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HERCULES in the 24th CENTURY!

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2015 3:14 am
by Col_Fury
HERCULES #1 (September, 1982)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules & his 2 steeds, Zeus, Apollo, Commissioner Ronhon & other Rigellions, Recorder, various aliens

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules travels to Olympus for Zeus’ birthday but makes a ruckus. Zeus banishes Hercules from Olympus and Earth and sends him into space. Apollo gives Hercules a chariot and off he goes! Hercules meets some Rigellions who convince him to take one of their Recorders with him on his journey. Hercules and the Recorder go to the planet Petocco where Hercules wants to get drunk and laid. A ship crashes nearby and Hercules saves everyone, then goes back to the bar.

NOTE:
The covers say “Hercules, Prince of Power” but the indicia says “Hercules” for the whole miniseries.

This issue doesn’t say anything about being in the future; by itself this could be a present day adventure. I suppose that will change by the end of the mini, though.

Hercules’ horses are unnamed so far.

HERCULES #2 (October, 1982)
By Bob Layton & Luke McDonnell

APPEARANCES:
Hercules & his 2 steeds, Recorder, Alpo, Clyde, Layana Sweetwater, Count Igwanus, various aliens

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules loses a race and has to come up with some money, so he rescues Layana Sweetwater, who was kidnapped by pirates. The police say they don’t have the reward money because they figured no one would ever rescue her. Count Igwanus comes to reclaim his fiancée Layana, but Hercules is under the impression she was sold to Igwanus. They fight, but when Hercules learns Layan wasn’t sold, he turns her over and Igwanus pays the ransom.

NOTE:
Hercules tells a story about a wife he had on Earth, but she grew old and died while he stayed young, then immediately reveals to the reader that the story is a lie. So no flashback. Layan tells a story about how she was sold into marriage, but reveals it was a lie at the end of the issue. So no flashback.

HERCULES #3 (November, 1982)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules & His 2 steeds, Recorder, Commander Malin & his soldiers, Galactus, various aliens (inc Silver Surfer II)

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules is on his way to try some space beer (on the planet Ciegrim-7) he heard about and unknowingly flies through a space sector under martial law. He’s attacked, but quickly straightens things out when he talks to the commander of the fleet. The sector is scared because a planet has disappeared every year for the last five years, and today’s the anniversary. They hear of a new attack (by aliens who worship a vengeance god, so they sacrifice/destroy a planet every year), so Hercules takes care of it and the aliens commit mass suicide. Meanwhile, Galactus hungers.

HERCULES #4 (December, 1982)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules (in fb) & his 2 steeds (in fb), Recorder 417 (also in fb), Piel (in fb), Galactus (in fb), Nova (Frankie Raye, in fb), various Rigellions (also in fb) & aliens (in fb)

FLASHBACK:
Ciegrim-7 throws a party for Hercules because he saved their planet and as a gift, give him the most potent liquor in the universe. Galactus’ herald Nova arrives and Hercules fights her, until she realizes who he is, and then she stops fighting. Meanwhile, Galactus prepares to eat Ciegrim-7. Hercules tries to fight Galactus, but fails. Hercules tries to get Galactus drunk, but fails. Galactus thinks Hercules is an idiot, but he makes Galactus laugh, so he spares Ciegrim-7 and leaves.
SYNOPSIS:
The Rigellions repair Recorder while he tells them about his adventures with Hercules.

NOTE:
As it turns out, the religious aliens from last issue were worshipping Galactus and destroying planets and sending the energies to Galactus to feed him.

I’m not seeing anything in this mini that says this is an alternate reality. Maybe in the next mini? In any case, I’m sure the point of divergence is Zeus exiling Hercules.

HERCULES v2 #1 (March, 1984)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules (also in fb) & his 2 steeds (also in fb), Recorder 417 (also in fb), Amayd Malin (also in fb), Tyne Pryntess, Zeus, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Ares, Skyppi (also as “Sasha,” Skrull, also in fb), Pluto

FLASHBACK:
Hercules gets the recorder back and has 41 years’ worth of adventures. Skyppi the Skrull doesn’t like his life as a Skrull, so he becomes a supermodel.
SYNOPSIS:
Hercules helps stop a rebellion, which was secretly lead by a Skrull. Unfortunately Hercules’ pal dies in the fight, so Hercules and the Recorder leave for more adventures in space. They get a room in a space hotel and Hercules meets two ladies, Tyne Pryntess and Sasha; Tyne likes Hercules but Hercules likes Sasha. Meanwhile, Ares accuses Zeus of being lazy, so Zeus kills Ares. Hercules hurts Tyne’s feelings when he goes after Sasha, but Hercules discovers Sasha is actually a Skrull and they become friends. Hercules makes up with Tyne and they all leave for adventures in space. Meanwhile, Zeus plans to kill all the Olympians.

