Get ready to unleash the demigod within! Enter the epic world of “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God Archive,” a thrilling 13-issue collection of vintage comics that bring the legendary hero to life like never before.
Originally published by Charlton Comics from 1967-1969, this classic Hercules comic series was penned by the masterful writers Joe Gill and Dennis O’Neil (aka Sergius O’Shaughnessy), with artwork by Sam J. Glanzman.
This archive of the complete Hercules series features one of the most faithful adaptations of Greek mythology’s greatest hero, Hercules, as he tackles the infamous “Twelve Labors” that defined his legendary status.
With “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God” firmly planted in the Silver Age of comics, this collection has been lovingly restored by Dark Horse to its former glory. It’s now a must-have for any comic book fan, mythology enthusiast, or just anyone looking for a hero to worship.
I’m diving deep into issue 1 of “Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God,” while also looking closely at issue 2, but I’ll keep it short and sweet for the rest of the series.
One thing that really stands out in these Hercules comics is the old-fashioned English. At first, it might feel a bit dated, but once you get into it, you’ll see it’s just another ancient twist that makes this series totally one-of-a-kind!
Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God #1 Review
In “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God #1,” things kick off with an epic intro: Hercules, renowned for walking among humans, is on a mission to prove himself worthy of a spot among the gods on Olympus alongside Zeus, the ultimate deity.
The gods have thrown down the gauntlet, presenting him with nine deadly trials, and his first challenge? A brutal showdown with the fearsome Nemean lion. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg — there are plenty more dangerous foes itching to take him down.
Amidst all this chaos, we catch a glimpse of Hercules pleading with his father, Zeus, for a place by his side. But Zeus has other ideas due to the fact that being a half-god just doesn’t cut it.
With his mother, Alcmene, long gone, Hercules is even more eager to connect with his immortal father. Unfortunately for Hercules, Zeus tells him he needs to prove his worth by completing those nine labors.
Hercules is all in and can’t wait to tackle all of the trials. His first stop? Nemea, a place where a fierce lion has taken the lives of numerous brave men who set out to slay it.
While preparing to leave, an officer of King Philip insists that Hercules join in on the games, but Hercules won’t have it. This angers the officer who threatens him with death, but Hercules knows how to talk his way out of a sticky situation.
The officer tells King Philip about the dire situation, who then orders Hercules to be brought back — dead or alive. But Hercules gets out of that bad situation too, by tumbling chasing soldiers into a stream.
When Hercules arrives in Nemea, he hears a young woman’s desperate cries for help. He quickly springs to action, dispatching a trio of thugs trying to abduct her.
This woman turns out to be Princess Helen, and she’s incredibly grateful. Hercules learns that she is promised to Alexander, but her heart is remains open and curious. When Alexander gets wind of Hercules, he remains silent — jealous but calculating.
Alexander has news of an impending war, with the Argive forces just at the border. Hercules, wanting to help, offers to fight alongside Alexander and he uses that to his own advantage to get Hercules away from Helen.
Just as tensions flare into battle, Hercules takes the fight to the invading army. He cleverly captures the Corinthian general, using him as leverage to force the invaders into retreat. The Argives and Corinthians quickly back off. Through Alexander’s leadership of the Greeks, they are able to push the enemies back to their borders.
Alexander spares the captured general, allowing him return to deliver a message of warning to his own king about the next battle being on Corinthian soil.
Meanwhile, Helen finds herself developing strong feelings for Hercules. In a moment of gratitude, Hercules decides to visit the Temple of Zeus to thank his father for the victory. Hercules confesses to Zeus that he’s torn between his love for Helen and his desire to join his father on Olympus.
Helen, overhearing this, is in awe of hearing Zeus speak to Hercules. Zeus reminds Hercules that becoming a god is a forever kind of deal but ultimately leaves the choice up to him. Whatever Hercules decides, to become a god, he must take down the Nemean lion.
As Hercules and Helen stroll side by side, they suddenly come face-to-face with the very beast Hercules has to conquer. After telling Helen to go to Alexander for safety, Hercules leaps into battle.
After an intense fight, he triumphs over the ferocious lion and goes back to the Temple of Zeus to share the good news about completing his first trial. Zeus informs him that upon his return to Sparta, he’ll learn about his next challenge.
Back at Alexander’s castle, Hercules learns that Alexander plans to marry Helen, a thought that doesn’t bother him much. He’s now firmly et on reuniting with his father and ready to continue his epic quest!
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God Comic Issues
If you’re a comic book aficionado or just someone who loves a good story, you’re in for a treat with Dark Horse’s “Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God Archive.” This collection takes you on a thrilling journey through all 13 issues of the Charlton comic series that originally ran from 1967 to 1969.
Now, you might be scratching your head, thinking, “Wait a second, didn’t Hercules complete only twelve labors?” And that’s true! But this memorable comic series cheekily gives us an extra issue, making for an intriguing twist that adds a little extra spice to the saga of the legendary demigod.
In this next section, you’ll get a sneak peek of issues #2 to #13, where the adventures really heat up! Each Hercules comic issue contains epic tales filled with fierce battles, mythical creatures, and insights into the modus operandi of the Olympian gods!
Read “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God” and you’ll be whisked away to ancient Greece, where the legendary Hercules takes center stage! Get ready for a wild ride as he goes head-to-head with fierce foes and monstrous beasts, all while navigating the tricky terrains of the gods.
From the moment you crack this book open, you’ll find yourself in a realm of myths and legends, where the gods are calling the shots and the fate of a great hero is on the line.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #2 Review
In issue 2, Hercules has been assigned his second trial by the gods: a showdown with Gerion, this massive giant who has three different bodies! Vindictive Hera seems pretty convinced that Hercules is toast this time and can’t hide her glee at the thought.
