Marvel Comics 2015
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Luke Ross
Coloured by Guru-eFX
Lettered by VC’s Joe Sabino
The Uprising Storm has descended on New York City. The Storm is a Pantheon of New Gods and it is eradicating all traces of old myths and traditions. It has struck down Hercules’ old friend, the blind seer Tiresias, and has caused ancient beings to emerge from isolation, desperate for help. As Hercules grapples with the problem his roommate Gilgamesh tries to prove that he too can be a relevant modern hero. But beings of the most ancient myth cycle of all--the Forgotten Shadows of the Stone Age--have risen as well, and Gilgamesh has walked straight into their trap.
It’s funny because I really was a huge fan of the Incredible Hercules run and I thought things couldn’t get better or much more interesting but Dan’s proven me wrong. I love the fact that he’s going back to bringing Hercules back to prominence and leading him away from the drunken fool persona he’s been known for. Then throw the fact he’s got Gilgamesh, the forgotten one, who I loved as a member of the Avengers and viola you’ve got the makings of an incredibly substantive series.
While i’m still not a fan of the man bun or whatever that is on top of Herc’s head and I miss his classic skirt and sandals Luke’s interiors have pretty been pretty impressive. His eye for pages and panel layouts is fantastic and the backgrounds he uses really do wonders with the way the story progresses. Plus while Gilgamesh is hairless Herc’s hairy chest is truly a delight to witness. His imagination in bringing the old and by extension new god’s to life as well as Ire’s minions makes him the perfect choice in bringing Dan’s story to life.
The idea of The Storm and a new breed of god's arising is utterly fantastic. Herc may be out of touch when it comes to those still seeped in Mythology after having been caught up in modern times as much as he as so this old versus the new is happening in the right place. Dan’s pacing of this story has been incredibly well done as Herc has had to wait till now to fully understand the ramifications of who or what The Storm is. Even with Tiresias’ warning we all know Herc isn’t the brightest man in the world and yet somehow he does manage to be the most endearing frat boy ever.
So after Gilgamesh walked into a trap this issue and Herc rushes off to save him leaving Sophia behind some of the best action/characterization stuff happens. Not just for Herc but for Gilgamesh, Tiresia, Ire but also for the members of The Storm. The way we’re meeting new players in this drama has showcased why we love Dan and that he’s not just a master of Outer Space but of time/space as well. Mythology is rich with characters most have forgotten and it’s wonderful to see so many brought back even if they are all at odds trying to just survive.
Dan, Luke and Guru-eFX are really bringing back the legend of Hercules and it’s a damn fine read.