The Incredible Hercules #122 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (Writers), Clayton Henry & Salva Espin (Artists), and Raul Travino (Colorist)

The Story: Namor and Hercules are at it toe-to-toe up until Namora informs the two men that they are on the same side for the time being. The three go off to investigate the disappearance of Poseidon and start the search by heading straight for the Amazonian queen, Hippolyta. Meanwhile, Amadeus Cho remains a willing captive of the Amazons as he tries to decipher an Atlantean tablet for Hippolyta.

What’s Good: The second chapter of the Love and War arc is notable for how well it brings together all the elements that make The Incredible Hercules so enjoyable as a series. The cartoonish visuals prove to be a perfect fit for scenarios that put the series’ trademark humor to good use. Simply put, the book is an entertaining package.

What’s Not So Good: For as fun as the storyline is, there is no denying that it lacks some of the weight found in other arcs. It proves to be quite disappointing in that respect simply because I have come to expect a bit more from the series. Also, it is worth noting that some people are probably going to be turned off by the visuals, especially when the darker elements of the storyline are introduced.

Conclusion: If you just want to be entertained, you really can’t go wrong with this one. That said, be sure to keep your expectations in check. This arc is not exactly a high point for the series.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

The Incredible Hercules #120 (Secret Invasion) – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (Writers), Rafa Sandoval (Penciler), Roger Bonet & Greg Adams (Inkers) and Gracia with Calero & Trevino (Colors)

In the comics world, there are two kinds of writers: the Innovators, who come up with wild new ideas that don’t always make sense, and the Consolidators, equally talented people who spend most of their time filling in the gaps and coming up with ways to explain the inconsistencies in the work of the Innovators. Of course, sometimes a Consolidator will devote years to making sense of an Innovator’s work (as Mark Gruenwald did with Kirby’s Asgardians and Eternals), only to have another Innovator (Walt Simonson) come along to make things nice and messy again.

Well, wherever Mark Gruenwald is right now, he must be smiling, because Hercules #120 is his kind of book, and builds on one of his ideas. Gruenwald was the guy who decided that the Skrulls were a race where the Deviants had taken over the planet by killing all the Eternals and Normals. Well, now Pak and Van Lente are doing a little consolidating of their own by asking the question, “What was that epic battle like, and what if a single Eternal had survived?”

You may notice I haven’t said a lot about the plot of the book yet. That’s because I don’t want to spoil all the comic-y goodness that awaits you when you read it. But the premise is so good I have to share it: the “He” that the Skrulls keep invoking when they say “He loves you,” is the Skrull’s last Eternal, elevated to Godhood. The events of this issue tie into the core of the Secret Invasion, and will have long-lasting repercussions in that storyline and others.

What else can I give away without spoiling the fun? There’s a big, big battle. The unbeatable are beaten. The unkillable are killed. Goodness triumphs, and so does evil. Hercules continues to be written with the same perfect blend of arrogance and self-doubt that makes him so likable in this series. The art is still beautiful, if a bit confusing at times (What can you expect with no less than three shape-changers in the cast?). And vertebrae and mosquitos are very, very important.

One other thing: the Skrull Book of Worlds, their Bible, is as inconstant as they are. Forget Reed Richards escaping the Skrulls—if you really want to experience the true turning point of the Secret Invasion, imagine if Billy Graham or Rick Warren opened the Good Book one morning and the only words inside were, “YOU’RE WRONG.” (Grade: A+)

– Andrew C. Murphy

Hercules: The Thracian Wars #4 (of 5) – Review

By Steve Moore (writer), Admira Wijaya with Imaginary Friends Studios (art)

Until now, Hercules has been restrained, a demi-god coming off more as a mortal with mythical stories behind his strength. Yet, as battle has shown, he is a master at the art of tactics and combat training. But his signature brute strength was never shown or even hinted at until now. When Hercules is finally unhinged in this issue, both Steve Moore and Admira Wijaya take the gloves off and launch our hero into a torrent of violence, blood, and rage. Readers who’ve been patiently waiting for Hercules to erupt into “300“-like violence will walk away satisfied with the amount of gore on display here. And you know what? It’s satisfying on every primal, sadistic, and perverse level.