NOTE:
Ah, there we go. It’s the year 2385, and it’s been 41 years since the previous mini, which means the whole thing started in 2344.

The covers say “Hercules, Prince of Power” but the indicia says “Hercules vol. 2” for the whole miniseries.

HERCULES v2 #2 (April, 1984)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules & his 2 steeds, Recorder 417, Skyppi, Red Wolf (Rojohn Smythe, also in fb), Zeus, Dionysus, Apollo, Athena, Hephaestus

FLASHBACK:
Archeologist Rojohn Smythe finds a planet (Talbos), but becomes possessed by the spirits of the slaughtered Talbosians spirits and becomes Red Wolf, dedicated to killing every last Skrull in the universe (the Skrull killed the Talbosians).
SYNOPSIS:
Hercules flees the police (Tyne forgot to get him clearance to leave the planet), but the Recorder is damaged. Hercules goes to a space station to get him fixed, but he’s recognized and thrown in jail. Meanwhile, Zeus starts killing the Olympians; Apollo flees and Zeus calls back all of the Olympians’ power. Hercules notices he’s starting to age and meets Red Wolf in jail. When Skyppi arrives to break Hercules out, Red Wolf attacks. Hercules saves Red Wolf when he blows open an airlock, so Red Wolf lets Hercules leave with Skyppi.

HERCULES v2 #3 (May, 1984)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Shreck, Hercules & his 2 steeds, Recorder 417, Skyppi, Mentor, Eros, Apollo, ISAAC, Captain Marvel (corpse), Zeus

SYNOPSIS:
Shreck sends his goons into Captain Marvel’s tomb, but they’re all killed by booby-traps. Meanwhile, Mentor calls Hercules for help, so he stops by Titan where Hercules finds Apollo, who’s old and dying. Apollo wanrs Hercules of Zeus and dies. Meanwhile, Sheck gets into Captain Marvel’s tomb and grabs his Nega-Bands. Shreck attacks Titan in the name of Thanos, but Hercules defeats him with Recorder & ISAAC’s help. Hercules prepares to leave for Olympus where Zeus is waiting.

HERCULES v2 #4 (June, 1984)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules (also in fb) & his 2 steeds (also in fb), Recorder 417 (also in fb), Skyppi (also in fb), Zeus (in fb)

FLASHBACK:
Hercules and his pals arrive at Olympus and find it in ruins. Zeus attacks them. At first Hercules refuses to fight back, but when Zeus seemingly kills Skyppi, Hercules beats the tar out of Zeus, but refuses to kill him. Zeus congratulates Hercules, saying he passed the test. Zeus killed all the Olympians because a prophecy said a half-god would start a new race. Now that Zeus knows Hercules won’t be vengeful he leaves for the next realm to be reunited with all his children that he murdered.
SYNOPSIS:
Hercules regains his immortality. He and his friends leave Olympus to find new adventures.

MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL: HERCULES, PRINCE OF POWER: FULL CIRCLE (1988)
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Emperor Arimathes, Hercules, Recorder 417, Skyppi, Alpo, Clyde, Mallax Fortnite, Layana Sweetwater, Count Igwanus, Lucynda Thrust

SYNOPSIS:
Emperor Arimathes has his spy report; the spy is drunk, but it really sounds like Hercules is Arimathes’ absentee father. Arimathes orders Hercules to be captured. Hercules is arrested, but Galactus arrives, distracting everyone. Hercules goes to fight Galactus, but it turns out to be a decoy. Hercules approaches the deceivers, who turn out to be Alpo and Clyde (the guys Hercules lots a race to back in volume 1); they pose as Galactus so the planet evacuates, then they loot to place while everyone is gone. Hercules places himself back under arrest and meets the Emperor, who imprisons him. Hercules learns the Emperor is his son, and Layana Sweetwater is Arimathes’ mother; she told the Emperor that Hercules abandoned them (Hercules never knew about the guy). As the Emperor prepare to conquer another world, Hercules and his pals break free, stop the invasion and Hercules challenges Arimathes to a battle. Hercules beats the Emperor blindfolded and swears to teach Arimathes humility and kindness. Arimathes imprisons his mother in the palace and swears to be a better Emperor.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #39 (January, 1990)
3rd story
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules, Emperor Arimathes, Skyppi, Recorder 417, Layana Sweetwater, 5 members of the Assassin’s Guild

