Pretty sure that "holding up the heavens" is a metaphor more than an actual strength feat. The current Herc comics have made it clear that much of what the gods are made of is symbols, ideas, ideals and so on. Holding up the sky was a metaphor for who holds the power at the point of the Axis Mundi, where the heavens and earth meet. Quoting:
" While Hercules decides to have a vacation with Namora after the Secret Invasion, a group of Amazons attack and capture Amadeus Cho. They wanted him to find the Omphalos, and use it to become the world's dominant force. Hercules manages to save the captured Poseidon, and heads to intercept the Amazons at the new Axis Mundi, in Washington D.C. but, the Amazon leader Artume succeeds anyways in reshaping the world into an Amazon-dominated one, with Hercules as the sole remaining rebel against her empire."
I don't have the page handy, but if anyone can back up my memory, I'm pretty sure they did this by taking the "heavens" off Atlas's shoulders, right? That's more of a feat that anyone can do at that point, because holding up the heavens is a metaphor for who is in control of the earth (which is why Atlas is in DC), not an actual feat of incredible, epic strength. I argue that holding up the heavens does not require great strength, but great metaphorical power.
All that said, Herc kick's Superman's ass easily :-)
Log in to comment