Oh, and by the way, the gods have upped the ante from nine to twelve trials in total, which is a little confusing — did I miss the explanation on that? Thankfully, Hercules is still dreaming about joining his dad Zeus on Olympus.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, has a soft spot for Hercules, but Hera’s not having it. She’s got some serious jealousy over his mom and wants him out of the picture, so she sends a monstrous sea creature in liquid form to do the dirty work for her.
Luckily, Aphrodite tips off Zeus, who springs into action by summoning Aeolus, king of the winds, to calm the ocean down. Aeolus then requests his wind associates, Zephyr and Boreas, to help out.
Just when things are looking grim and Hercules is nearly drowning, he’s saved right in the nick of time. After escaping the raging sea, he builds this awesome monument naming it the Pillars of Hercules. The aim, to inspire any future adventurers taking on tough challenges. Zeus shows his total approval by sending a lightning bolt to fuse them into what we now know as the Rock of Gibraltar.
Next, Hercules goes inland where he finds Gerion’s magnificent castle — yeah, the strongman with three bodies. A fierce battle kicks off, and Hercules takes down the first body with some effort, but the second one is smarter than he looks.
This second body tricks Hercules by throwing him a feast and then traps him in a nest of serpents! Zeus sees what’s happening and is ready to swoop in with a lightning bolt, but Hera stops him, reminding him that it would break their godly rules.
Hercules could normally handle snakes, but with hundreds of them crawling around, he needs to think fast. He uses a hissing serpent as a makeshift rope to escape. Pretty smart, right? Once he’s free, Hercules defeats the second Gerion during a huge fight when a fiery potion from a golden goblet splashes all over him.
After defeating the second Gerion, Hercules still has the third body to deal with. This version of Gerion takes to the skies on a giant, prehistoric-looking flying serpent. Hercules and Gerion can be seen duking it out mid-air. In the chaos, Gerion falls to his doom!
But here’s the suspense part: Hercules is still airborne with the creature, and if he falls off, it could spell disaster for him too. Both Zeus and Hera are watching the whole thing unfold before their eyes.
The wounded flying creature starts to descend, giving Hercules the chance to leap off safely into the sea below. He then swims towards a nearby town, but the locals catch sight of him and freak out, thinking he’s some kind of demon! All Hercules wants is a bite to eat and some water to recover, but the townsfolk are terrified, which leaves him feeling a bit down.
That’s when Zeus makes a grand appearance, reassuring Hercules that one day, he’ll find his place among the gods on Olympus!
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #3
Comic issue #3 features Hercules in the Netherworld — the underworld where the three-headed dog Cerberus resides.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #4
Comic issue $4 sees Hercules in the Land of Menace.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #5
Comic issue #5 sees Hercules in the Land of the Amazons.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #6
Comic issue #6 is called Hercules’ Choice?
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #7
Comic issue #7 has Hercules facing the Bull of Minos.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #8
The adventures of the Man-God Hercules continues with the ancient legend of Hercules revisited.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #9
Charlton comic issue #5 tells the story of Hercules versus the man-eating horses of Diomedes!
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #10
Hercules issue #10 is about the ninth head that couldn’t die.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #11
Hercules the Trophy Hunter. Even Apollo makes an appearance in issue #11.
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #12
The Wrath of the Gods!
Hercules: Adventures of a Man-God #13
The grand finale of Dark Horse’s revitalized series, Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God Archive, concludes with issue 13. This marks the final chapter in Charlton’s legendary Hercules comic saga. In this issue, Hercules wears the armor of the gods… or does he?
HERCULES: Adventures of the Man-God Archive (Dark Horse)
As I wrap up my thoughts on the thirteen-part “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God” comic series, which made waves back in the Silver Age for Charlton who hit its final curtain in 1986, I can’t help but appreciate the maturer storyline.
However, let’s be real — it’s not without its fair share of missteps. The dialogue is often stuck in some sort of imagined bizarre ancient past, with a nostalgic vibe that’s more cringeworthy than charming. It’s like someone threw a time capsule of outdated slang into the script and hoped no one would notice.
Then there are the illustrations, which swing wildly from rough sketches that barely capture the epic nature of Hercules’s adventures to some stunning panels that actually make you stop and admire the craftsmanship. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the eyes!
Okay, so: Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God gets a cool 6.5 out of 10 from me. I have to say, it threw some interesting ideas into the Hercules mythos — I salute the creative take! — but it just didn’t totally grab me, most likely due to the outdated language used throughout the comic series.
Still, if you’re into Greek mythology, vintage comics, or dig that Silver Age feel, these thirteen Charlton comics collected in the Dark Horse Archive are definitely worth checking out!
Check Availability and Pricing: Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God Archive
In conclusion, “Hercules: Adventures of the Man-God” presents an interesting reimagining of the legendary saga of Hercules and his renowned twelve labors. Across the 13 comic issues, readers are immersed in a fascinating interpretation that reflects the 1960s Silver Age style applied to this timeless myth. Don’t miss this thrilling adventure!
Hercules Movies + Greek Mythology Comics
For fans of Hercules, exploring the realm of cinema offers a chance to witness the legendary hero’s adventures come to life. Among the numerous adaptations, twelve Hercules movies stand out, delivering unforgettable scenes and captivating audiences with the hero’s might and mythology. Prepare to be awestruck by these cinematic portrayals of the iconic demigod!
For something else to read about the legendary Greek hero, why not try this epic graphic novel, which features a 4-in-1 collection of stories from Greek mythology, including an epic tale of Hercules?
Younger readers can also enjoy reading a section about Hercules in the outstanding children’s book “The Orchard Book of Greek Myths.”
I also recommend checking out all the Greek mythology comic and graphic novel reviews on this site. There are some amazing Greek mythology comics out there!
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