The Incredible Hercules #121

He's been knocking around the Marvel Universe for almost 40 years, but The Incredible Hercules has, with only rare exceptions, always been a second-banana character - sort of "Thor Lite."

He's a fun character, because he's basically a big, dumb kid who lives to have fun - which means drinking, chasing women and getting into huge, city-block-flattening brawls.

All well and good, but it's difficult to hang an ongoing series around the neck of a character with no real drive to do anything but party. Difficult, but as writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente show, it's not impossible.

It's nothing short of amazing to realize that they took The Hulk's regular comic book, turned it on its head with the Planet Hulk and World War Hulk stories, and then took the title character away, turned it over to Hercules (who's never been able to support a series of his own) and made it into a darn good comic book.

They've kept the story moving by providing Hercules with motivation and a conscience in the form of young Amadeus Cho, an incredibly intelligent young man who keeps pushing Hercules into action.

Of course, in this issue Herc sees all kinds of action, as he beds yet another heroine (which makes her at least the third in about as many months) and finds himself fighting an army of warrior women. Amadeus finds himself in similar straits, as he faces... well, that would be telling.

I'm not familiar with artist Clayton Henry's work, but he turns in some strong artwork here, balancing lots of gun-blazing action with more intimate moments. The comic also features an excellent cover by Arthur Suydam.

The story is building nicely, as this comic continues to surprise - because it's always so much better than I expect. Who knew ol' Herc had it in him?

(So to speak.)

Grade: B+