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Herc #6

Aug 2011
?, Neil Edwards

Story Name:

Black Rapture


Synopsis

Herc #6 synopsis by Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

At Kyknos’ lair in MCU Park on Coney Island, Herc’s girlfriend Rhea pleads with Helene Panayiotou to free her from her cell in the giant wicker Ares. But Helene is entirely under the spell of Hecate, serving the plan that will raise Ares from the dead. Meanwhile, the ex-villain trio (Man-Bull, Griffin, Basilisk) have brought the petrified body of Hercules to gain the favor of Kyknos (all part of Herc’s plan) but the monster is displeased: they have robbed Ares of the pleasure of killing Herc himself. And Kyknos wields the hardened Herc as a weapon to chastise the baddies. He places Herc in a position to watch everything and calls Helene forth. He asks if she is ready for her ultimate sacrifice for her master. She agrees and Kyknos hands her a sword and commands her to execute her father, George Michael. She tries, Rhea tells her to fight it, and she balks. Kyknos screams in her face to complete the deed—but Hercules bursts out of his stony prison and takes the sword from her to the amazement and cheers of Rhea and the nerdy worshippers. Herc knew that Kyknos would be dumb enough not to remember that a stone spell only lasts for a few hours so he challenges the monster to a sword duel, all versus all. Herc, aided by Basilisk, Man-Bull, and Griffin, takes on the more powerful Kyknos. The crowd witnessing this finds their fear turning to hope as Herc…is seized by the villain who uses him to batter Griffin out of the air, smashing Herc into the ground. The three worshippers tell Rhea that Herc needs their prayers but Rhea can’t bring herself to make that commitment…until, watching Herc be abused, she whispers, “I believe.” And Herc stabs the bully in the chest with his sword. Kyknos feels that the power has left him. Hecate confirms that her spell has moved elsewhere…not to Hercules but to Man-Bull, Griffin, and Basilisk who, with overwhelming power, brutally beat Kyknos as his Warhawks stand and watch. He pleads for Helene to help him…so she lifts a rifle and puts a bullet in his head. The spell breaks, all of the captives are returned to normal. Hecate flies away, telling the crowd that, though the Serpent still terrorizes the world, they are now free from her control. The angry image of Ares appears in a brazier but Hercules kicks it over, proclaiming, “Brooklyn is my town.”



 

Review / Commentaries


Herc #6 Review by (October 9, 2024)

Review: A nice satisfying conclusion to the Fear Itself tie-in, Herc showing intelligence and bravery despite his lack of immortal powers.

Comments: Issue bannered FEAR ITSELF, as a tie-in to that event. Issues #3-6 take place shortly after the events of FEAR ITSELF #4. Kyknos has not returned as of 2024. Hecate returns in SCARLET WITCH (2015) #2 where she is killed by the Emerald Warlock. Griffin is next seen among the Masters of Evil in SECRET AVENGERS #29-32. Basilisk is next seen as a patron in the Bar with No Name in SAVAGE AVENGERS #14. Man-Bull is one busy fellow, racking up quite a few appearances over the next few years, starting with X-MEN: LEGACY #275. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente are co-writers of this series.




> Herc comic book info and issue index

Elektra

Excelsioring your collection:
statue
Holy smokes, Batman!
(The Boy Wonder)

?
Neil Edwards
Cory Hamscher
Jesus Aburtov
Greg Horn (Cover Penciler)
Greg Horn (Cover Inker)
Greg Horn (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Simon Bowland.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Hercules
Hercules

(Heracles)

Plus: Basilisk (Basil Elks), Griffin, Hecate, Kyknos (Son of Ares), Man-Bull, Warhawks.