@seekquaze: Okay, I get why you don't like Herc's buffoonery. I think it's been overdone and is played out, too. I also get why you don't like seeing some of the things that have been happening in comics the past several years in regards to certain characters being used as punching bags/jobbers for other characters.
Me? I think Hercules deserves to shine and sometimes that means other characters won't shine. I would like to see Hercules defeating the other characters because I think that he has got the short end of the stick (both in terms of writing and in terms of showings) for far too long. He hasn't been allowed to shine very often. I don't want to see other characters humiliated just for the sake of humiliating them or for the purpose of giving some newer, lesser and/or undeserving character a power-bump. But Hercules isn't some johnny-come-lately strongman superhero. His recent depowering and past power reduction not withstanding, Hercules has been at the tip-top level of physical strength, stamina and durability all along. Because of this, though some fans might not appreciate Herc's long standing stature as one of Marvel's longest standing strongmen/powerhouses, it makes sense for him to have incredible showings against several other highly powerful characters. In terms of strength, this wouldn't necessarily bump him up, it would merely show he's still at that top level and allow him to keep his place there as time moves forward. I think that is important for Hercules as a character because strength is the number one thing that defines the character.
Example: From his debut in the early 1960's until the early 80's the Thing used to be regarded as a top-tier strongman in the Marvel Universe. He was regarded as being right up there with the Hulk, Hercules, Thor and slightly above Namor in terms of strength. Then he started to be used as a jobber to pump up other characters (Hyperion, Wonder Man, Sasquatch and others) and has continually had his strongman status reduced time and time again while other characters keep making gains that have allowed the likes of Captain Britain, Nova (Rider) and Drax to surpass him. Not to mention other characters whom were close to him in strength but now surpass him (She-Hulk, Colossus, Iron Man). Then there are the newer characters that were already stronger than the Thing upon their very creation; T-Bird (Exiles), Atlas (Josten), Skaar, and many more). Even though it isn't fair, this "diminishing power syndrome" can happen to nearly any character.
I don't want to see it happen to Hercules. I want him to keep pace with his peers in the top-tier of Marvel strength characters. I want to see him retain his status as a top-tier strength character. A story where he is shown defeating several other high-powered beings would show him keeping his rightful and deserved place. He wouldn't be using other characters to advance his position/status. He'd be keeping his own spot; preserving his own standard. Maybe that's not important to you, but it is to me. I don't want to pick up a comic one day and see Reptyl beating Herc in an arm-wrestling match. I don't want to see Mettle (or whomever the latest, greatest mutant, angst-ridden teen hero is) outdoing Hercules in a contest of strength or defeating him in an idiotic battle. Hercules should always rank right up at the top with the Hulk, Thor, Gladiator and a few others. Hercules (in any incarnation) is synonymous with strength. That's how he should remain.
That's why I'd like to see such a story. All that and, as I stated in a previous post, as a Hercules fan I would find such a story fun and enjoyable to read.
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