This is easily the best issue of the series. What surprised me is how the story plays out. It seems like the type of story that would stay on course and deliver a “by the numbers” finale after Hercules discovers Cotys’ plan to attack Greece. But such is not the case. With every anticipated turn, the story goes in a completely different direction and that is damn impressive. Steve Moore does a fantastic job of scripting a fresh and unpredictable tale. Even more impressive is the amount of ground that’s covered in 24 pages; this issue goes through a lot of twists and turns all while simultaneously setting the table for the series’ undoubtedly bloody finale.

There’s been a lot of people trying to compare this book to Frank Miller’s 300. Even Radical’s marketing team is guilty of this. But other than both using Greek characters and violence, there’s really no comparison. Apples and oranges. If I could only read one, I’d easily take this series. Superior art, a color cast of characters, and an original (and more stronger) story wins out here. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes

She-Hulk #30 – Review

By Peter David, Val Semeiks (Penciler), and Victor Olazaba (Inker), Chris Sotomayor (Colors)

Twenty years ago, if you had told me that She-Hulk would be one of my favorite books, I’d have gouged my eyes out Oedipus-style, then lopped off my fingers just in case they started printing the damn thing in Braille.

Granted, Semeiks continues the tradition of lousy art on the book. (She-Hulk has had the strange misfortune of catching two of comics’ greatest artists, John Buscema and John Byrne, at periods in their careers where their only concern seemed to be picking up their next paycheck.) Like Francis Portela on Black Panther, Semeiks should be forced to wear a sign around his neck reading, “I learned to draw by reading comics. I have never actually studied the human form.”

But you don’t buy a Peter David comic for the art. One day, grad students will analyze the complexity of David’s plots the way they currently dissect Kubrick. When David took over the book, he immediately changed the tone, turning She-Hulk from a lawyer into a bounty-hunter without explanation, and he’s been deftly juggling half a dozen plots ever since, telling the story not chronologically but according to some undefinable yet perfect artistic hierarchy. It’s a style of writing I’ve seen in Oscar-contenders like Babel, but never in a comic before. And yet he still writes cool dialogue like “You are aware that the only reason you’re not airborne is because I’m not tossing you there, correct?”

In this issue, She-Hulk gets a get-out-of-jail-free card to apprehend Bran Murphy, who turns out to be the vessel of a Celtic demigod. Bran had gotten into a drunken brawl with Hercules, who is just as good here as he is in his own series. That’s all you need to know. Buy the book. And if you haven’t already, go to eBay or your local comics shop and snap up every back issue you can find. Buy anything without an adjective, and make sure you get volumes 1 and 2.

With an “A” for writing and a “D” for art, I give this book an overall (Grade: B-)

– Andrew C. Murphy

Hercules #2 (of 5) – Review

By Steve Moore (writer), Admira Wijaya (art), Imaginary Friends Studios (art & colors), Sixth Creation (colors)

Why anyone isn’t reading Hercules is beyond me. This is a smart and brutal series that war, history, and mythological buffs will truly enjoy. The character of Hercules is portrayed as a fighting tactician who has no concern of his reputation, nor does he ever feel the need to prove it. He’s a glorified mercenary in essence and when he and his team are hired to whip the Thracian army into shape, he does so strictly for the promise of a paycheck.

As the Thracians move into enemy territory, their merciless leader, King Cotys orders the sackings of many villages for the sake of drawing the enemy army out and in the same process, lowering their morale. Hercules, begins to ponder if he’s done the right thing by joining the Thracians. But seemingly “in too deep”, he pushes on with the army as they extend their dominance into the region.

