Product Description
The Greek Goliath is looking for some R&R after the events of "Sacred Invasion," and hopes to find it in the arms of ex-Renegade Namora. But there's no rest for warriors when the Amazons declare war on Atlantis! And these ain't your mama's Amazons - is that why Amadeus Cho sides with them instead of Herc? Plus: ARES returns! Collects Incredible Hercules #121-125. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The series keeps on dishing out excellent drama and comedy.
Coming off the high drama of the "Secret Invasion" crossover arc, "Sacred Invasion" (collected in "Incredible Hercules: Secret Invasion"), which saw the titular Greek hero and his friend Amadeus Cho save Earth from the designs of the Skrull Gods, the cast decides to go on vacation. Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and new artists Clayton Henry and Salva Espin opt for a more action-comedic tone, reminiscent of much of the first arc, "Against the World". And they throw in more than a few jabs at one of the Distinguished Competition's more recently-beleaguered properties.

In an earlier story, Hercules and Amadeus made the acquaintance of Namora, the recently-resurrected Princess of Atlantis, and so Herc opts to head seaward for a fling. While Herc and Namora shake the earth in their enthusiasm, Amadeus is on the sidelines (having been promised there would be nymphs); but that doesn't last long, as Princess Artume and her band of Amazon warriors abduct him, a development that Amadeus initially welcomes, finding Artume quite attractive. Herc initially assumes that the Amazons are just out to find mates to replenish their breeding stock, but it quickly turns out the ambitious Amazon princess has other plans. Elsewhere, while the main cast deals with this unexpected flare-up, sinister forces with deep and abiding hatred of Hercules and his sister Athena mass their forces and make their plans against them.

Pak and Van Lente have consistently produced some of the funniest comics around, and that trend continues here. Trades of "Incredible Herc" always make a point of including the series' recap pages from the single issues, which normally are not, because these recaps are individual one-page gems, worth reading in and of themselves. There is plenty of excellently-executed broad comedy, but the little details, particularly the sound effects, are always worth paying attention to for all the jokes they pack in (the unveiling of the Titan general Atlas from his mythic confines is accompanied by the giant lettered "SHRRRGGGG!"). This is matched by an excellent command of mythological detail, and they excel at depicting the gods and taking them seriously. Clayton Henry on art brings a straightforward and clear style, and a particular command of facial expressions (Herc's reaction to seeing Amadeus and Artume remains one of the most priceless things I've seen in a while, and it has deservedly become an internet meme).

Fred Van Lente has said that much of the inspiration for this arc came from his recent research into the process by which William Marston created DC's Amazon superhero Wonder Woman. Van Lente and Pak set out to do a story with a more myth-loyal take on the Amazons, as the barbarian warriors that they have traditionally been in Marvel Comics. Princess Artume is a clear parody of Diana (Diana, the Roman Goddess of the Hunt, was associated with the Etruscan variant, Artume): imagine if, created to bring peace to the world, Diana opted ot commit matricide and reshape the world in her image, and you get the general idea. More specifically, the writers take aim at DC's lamentable "Amazons Attack!" story arc.

Like all volumes, highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Proudly presenting, for the first time in Marvel continuity ... the ORIGIN OF HERCULES! How did the young man who becomes the Lion of Olympus learn of his divine heritage? In what battle did he earn the title "Prince of Power?" And, most importantly, why does the goddess HERA hate him so, now that her Dark Reign begins to fall across New Olympus?Collects Incredible Hercules #126-131. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book!
I have been collecting the Dark Reign TPB. When I was deciding to buy this or not, I almost decided to skip it. I had always thought of Herc and many of the other West Coast Avengers as second (or third) rate characters. However, this book has made me think differently. I am very glad to have bought this book! It gave some background history about Hercules, so if you haven't read anything with Hercules in it, do not worry the book fills you in on a lot of the history behind the story. After reading this, I will certainly be picking up the other TPB of Hercules!

This series is awesome!!!
This book has a great orgin story of big Herc which I loved. I have been loving all the big Herc books and find them all humorous with tons of action. Definitly a book to add to your collection.

iHerc's second year begins.
Incredible Hercules enters its second year with this fourth collected edition.The first year was an absolutely stellar debut, some of the best comics published in 2008.This arc, which commences the 2009 period, is somewhat more variable than the previous one, but it is still very much worth reading.This volume collects issues #126-131 of the ongoing series.Some spoilers follow, as the contents are discussed in detail.

There are basically four separate stories included in this collection, separated by artists, but linked by some common plot elements and the series' overarching story.The first two of these stories are in the extra-sized #126, which, in its main story, gives us the first look at the origin of Hercules in the Marvel Universe.It's a fairly well-known origin, of course, but the writers bring a fairly interesting take, choosing to focus on the earliest years of Hercules' life, and what might be called his very first heroic episode.The story also sheds some light on the roles in his origin of his half-sister Athena, the chessmaster goddess, and his angry stepmother Hera.This story is illustrated by Rodney Buchemi, a newcomer artist who will handle several future stories.His work on the series is absolutely beautiful.Only Rafa Sandoval's work on "Sacred Invasion" rivals it.

This is supplemented by a brief Amadeus Cho story, guest-starring Bruce Banner/the Hulk, in which he seeks out of his coyote pup Kirby, who was revealed to have been replaced by a Skrull in the aftermath of "World War Hulk".The conclusion of this is rather sad (a sign of things to come).Notably, this one is illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa, the original co-creator of Cho with writer Greg Pak.These two stories also showcase the different writing styles of the two co-writers, with Van Lente writing the Herc story by himself, and Pak the Cho one.Based on the contrast, it seems that Van Lente is more responsible for a lot of the series' distinctive features (such as its humour).

Things get moving with the "Dark Reign" tie-in two-parter that gives the collection its name (illustrated by Dietrich Smith) and the subsequent three-parter that takes the duo into Hades.The first of these arcs is fairly well-written, including a very enjoyable take on Norman Osborn, the new overlord of the Marvel Universe.However, Smith is the weakest artist the series has yet had (there has always been a rotating cast of artists, but most of them have been very good), and his two issues simply aren't as enjoyable as a result of this.The following arc, by Ryan Stegman (with Buchemi contributing a few pages), is a lot better; indeed, Stegman's art gets better and better as his brief stint goes on.The Hades arc features some humourous handling of the issue of death in the Marvel Universe, as the spirits of the dead gamble for resurrection (are there really plans to bring back Jack of Hearts?).There are callbacks to the first story in the arc, and a major change in the group's status quo at the end.

