Hulk Vs Hercules One shot

[drwho]

This was definitely a lot better than what I expected from the one shot. The main writers of the current series also write this and it shows. There is also Tales of Astonish 79 Hulk and Herc reprint story. Also a variety of different artists are involved in this and the art transitions well between them. In this issue Athena who I find more likable the more she appears tells Amadeus a story about Herc and Hulk.

Basically, this story is shoe horned in during the time where Doctor Strange sent Hulk to the crossroads of the universe. During this time it is revealed that Gaea decided to teleport Hulk to Olympia to live there where he befriends two giants. Well Ares shows up wanting to kill the giants because they caught the boar he was chasing. This angers Hulk and they fight. I liked the comment about having to need to be high spiritually to get to Olympus and how Hulk just jumped up there in one leap. Hercules is summoned from earth during a wrestling match where he is owning the Thing.

Hercules is summoned from Earth to take on Hulk. Anyway it is revealed that during the first battle with Hulk and Ares in that issue it cracked open a door way to the nether realms that released some giants and an evil character called Cronus. So Hercules and Hulk patch things up, but then Cronus and his crew attacks and Zeus tells Hercules to prove to him that he is still a warrior. So Hercules and Hulk are fighting the bad guys and then Hercules kills Hulk's two giant friends. Hulk is then teleported back to the crossroads because of Dr. Strange's spell.

I really like Athena in this issue and hope she sticks around. Demogorge also make an appearance, but he looks rather cheesy here and need more info on him. Kind of like Athena telling Cho not to get his hopes so high up on who Hercules really is and that in reality he can be just as bad and ruthless as the Hulk.

[Expletive Deleted]

It sets up the next storyline nicely, it has a couple of great fight scenes, and, for a one-shot like this, it has surprisingly decent art.

Just an all-around fun issue.

The Demogorge thing was a little weird (shouldn't he start out as Atum and only turn into Demogorge when he absorbs his foes' energy?), but I'll wait and see where Fred and Greg are taking it.

[CaptainCanada]

Herc pwns the Thing with ease; you really get a sense here of his proficiency in actual fighting technique, rather than just being a drunken brawler).

A recurring feature of Greg Pak’s takes on both Hulk and Hercules is that they’re both monstrous and good, often at the same time, and this is emphasized again.

[Alex Smith]

I didn't pick it up, as I didn't exactly have high expectations for it at all, but I'm a trusting guy. I'll be back at the shop Friday so I'll grab a copy then.

[drwho]

If you like the current regular series you will probably like this.

[Spider-Sense]

I'll try to get mine tomorrow.It seems like a great read!

[Pyro]

I really liked this, as I have been liking the Incredible Herc series so far. I was glad that the story wasn't as puerile as that overly-bombastic solicitation led me to believe. Pak and Van Lente are doing a good job with all the mythology stuff. They're kinda blurring all the pantheons together in a cool way.

I wonder if after this they'll finally start moving away from the Hulk roots of this title and just focus on Hercules and Cho.

Does anyone know what issue Doctor Strange banished the Hulk to the crossroads in? I was surprised there wasn't an editor's note for that.

[Holdyourfireal]

I looked at it at the comic shop today because you guys said it was good....ummm, no. It was VERY bad. End of story. Save your money like I did!

[CaptainCanada]

Does anyone know what issue Doctor Strange banished the Hulk to the crossroads in? I was surprised there wasn't an editor's note for that.
I believe that was Incredible Hulk #300, back during Mantlo's run in the early 80s.

[Trey]

A titanic one-shot. A lot of fun. Great art from Eric Nguen. Look at that page of Thor vs. Hulk! Awesomeness.

Main art by Reilly Brown of Cable and Deadpool infamy. Just alot of stomping,punching,head decapitating,stabbing goodness.

I'm Loving the Athena, CHo, Herc dynamic.

Herc killed Hulk's friends in the melee. At the end Hulk turns away and is once a again, a sad dejected monster. Loved the last page.

[Pyro]

I believe that was Incredible Hulk #300, back during Mantlo's run in the early 80s.Thank you!

I looked at it at the comic shop today because you guys said it was good....ummm, no. It was VERY bad. End of story. Save your money like I did!Would you care to tell us what exactly you didn't like about it?

[Holdyourfireal]

Thank you!

Would you care to tell us what exactly you didn't like about it?

The art was terrible.
The story was stoopid.
Prediction? .25 box in 3 months.

