The Incredible Hercules, Vol. 6: Assault on New Olympus

The Incredible Hercules (Collected Editions)

by Greg Pak (Writer)

Hercules! Spider-Man! Ares! New Avengers! Wolverine! Mighty Avengers! The Agents of Atlas! If there's a bigger event this fall, we don't know what it could be! At long last, the Prince of Power takes the fight to his villainous stepmother Hera and the forces of the Olympus Group -- just as she unleashes the most terrifying threat the Marvel Universe has ever seen!

A battle of godlike proportions begins! For months, the signs have been all over the Marvel Universe...the tension has been rising...All pointing to a single question: "What is Continuum?" The answer turns out to be so deadly, so horrifying, that it will alter the course of the MU forever -- unless Hercules and the New and Mighty Avengers can stop it in time...but standing in their way is the fighting mad Ares, God of War!

Collecting: The Incredible Hercules 138-141, Siege of Olympus Prologue

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Mythology, Fantasy, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2010

About the author

Greg Pak is an award-winning Korean American comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing "Lawful" for BOOM and "Sam Wilson: Captain America" (with Evan Narcisse) for Marvel. Pak wrote the "Princess Who Saved Herself" children's book and the “Code Monkey Save World” graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed “Make Comics Like the Pros” how-to book. Pak's other work includes "Planet Hulk," "Darth Vader," "Mech Cadet Yu," "Ronin Island," "Action Comics," and "Magneto Testament."

Reviews

[Jeff]

This is part of Green Week because Hercules took over “The Incredible..” title from the Hulk who’s, um, green.

This volume provides a cover retrospective of Greg Pak’s run on this title, with little blurbs about each issue. It’s pretty telling that about a third of them say “Hercules shacks up with (insert name of Marvel babe here)” and that’s it. You gotta love this immortal, drunken, super-strong, slow witted, whore-monger. Am I right?

He’s paired with Amadeus Cho, a Mr. Smarty Pants of the Marvel Universe and together they make up one of the more endearing comic book odd couples. The storyline continues from previous volumes as the Olympus Group, headed by Hera, Hercules step mother, wants to wipe out mankind in what’s called the CONTINUUM (It’s all CAPS because it’s pretty serious.). Who needs to read Bullfinch’s Mythology when you can see the Greek gods go up against the Avengers? Not me.

This is one of those rare volumes that actually gives you a coherent update before diving in. Recommended for those of you who like their superhero stuff on the lighter side.

Must read: Hercules, in a jealous rage, tearing up Manhattan looking for Peter Parker, who gave Herc’s wife, Hebe, the moon eyes. That crazy, Parker luck. Heh!

[Nicolo]

Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente bring to a close their superlative run on Incredible Hercules with this arc. I really enjoyed their work on Amadeus Cho and Hercules, turning two characters that couldn’t be more different into a buddy comic not seen since Luke “Power Man” Cage and Danny “Iron Fist” Rand. They played off each other very well, with Cho acting as the strategist for this adventurous pair and Hercules acting as a father figure for the orphaned super genius.

Superhero stories, although inspired by ancient myth and legends, have supplanted the old stories. This last arc is the last stand of the Marvel’s Greek pantheon against irreverence. Hercules and his young partner are the final line of defense in his stepmother Hera’s scheme to replace a world that no longer worships its ancient gods with one that is more to her liking. Pak and Van Lente bring a lot of their open story threads to a close and end the story in a most unexpected betrayal.

A fun read all the way, and I’m planning to scour the webs for the rest of the back issues of this comic. Marvel should collect this in a nice hardcover, an omnibus would do nicely.

Update:

I'm looking to upgrade to a hardcover copy, thus, this one shall be culled.

[Ronan The Librarian]

This was the best volume of the series I’ve read thus far. The Greek tragedy comes to a head and the gods come out to play. Athena’s plan unfolds, Amadeus aims to protect Herc at all costs, and Herc does what he does best. Essentially the Johnny Bravo of the Avengers, his simplistic charm won me over some by the end. I surprised myself by kind of wanting more (though from the looks of it the last volume doesn’t hold up). Amadeus is working his way to compelling, but I found him annoying half the time. The god-brawl is fun though, and while one reveal feels pretty wonky, the narrative actually accumulates some weight. I was unsure in the beginning, but I had some fun with this series and its one I wouldn’t be shocked if I came back to read some of, if I’m ever in a very specific, inexplicably nostalgic, juvenile mood.

[Shannon]

The weakest group of Avengers ever assembled is here to provide support for Hercules in his assault on the Olympus group. The Avengers have very little face-time in this story. It is a good and bad thing. It is bad because when you have a team-up you want to see the heroes working together. It is good because it shows that this is truly a Hercules story and it is up to him to save the day.
My favorite thing here is that Hercules finally starts to show some real growth and maturity that was showcased when he got his own regular, but unfortunately short-lived series in 2015.

[Dean]

This was pretty good. I'd read this again.
Sick of amadeus now after reading forty odd issues with him being such a little turd. Sixk of hearing he's the seventh smartest person. Sometimes eighth. He's so damn smug.

[ReyReyPod]

Couldn't put this down...read in one sitting...anyone who loves Hercules, great story telling and art..check it out

[Fer]

y

[Stephen Theaker]

Hercules and Amadeus Cho make a good double act.

[Eligos Vespillo]

A big, punchy, explosive team-up of Herc and heroes to fight Hera and her wicked plans for planet Earth. Always fun, never boring, The Incredible Hercules, like its titular hero, is always reliable.

[Jacquelyn Koh]

I just love the relationship between Hercules and Cho.

I feel the best bits are always the serious words and care Hercules gives to Cho. The depth of the characters just shones so brightly.

The end was a real kick to the gut. So it was a huge hook to get me to buy the next arc in the series.

I thought the side plot with Venus and Aphrodite was an interesting twist too.

[B]

The "twist" ending is kind of the obvious ending that I did not want to see. It's true to the spirit of the understanding of the "source" material.

And what happened to Spider-Man? Is Aunt May alive and Mary Jane dead again?

[Alex Sarll]

There's a little too much plot to get through for this to match the heights this much-missed series could sometimes obtain, but Herc (jovial, often pissed) and Cho (cranky boy genius) are one of those double acts that can charm their way through even a slightly overplotted denouement.

[Imanol Cinta]

Great finish for the series. Epic battle, character develpment and a couple of nice twists. Definetly a very worthy reading.

[John]

I love the sense of humor in this series, but this volume is overwhelmed by frantic fights, too many characters and tons of backstory. Still fun but there's just way too much going on here.