A somewhat more uneven collection than the previous ones, in great part because of the art, but still very much worth reading, and it begins and ends especially well.The next collection will be the strongest since at least "Sacred Invasion".
... Read more

Product Description
The stunning all-new Battlestar Galactica stories by Greg (World War Hulk) Pak comes to a shattering conclusion within these pages! Collecting the final story arc (issues 9 -12), and completing the story of the returners, Dynamite's New Battlestar Galactica also unravels the origins of Sharon Valerii. All of this agaisnt a backdrop of terrorism, cyclon plots and a father's undying love for his son. Featuring the art of Nigel Raynor (joined by Jonathan Lau), This Dynamite trade paperback collection also inlcdues a complete cover gallery featuring the art of Stephen Segovia, Nigel Raynor, Joe Prado, and a series of New Battlestar Photo covers! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing Overall
I've found these collections from Dynamite New Battlestar Galactica Volume III TPB (Battlestar Galactica (Dynamite)) (v. 3)to be disapponting. The art work is mostly good, although sometimes the style is overdrawn. Frequently the stories change settings with poor transitions, making the story difficult to follow. Frankly, I don't find the writing and storytelling in these to be up to par with either the show canon or the cover prices being asked. Just okay, but not very insightful, IMO.

db ... Read more

Product Description
Today, the whole world knows him as Magneto, the most radical champion of mutant rights that mankind has ever seen. But in 1935, he was just another schoolboy - who happened to be Jewish in Nazi Germany. The definitive origin story of one of Marvel's greatest icons begins with a silver chain and a crush on a girl - and quickly turns into a harrowing struggle for survival against the inexorable machinery of Hitler's Final Solution From X-Men: Phoenix - Endsong writer Greg Pak and award-winning artist Carmine Di Giandomenico. Collects X-Men: Magneto Testament #1-5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Superb read.Chilling and sad.
This is one of the best origins I have ever read for a comic book character.I have been collecting comics for over 20 years and always was fascinated about Magneto's origin.We all know Magneto was a Jewish kid growing up during WW2 but this book gives us more detail into his childhood life and his family.

If you took off the X-men name on the cover, and you took off the Magneto in the title, this would still be a fantastic comic.

Spoilers:There are no mutant abilities or any super powers happening in this book.It's a tale of Max Eisenhardt (Magneto's birth name) growing up during the Nazi rise to power and his struggles for survival.I was moved by the book simply because it is retelling real life.The stuff that happens in the comic happened in real life during those times and it is saddening to think people can treat others this way.The art while not the best, fit the book and the mood perfectly.The book moves at a fast pace and can be read in about 30 minutes.This is also a great book to us as supplemental material to teach young children about the Holocaust and why we can never sit back and ever let anything like this happen again.

5 stars!Get this hidden gem today.

well-done
Magneto's Testament finally gives readers the background story of Magneto in one book. Certain things are different then what had been assumed in the past, and a few things are tweaked- for example the only time when magneto's powers come into play is when he is shot at and it is severely downplayed. It's not obvious that it was his powers and instead looks as if his father acted as a shield. This is different from the scene in the X-Men movie where his will to stay with his parents bends the metal gates at the labor camp. Also, there was no saved by wolverine or captain america which was shown as happening in the series X-Men Evolution.

All in all this is a good read, and a great addition to anyones shelf.The artwork is both well done and respectable to those who actually survived the holocaust. It, however, is not filled with epic action sequences between mutants and Charles Xavier makes no appearance in it whatsoever. However, you do meet Magda, the gypsy who is destined to be the mother of Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.

A definite necessity for an X-Men fan, and a good read even for those who aren't. :)

X-Men Magneto
It was great to see some of the back-story for one of my favorite villains.The artwork is great and the classroom work exercises are interesting also.Great read - pick it up!

Amazing
The story gives a great deal of insight into what made magneto who he is in the X-Men series.

A storry full of emotion
remember all those Marvel comics fill of 20 pages of fighting and 6 pages of conversation... well Magneto: Testament is nothing like that. Marvel has done a great job creating its best origin story ever. Fill with emotions this story tells the life story of young Magneto starting from the 1937, and gets us through to the World War II through the eyes of Max (Magneto). By reading this historic story based on facts you can understand the hatred of Magneto towards humanity. But what is more important u will see thecaring person he was before.
The HC edition its a must have. When u done reading the story you can read the facts behind it, the history, and the choices about the character of Magneto. The red cover with imprinted black letters will b the best thing in urcollectioneven comparedto books.
This may be consider a spoiler by some: The bestthing about this story for me was the fact there arent any usage of -supper-powers. ... Read more

Product Description
When the Hulk returns to Earth for the senses-shattering events of World War Hulk, we can all guess which puny humans will fight against him. But which of Earth's heroes will fight for the Hulk? Don't miss the shocking revelations as Amadeus Cho, the boy genius who took on Reed Richards on behalf of the Hulk in Increadible Hulk #100, confronts She-Hulk and Doc Samson - and precipitates a gamma-powered smash-fest in the wilds of Jersey! Then, the dust has settled after World War Hulk and Hercules and Amadeus Cho find themselves outlaws, a situation further inflamed by Cho's grudge against the super-spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and Herc's feud with his estranged half-brother - Ares, god of war - who isn't above abusing his new federal clout for the sake of sibling rivalry. It's Marvel's mightiest manhunt, guest-starring Wonder Man and the Black Widow. Then, the Greek Goliath gathers the most powerful super-team ever assembled to counter-attack the Skrull gods! Face Front, True Believers, and prepare for the pantheon-pounding premiere of...THE GOD SQUAD! All this, plus an untold tale pitting Hercules against the Incredible Hulk! Collects Increadible Hulk #106-112, Increadible Hercules #113-115, and Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide. ... Read more

Product Description
Return to the world of 1602! Rising stars Greg Pak (X-Men: Phoenix -- Endsong) and Greg Tocchini (Thor: Son Of Asgard) pick up where the best-selling story by Neil Gaiman left off: America, the New World! When Captain America was thrust back in time, it changed reality as we know it. Dinosaurs still roam the earth, and the Marvel super heroes we know came to exist 500 years early. Witness David Bruce Banner and Peter Parquagh become the Hulk and Spider-Man in the most eagerly-awaited event of the year! Collects 1602: New World #1-5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Review of Pak's 1062: New World
This comic does a great job of picking up where Gaimain left off. It takes a few of the themes from the original 1602, as well as adding some of its own. It's a smaller, less 'epic' comic, but it's still a great read.