[jackolover]

This is a telling story from Amadeus Chos perspective. Having recently been disenchanted by the Hulk from WWH, now Athena confronts Cho with Hercules' rages, as a counter point to Cho choosing Herc as his latest hero. Athena tells a story, where the Hulk and Hercules met, and in this story, Herc acts badly and the Hulk is the good guy. The last look of Cho at Athena, and Hercules sulk makes the rest of this journey interesting as Chos eyes are opened yet again.

And I noticed that the Old reprint story has Jack Kirby doing the layouts, and there is no way in hell Kirby was associated with that story. This was all Bill Everertt, from layout pencils to inks, if I know my artists. Kirby would not do flat chested Hulks, and rolly polly Hercules'. How could Marvel credit Kirby to this stuff?

[Marcus_Maximus]

I looked at it at the comic shop today because you guys said it was good....ummm, no. It was VERY bad. End of story. Save your money like I did!

Yeah it was.

[Holdyourfireal]

^Smart man. Stop accepting crap packaged with reprints, folks!

[IronStarks]

I like this one-shot. Recomend it to any Herc fan

[Dagger]

Can't wait to pick up this book! I hope they still have it at the LCS when I get there tomorrow!

[Will.S]

The art was terrible.
The story was stoopid.
Prediction? .25 box in 3 months.

Yeah it was.
I don't know what you guys are smoking but this one shot was great.

There aren't a whole lot of comics that can make me sympathize with Hulk and this was one of them, especially at the end when he went back to the cross-roads. I think Pak and Van Lente got the point across when it comes to Hulk stumbling upon strange worlds, he's always going to be the ultimate outsider.

The mix of Hulk and the Olympian Gods was very fun, I like how it was a Greek God story but starring an outsider like Hulk which makes for some interesting never seen before (as far as I know between Hulk and the Olympians) interaction. I also dug the way the opening and end chapters with Athena and Amadeus do the back and forth and Amadeus sort of coming to grips to the fact that his heroes can also be monsters. Hell I even enjoyed the reprint of the first Hercules/Hulk fight.

Art was fantastic all throughout, Reilly Brown, Bob Layton, Khoi Pham and crew captured the feel of the book pretty much perfectly. Their renditions of Hulk, old school Ares, Zues, Hercules, Thor, Gaia etc looked appropriate to the time that the story took place in with the usual fantastic coloring by Chris Sotomayer.

Good stuff: 8.5/10

[ReggieWhiteJr]

Bought it. Read it. Enjoyed it. I miss one-shot stories.

[steve2275]

I didn't pick it up, as I didn't exactly have high expectations for it at all, but I'm a trusting guy. I'll be back at the shop Friday so I'll grab a copy then.

my lcs didnt even get any

[Jack Zodiac]

Greg Pak is one of the best writers Marvel's got working for 'em today. He and Brubaker are writing the best books coming out right now, and whatever Fred Van Lente has to do with this book, whether it's plotting or scripting, is welcome as well. The guy did some hilariously imaginative stuff with Action Philosophers, and his Marvel Adventures Iron Man was great fun. Incredible Herc is, hands down, the best thing that happened as a result of World War Hulk. Much better than Damage Control, Warbound, and the new Loeb written Hulk series.

And this issue wasn't just a great Herc story, it was a great Hulk story. Granted, it's a flashback Hulk story, which is easier to write than something in the wake of Hulk's war on Earth, but still, the only Hulk I've enjoyed since that crossover ended.

[Gnarl]

Some good stuff, some bad.

Good stuff was attention to continuity, Hercules actual skill at fighting shown.

Bad stuff was the greek myths. I far prefered DCs Kronos the changer to mad-haired Cronus here. He should be far more terrifying. Also, Zeus was just useless.

If the Hulk had invaded Åsgård, Odin would not have wailed that Thor was their only chance, summon him from Midgård. He'd have tuned the Hulk into an annoyed rosebush between two blinks of his remaining eye.

[Will.S]

Greg Pak is one of the best writers Marvel's got working for 'em today.
When it comes to the Hulk/Herc stuff (barring WWH) definitely.

Outside of the Hulk/Herc books......ehh not so much.

[Holdyourfireal]

Can't wait to pick up this book! I hope they still have it at the LCS when I get there tomorrow!

Mine has MANY copies left!

[Jack Zodiac]

When it comes to the Hulk/Herc stuff (barring WWH) definitely.

Outside of the Hulk/Herc books......ehh not so much.

