The Incredible Hercules Thread

[NightBeetle]

So is it the letterer or the writer(s) who comes up with the sound effects? Because I think "MACEINDAFACE" in that last panel deserves some kind of award.

The writers and editors do

Newsarama: Before we get to New Olympus, inquiring minds must know: Who is in charge of the best sound effects in all of comics?

Greg Pak: (laughs) It's a group effort!

Fred Van Lente: It really is a totally shared effort. The tradition actually started with Nate Cosby on World War Hulk, right Greg?

PAK: Yeah, exactly. It was Nate having a little fun. I remember opening up one of the issues of WWH and seeing a giant "KRAKABATHROOM" on the entire page, and I was like, "WHHHHAAA?" And he had a lot of fun with it, so when we started the Hercules book, we just kind of kept going. Sometimes Fred and I will write them in, I think Fred's latest was "Bosh" when Herc got knocked across a bosh style background in the underworld sequence. I think my greatest hit was "KRAKAJAMMA." I liked that one a lot.

VAN LENTE: And a tribute to Nate Cosby, cause when Hercules knocked out the main Skrull god, the sfx was "NATECOSBOOM". Now, we need to give props to Jordan White, who took over as Assistant Editor, who gets some of those in; even the interns get involved, it's a very group sound effect schmorgasborg.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080908-CCC-Assault-Olympus.html

 

[CaptainCanada]

HERCULES: FALL OF AN AVENGER #1 (of 2)
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Pencils & Cover by ARIEL OLIVETTI
Agents of Atlas Back-up by JEFF PARKER & REILLY BROWN
When the most beloved Olympian of all time falls, who will mourn him? Acclaimed INCREDIBLE HULK artist Ariel Olivetti joins writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente for a two-part mini-epic that marks the end of an era and the beginning of something utterly unexpected for Hercules, the Lion of Olympus. Bring your hankies -- and your golden adamantine maces -- as an all-star cast including Thor, Namor, Namora, Snowbird, Alflyse, Bruce Banner, and of course, Amadeus Cho send off the Son of Zeus with shocking tales, smash-tastic action, bawdy tomfoolery, and heart-rending drama that will change the course of Marvel's marvelous mythological milieu... forever! Plus: There are some missions that require a woman's touch- so the rest of the Agents of Atlas hang back and let Venus and Namora go out and show their stuff!
40 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

 

[Eros]

why do comic book companies still think character deaths mean ANYTHING anymore...I mean really my.......... god.

 

[Dread]

Dang, well...that ruined ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS a bit.

 

[Eros]

Dang, well...that ruined ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS a bit.

Are you sad that the ending was "ruined", or Hercules is probably going to "die" for a year or so, and then be brought back in a ill timed mini?

 

[Dread]

Are you sad that the ending was "ruined", or Hercules is probably going to "die" for a year or so, and then be brought back in a ill timed mini?

Uh, both?

Although I kind of doubt he'll be dead that long, unless Cho decides to call himself "Hercules" and they can keep the title. I read on THE BEAT that the title is slated to last until issue #150, which would be roughly another year.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Herc'll be back in no time. Gods are notoriously hard to keep dead, even by comic character standards. They've telegraphed the hell out of his death at the end of "Assault on New Olympus" in, oh, just about every conversation Athena and Cho have had so far, so I don't see how they've ruined anything with the solicit.

Personally, I'm just looking forward to what Thor and especially Athena have to say about Herc posthumously.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I read on THE BEAT that the title is slated to last until issue #150, which would be roughly another year.

Fred Van Lente said that wasn't true.

It's not really a surprise that he's going to die, given how heavily it's been foreshadowed.

Looks like Herc's various mistresses are all attending the funeral; should be awkward for Hebe.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Hey, I just noticed that Herc's belt has the old-school H buckle on that cover instead of the lion's head buckle he's favored lately.

 

[Galact-Gal]

So, was anybody else surprised by Athena's 'death'? I have to say, the way they were obviously building up to Herc's death, I sure didn't expect that. With the "Hercules:Fall of an Avenger" 2-part coming up (with him dead and her alive), I suppose Herc will end up sacrificing his life to bring her back somehow.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think Herc will definitely wind up the one who's dead by the end of the arc. Athena will be back either because of Herc's sacrifice or because Delphyne somehow reverses the effect out of love for Cho.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Dang, well...that ruined ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS a bit.

Agreed. I at least hope he kills Typhon.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I think Herc will definitely wind up the one who's dead by the end of the arc. Athena will be back either because of Herc's sacrifice or because Delphyne somehow reverses the effect out of love for Cho.