Follows a tough act...
Neil Gaiman is a tough act to follow, and "Marvel 1602: New World" illustrates this point beautifully. Greg Pak tries to recapture Gaiman's magic, but for the most part this story offers little new in the 1602 universe. The Hulk, Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jamison characters never reach the potential that this brave new world presents to creators and readers alike. The one exception, and it is a significant one, is Iron Man. Those familiar with the current version of Tony Stark will not recognize this version. I would have loved to see more of this character in the storyline. Instead, Pak spent too much time with the Hulk, even though there are scenes where the character's involvement was inconsistent and confusing. When I first heard the title of this mini-series, I had imagined a young America with native American witchbreed forming the Avengers. Instead, I read a collection of scenes that often seemed to reinforce plot devices already covered in earlier passages, resulting in...something that will apparently be revealed in a sequel. A very dissatisfying story, overall.

A Great Read For Marvel Fans
After reading the first Marvel 1602, I knew that I had to pick this one up as well.If you enjoyed Marvel 1602, read this one as soon as you can!

A tasty treat
Marvel 1602: The New World is the second collection of stories in a world developed by master Neil Gaiman. I can't really say "created," because what Gaiman did was take a bunch of Marvel Comics heroes and re-cast them in England, circa 1602, as pilgrims and adventurers were just beginning to explore the New World. (And yes, there are dinosaurs, like on the cover there. It would take too long to explain, but it makes a kind of sense in the story.)

The first volume, by Gaiman and penciler Andy Kubert, was fantastic. This new collection of comics, from writer Greg Pak and penciler Greg Tocchini, is also very good, but where the Gaiman/Kubert book felt like a scrumptious four-course meal, this one felt more like a tasty candy desert.

But it's unfair to compare other writers to Gaiman, and doesn't do justice to the efforts of this creative team, who do a nice job taking over the reins. The story moves at a brisk, action-oriented pace, and involves new characters like the reimagined Iron Man (now Lord Iron, a sort of behemoth Conquistador in a suit of iron armor) and old friends who played minor roles in collection the first but come into their own here like The Hulk and The Spider (young lad Peter Parquagh.) Occasionally the action was a little hard to follow, but this was forgivable. And the storytellers really had a nice flair for surprise and suspense, which is always welcome in any genre.

I should also say, for the sake of journalistic integrity, that I'm a much greater fan of DC Comics than I am Marvel. For some reason, the Marvel universe has never appealed to me as much as the DC universe - perhaps because I came on board with comics fairly late, in college. (My parents did not think comics were suitable reading material when I was a boy, and it wasn't until college that my new comics-loving college friends got me hooked.) Marvel has always had its eye on the youth of America - after all, what is The Uncanny X-Men but the ultimate fantasy of disaffected, disenfranchised kids who dream of blossoming into something special and powerful? But that's not to say that I'm wholly unfamiliar with the Marvel universe - I'm too much of a geek wannabe to deliberately stay in the dark, and I pick up the odd collection here and there to stay somewhat current.

In some ways, this collection felt like a Greg Keyes novel, with many players coming together for a monumental fracas at the end. And when you're dealing with the likes of the Hulk and Iron Man, a monumental fracas is always a good thing. This book is a keeper, and I'll look for more collections if Marvel publishes more.

A Mediocre Sequel to 1602
It is shame that Marvel did not take a bit more time with this book as it could have been good with some more thought.Unlike what some would say, there was nothing wrong with following up Gaiman's wonderful 1602.The reason this is not a strong follow-up is because the new team did not really play by the alternative history rules Gaiman set up and did not add anything to the 1602 concept by doing so.Most of the characters from 1602 are gone and the New World 1602 incarnations of characters from the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Iron Man are barely developed and sometimes just don't make sense (Green Goblin did not become an Elizabethan Green Goblin, just Osbourne).

The artwork is not stunning either.The Spider-Man concept looks silly.Iron Man could have been better too.This again could have been drastically improved with some more thought on the part of Marvel. ... Read more

Product Description
When terrible threats rise in Svartalfheim, the land of the Dark Elves, only Mighty Thor, Son of Asgard, can hope to triumph! But what happens if the Odinson is temporarily... unavailable? It's Hammer Time for Hercules as the Lion of Olympus gets his thunder on! Meanwhile, the Secret Origin of AMADEUS CHO begins! Who really killed Amadeus' family? What is his true relation to Hercules? And, most importantly, what is the connection between him and The Twelve's MASTER MIND EXCELLO?Collects Incredible Hercules #132-137. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Hercules steals the show
The Mighty Thorcules splits up the team of Hercules and Amadeus Cho, who have gained their own book in the wake of World War Hulk (which resulted in the Hulk going on hiatus for a bit and yielding his title to Hercules). Here we get to see them each on their own adventures: Amadeus searches for the person who killed his family, while Hercules takes on a group of Norse dark elves, having to disguise himself as Thor in order to succeed in his quest...or so he thinks.

The real star of the show is Hercules, almost to the point that it's a shame he only gets three issues instead of the entire trade paperback. While Amadeus' story is off-beat and even poignant at certain points, it ultimately serves as filler, mainly acting as a lead-in to the next arc. Hercules' adventure, on the other hand, is entirely self-contained and truly hilarious. Duped into acting as Thor in order to halt an invasion on Asgard, he winds up accidentally teaming with the dark elves and facing off against Thor, disguised as Hercules, in a cos-playing battle of epic proportions. The art is wonderful, the writing clever, and the sound effects (including such gems as "Sukkapunch!" and "Goddathundaa!") add to the comedic story.

