Hercules #5 - A Review

The Uprising Storm has arrived! Now the ground under Manhattan quakes as Hercules enters glorious combat with Castrophobia - the new God of War! But Hercules does not fight alone! So says Gilgamesh, who drags their former foe Ire of Cura-Before-The-Ice into the battle as well. But can three demigods stand up to the might of a new deity, fresh in his power?


Given the nature of the character, one might expect a Hercules series to be non-stop action. While the current run has not lacked in thrilling battles, it hasn't had an issue-long fight scene until now. Thankfully, Dan Abnett is as skilled in writing such things as he is in the wonderful world-building Hercules has seen before now. And, even more thankfully, Hercules still isn't written as dumb muscle, even in the heat of a fight.


The artwork for this issue is equally epic in scope. Luke Ross draws a damned good fight scene and the action of the issue flows quite naturally from panel to panel. And the colors by Guru-FX are perfectly chosen.

Hercules #4 - A Review

Hercules' pal Gilgamesh has fallen into the hands of The Old Gods of The First Ages. They seek to avert the Uprising Storm of the new gods with a ritual that requires the death of a true hero. It is a sacrifice "Gil" is ready to make to save the world, but Hercules will not see anyone die this day. Nor, ironically enough, will the new gods...
It is hard to read Hercules without thinking of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. This is not a commendation nor an accusation of unoriginality but a complement. Despite a similar starting concept, Dan Abnett is telling a wonderful tale, truly worthy of the word epic.
Luke Ross's artwork is equally excellent. His designs for each character are uniquely memorable. His designs for the new gods in particular are praiseworthy. And Guru-FX does a fantastic job with the color art, offering a range of shades throughout.

Hercules #3 - A Review

Something approaches which threatens the world of myth - an uprising storm which has forced an uneasy alliance between Hercules and the monsters he once fought. Meanwhile, Gilgamesh - long content to rest on his laurels - will feel the call to heroism once again, as he takes a message from someone in need of a hero.


The theme of new worlds infringing upon the old is hardly new territory. Yet much as Hercules has been reinvented for a new age in this series, so to does Dan Abnett put his own unique spin on the world of classical myth. The story he is telling here draws comparison to Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books and it can stand proudly alongside these works.


Luke Ross's artwork is equally epic in every sense of the word. Ross' figures are heroic in scope and he fits an amazing amount of detail into each panel with no loss of clarity for all the lines. And the colors by Guru-FX enhance Ross's perfectly.

Hercules #2 - A Review

In ancient days Hercules set the standard by which all heroes are measured. But times have changed and Hercules is changing with them. Once content to be a drunken wastrel who lived off his legend, Herc has cleaned up his act. And a good thing too!  Because something is stirring up monsters long thought gone from the mortal world. And with the help of the seer Tiresias, Hercules means to put them to rest - one way or the other.


Fans of the classic Marvel take on Hercules may think Dan Abnett's take on the character to be a blasphemy. Personally, I like the idea of Hercules trying to redeem himself and restore his good name. It's a new kind of story for Herc and his new attitude has not lessened the humor of the character at all, as he's mistaken for a cosplayer while striding through Central Park. And Tiresias - who has become a gender-bending punk in a nod to the myths where he was turned into a woman for a time - is a total hoot as well.

The action sequences are satisfying as well. And it's gratifying to see Hercules utilizing some strategy in his fighting when the character is so frequently portrayed as mere dumb muscle. Those who enjoy Neil Gaiman's take on classic mythology in the modern day will find this comic enjoyable.

The artwork by Luke Ross and Emilio Laiso is suitably epic. The inks and shadows are well-balanced, leaving the original pencils well-defined yet suitably streamlined. And the colors by Guru-FX enhance the final package perfectly.