And, well, we can’t really say much about it without spoiling the end of this week’s Chaos War #5, so all information is after the jump.
UPDATE: And here’s the official press release from Marvel, along with a couple of new images:
An All-New, All-Ruthless Hercules Brings The Pain This April In HERC #1!
This April prepare for Herc #1 – an explosive new ongoing series from New York Times Best Selling writers Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente and artist Neil Edwards setting Marvel’s baddest bone-breaker loose on a raging one-man beat down of the Marvel Universe’s vicious criminal underground. And he won’t be relying on his fists alone! Armed with the keys to Ares’ abandoned armory, Hercules is ready to unleash three thousand years worth of brawling experience upon his foes while preparing to confront the perils of FEAR ITSELF!
“This ain’t the heavenly spires of Mount Olympus, the plush comforts of Avengers Tower or some hot night club known where the body shots are on the house. Herc’s in the dark alleys of the Marvel Universe—the mean streets of New York,” said Senior Editor Mark Paniccia. “There’s no one to watch his back and, if he doesn’t play it smart, he can be maimed…or even killed. The easy days of life as a god are over.”
It’s Hercules like you’ve never seen him before as he sets out on an action-packed epic of monumental proportions that will keep fans on the edge of their seats and demanding more! Discover what happens when the Earth’s most formidable warrior is forced to cut a swath of destruction through the very core of the Marvel Universe in the all-new, all ruthless Herc #1 & 2 – double-shipping this April!
HERC #1 (FEB110581)
HERC #1 ROMITA JR. VARIANT (FEB110582)
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Pencils by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
Rated T+…$3.99
FOC – 3/14/11, On-Sale 4/6/11
HERC #2 (FEB110583)
Written by GREG PAK & FRED VAN LENTE
Pencils by NEIL EDWARDS
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
Rated T+…$2.99
FOC – 3/28/11, On-Sale 4/20/11
Original Story: Well, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente said that Chaos War would be the last act of their Incredible Hercules saga — not that they were done writing the character.
Herc — a new ongoing series starring a de-powered Prince of Power battling evil in Brooklyn — starts in April, as revealed this afternoon on Marvel.com. Joining Pak and Van Lente is artist Neil Edwards, recently from the Warriors Three miniseries. Herc’s first post-Chaos War appearances will be in the Pak-written Incredible Hulks #621 and #622, the same title Incredible Hercules co-star Amadeus Cho will be joining in April. Van Lente added in the Marvel article that Cho will eventually be showing up in Herc. Early enemies in the title include the Warhawks and the new Hobgoblin, who recently debuted in Amazing Spider-Man.
Stay tuned to Newsarama in the coming days for more on the new series and the end of Chaos War, and enjoy the covers of the first two issues — one by John Romita Jr. and one by Carlo Pagulayan — and Neil Edwards sketches.
January 26th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Heh.
Seems Herc is still good for a few stories. Should add up to another 12 issues at least.
January 26th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Depowered Herc ?
Pak & FVL are cool, but this….not so much, and I love Herc.
January 26th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Very cool. No doubt the writers will keep-up the mish-mash of classical Greek mythology with philosophy and comedy that has made Hercules one of Marvel’s better titles. Looking forward to this.
January 26th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
I wonder why they have him staying in New York. Has New York become a dumping ground for heroes that have need a refresher in being a hero. (i.e Black Panther, Heroes for Hire) but I’m glad to see that Herc will be back in the Marvel universe, death can’t keep a good god down.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:13 am
I have loved what Pak and Van Lente did on Incredible Hercules (Chaos War – um, not so much). But this seems like a very ill-conceived idea. I don’t want to see a de-powered “grim and gritty” street level Herc. That’s just – I’m sorry – dumb.
And with a cover price of $3.99? Even dumber.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:49 am
I’m gathering the 3.99 price on issue one supports a higher page count or co-feature. I don’t know. Herc going all spartan-like in New York sounds pretty inciting. But then I’m a sucker for heroes using ancient or magical weapons without powers of their own.
Maybe Herc is doing more trials and what better representation then taking on super-villains?
I’ll give it a chance because I like FVL and Pak’s Herc. Chaos War not withstanding. It hasn’t been their best Herc story.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:59 am
At first I wasn’t thrilled that Hercules would be depowered, but now that I know he has access to Ares’ Armory I’m really excited. I’d bet my life Herc will regain his powers eventually so I’m looking at this as an interesting but temporary chapter. It’ll be interesting to see him take on more traditional villains like Hobgoblin and I’m happy to see Amadeus won’t be around hogging the spotlight.
January 27th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Wouldn’t doubt if a plot point is that Herc has to go through another 12 labors or something like that to get his powers back. He had a lot of momentum built up there for awhile; I think sticking Herc on the New or Secret Avengers would have been maybe a better use of the character. Would’ve been a better fit than the Thing, who just kind of stands around and doesn’t bring much to the table in the NA. However, I’ll definitely give the first issue of this a try. But yeah, a depowered Hercules running around NY fighting street level super villians with a sword and a shield is a stretch. Will the Herc mobile and the Herc-cave be far behind???
January 27th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
i like turtles.
January 27th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I really loved the entire Incredible Hercules storyline, some of the most entertaining stories I’ve read in my life. Though Chaos War seemed kinda rushed, I’ll still pick up this series because of Pak & FVL; their like the new abbnett and Lanning.