow-crested Titan, and dragged the island of Manhattan. Furthermore, Hercules’ strong legs enable him to run more than 100 meters per hour and to jump more than a hundred feet in the air. He was also reported to withstand blows from Thor as well as a total resistance to high caliber bullets.Moreover, as an Olympian, he is resistant to all earthly illnesses. He also possesses a healing factor as well as immortality.
Aside from possessing these superhuman powers, Hercules is also a highly skilled archer, boxer, wrestler, and in martial arts. During a battle, he often wears a gold-like adamantine mace. This mace was created and shown to be as durable as Thor’s mystical hammer, the Mjolnir.