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    Hercules

    Character » Hercules appears in 1961 issues.

    One of six Olympian sons of Zeus, Hercules was born the savior of the Gods and mankind. Known as the Prince of Power, Hercules is one of the strongest beings in existence, an Olympian God and a modern superhero recognized throughout the world for his might. He has been a champion of mankind since ancient times and continues to defend the world in the modern age - most frequently as a member of the Avengers.

    Is Hercules a poor god?

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    seekquaze

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    One of Hercules's constant struggles is between his mortal and godly sides. As a mortal, he was too "big" for the world of mortals. He was too strong. I don't think he ever truly fit in the same way other mortals or even demigods did. At the same time, when he became a god he had a mortal past and mortal pain that other Olympians would not be able to relate to. In Marvel, he continued this struggle.

    Hercules has never fit the traditional idea of an Olympian god. Zeus and other Olympians view mortals as beneath them. They either exist to serve and admire the gods in some ways or pawns to be manipulated or sources of amusement/momentary distraction. At best, a god may have sympathy for mortals and protect them from the cruelty of other gods, but their is a gulf between them that cannot be fully crossed. The immortality and great power of the gods makes that impossible. Ten thousand years from now the gods will still be here whereas everything in the mortal world will be dust. Since the gods will be hear ages from now they have to make the hard choices. They will be the ones having to deal with the mess centuries from now when the mortals are resting in the underworld. This overall attitude tends to be shared by most all of Marve's gods. Gods are higher beings whose concerns are above those of mortals who are constantly dying for one reason or another and if the gods mourn for every loss they would be in a constant state of grief.

    Then you have Hercules. He tends to prefer the company of mortals over immortals, though part of that is for their admiration of him. He refuses to consider mortals as expendable or pawns the same way other gods do. Several times Zeus has offered Hercules his godhood back only for it to be refused much to Zeus' befuddlement. He has been known to side with them in defiance of Zeus, his king and father. He refuses the overall ruthlessness and lust for power Zeus expects in a god or at least a son of Zeus.

    So, in the end while Hercules is without a doubt a good man is he a poor god? If forced to decide between mortal Earth and Olympus which would he ultimately choose?

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    westy206

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    If forced to decide between mortal Earth and Olympus which would he ultimately choose?

    Very tough question

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    PowerHerc

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    I feel Hercules is a good man and a mighty god who will always rise to the occasion when both mortals and gods need his power. However, because gods are usually far more powerful than mortals I feel Hercules would choose to defend, protect and champion mortals if he were forced to choose.

    Poor god? Maybe in the eyes of some of the other gods but not in his heart and not in truth.

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    arthurkerr

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    #4  Edited By arthurkerr

    He is a force for good on both sides. Zeus even knows that and never pushes the issue because he understands that sometimes he needs Herc when all the gods are effected by something Herc is his ace up his sleeve.

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