No longer immortal, the Hercules of the Marvel Universe takes on the mantle of "Protector of Brooklyn" ...
"Fear Itself: Herc" contains exactly what I want to see in a graphic novel reprint collection. To begin with, the issues collected within this volume have a distinct start and end point. This gives the impression that you truly bought a graphic NOVEL, not just a bunch of consecutive issues of some comic. (Other collections pick up in the middle of some extended story and/or drop you off without a conclusion.) The story contained within obviously is based on earlier events in the Marvel Universe, and has interactions with other comics published at the same time, but the reader needs little to no knowledge of those events.
The comic utilizes characters from the Marvel Universe that (I assume) have never encountered the Greco-Roman (former) god in earlier tales, but effectively integrates them into the existing story while maintaining their unique characterization. Man-Bull, Basilisk, the Griffin, the Hobgoblin, plus a cameo by Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin all play an important role in the story.
Most importantly, the story told in the collection deals with a philosophical question (without ever actually stating it) what constitutes a superhero? Is it powers? Is it attitude? Is it action? Is it ... what? Or to what proportion?
This graphic novel was definitely worth the time it took to read.
RATING: 5 stars.
"Fear Itself: Herc" contains exactly what I want to see in a graphic novel reprint collection. To begin with, the issues collected within this volume have a distinct start and end point. This gives the impression that you truly bought a graphic NOVEL, not just a bunch of consecutive issues of some comic. (Other collections pick up in the middle of some extended story and/or drop you off without a conclusion.) The story contained within obviously is based on earlier events in the Marvel Universe, and has interactions with other comics published at the same time, but the reader needs little to no knowledge of those events.
The comic utilizes characters from the Marvel Universe that (I assume) have never encountered the Greco-Roman (former) god in earlier tales, but effectively integrates them into the existing story while maintaining their unique characterization. Man-Bull, Basilisk, the Griffin, the Hobgoblin, plus a cameo by Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin all play an important role in the story.
Most importantly, the story told in the collection deals with a philosophical question (without ever actually stating it) what constitutes a superhero? Is it powers? Is it attitude? Is it action? Is it ... what? Or to what proportion?
This graphic novel was definitely worth the time it took to read.
RATING: 5 stars.