The only downside to this collection is the split between the stories. The issues alternate between the adventures of Hercules and those of Amadeus, leaving two very different stories side by side. Additionally, because the tales are only three issues each, they are somewhat compressed. On Amadeus' side, for example, his first issue is mostly exposition, and his ultimate confrontation with his enemy is a little on the anticlimatic side. On Hercules' end, his tale is so fun that it would have been great to get another issue or two out of it. Overall, both of these stories are entertaining, with the only gripe being that we could have had more.

Very Fun, With or Without Marvel Comics Knowledge
Pak, Van Lente and company don't get enough credit for their work on this series and character. Within and without the context of the Marvel U, this is solid adventure storytelling, based in mythology and world-building, and funny, exciting and moving.

For those of you who are trying to keep up, this collects the issues of the series after Herc has split from Amadeus and presents their solo adventures in alternating chapters.And if you're not trying to keep up, that's all you need to know (and the always fun recap pages will get you up to speed on that).

Brilliant comedy and drama
After a somewhat less interesting beginning to the year 2009, "Incredible Hercules" comes storming back in the middle of the year with the twice-a-month six issues collected in this volume. The previous collection ended with our heroes, Hercules and Amadeus Cho, parting ways for the time being, and each has his own three-issue storyline collected herein. Issues 132, 134, and 136 follow Hercules in "The Replacement Thor"; while 133, 135, and 137 are taken up by "The Secret Origin of Amadeus Cho", which is more or less what it sounds like. And to tell these stories, the writing team is joined by artists Reilly Brown and Rodney Buchemi, who bring the series to a new high of artistic quality. Spoilers follow.

"The Replacement Thor", which sees Hercules and the now-child Zeus embark on a merry romp through the "Thor" mythos, is an absolute blast. The story opens with them getting separated from Athena, which is always a bad sign, and they are swiftly recruited by Balder the Brave to pacify a warlike Elf Queen in Svartalheim, which Hercules pretending to be Thor, God of Thunder. However, Alflyse proves to be quite fetching, and the real Thor soon appears, having decided to return the favour. This story has little real relevance to the series' larger arcs. It is simply, unapologetically, a rousing screwball coedy, and a brilliant one, culminating in an unforgettable battle between Hercules and Thor. Kid Zeus, filling Amadeus' role as a sidekick, is a brilliant cast addition. The writers continue to explore the pitfalls and benefits of Hercules' own particular brand of heroism.

While Herc is off having fun, the series' larger dramatic arc carries on in Amadeus Cho's story, illustrated by Rodney Buchemi (who will also draw the following arc, "Assault on New Olympus"). Amadeus journeys to Excello, Utah, to find out who was responsible for the deaths of his parents and the disappearance of his sister Maddy. This story is a major turning-point for Cho as a character, as he comes to terms with Athena, the mysterious goddess-ally he has lately come to distrust, and much of his past history (and the plot of the overall series) is finally explained. There is an imaginative, if some impenetrable, sci-fi setpiece that will please fans of theoretical physics and Dungeons and Dragons. All of this is beautifully rendered by Buchemi, perhaps the best artist this series has had yet.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The mysterious and powerful Phoenix Force is life incarnate, and yet it consumes whole worlds in a moment. Its long history with the X-Men is fraught with tragedy...especially concerning one of the most beloved of their number, Jean Grey. What will happen when the Phoenix returns to Earth in search of the one mortal who could ever contain its power...only to find her dead? Collects X-Men: Phoenix -- Endsong #1-5.Amazon.com Review
Before you say, "What, another Dark Phoenix story?"--well, on second thought, you can say that, because Phoenix: Endsong is indeed another Dark Phoenix story, though maybe the best-looking one yet.In Greg Pak's five-part miniseries, Jean Grey returns to once again test the resolve of those who love her if they can destroy her for the good of the universe.Ultimately, the story doesn't amount to much, but few artists draw women as beautiful as Greg Land does, and if your main interest is seeing Jean Grey and Emma Frost looking as gorgeous as they've ever looked, Phoenix: Endsong is worth the price of admission. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Overhyped and wholly unneeded
Both as a stand-alone story and an addition to the X-Men canon, this book fails. Greg Pak's X-Men fall so short of the marks set by Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon they appear completely devoid of character and life. Their unique personalities, quirks, and even motivations are all so watered down, I wonder if Pak has ever read any of Claremont's seminal works.

This isn't helped one bit by Greg Land's overly photo-referenced art, which makes all of the characters appear wooden and stiff. Bryan Hitch is a good example of how to pull off some photo referencing but still have the characters feel real. Land can't improvise dramatic expressions for anyone, much less give Emma Frost her trademark glare. Sure, it looks flashy and glossed, but if you want your comic art to move you as much as the writing, don't expect satisfaction here.

Not to mention the story is a wholly unneeded one. Grant Morrison gave both Jean Grey and the Phoenix a fitting and proper send-off with vol. 7 of New X-Men, Here Comes Tomorrow. To have these characters dug up (literally) for the sake of what appears to be a final cash grab is insulting to their legacy. I had high hopes for this after all of the hype and positive reviews and I'm left feeling cheated.

If you can appreciate the vibe for a moment
and forget that Phoenix dies a lot lol
Buy this, very poetic and artistic, gorgeous
Phoenix Warsong picks up some direction, if you need it

captures the Phoenix well

Bland Story with Nice Art
So, there's yet another Phoenix story.This one is incredibly bland, with lame dialog, whiney new characters I don't recognize (Quentin), and a cliche ending.The only saving grace is Wolverine's interactions with Jean, and the art.From what I've gathered, the artist is known for drawing attractive women characters.I'd have to agree, but it's not enough to save this tpb.Easily skippable.

jean finally learns its not all about her
jean returns from the dead once again like we all knew she would only to find out that scott does'nt love her any more come to find out none of the x men seem too excited to see her even wolverine says why are'nt you not looking for scott kind of odd since he lusted after jean for 3 decades now boy the x men wetre more excitred when magneto returned anyway jean gets mad again and does anotherr attempt to destroy the universe nothing new but an intersting story in the x mythos also wer learn that scott and emma are freaks cool story not thew best or worse.