What's he written besides Hulk books? Phoenix: Endsong and that Warlock mini from a few years ago. And the Warlock mini wasn't bad, pretty imaginative retake on Adam Warlock, so long as you're good for an out of continuity read. Never read Endsong. Regardless, for two years, he wrote one of the best runs on The Incredible Hulk in a very long time, and he helped make the character more interesting than he'd been in years. And they squandered an opportunity to make the character stronger after World War Hulk by going in a completely different direction than "Planet Hulk."

Then, he took Hercules, a character with no real fanbase to be noticed, and turned Incredible Herc into one of the best books Marvel's publishing right now. And his Battlestar Galactica is pretty good, too. Greg's a great writer, and I would've liked to see him take the Hulk as a book and a character somewhere different and new and interesting, but they missed their chance for that, so I'd at least like to see him get a crack at some other characters, now. Or just watch Herc become one of Marvel's strongest heroes.

[Marcus_Maximus]

I don't know what you guys are smoking but this one shot was great.

There aren't a whole lot of comics that can make me sympathize with Hulk and this was one of them, especially at the end when he went back to the cross-roads. I think Pak and Van Lente got the point across when it comes to Hulk stumbling upon strange worlds, he's always going to be the ultimate outsider.

The mix of Hulk and the Olympian Gods was very fun, I like how it was a Greek God story but starring an outsider like Hulk which makes for some interesting never seen before (as far as I know between Hulk and the Olympians) interaction. I also dug the way the opening and end chapters with Athena and Amadeus do the back and forth and Amadeus sort of coming to grips to the fact that his heroes can also be monsters. Hell I even enjoyed the reprint of the first Hercules/Hulk fight.

Art was fantastic all throughout, Reilly Brown, Bob Layton, Khoi Pham and crew captured the feel of the book pretty much perfectly. Their renditions of Hulk, old school Ares, Zues, Hercules, Thor, Gaia etc looked appropriate to the time that the story took place in with the usual fantastic coloring by Chris Sotomayer.

Good stuff: 8.5/10\


Its becuase I hate the dumb Hulk and the Hulk wasn't muscled up enough.

[Marcus_Maximus]

^Smart man. Stop accepting crap packaged with reprints, folks!

Good call. If I wanted to read the reprint, I would get the original story.

[Will.S]

What's he written besides Hulk books? Phoenix: Endsong and that Warlock mini from a few years ago. And the Warlock mini wasn't bad, pretty imaginative retake on Adam Warlock, so long as you're good for an out of continuity read. Never read Endsong.
Endsong was just decent and Warsong was terrible, I dropped that book midway.

He did an Iron Man: House of M mini was was also mostly average, I haven't had the chance to read the Adam Warlock mini he did though.

Regardless, for two years, he wrote one of the best runs on The Incredible Hulk in a very long time, and he helped make the character more interesting than he'd been in years. And they squandered an opportunity to make the character stronger after World War Hulk by going in a completely different direction than "Planet Hulk."

Then, he took Hercules, a character with no real fanbase to be noticed, and turned Incredible Herc into one of the best books Marvel's publishing right now. And his Battlestar Galactica is pretty good, too. Greg's a great writer, and I would've liked to see him take the Hulk as a book and a character somewhere different and new and interesting, but they missed their chance for that, so I'd at least like to see him get a crack at some other characters, now. Or just watch Herc become one of Marvel's strongest heroes.
He definitely made Hulk a must read book and I loved his Planet Hulk work. He also knows how to write a really good Hercules (although he throws away the old world speech pattern) judging from his WWH tie in during Incredible Hulk but he's also co-writing it with Fred Van Lente who's a very good writer as well. So it's a bit tougher to see who really writes that book but it's probably more collaborative than most other co-writing books like Iron Fist and such.

He's a good writer no doubt, but when he stretches outside of the Hulk/Herc territory his works just doesn't hold up as well.

[Jack Zodiac]

I don't think he's gotten much of a chance to. But he writes one of the best Hulks ever, and it blows that his time with the character was so short. And Fred Van Lente's an awesome writer, too. I don't know how much of it he's doing right now, scripting or plotting, but whatever it is, it's great, because the book's only gotten better these past couple issues.

[DC906270-BIL]

a little late, but the story was good, the art was fairly poor, recommended to fans of herc

[TheBatGotHim]

I read this yesterday and enjoyed it. Im more of a fan of the Smart Hulks (Professor/WWH/Fixit, etc) than the dumb versions (Savage/Mindless), and him being the animal-like Hulk worked good for this story.