There’s a lot of meat to this issue and I guarantee you it’s one you won’t finish in five or ten minutes. Even if you’re a fast reader you’ll stop just to admire the stunning visuals by Admira Wijaya, who is one hell of an artist. Steve Moore’s script isn’t lazy either. It’s character drive, very smart. At one point, however, I was taken out of the story when one character utters a modern day curse word (visions of Brian Wood’s awful Northlanders came back to haunt me), but thankfully, that was just a one-time thing. I can let something like that go when it’s done once to make an emotional statement.

All in all, this series is one of the sleeper hits of 2008. It’s the perfect marriage of story and art on a very high level. With Caliber and Hercules, Radical Comics is off to a strong start as a new publisher. High ly recommended. (Grade: A-)

– J. Montes

The Incredible Hercules #117 (Secret Invasion) – Review

Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, (Writers) Rafa Sandoval, (Penciler) Roger Bonet, (Inker) and Martegod Gracia (Colorist)

Back in the Sixties, when Stan Lee told him he couldn’t have Thor on the Avengers, Roy Thomas pulled in Hercules instead. Herc’s tenure didn’t last long, maybe because they made the horrible mistake of shaving his beard. In the Seventies, they gave him own team, The Champions. Other than a few issues beautifully illustrated by John Byrne, that was a failure as well. In the Eighties, Hercules got his own mini-series. It was cute (“Sayest what?”), but ultimately forgettable.

Finally, after forty years, Marvel has figured out how to write Hercules.

Rule #1: Don’t put Herc in charge. He’s muscle, pure and simple. Make someone else the boss — Athena, for example — and just let him react.

Rule #2: Never forget that underneath all his bluster, Hercules is a tragic figure. He killed his own wife and children in a fit of madness, after all. He may be a god among men, but among the gods he is only a man, and gods are careless with mortal lives.

Rule #3: Think big. Really big.

The premise of the book is both grand and simple: Athena wants to stop the Skrull invasion because if humanity is wiped out then the gods they worship will die as well. Since the Skrulls think they were promised Earth in an ancient religious prophecy, Athena’s plan is to bypass the Skrulls themselves and take the fight directly to their gods, Kly’bn and Sl’gur’t. To that end, she assembles a divine strike force that Amadeus Cho dubs the God Squad: Hercules, Snowbird, Amatsu-Mikaboshi (the Japanese god of evil), Atum (also known as Demogorge, the God-Eater), and Ajak. (This last bit is the only part I have a problem with; Ajak is an Eternal who is sometimes mistaken for a god, not actually the Incan god Tecumotzin. But that’s just a quibble.)

Gathering the team together and establishing their back-stories takes most of this issue. There are a few wonderful character revelations. Ajak, known as “He Who Talks to Celestials”, is jealous that the Dreaming Celestial prefers to communicate with Makkari. Hercules is upset because he’s been put in charge of the team, and he’s not sure he has what it takes to be a good leader. And Atum is helping save the gods only because he plans to slay them and eat them himself at some later time.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Sandoval’s art only gets better each issue. But Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente really deserve the most praise. It’s remarkable how well this book draws upon years of continuity, yet still manages to boldly go (dare I say it?) where no god has gone before. (Grade: A)

– Andrew C. Murphy

A Second Opinion

I’ll admit to being a bit late to the critically acclaimed Hercules series, but after reading the first Hercules Secret Invasion tie-in, I know I’ll have to go back to see what I’ve missed. Simply put, this is a very fun book that manages to make Secret Invasion even more epic.

The bulk of this issue consists of a meeting of the Council of Gods that has been organized by Athena to recognize and combat the Skrull threat. While I have very little experience with the characters or continuity presented in this issue, I had no problems keeping up thanks to some clever writing and helpful flashback sequences. After each group in the council offers up a warrior to help deal with the Skrulls and the inherent tensions of the meeting boil over, Hercules finds himself as the leader of the “God Squad,” as they are dubbed by Amadeus Cho (who, yes, still has pup in tow).

Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have written a very nice jump-on point for people interested in this series now that it has been tied to the Secret Invasion. I had no trouble keeping up and quickly found Hercules to a likeable and hilarious character. I can’t wait to see what Pak and Van Lente come up with next as Hercules seems like the perfect character to be the reluctant leader of a group of gods. Everything in this issue clicks extremely well from dialogue and storytelling to the spot on humor and tension. The stakes are, obviously, high, but the writing team manages to use it to their advantage – instead of letting the book get weighed down by drama.

The artwork in Incredible Hercules #117 is nearly as strong as the writing and storytelling. Sandoval, Bonet, and Gracia have created quite a nice book here and it compliments the story extremely well. The visuals during Hercules’ reluctant leader tantrum are hilarious and as tensions boil over we are treated to some dynamic action scenes. The imagery used during the council meeting is both surreal and compelling and I can only imagine things will get more visually interesting as the story continues for the “God Squad” as they take the fight to the Skrulls.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I really enjoyed this issue of The Incredible Hercules. I will definitely go back to catch up on what I missed, but not necessarily because I felt like I missed something. The writing is so strong that I was instantly drawn into Herc’s story and only feel like I need to go back because I know I won’t be able to wait a month for the next issue. If you have been hesitant about this series up until this point, now is the time to get in on the action. Not only does it have to do with the Secret Invasion, but it also proves why The Incredible Hercules has become such a critically acclaimed series. (Grade B+)

-Kyle Posluszny

Hercules #1 (of 5) – Review

By Steve Moore (writer), Admira Wijaya (art), Imaginary Friends Studios (colors)

Radical makes a very strong debut with Hercules. I remember this book being advertised as “a re-imaging of Hercules along the lines of Frank Miller’s 300“. I think that statement’s completely wrong. This is nothing like 300. Perhaps the only thing it has in common with Frank Miller’s masterpiece is that it takes place in ancient Greece, too. If anything, this story plays more along the lines of the Beowulf movie released last year (and penned by Neil Gaiman).

The book is full of disbelievers who think the power Hercules brandishes is nothing more than a myth. Not helping matters is his size – which becomes an on-going joke throughout the book. Hercules is slightly larger than the average man, he’s restrained with his tongue, and keen on his surroundings. He wears the hide of a Nemean Lion, a rare and fierce creature, as a head dress (probably to command respect). Yet, his would be foes aren’t intimidated.  They see Hercules as just another bastard child of Zeus – some even believe his mother was just a whore who made up the tale. And after numerous taunts and insults, Hercules reaches the end of his rope. In a righteous, murderous rampage, he dispatches dozens and dozens of foes in an unapologetic fashion. Yes, the story is a bit light in this first issue, but it’s all about setting the tone of who Hercules is and what he represents.

With a retail price of $1.00 for the first issue, you’re getting a fantastic deal, not to mention a bloody start to what I’m hoping will become an epic series. The dark tone of Steve Moore’s story is further bolstered by Admira Wijaya’s stunning visuals. There’s some great textured work here that makes the world feel foreboding, yet real. If the creative team can maintain this quality of work, I’m definitely on board for the long term. I just need to know where this whole story is headed, because right now, it’s all a bit too mysterious. Fantasy buffs will most likely enjoy this first issue. (Grade: B)

– J. Montes

Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Clash #1 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Khoi Pham, Paul Neary, Dennis Calero, Eric Nguyen, Reilly Brown, Carlos Guevas, Terry Pallot, Chris Sotomayor, Bob Layton, and Guru EFX (artists)

I’m always wary of annuals, “Giant-Size” issues, and “One-Shots”. Usually if a story ends up in an annual it’s because it has no clear place in continuity, and can usually be safely ignored. (The exception is weddings. For some reason superheroes love to get married in annuals.) Plus the publishers usually pad the book out with reprints so they can charge a higher cover price. So I always think twice before I pick one up.