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules and his son Emperor Arimathes defeat a bunch of pirates. Arimathes wants to execute the pirates but Hercules talks him into letting them live in prison. Later, Skyppi meets with Layana; she tricks Skyppi into shape-changing into Arimathes and she freezes him in that form ad controls his thoughts. She has “Arimathes” lead her out of her prison home, where she reveals she’s planning a coup.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #40 (mid-December, 1989)
3rd story
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules, Emperor Arimathes, Recorder 417, Layana Sweetwater, Skyppi, 5 members of the Assassin’s Guild (Akoot, Malicon & Viperus named)

SYNOPSIS:
Layana sends the Assassin’s Guild to kill Hercules and Arimathes. At first they fight them off, but Arimathes is caught in an explosion.

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #41 (January, 1990)
3rd story
By Bob Layton

APPEARANCES:
Hercules, Emperor Arimathes, Recorder 417, Layana Sweetwater, Skyppi

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules gets Arimathes to a hospital and confronts Layana. She’s shocked to hear that Arimathes was hurt. Hercules brings her to the hospital where she sees Arimathes is burned on 75% of his body. She surrenders and Arimathes orders her back to her prison home. Later, the doctors say Arimathes will make a full recovery.

HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #1 (August, 2010)
By Bob Layton & Ron Lim

APPEARANCES:
Hercules & his 2 steeds, Recorder 417, Skyppi, Juno (Hercules’ granddaughter), Ursus (grandson), Antonius (grandson), Emperor Arimathes, Mr. Spincor (politician, pronounced “sphincter”), Dr. Quich, Galactus, Silver Surfer II, Piel

SYNOPSIS:
Hercules saves a city from a nuclear missile, but is poisoned by the radiation. A year later, Hercules still drinks while on his medication, making him a sloppy idiot. His grandkids try to keep him in line while his son, Emperor Arimathes deals with politicians who wants Hercules gone. Meanwhile, the Recorder occasionally malfunctions and Skyppi is dying of old age. Doctors make a helmet for Hercules so he doesn’t damage his skull any further. Meanwhile, Galactus eats a bad planet and turns into a black hole. Skyppi overhears that Spincor is planning to embarrass Hercules, so he foils the plot and blackmails him. When a party is thrown to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Hercules defeating Galactus, but Galactus’ herald (the new Silver Surfer) attacks, wanting revenge against Hercules.

NOTE:
It’s been 75 years since the first mini and 34 years since the second; we’re now in the year 2419.

HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #2 (September, 2010)
By Bob Layton & Ron Lim

APPEARANCES:
Hercules, Silver Surfer II (also in fb), Recorder 417, Juno, Ursus, Antonius, Galactus (as black hole, also in fb), Ronhon, Suhng, Skyppi, Spincor, Emperor Arimathes

FLASHBACK:
One of the religious aliens survives and spends decades looking for Galactus. When he finds Galactus, he’s made into the new Silver Surfer.
SYNOPSIS:
Hercules fights the new Silver Surfer. Meanwhile, the black hole Galactus turned into grows exponentially. Hercules injures Silver Surfer, but Silver Surfer kills Hercules’ grandson Ursus. Hercules beats the tar out of Silver Surfer and decapitates him with his own board. Hercules collapses.

HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #3 (October, 2010)
By Bob Layton & Ron Lim

APPEARANCES:
Galactus (as black hole), Ronhon, Suhng, Skyppi, Hercules, Juno, Antonius, Emperor Arimathes, Spincor, Watcher, Dr. Bophish

SYNOPSIS:
Galactus’ black hole continues to expand. Hercules is in a coma. The Rigellians and the Wilameans arrange a meeting with other alien races to decide how to evacuate the system to get away from the Galactus black hole. As everyone argues contract stipulations another nuclear missile approaches Wilamean and destroys all the aliens’ spaceships, stranding them all on Wilamean. Skyppi poses as Hercules and calms everyone down. Dr. Bophish says his white hole technology may counteract the Galactus black hole, but they need a delivery system that will hold up to the back hole’s forces.

