"Marvel Herc! Although I used to love the Sorbo Herc show :p "
I like Marvel Herc best, too (as if it isn't obvious). I also have to admit I liked "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" televsion show despite how corny it was.
@goldenshot80: Oh, okay. I agree, Marvel Hercules could and would defeat any and all of the other Hercs.
@blur99: Yeah, I was aware of that one. There're actually a lot more: Steve Reeves, Lou Ferrigno, Reg Park, "The Mighty Hercules" cartoon, Filmation "Freedom Force" and "Space Sentinels" versions and many more. I decided to limit this thread somewhat to keep it from being unwieldy.
Radical one looks pretty cool, mythological original I am fond of, but yea Marvel Hercules. He brings a whole new angle to the myth character, which is just incredibly awesome. He is one of Marvel's coolest, funniest, most underrated and fun characters, and is pretty deep too. He has had some amazing dramatic moments, recalling his story with his wife for example during his modern day labors. He's a good man's man character. Not in an offensive way, but Hercules unapologetically enjoys female company and the female form, loves to fight and give thy gift, loves to drink, he still rocks the facial hair, loves to do stupid but awesome things, and is best mates with a bunch of other awesome dudes .
Marvel's Hercules is the best to me no doubt. I would say objectively he is the best developed as well.
@SC: Wow. Great post. I'm admittedly biased in favor of Marvel's Hercules, but your post was quite complimentary to the character and well written. Good job.
@PowerHerc: Thanks man, sometimes I think Hercules gets unfairly pegged as just another "funny" guy. I mean he is, especially his last series, and it was great, Hercules is funny as hell, but I think he is a lot more than just that. I think sometime people view him as the funny Thor, or the stronger god like version of Wolverine (as in both are hairy tough guys), or the second strongest guy after Hulk. Really Hercules could step out of the shadow of all those guys and be a really powerful and well utilized characters. He has the drama with various tragedies, but his ability to smile and be a good guy anyway. he does stuff like stopping the Skrull gods, but people often overlook that. He's an immortal as well, with a complicated family history, and some of his family could hold their own as character as well. Look how huge Ares has got, it means there is a lot of potential for how Hercules and Ares play off each other in stories now, and there are dozens of Greek gods that Hercules could interact with in the same way. Oh, and like I said before, Hercules is a nice down to earth character (even though he is a god) because lately a lot of comic characters fill a different niche, they are either playboys, or dark and brooding, or sensitive, or metrosexual, but Hercules is like the Chuck Norris of like 3000 years ago, but unlike Chuck Norris jokes, Hercules never got old lol hercules is a awesome male role model, type figure. Embraces his masculinity, sort of like the opposite of Emma Frost. (she would be a character that embraces her femininity with enthusiasm) I think thats healthy for comics to have.
Marvel's Hercules is a deep character. I hope one day we both get to see him popular enough to have a successful franchise. He has enough material to draw on to be a leading man.
(sorry for the late reply too, your one of the posters CV never sends me notification messages when you reply to my comments grr, stupid PM system)
@SC: No worries on the late response (look how late I'm getting back to you).
Kudos on another great pro-Hercules post. I couldn't agree more about Herc having so much potential due to his personality, strength and family history/dynamics. I also like your analogy about Herc being unapologetically masculine (in a good way) in a way similar to Emma Frost being feminine even though, personally, I think his embrace of masculinity is more similar to Ms. Marvel's embrace of her femininity. @avengpymhawk: Bob Layton did draw Hercules best.
Its have something to like about them. Kevin Sorbot has it in a corny sort of good guy way. He is too moral for most versions of Hercules, but I still like his series.
I think I like Marvel Hercules best. It is very rooted in the mythological and is updated enough morally to fit into the modern world. He is a fun character. The only time I don't like him is when he is written as too much of a buffoon.
I like Radical Hercules because that is how I envision the mythological Hercules to be and how Marvel's Hercules probable was. He is a noble hero with anger-management problems. If you cross him he will not hesitate to kill you. He is a product of the times he lives in and weary of his hard life.
@seekquaze: I agree about not enjoying the times when the writers make Herc out to be too much of a buffoon.
I like your point about Herc's morality being affected by the times. When they was with the Renegades (during World War Hulk) the Angel made a statement about eviserating people for any reason being a bad thing t do, Hercules reponded; "Aye, that it is. In this millenium, anyway." Herc's statement demonstrates his moral thinking and perspective relating to the past and in modern times. He knows what was acceptable in the past is not necessarily acceptable today.
I agree. I have no problem seeing Marvel Hercules conducting himself during ancient times in much the same way Radical Hercuels does.
Radical Hercules, then Disney, then Marvel. They all come close together, and they're all good, but that's the order of awesomeness I have chosen. If I want insanely cool and violent battles, well told stories, and stellar art to boot, Radical takes it. Disney's Herc gives me that light hearted, feel good fun from a great Disney story, and Marvel's Herc has just been funny, and it's kinda nice to see the tale of a mythic warrior in a modern place. It's interesting.
@PowerHerc: Yeah I'm a huge fan of Arnold so I'm kind of biased :P Also, Herc is one of my favourite characters in Marvel and I personally believe him to be stronger than Hulk. He's highly underrated and has been poorly in the past. I'm still a fan though! I made a list of who I think are the strongest heroes in Marvel/DC, I think you would like it.
@Deranged Midget: Hercules is stronger than the Hulk, huh? I like the sentiment ! You couldn't be more right, Hercules has been highly underrated throughout most of his existence at Marvel. I'll definately be checking out your strongest list. I'll let you know what I think of it.
Also, Arnold is cool. I heard he's going to be doing the voice of a character based on him for an animated series called "The Governator." What do you think of that?
It's Heracles Algethi./NOT,I'm kidding. It's really Marvel's Hercules,I like how he is funny and still badass at the same time,but still a very underrated character,I didn't knew about him until some time ago good a found a article about the Incredible Hercules series at a brazilian blog about comics.
I didn't read the Radical comics one,but he seens the closer to the original source,seens very good.
@PowerHerc: Hmm, I'd have to say mythological Hercules for me, with Disney Hercules running a close second and Marvel Hercules a third. Odd numbering I know, but I'm more or less basing it on which version I was introduced to first. Myth Herc just from being a mythology nerd, Disney Herc doesn't need an explanation, and Marvel's Herc because I never really read any of his books and only knew Marvel had their own version of him due to him appearing in Thor's books now and again.
@Mr. Dead Pool: Marvel Hercules had a pretty good run in "Incredible Hercules." Check the series out - you'll probably like how well Marvel Hercules is tied into actual mythology! Who knows? You might even move Marvel's version of Hercules up a notch or two.
It's always good to hear from a Hercules fan (no matter which version).
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