The Hulk Vs. Hercules one-shot seems to exist to serve as a sort of a bridge of the “Incredible” book from Hulk to Hercules. It starts with Amadeus Cho, Hercules, and Athena in a diner somewhere in the mid-west. When Hercules leaves the table to buy some beer, Athena asks Cho why he stopped helping the Hulk and now follows Hercules. Cho replies, “Because regular Hulk readers would buy the book by default, thereby increasing sales.” Just kidding! Cho’s answer is that during World War Hulk he recognized the Hulk’s true savagery and decided to switch his allegiance to someone more deserving of his friendship. This launches Athena into a rambling tale designed to show that Hercules is not the teddy bear he sometimes seems to be. Her story begins at the dawn of time, with the war between the Titans and the Olympians, moves to the recent past, with the Hulk fighting the Avengers, then on to a wresting match between Hercules and the Thing (nicely illustrated by Bob Layton), and culminates in a chaotic battle involving Hercules, the Hulk, the Olympians, the Titans, and a primal uber-god known as Demogorge, the God-Eater. Things get nasty, and Hercules gets a chance to demonstrate his inner barbarian. He may be better than the Hulk, Athena says, but Hercules can still be a monster.

All in all, it’s a decent story, but certainly not a turning point in the lives of any of the characters involved. So should you buy it (along with the Tales to Astonish reprint that fills the remaining pages)? Offhand, I’d say no, but a “special preview” insert seems to indicate that Demigorge (whom old-timers may remember from Thor Annual #10) will be coming back soon, so the story might be an important part of continuity after all. (Grade: C+)

– Andrew C. Murphy

Incredible Hercules #116 – Review

By Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Rafa Sandoval (pencils), Roger Bonet (inks), Martegod Gracia (colors)

Always a fun and entertaining romp, team Hercules, now comprised of Herc, Amadeus Cho, his pup, and Athena show up in San Francisco after a long road trip across the United States. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente take some time to show us the chemistry and bond that’s developed between Athena and Cho. Athena acts very much like an older sister who’s main purpose is to keep the boys out of trouble. After the harrowing events of the past two issues where Cho almost “lost it”, he’s kept more in the background in this issue, playing a supporting role.

The main story, is Hercules’ as he tussles with his identity, his history, and two Eternals that have mistaken him for someone else. Since the whole Eternals mini-series ended (by Neil Gaiman and John Romita Jr.), Marvel continuity has done little to address just how the story fit into the grand scheme of things. And while, Pak and Ven Lente do little to provide answers, it’s nice to know that the Eternals (along with the Celestials) are being acknowledged. I’ve got a feeling that with the upcoming Eternals series due out in a couple of months, this is Marvel’s way of reminding us that they’re still around and we’ll be getting the answers we seek.

So what is the deal with the gang hanging around San Francisco? Well, it appears Athena has made a startling revelation and she realizes mankind is going to need a lot of help. What this revelation is won’t come as a surprise to most, but it sure did surprise me! With Khoi Pham now gone as penciler, I was weary of what we’d be getting out of Rafa Sandoval. But Sandoval easily survives his trial by fire and delivers some really good art. Some of his facial expressions are a bit wonky (particularly Ikaris), but everyone else is down pat, especially Hercules. (Grade: B+)

– J. Montes

Incredible Hercules #113 – Review

By: Greg Pak (Writer), Khoi Pham (Pencils)

Let’s face it, World War Hulk’s ending was pretty disappointing. And honestly, I thought this book was going to go downhill when it became a “Hercules” book, but I was wrong about Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente – this book is actually a lot of fun! Herc’s relationship with Amadeus Cho is just plain fun.

The two play of each other like comedic duo – one being the brains, the other the brawn. Cho want to destroy SHIELD and Herc wants to run. Ares enters the mix as Hercules life long adversary and craziness ensues. Pak and Lente accomplish a lot this issue as Ares pursues Hercules with a weapon that’ll put him down for good. The whole back story on this weapon is explained in a mythological sense and makes for very good reading.

Khoi Pham’s art is to die for. I think this is my first encounter with his art (if I’ve seen it before, I’ve not really noticed), but his art on the flashback sequences is amazing. When Hercules goes nuts, his facial expressions are simultaneously funny and psychotic. This book is a pleasant surprise. (Grade: A-)

-J. Montes