Jean Grey Dies...Again...and Again...and Again...
This story is a continuation of the plot threads and characters introduced during Grant Morrison's "New X-Men" run, and feels like a nice epilogue to that series. Thankfully, Greg Pak manages to squeeze some life out of Scott Summers' ex-wife, whose corpse is re-animated by the Phoenix force. It's nothing that we haven't seen before, of course, but rarely have the X-ladies have never looked so beautiful--Greg Land hits a homer out of the park, especially with Emma Frost. ... Read more

Product Description
A SECRET INVASION TIE-IN! The Greek Goliath gathers the most powerful super-team ever assembled to counter-attack the Skrull gods! Face front, True Believers, and prepare for the pantheon-pounding premiere of...THE GOD SQUAD! Collects Incredible Hercules #116-120. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truly incredible; by far the best thing to come out of Secret Invasion.
"Incredible Hercules"'s debut arc was a knockout, spinning out of the events of Marvel's 2007 summer event "World War Hulk". No sooner was that over then the book dived into a new crossover, Marvel's 2008 "Secret Invasion". "Sacred Invasion", so called, addresses an obvious angle to Brian Michael Bendis' Skrull religious crusade for Earth: the confrontation between the gods of Earth and the gods of the Skrull. Kly'bn the Eternal Skrull and Sl'gur't of the Infinite Names are out to usurp the Earth deities, and it's up to our heroes to deal with them.

The story opens with Hercules, his teenage companion Amadeus Cho (boy genius), and his sister Athena, Goddess of Wisdom (who has uncovered the Skrull plot) heading to San Francisco to rendezvous with the Council Elite of the Pantheons. After a scuffle with the Eternals, under the impression that Hercules is one of them, the main plot gets underway. As Athena explains, a Skrull victory will cause the cosmic axis to shift, resulting in the various Earth deities being replaced by Kly'bn and Sl'gur't. Athena's proposal: that Earth launch a preemptive strike on the enemy gods to kill them before they can replace them. She nominates Hercules to lead, to his consternation. Inter-pantheon rivalries result in a rather small force, with representation from each continent: Hercules himself from Europe; Snowbird, the granddaughter of Hodiak, the Inuit Skyfather (North America); Ajak the Eternal, at the bequest of the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan gods (South America); Atum, aka, Demogorge the God-Eater, the omega of all gods and founder of the Egyptian pantheon (Africa); Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the God of Evil of the Kami of Japan (Asia); and, as the Australian contribution, a ship capable of sailing through the Dream-Time to the Skrull gods' residence. Along the way they have various little adventures, a la "The Odyssey".

Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have reached across a remarkable breadth of Marvel continuity, from "Alpha Flight" to Jack Kirby's "The Eternals" to Michael Avon Oeming's "Ares" miniseries. Almost every character brought in is accorded some measure of character arc, most notably Snowbird, whose grief over the death of Alpha Flight in 2006 is finally addressed. The writers weave together various different strands of Marvel history to create a coherent whole. There is an expert balance of humour, drama, and pathos, and the writers excel in handling these characters as genuine gods. The origin of the Skrull gods and the final confrontation with Kly'bn and Sl'gur't are both utterly epic; they far exceed anything in "Secret Invasion" itself. The story ends with a couple of dynamite hooks for future stories.

The art is provided by Rafa Sandoval, and it is incredibly beautiful. This arc made me instantly a fan of Sandoval's work, and I hope that he can do another arc at some point in the future.

Pak and Van Lente's Hercules series is a great Marvel saga in the making, and I cannot recommend it more highly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointing Overall
I've found these collections from Dynamite to be disapponting. The art work is mostly good, although sometimes the style is overdrawn. Frequently the stories change settings with poor transitions, making the story difficult to follow. Frankly, I don't find the writing and storytelling in these to be up to par with either the show canon or the cover prices being asked. Just okay, but not very insightful, IMO.

db

Great companion to the show!
I'm a huge BSG fan, but I was a little leary about a comic based on the show.I was PLEASANTLY surprised while reading this book, however, as it really added to my enjoyment of the whole milieu.The story is entertaining, the characters are authentic to the TV series, and I felt I knew more about the BSG universe after reading this.Without giving too much away, you encounter some 'different' cylons that shed some light on how humans and cylons were in the past, and that was quite cool.

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Product Description
Overseen by series Producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick and set in-between episodes of SCI FI's Battlestar Galactica's second season, DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT'S NEW BATTLLESTAR GALACTICA features a powerful tale of survival an dupheaval among the last remnants of the 12 Colonies of Man. As Adama and crew race to escape the Cylon threat and find a path to Earth, a new menace is uncovered among the fleet in the form of the "Returner." Holding a deadly secret to all aboard, these "Returners" have taken the forms of those long thoughts lost. Collecting issues 0-4 of DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT'S NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series, featuring writer Greg Pak and artist Nigel Raynor, this edition also includes a complete cover gallery featuring Michael Turner, Steve McNiven, Billy Tan, Tyler Kirkham, E-Bas and more along with a special writer's commentary on issue #1. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Entertaining read between BSG episodes
Battlestar Galactica has been my favorite show on TV for the past couple of years, so I had to pick up this book to help alleviate my withdrawal symptoms in between seasons.I was pleasantly surprised by the entertaining story and artwork.Recommended if you are a fan of the TV show and enjoy comics or graphic novels. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by GREG PAK Art by RAFA SANDOVAL Cover by GREG LAND World War Hulk is over. But the Aftersmash has just begun. Heroes and monsters rise and fall as the events of "World War Hulk" reverberate through the blasted ruins of New York City with goliath impact in a massive story featuring the Warbound, the Renegades, Heroes for Hire, Iron Man, Tom Foster, and Damage Control. And yes, smashing will be involved. ... Read more

Product Description
Today, the whole world knows him as Magneto, the most radical champion of mutant rights that mankind has ever seen. But in 1935, he was just another schoolboy - who happened to be Jewish in Nazi Germany. The definitive origin story of one of Marvel's greatest icons begins with a silver chain and a crush on a girl - and quickly turns into a harrowing struggle for survival against the inexorable machinery of Hitler's Final Solution From X-Men: Phoenix-Endsong writer Greg Pak and award-winning artist Carmine Di Giandomenico. Collects X-Men: Magneto Testament #1-5. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

NEW, NICE!
The product came as if I bought it straight off at a bookstore brand new! Would recommend!

Fantastic Comic about the Holocaust
This miniseries tells the story of a young Magneto and his holocaust experience as a teenager. The comic doesn't really show any superpowers, hence the X-Men in the title can be deceiving. The story could very well be about any Jewish teenager growing up in World War II Germany.

The book is very sad, showing uncountable injustice and how a young men overcomes adversity. The art is great, transporting us to another time and making the surroundings seem real. The artist is great at showing facial expressions. He is also great at drawing very rich backgrounds.

This is a fantastic comic. I hope the X-Men in the title attracts more readers than it dissuades (unfortunately, I think having X-Men in the title would make many people not take this book seriously).

I highly recommend this comic. ... Read more

Product Description
As the Hulk's long-lost son Hiro-Kala rockets towards us across the solar system, Steve Rogers and the Secret Avengers face a much more immediate threat -- three tons of Incredible Hulks cutting loose right here on Planet Earth! Forced to choose between his son and his planet, whose side will the Hulk take?

Collecting:

Incredible Hulks #612-617

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Product Description
Rhodey versus Ares! Man versus Immortal! War Machine versus God of War! With the life of one of his oldest friends in the balance, Marvel's one man army must face the only warrior who can outdo his thirst for battle! Be there as armor meets axe, James Rhodes makes enemies in the highest places, and Dark Reign falls! Collects War Machine #1-5, plus Dark Reign story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Machine on a Mission
I really enjoyed this TPB. War machine's attitude in recent books is becoming quite similar to the Punisher's. His attitude isn't the only thing changing, War Machine has gained the ability to assimilate any technology into his war armor. In this book, they take that ability to the extreme and he turns in to many different things including a tank and a jet. Personally, I think they took this a little to far. The art in the book was excellent, and the story was great. You do learn quite a bit about Rhodes' history. I must add that, the best part of this book come with the battles with and against the god of war: Ares!

War Machine Turns Transformers
In a world without Iron Man, James Rhodes is a one-man army trying to keep order in a warmongering world where moral ambiguity and greed rule.

War Machine himself has moral doubts, but deep down he's still a hero trying to keep things in balance.

His goal is to reclaim his humanity but whether that will happen remains to be seen...

War Machine is one of the most consistent and violent Marvel titles out there - a cool blend of Iron Man meets Deathlok the Demolisher meets Transformers.(Does anyone know why Marvel made him so similar to Deathlok?)Part machine and part man, War Machine uses his in-built bazookas to blast 'em up - and is now able to morph himself into different war machines by pulling on available scrap weaponry around him - a very nice touch to the series.While earlier incarnations of War Machine's armor were simply clunkier versions of Iron Man - he's now a full fledged arsenal with his own powers, having "transformers" like abilities to change his appearance.

Ares the God of War adds a nice kick to this epic battle which incorporates the undead, viral technology, a love triangle, Tony Stark's ex girlfriend, mercenaries, innocent people and of course, the kitchen sink.

The appeal of the War Machine series like many of Marvel's running plotlines is its dark world and ala Deathlok the Demolisher, the quest for Rhodes to find his own humanity.War Machine remains a solid if ugly alternative to Iron Man... ... Read more

Product Description
In the wake of World War Hulk, the Mighty Avengers are hot on the heels of unrepentant renegades Hercules and Amadeus Cho. Driven into a mindless berserker rage by Ares, Herc has become the critical piece of Cho's plan to utterly destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. What is Cho's master plan to wipe out the spy agency...and is he willing to get Herc killed to do it?Guest-starring the Champions of Los Angeles! Yes, seriously! Collecting Incredible Hercules #112-115 and Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A fun comic book
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This second volume, gathering issues #112-115 of the newly-rechristened "Incredible Hercules" series (with Herc taking the title over from the Hulk...) finds everyone's favorite Greek demigod still teamed up with Amadeus Cho, the world's smartest tween, and still on the run from the forces of SHIELD and the Avengers. His big brother Ares, the god of war (and easily one of the most tiresome characters in the Marvel universe) is now a member of the Avengers, and he takes the opportunity to persecute Hercules, and even tries clumsily to frame him for crimes against the state.

Herc and Cho manage to continually confound Ares and SHIELD agent Gabriel Jones, who has been put in charge of their capture -- although Cho's high-tech machinations don't actually make a lot of sense, it's still fun to see the agency driven to the brink by the feisty renegades. The series has a good sense of humor, and as with the previous volume, it's building up the mythological history of Hercules and the Olympian pantheon in a nice way, similar to Alec Campbell's sly "Bacchus" series. Pretty fun -- definitely worth picking up!(Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

By far the most delightful surprise from Marvel in years.
Hercules is the original Western hero, and I've always referred to him as the original superhero; his mythic exploits have entertained generations of young people (usually in heavily-bowdlerized form, removing such issues as his pederasty, adultery, and overt bloodymindedness).Since he's been in the public domain for millenia, Both DC and Marvel Comics have versions of him; DC's is a minor villainous figure in the "Wonder Woman" mythos, while Marvel's Herc has been a dependable supporting cast member for "Thor" and "The Avengers"; he debuted in the mid-1960s as a foyle/ally for Marvel's chief mythic hero, Thor, and has since turned up frequently as a team-member or guest star, occasionally getting his own spotlight (most notably a pair of well-regarded miniseries by Bob Layton in the 1980s which followed his adventures in an alternate future).The last few years have been pretty good for Herc; he got a major supporting role in Marvel 2006 mega-event "Civil War" (including the final issue's Big Damn Hero moment), and then was drafted into "The Incredible Hulk" as a supporting castmember, before taking over the title, beginning with #112, which is where this collection picks up.

To set the stage, "World War Hulk" (the Hulk's misguided revenge spree that ended in his defeat) is over, and Hercules, together with boy genius Amadeus Cho, find themselves on the losing end, and must decide what to do next (their companions, Angel and Namora, depart quickly, but one suspects we'll be seeing more of the latter).Herc wants to make peace with SHIELD, trying not to make the same mistakes he tends to make (picking the wrong side, as his brother Ares puts it), while Cho, who blames SHIELD for the Hulk's fate, and generally as a part of the military-industrial complex, is more interested in destroying the world's premiere anti-terrorism agency.Herc changes his tune when he finds out that his brother Ares, God of War, now a member of Iron Man's Mighty Avengers, has authority over him, and he and Cho end up on the run together, making for Herc's sister Athena's house in Vermont, with Ares, Wonder Man, and Black Widow (one of Herc's ex-girlfriends) on his tail.Herc just wants to reach his sister, while Cho is out to cause havoc, and Ares is out to abuse his newfound authority to settle some very old grudges.Also included is the "Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide" special, which relates an old encounter between the two, and develops some interesting contrasts between the two.