I'm guessing it'll be the latter.

Other prediction: Hera will end up drinking the Lethe water (either voluntarily or by force; she was talking a lot in the last issue about wanting a new world where all past sorrows and disappointments were behind her) and end up a pint-sized companion for Kid Zeus.

 

[Dread]

Herc'll be back in no time. Gods are notoriously hard to keep dead, even by comic character standards. They've telegraphed the hell out of his death at the end of "Assault on New Olympus" in, oh, just about every conversation Athena and Cho have had so far, so I don't see how they've ruined anything with the solicit.

Personally, I'm just looking forward to what Thor and especially Athena have to say about Herc posthumously.

Yeah, I doubt that Herc will stay dead long. I just hope the book won't bleed readers with Cho as the star again like they did the last time.

Fred Van Lente said that wasn't true.

It's not really a surprise that he's going to die, given how heavily it's been foreshadowed.

Looks like Herc's various mistresses are all attending the funeral; should be awkward for Hebe.

Indeed.

So, was anybody else surprised by Athena's 'death'? I have to say, the way they were obviously building up to Herc's death, I sure didn't expect that. With the "Hercules:Fall of an Avenger" 2-part coming up (with him dead and her alive), I suppose Herc will end up sacrificing his life to bring her back somehow.

I figure that is what is going to happen, paralleling how Cho wants to try to save Herc, who he considers family now.

Agreed. I at least hope he kills Typhon.

Indeed.

 

[Eros]

Yeah, I doubt that Herc will stay dead long. I just hope the book won't bleed readers with Cho as the star again like they did the last time. .

Oh It will, because nobody cares about cho, and people are damn sure not gonna spend money on a book with Thunder but no Lightning.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Cho's a cool character but I totally skimmed his solo issue(or 2). Not b/c I didn't care about him, but that story was boring as hell. I'd love to find out where Cho's sister is.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

If the arc focuses on bringing Herc back, I imagine it could still engage people.

 

[Dread]

Oh It will, because nobody cares about cho, and people are damn sure not gonna spend money on a book with Thunder but no Lightning.

To be fair I did read those issues and my liking of Cho has increases vs. the start of WORLD WAR HULK, but I still prefer him as Hercules' sidekick than as a star hero himself.

If the arc focuses on bringing Herc back, I imagine it could still engage people.

I would say that is a risk for a title that is clinging desperately to sales of 23-25k a month. It saw a 7% sales boost for this particular arc, but that's 7%, not 700%. Now isn't the time to be playing games with the title, IMO.

Of course, since there aren't enough Hercules comics for a 3 digit relaunch, it could be due for a #1 issue relaunch to boost sales dramatically for a whopping four months at best...

Whatever keeps it afloat.

 

[kytrigger]

Is it also possible that if Herc does die, that he will still be featured in the comic? I mean teh death of Herc would just send him to Hades. They could d a storyline where Cho is on Earth tryingto bring him back, while we see Herc in Hades fighting to get out and facing some more of his past.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I wouldn't be surprised if Herc's story continues beyond death. Death for comic characters is practically meaningless already, and death for comic gods has always just been a temporary thing.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Thor was dead for about 3 years.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Only because of creator dawdling.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's not the first time Thor's been dead by a long shot, either. I can think of at least three other occasions right off the top of my head, and neither even had the hint of permanency about them. Hell, two were only for the span between two issues.

 

[NightBeetle]

Preview: Incredibe Hercules #140

COVER BY: Alex Garner
WRITER: Greg Pak
Jeff Parker
Fred Van Lente
PENCILS: Rodney Buchemi
Gabriel Hardman
INKS: Array
THE STORY:
"ASSAULT ON NEW OLYMPUS," Part 3 (of 4) Of all the giants, gods and monsters Hercules and his team of New and Mighty Avengers have faced in their battle through New Olympus, none may be as formidable as HEPHAESTUS, creator of the immortals' fearsome war engines! With what fearsome device will he try to ensnare and destroy the Hercules/Amadeus Cho team, which has reformed at last -- only to meet their doom? Find out as the New York Times Best-Selling creative team lead Herc on his biggest adventure yet! Plus: as the Agents of Atlas push into the stronghold of the Olympus group, Aphrodite decides to take matters into her own hands in Godmarked Part 3! Rated T …$3.99
PRICE: 3.99
IN STORES: January 20, 2010
​

 

[Dread]

I love how a flame-thrower is shown as little more than an annoyance to Hercules.