Filmation Character | |
Hercules | |
---|---|
Information | |
Real name: | Hercules |
Species: | Human / Immortal Hybrid[1] |
Homeworld: | Earth |
Universe: | Earth-S |
Relatives: | Jove (father) |
Base: | Rock of Eternity |
Affiliations: | Space Sentinels Freedom Force Immortal Elders |
Abilities: | Super strength, Invulnerability, Immortality |
Voiced/Played: | George DiCenzo[2] Bob Denison[3] Adam West[4] |
Hercules (or "Herc" for short) was a Roman demigod and a superhero who was a member of the Immortal Elders, Space Sentinels and the Freedom Force.
He was the avatar of the legendary hero from Greek mythology of the same name.
Superman's super strength has been compared to the strength of Hercules.[5]
History[]
Earth 1956[]
Many centuries ago, Hercules, as well as the other Roman gods were created by Zeus, so as to spread his influence over Humanity in Italy. Being essentially a doppelgänger of Hercules of Greece, the Roman Hercules was half human-half-Olympian, As such, he was very strong, and virtually invulnerable, but since he was only half Olympian, he wasn't nearly as powerful as the Gods of Caltos. For example, he wasn't immortal.
That is, not until a few years later, when the cosmic computer entity known as Sentinel One transported three young Earthlings to his domain, granting them astounding powers and eternal youth.[6] Hercules was among those young Earthlings. Hercules and the others later become superheroes and call themselves the Space Sentinels.
At some point Hercules joins another superhero group called the Freedom Force.
Hercules at some point also became a member of the Immortal Elders, imparting his super strength to the agents of Shazam, and also giving young Billy Batson guidance on occasion.
Hercules' Steed[]
Hercules faithful steed is the winged horse Pegasus.
Powers and Abilities[]
Super powers[]
Abilities[]
- Equestrianism: Hercules often rides on his flying horse, whom he calls Pegasus.
- Advanced Hand-to-Hand combat: Hercules has taken on incredible fighters and has won.
Appearances[]
Space Sentinels (TV series) (1977):
- Morpheus: the Sinister Sentinel
- Space Giants
- The Time Traveler
- The Sorceress
- The Return of Anubis
- The Wizard of Od
- The Prime Sentinel
- Commander Nemo
- Voyage to the Inner World
- Loki
- Fauna
- The Jupiter Spore
- The World Ship
DC Comic Book History[]
Pre-Crisis: Earth-One / Silver Age[]
Not much is given on the background of Hercules. Further, history is silent on whether or not he had any dealings with the Amazons of Earth-One; beyond the blessing of "strength greater than his" on little princess Diana.[7]
Pre-Crisis: Earth-Two / Golden Age[]
In the Golden Age he was mentioned in the origin of the Amazons as having enslaved them by tricking Queen Hippolyta (spelled 'Hippolyte' in the original issue) into giving him her golden girdle on the bequest of Ares (aka 'Mars') who hated the Amazons. Hercules was shown as an archetypal muscle-bound man wearing a lion-skin, and only appeared in flashbacks. A picture of him, during Wonder Woman's time, shows him as the God of Strength with black hair and a beard.[8]
Pre-Crisis: Earth-S[]
The World's strongest man in Ancient Times, Hercules performed the Twelve Labours to atone for the killing of his wife Megara and his sons in fit of rage.[9]
Notes[]
- In Space Sentinels he is portrayed as being somewhat juvenile in his personality, (even though he was centuries old) whereas in the Freedom Force he's portrayed far wiser, much like he is portrayed in Shazam!. This might could be because when Sentinel One recruited him, he was pulled forward thousands of years into modern times. He may have not had his adventures with the Freedom Force until later in his life, despite it being earlier in the timeline. It's also possible that the version of Herc showed in The Freedom Force was actually Herakles, his Roman counterpart.
- Although the character of Hercules did appear in the live-action Shazam! series, he was never seen in live-action, as he was shown as an animated character.
- Hercules was adapted to DC Comics by Jerry Siegel, Ira Yarbrough and George Roussos and first appears in Superman # 28 (June 1944).[10]
- He was also one of the mythological figures in which Captain Marvel drew power from when speaking the word "Shazam." (Particularly super strength)
External Links[]
- Hercules at the DC Database
- Hercules at Wikipedia
- Hercules (mythology) at Wikipedia
References[]
- ↑ In the Earth-1A universe these immortals are Olympians from the planet Caltos
- ↑ George DiCenzo provided the voice of Hercules in the Space Sentinels
- ↑ Bob Denison provided the voice of Hercules in The Freedom Force.
- ↑ Adam West provided the voice of Hercules in Shazam!
- ↑ In The New Adventures of Superman TV Show, episode Lava Men (December 10, 1966), Superman's strength is described as "Herculean" by the narrator.
- ↑ This seems to indicate that since he was only half-Olympian, he didn't possess the eternal youth and immortality that other full blooded Olympians do. His eternal youth was given to him by Sentinel One.
- ↑ As revealed in the Silver Age story: Wonder Woman, #105 (April 1959). This story also tells us that a handful of gods came the princess while she was an infant in the royal chamber: Aphrodite bequeaths the beauty of goodness; Athena bequeaths the wisdom of the planets; Mercury bequeaths speed faster than his and Hercules bequeaths strength greater than he has. The queen then prays that these blessings be used for justice.
- ↑ As referred to as Wonder Woman, #1 (June, 1942).
- ↑ As referred to as Shazam!, 15 (December, 1974).
- ↑ For more information about that DC comic book, click here.