Hercules, the First Superhero, Comes Back to Marvel
First, did you know Marvel has a Hercules?
Last year, there were two movies about Hercules and both tried to sell you on the idea that he was the first superhero. But Marvel has their own (as does DC, and this November he’s getting a brand-new solo comic book series in Hercules.
Penned by Dan Abnett (Warhammer 40,000, Guardians of the Galaxy) with art by Luke Ross, the new series will be a part of Marvel’s “All-New, All-Different” initiative. The new comic will be about Hercules rebuilding his heroic reputation while living in a modern, 21st century New York City.
“I immediately … realized that his legend goes back to a time before he was even called ‘Hercules.’ It’s an incredibly ancient myth that probably even predates written language that’s appeared in many cultures,” series writer Dan Abnett told Comic Book Resources. “He’s an extraordinary hero who’s enormously capable … and will do anything to protect and look after you if he’s on your side. He’s also capable though of enormous foolishness, violent rage, and terrible decision making.”
In creating the character, Abnett imagined a superstar athlete no longer at the top of his or her game. “[B]e it injury or they take some time off, they have a … lax period where they’re not at fighting form and they enjoy the luxuries of life… Then after while they go, ‘I want to get back into the game because I love it so much and I’ve sort of lost my edge a little.’”
Although a Marvel character since 1965, Hercules never quite took off and took a backseat to the other superheroes, notably Thor, whose Marvel interpretation has become more ubiquitous than the actual legend.
