Hercules

Origin

During mythological pre-history, there arose a group of extraordinarily powerful beings who became collectively known as gods, dwelling on either Mount Olympus in Greece or an extradimensional world associated with Mount Olympus. Chief among the gods was Zeus the thunderer, who was also the father of many of the gods,including Mars, otherwise known as Ares.

At some time during this pre-history, Zeus fathered Hercules with Alcmene, a mortal woman. Hercules was thus a demi-god, possessing many but not all of the god-like strengths and powers of his siblings. He became a legend during his lifetime on Earth. The most lasting of the original legends has been the story of his twelve tasks.

In the early part of recorded history, Mars inspired Hercules to go to war against the Amazons, a tribe of women warriors. Hercules led a mighty army against them and challenged their leader, Queen Hippolyta, to single combat. Using the great strength granted her by a magic girdle, Hippolyta defeated Hercules, but later allowed herself to be seduced into letting him hold the girdle. It was this treachery of Hercules' that led the Amazons into bondage, from which they were only freed by Aphrodite on the condition that they renounce the world of men and journey to Paradise Island to live in seclusion.

Later, Wonder Woman discovers that Hercules has been turned into a stone pillar in Doom's Doorway, as punishment by his Olympian family, and has been supporting the weight of Themyscira's weight for millennia. She also learns that he has been at the mercies of mythological demons the entirety of his entrapment, able to feel the wounds inflicted but unable to do anything about it. Hercules would sometimes test his strength with the Kryptonian called Superman .

Wonder Woman frees him from his imprisonment. Gaining his original form, Hercules begs the Amazons to forgive him for his past transgressions. Though many are still bitter, Hippolyta is touched by his newfound humility and urges her sister-subjects to search their hearts for forgiveness. She even goes so far as to endulge in a short romance with Hercules before he returns to his Father in Olympus. Hercules later takes on the guise of the superhero "Champion" in order to earn Wonder Woman's love and trust. He aided her in battling recreations of Sinestro and Doomsday, but was ultimately revealed as Hercules. The true Harold Campion was revealed to have exchanged his identity with Hercules for immortality and a place on Mount Olympus.

During the events of the War of the Gods the Roman and Greek Pantheons re-merge. They were originally one whole, but were tricked by Darkseid into splitting themselves so they could be worshipped by two separate countries. In the end all they accomplished was dividing their power. Effectively this meant both Hercules and Herakles existed at the same time, as did Zeus and Jupiter, Poseidon and Neptune and the others of the Olympian Pantheon. During the War they re-merged, doubling their power as they became whole once more.

Hercules also featured in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He was imprisoned for centuries by Mars on an Aegean island after a quarrel and only set free by the onset of World War three. This was a nuclear holocaust set in motion by Mars and involving an encounter with the Atomic Knights.

A revamped Hercules reappears during the abscence of Wonder Woman and the rest of the Trinity. Now shaven and bearing an updated version of the armor he claims to be a fellow agent of Olympus sent by his father to Protect Man's World, similiar to Diana's mission from Athena. He begins to operate independantly, though he occasionally aids Diana and even replaces her in battle.

Powers

Strength

Hercules is the Olympian God of Strength and as such his principal power is incredibly vast superhuman strength. Hercules' strength is extremely far beyond the "Superhuman levels and enables him to lift 100 tons.

Durability

Hercules is superhumanly durable practically invulnerable making him extremely resistant to nearly all forms of blunt force. His extremely high level of durability and invulnerability is a product of being born a demigod son of Zeus, being suckled by Hera as an infant and finally, upon his mortal death, being made a full-fledged immortal god by his father Zeus. Due to these factors he has greater resistance to physical injury and harm than any other Olympian god except his father Zeus.

Immortality

As the son of Zeus, the Olympian god, Hercules was born a half-god/half-human demigod which meant he was mortal. Because of the many heroic deeds he performed while a demigod, and Zeus' further need of a champion to defend and protect both gods and mankind, Hercules earned full-godhood and true immortality upon his death. As an Olympian god, Hercules is immortal and although he can be wounded or injured, he cannot die by conventional means.

Stamina

As an Olympian god all of Hercules' physical abilities are superhuman, though in his case they are enhanced to a greater extent than nearly all other Olympians. This includes his endurance. Hercules also possesses superhuman agility.

Abilities

Hercules is Olympus' greatest warrior and champion. When he was still a demigod in ancient Greece, Hercules co-invented, along with Theseus, the first all-encompassing fighting system in human history, Hercules is an expert in many styles of hand-to-hand combat. These include; boxing, wrestling, joint locks, submission holds and the combining of and transitioning between these varied techniques.

Weaknesses

• Piercing Weapon Vulnerability: