HERCULES

Hercules #1              June 2005
"The New Labors part 1"

Writer:  Frank Tieri
Artist:  Mark Texeira
Colors:  Raul Trevino & Tato
Letters:  Randy Gentile

Appearances:  Gordon Allsworth, Robert, Ty Stone, Invisible Woman, Mr Fantastic, Nick Fury, Thing, Hercules, Warbird, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Silver Surfer, Daredevil, Namor, Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Cyclops, Tigra, Iron Man, Beast, Captain America, Stingray, Black Panther, Wonder Man, Jimmy, Mike, Achelous, Eurystheus

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Gordon Allsworth, 1st appearance of Robert, 1st appearance of Jimmy, 1st appearance of Mike, 1st appearance of Achelous, 1st appearance of Eurystheus

Synopsis:  While working on a new television show, Ty Stone gets the idea to include the real Hercules.  Elsewhere, Hercules bursts into the memorial service for the recently killed Avengers, and demands to know why Thor was not included.  Iron Man claims they didn't know, he'd been missing for a few weeks, but it's not the first time he's been gone.  Later at a bar, Hercules recounts who he is for the lovely female bartender, and his twelve labors, but she has no clue who he is.  He gets up to use the restroom, and is attacked by Achelous, who knocks him out and drags him outside to a waiting limo, with Eurystheus inside.

Hercules #2              July 2005
"The New Labors of Hercules, part 2"

Writer:  Frank Tieri
Artist:  Mark Texeira
Colors:  Raul Trevino and Tatto
Letters:  Randy Gentile

Appearances:  Achelous, Eurystheus, Alcmena, Hyllus, Hera, Jimmy, Robert, Gordon Allsworth, Deianira, Hermes, Miss Tessbacher, Zeus, Hercules

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Alcmena, 1st appearance of Hyllus, 1st appearance of Miss Tessbacher

Synopsis:  Hercules is dragged before Eurystheus, who recounts his history and how he came to live again.  He feels ashamed that his defeat at the hands of Hercules, since Hercules himself has fallen so low.  He wants Hercules to perform twelve New Labors so that he will be viewed as a hero again.  The hero that people at one time built monuments to, and sang songs about.  Hercules accepts the challenge and leaves to prepare.  Meanwhile, a very swiftly moving man runs into the Olympus Group building on Wall Street, and announces the intentions of Hercules to perform new labors.  Needless to say, the CEO, Zeus, is not pleased.

Hercules #3              August 2005
"The New Labors of Hercules part 3"

Writer:  Frank Tieri
Artist:  Mark Texeira
Colors:  Raul Trevino & Tatto
Letters:  Randy Gentile

Appearances:  Eurystheus, Achelous, Hercules, Gordon Allsworth, Jimmy, Robert, Sabu, Ka-Zar, Shanna, Baron Strucker, Viper, Triton, Black Bolt, Medusa, Lockjaw, Dragon Man, Attuma, Red Skull, Abomination, Hera

Significant Events:  none

Synopsis:  Hercules goes through the the first seven of his twelve labors.  He must capture a sabretooth tiger, defeat HYDRA, capture Lockjaw from the Inhumans, defeat Dragon Man, drive the hordes of Attuma from Atlantis, and overcome the Red Skulls' "Dust of Death", and defeat the Abomination.  Having actually bungled his way though the first seven, Hera revises the final five tasks.

Hercules #4              September 2005
"The New Labors of Hercules part 4"

Writer:  Frank Tieri
Artist:  Mark Texeira
Colors:  Raul Trevino and Tatto
Letters:  Randy Gentile

Appearances:  Zeus, Hera, Bambi, Dionysus, Eurystheus, Mole Man, Jimmy, Robert, Hercules, Phil, Gordon Allsworth, Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Doctor Doom, Nick Fury

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Bambi, 1st appearance of Phil

Synopsis:  The Olympians, now on Earth, are there because of what happened to the Asgardians.  They vote and decide that Hercules should not be aided by any of them, in his new labors.  His next task, is to capture three of Mole Man's monsters, which he does fairly easily.  He then must steal the shield of Captain America.  He does so, but Cap stops them from going after him because he feels Hercules needs it more.  For the next labor, he must steal a Doombot from Latveria, and then steal a SHIELD Hellicarrier.  Both of which are completed.  For the final task, Eurystheus tells Hercules that he must travel to Hades and retrieve a flower from his wife, whom Hercules had murdered.

Hercules #5              September 2005
"The New Labors of Hercules part 5"

Writer:  Frank Tieri
Artist:  Mark Texeira
Colors:  Raul Trevino and Tatto
Letters:  Randy Gentile

Appearances:  Jimmy, Robert, Hercules, Gordon Allsworth, Pluto, Charon, Cerberus, Megara, Eurystheus, Achelous, Ka-Zar, Shanna, Namor, Lockjaw, Dragon Man, Doctor Doom, Zabu, Ty Stone

Significant Events:  1st appearance of Megara

Synopsis:  Hercules, distraught over what his final labor calls for him to do, heads to the nearest bar to get drunk.  Jimmy and Robert find him there, where he recounts of how he woke up from a drunken stupor to find that his wife and two children were murdered, with their blood dripping from his hands.  Gordon comes in to tell him that he knew about this and he had been rooting for Hercules to complete all the tasks, because he was his hero when he was growing up.  He tells Hercules to stop feeling sorry for himself and face his victims like a man.  Hercules is impressed and goes to see Pluto (now calling himself Hades again) for permission to enter the Underworld.    Hercules, Jimmy, Robert, and Gordon all then head to the Underworld where Charon ferries them across.  Hercules defeats Cerberus easily and they are met by an army of the dead, which include Hercules' victims.  She asks him if he thinks of them, does their images haunt his every waking moment, and the happy-go-lucky man people see is really a mask.  She is right, and tears begin to stream down the face of the Lion of Olympus.  They forgive Hercules and give him the flower from her hair.  Hercules returns to the world of men, his labors complete, and storms against Eurystheus and Achelous, and they both wind up dead.  Later, at a celebration, they wonder where the guest of honor is and they are all told that he had said he had someplace he had to be.  At the graves of his murdered family.