NOTE:
There’s a Superman joke in here, but you’ll have to read the comic to find out what it is! :)

Also, for some reason, Hercules is alternatively called Arimathes’ father and son here (Hercules is his father).

HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #4 (November, 2010)
By Bob Layton & Ron Lim

APPEARANCES:
Juno (becomes Silver Surfer III), Antonius, Layana Sweetwater, Hercules (becomes Cosmos) & his 2 steeds, Emperor Arimathes, Dr. Bophish, Spincor, Skyppi, Recorder 417 (upgraded to PAK-416), Watcher (Uatu), Galactus (also as black hole), Ronhon

SYNOPSIS:
Juno and Antonius attacks the terrorists and finds out Layana Sweetwater had been frozen for 40 years; she reveals who has been attacking Wilamean. Hercules is woke up. Spincor is arrested for trying to blow up Wilamean with nuclear missiles. Hercules says goodbye to his friends and family, and tells his grandchildren to keep an eye on Layana. Recorder (who has been upgraded to PAK-416) offers to go with Hercules, but Hercules declines. Hercules takes the white hole generator and flies off with his two steeds, passes the Watcher and enters the Galactus black hole. Hercules detonates the device and Galactus is re-formed back into himself. Juno is turned into the new Silver Surfer ad she plans to only guide Galactus to uninhabited worlds. Later, Hercules is reformed into Cosmos, the Bringer of Worlds; he’ll create worlds while Galactus destroys them. Later, Skyppi dies and takes the form of a Hercules statue. Immediately afterward, a pigeon craps on his head.

Placement suggestions:

AKOOT | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3

ALPO | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 2
M/GN:HRCPOP

ANTONIUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

APOLLO | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 1
HRC2 2
HRC2 3

ARES | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1

ARIMATHES, EMPEROR | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/GN:HRCPOP
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3
M/CP 41/3
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

ATHENA | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 2

CAPTAIN MARVEL/MAR-VELL | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 3

CLYDE | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 2
M/GN:HRCPOP

COSMOS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
See Hercules | Wilamean Future

DIONYSUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1
HRC2 2

EROS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 3

FORTNITE, MALAX | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/GN:HRCPOP

GALACTUS/GALAN | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 3
HRC 4-FB
HRC:TOG 2-FB
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

HEPHAESTUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1
HRC2 2

HERCULES | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 1
HRC 2
HRC 3
HRC 4-FB
HRC2 1-FB
HRC2 1
HRC2 2
HRC2 3
HRC2 4-FB
HRC2 4
M/GN:HRCPOP
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3
M/CP 41/3
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

IGWANUS, COUNT | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 2
M/GN:HRCPOP

ISAAC | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 3

JUNO | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

MALICON | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3

MALIN, CMDR. AMAYD | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 3
HRC2 1-FB
HRC2 1

MENTOR/ALARS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 3

NOVA IV/FRANKIE RAYE | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 4-FB

PAK-416 | WILAMEAN FUTURE
See Recorder 417 | Wilamean Future

PIEL | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 4-FB
HRC:TOG 1

PLUTO | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1

PRYNTESS, TYNE | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1

RECORDER 417 | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 1
HRC 2
HRC 3
HRC 4-FB
HRC 4
HRC2 1-FB
HRC2 1
HRC2 2
HRC2 3
HRC2 4-FB
HRC2 4
M/GN:HRCPOP
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3
M/CP 41/3
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 4

RED WOLF VIII/ROJOHN SMYTHE | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 2-FB
HRC2 2

RONHON | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

SHRECK | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 3

SILVER SURFER II | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 3
HRC:TOG 2-FB
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2

SILVER SURFER III/JUNO | WILAMEAN FUTURE
See Juno | Wilamean Future

SKYPPI | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC2 1-FB
HRC2 1
HRC2 2
HRC2 3
HRC2 4
HRC2 4-FB
M/GN:HRCPOP
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3
M/CP 41/3
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

SPINCOR | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

SWEETWATER, LAYANA | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 2
M/GN:HRCPOP
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3
M/CP 41/3
HRC:TOG 4

THRUST, LUCYNDA | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/GN:HRCPOP

URSUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC:TOG 1
HRC:TOG 2

VIPERUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
M/CP 39/3
M/CP 40/3

WATCHER/UATU | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC:TOG 3
HRC:TOG 4

ZEUS | WILAMEAN FUTURE
HRC 1
HRC2 1
HRC2 2
HRC2 3
HRC2 4-FB