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He teamed up with Jason and the Argonauts to find the fabled Golden Fleece. Herc's formative years were filled with many exploits that have since become the stuff of legend. Hercules rivals Thor for the crown of "mightiest Avenger." But because Zeus' wife Hera often made Herakles the target of her wrath, he eventually changed his name to Hercules instead. He was originally raised by his human parents under the name Alcaeus, before becoming aware of his divine heritage and taking the name Herakles. Hercules is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmena. Arguably closer than Thor, who's kind of a jerk in most Norse tales. Marvel's version of Hercules sticks fairly closely to the popular Greek myths.
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Another version of Hercules appeared the previous year in The Avengers #10, but that character has since been revealed to be an impostor. His first official Marvel appearance came in 1965's Journey Into Mystery Annual #1. Hercules is among the many iconic Marvel heroes created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. 1-2 Hercules' History in the Marvel Universe Recommended Reading: Hercules: Prince of Power, Incredible Hercules: The Complete Collection Vols. Hercules Cheat Sheetįirst Appearance: Journey Into Mystery Annual #1 (1965)Īliases: Hercules Panhellenios, Herakles, Alcaeus, The Prince of Power, The Lion of Olympus, Harry CleeseĬurrent Team: The Guardians of the Galaxy (Formerly The Avengers, The Champions, The God Squad, The Argonauts) His weapon of choice is a golden adamantine mace.
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He also has an arsenal of enchanted weapons forged by Hephaestus. However, even in his mortal form, Herc is among the most skilled fighters in the Marvel Universe, having spent literally thousands of years honing his craft on the battlefield. Herc's strength and immortality can and have been taken away from him in the past.
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He's also blessed with other handy abilities like immortality, invulnerability and enhanced speed and healing. Thanks to his divine origins, Herc has incredible physical strength - enough to make him a match for Thor and even hold his own in battle against the Hulk. The Greek myths paint Hercules as far stronger and more skilled in battle than any mortal, and that's certainly true for the Marvel version. Herc is a lot like Thor, not that this has stopped the two from butting heads over the centuries. But unlike many of his fellow Olympians, Hercules has a noble heart and is always quick to come to the defense of those who can't defend themselves. He's an incredibly strong, immortal warrior who travels the world in search of adventure and fame.
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Marvel's version of Hercules is essentially the same figure from the various myths and legends. And few gods command as much respect as the mighty Hercules.
12 LABOURS OF HERCULES III FULL
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