Writers Greg Pak (formerly the solo writer of "The Incredible Hulk" and "World War Hulk") and Fred Van Lente ("Action Philosophers", "Marvel Adventures Iron Man") produce a wonderful story; in just four issues, this series rocketed to the #2 spot on my monthly comics list (#1 being "Captain America").Their writing is a masterful blend of classical mythology of the Greeks and the modern mythology of superhero comics; Herc's ancient history and his Marvel history have never been so well-integrated as they are here.Each issue is anchored around some comparisons between old exploits and his modern character, and there's a sort of humourous, intelligent didacticism at work that is incredibly appealing.The writers expertly capture the character of Hercules, who is usually written as a goofy counterpart to Thor, but, as they acknowledge, also has more than a little tragedy in his life (look for a major, surprising revelation near the end about his past history).Ares is a magnificent villain; frequently hilarious, but also written with the dignity of a god, and when he starts explaining his reasons for hating Hercules, one can sort of see his point.Amadeus Cho, a character I found to be incredibly annoying in past stories, gets much, much better here, as Pak and Van Lente finally give him something of a humbling.The art is principally by Khoi Pham, with Reilly Brown, Bob Layton, and a few others contributing to the "Hulk vs. Hercules" special; it is all very well-done.

This comic has it all: great action, utterly hilarious humour, and a lot of intelligence.I can't recommend it highly enough. ... Read more

Product Description
Norman Osborn plans on making a list, checking it twice, and delivering an unhealthy amount of Dark Reign madness directly into the lives of super heroes both naughty and nice in Dark Reign: The List, a series of eight interconnected stories heralding the next major chapter in the Marvel Universe's current saga.Collects Dark Reign: The List - Daredevil, Dark Avengers, X-Men, Hulk, Secret Warriors, Wolverine, Punisher, Amazing Spider-Man, and Black Panther. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Dark Reign: The List
I've really been enjoying reading all of the Marvel books that have fallen under and been touched by the Dark Reign story arc that began at the end of Secret Invasion. For those who missed this book, you'll probably want to pick it up and read that first, so you can understand how Norman Osborn (aka The Green Goblin) came to be in charge of keeping peace in the United States. Unlike most Marvel events, Dark Reign has no core mini-series around which all the tie-in books orbit. Instead, Marvel concurrently ran several small mini-series that are all, essentially, tie-in books to the big theme of the bad guys taking control of the enforcement power in the United States. Along with this, several of the core Marvel books adopted new titles with the adjective "Dark" preceding the regular title, so we had Dark Wolverine (Dark Wolverine Vol. 1: The Prince), Dark Avengers (Dark Avengers, Vol. 1: Assemble), Dark X-Men (Dark X-Men Premiere HC), etc.

This book focuses on one interesting piece of Norman's new position of power: a short list of individuals who have wronged him egregiously enough that he has determined they need to be dealt with permanently. Interestingly enough, several of the people on his list feel the same way about Norman Osborn, and are willing to risk all to bring the man down.

Because the collection of stories in this book deal with major characters across the Marvel universe and are all written by different individuals and illustrated by different artists, you get a wide variety of stories, here, in terms of visual appeal, degree of relevance, and quality of writing. Surprisingly, most fare pretty well in each of these categories. The reader just needs to know that the events depicted in this book do not tell one story, but many individual stories written by the writers of these character's on-going titles, and heavily entrenched in the events going on in each of those respective books. Do you necessarily need to know what's been going on in Daredevil to appreciate the Daredevil story in this book? No, but it helps. The same goes for each of these stories. The writers do a good job integrating the aspects of the Dark Reign theme into their books, so the result is a book that lands solidly in regular continuity instead of falling by the wayside, as tends to be the case in many story tie-ins. I really appreciated this, and I think most readers will appreciate this effort, too.

My personal favorite was the Daredevil story, as I never get tired of seeing Daredevil face-off against his arch-enemy Bullseye. The Punisher story was also good, and definitely a bit of a surprise. This was, literally, a fight-to-the-death between Frank Castle and Daken - Wolverine's son, and after reading the story I now understand how the current Punisher book came to be the "Franken-castle" book. The Dark Avengers story, in which [Clint Barton] Hawkeye attempts to assassinate Norma Osborn is a great read, and the Spider-Man story also stands out as a great read as it really boils down to a classic story of "the little guy versus the system," and everybody enjoys seeing the little guy outsmart a seemingly implacable foe and publicly embarrass them.

Overall, I liked this book quite a bit, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's interesting in reading more of the Dark Reign event - one of the best events Marvel has had in the new decade.

Great storyline..
I don't usually buy graphic novels or compilations, but this one had me rivoted.Ever since the Skrull invasion, Norman Osborn has taken advantage of all the power he's been given.And with great power comes the need to use it to kick a little ass.Heroes beware, Norman's coming for you.

Great Book!!!!
This book was awesome!!! I can't wait to see what happens next. Definitely buy it on Amazon. It's a lot cheaper.

A Mixed Bag
The List contains eight short stories about Normon Osborn, aka The Green Goblin, going after some of Marvel's most popular heroes who have crossed him in the past while currently being considered the world's hero and a media/political darling. This book is difficult to review because some of the stories are great while others were a complete waste of time. The Avengers story that features Clint Barton, aka Ronin/Hawkeye, is an amazing issue. It lets you know everything you need to know about the current status quo in the Marvel universe and it provides a great story with some nice art. The stories with the Punisher, Nick Fury and Hulk also had some great art and were enjoyable to read. The Daredevil, X-Men, and Wolverine stories were fillers that made little sense with art ranging from subpar to hideous.

I give the book2 and 1/2 stars, I would advise just to pick up the single issue comics Avengers: The List and Punisher: The List. Considering the poor quality of about half the stories, I cannot recommend this book.

Pretty good read, but a bit disappointing
Norman Osborn is making a list and checking it twice. He's going after the X-Men after the betrayal of Emma Frost and Namor, the Avengers, The Punisher, Daredevil, The Hulk and so on. I did enjoy reading this one shots, however, I did find them to be disappointing. The whole point of this, to me at least, was that Osborn was going to get his revenge on these heroes who have spurned him for so long. But through some of these he's gets little bits of vengeance and fails in other aspects.

The next part will contain small spoilers.

I thought he would be going after both Avengers teams that were not government sanctioned in the avengers issue, but he got a concolation prize with Clint Barton. He never got any real revenge on the X-Men of Wolverine. He didn't do much tto stop the Hulk at all. He did actually get the Punisher (it's a shame Frank wasn't a bit more headstrong). I just wanted some stories that showed a villain on top of the world getting what he thought was his justice. He only got a little. I, and Norman Osborn, wanted more. ... Read more

Product Description
Witness the Marvel Universe triumph over its greatest challenges ever as the Heroic Age ignites! Still lurking in the shadows are forces of evil and cosmic-level threats-but a new spirit of hope, courage and the selfl essness at theheart of heroism will rise up. The most extraordinary taleswill be told in the Heroic Age of the Marvel Universe. From the tone of the storylines, to the stunning art, the Heroic Ageushers in a dramatic new vision of the Marvel Universe.Featuring Marvel's most elite characters-including IronMan, Captain America, Thor, the Avengers and more-as they embark on bold new adventures, this volume is the perfect jumping-on point for the Heroic Age.

COLLECTING:
Enter the Heroic Age, Origins of Marvel Comics,
Avengers Assemble, Avengers #1, Secret Avengers
#1, Age of Heroes #1, Avengers Academy #1, New
Avengers #1, Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1, Heroic
Age: Prince of Power #1, Atlas #1

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Product Description
A SECRET INVASION TIE-IN! The Greek Goliath gathers the most powerful super-team ever assembled to counter-attack the Skrull gods! Face front, True Believers, and prepare for the pantheon-pounding premiere of...The God Squad! Collects Incredible Hercules #116-120. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Hercules takes down the Skrull pantheon
"Incredible Hercules: Secret Invasion"
(Marvel Comics, 2009)
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The third volume of the newly-revitalized Hercules series finds Herc and his sidekick, Amadeus Cho, the world's smartest tweener, smack dab in the middle of the Skrull-related Secret War mega-crossover. But while the regular Marvel super-dudes are slugging it out with regular Skrulls, Herc has been put in charge of a multicultural "god squad", sent by Athena to go to the heart of the Skrull's own pantheon and destroy their own gods. It's a big cosmic journey with some nice twists and interesting religious concepts... Amadeus is largely irrelevant in this story arc (perhaps writer Greg Pak is getting as bored with him as we are?) but Herc is definitely coming into his own. A nice treatment of a hero who has historically been one of he flimsiest characters in the Marvel universe... This is a series that is fun to read and has great potential to get even better. This volume collects issues #116-120... Looking forward to the next volume!(Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

Exceed All Expectations
After Marvel baited-and-switched fans by changing "Incredible Hulk" into "Incredible Hercules" post-World War Hulk, I immediately dropped the title. I didn't believe that a mythological Greek hero and a super-smart boy could hold a candle to Hulk, but I was wrong.

This "Secret Invasion" tie-in is a fun-filled romp. The beer-chugging Hercules is far more interesting than the angry Hulk (currently rampaging in the dreadful "Hulk" series). Fred Van Lente's dialogue is actually humorous without being juvenile, something that's a rarity in comics. I'm glad I picked up this tie-in, and I'm definitely going to stay along for the ride (until the title is canceled, I'm sure).

Undoubtedly the best Secret Invasion tie-in
The best thing that came out of World War Hulk was definitely Hercules getting his own starring title, Incredible Hercules.Those who have been following the surprisingly great series no doubt know this already, but for those uninitiated, Herc's adventures during Marvel's Secret Invasion mega-event is as good a jumping on point as any.As the Skrull invasion gets fully underway, Hercules finds himself battling for the Gods of Earth, with his sister Athena and his boy-genius cohort Amadeus Cho in tow.Once again providing riveting action and some dynamite humor, writers Greg Pak (World War Hulk, Planet Hulk) and Fred Van Lente craft the most compelling tie-in of Secret Invasion, which shouldn't be much of a surprise if you have been following Incredible Hercules.Rafa Sandoval provides some excellent artwork as well, helping make this tale all the sweeter.All in all, whether you're interested in the tie-in's to Secret Invasion or have just been following the Incredible Hercules series, you can't go wrong here at all.And if you are only pretty much interested in Secret Invasion-related books, check this out anyway, and there's little doubt you'll be converted to one of the best ongoing books that Marvel currently has to offer.

Truly incredible; by far the best thing to come out of Secret Invasion.
"Incredible Hercules"'s debut arc was a knockout, spinning out of the events of Marvel's 2007 summer event "World War Hulk".No sooner was that over then the book dived into a new crossover, Marvel's 2008 "Secret Invasion"."Sacred Invasion", so called, addresses an obvious angle to Brian Michael Bendis' Skrull religious crusade for Earth: the confrontation between the gods of Earth and the gods of the Skrull.Kly'bn the Eternal Skrull and Sl'gur't of the Infinite Names are out to usurp the Earth deities, and it's up to our heroes to deal with them.

The story opens with Hercules, his teenage companion Amadeus Cho (boy genius), and his sister Athena, Goddess of Wisdom (who has uncovered the Skrull plot) heading to San Francisco to rendezvous with the Council Elite of the Pantheons.After a scuffle with the Eternals, under the impression that Hercules is one of them, the main plot gets underway.As Athena explains, a Skrull victory will cause the cosmic axis to shift, resulting in the various Earth deities being replaced by Kly'bn and Sl'gur't.Athena's proposal: that Earth launch a preemptive strike on the enemy gods to kill them before they can replace them.She nominates Hercules to lead, to his consternation.Inter-pantheon rivalries result in a rather small force, with representation from each continent:Hercules himself from Europe; Snowbird, the granddaughter of Hodiak, the Inuit Skyfather (North America); Ajak the Eternal, at the bequest of the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan gods (South America); Atum, aka, Demogorge the God-Eater, the omega of all gods and founder of the Egyptian pantheon (Africa); Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the God of Evil of the Kami of Japan (Asia); and, as the Australian contribution, a ship capable of sailing through the Dream-Time to the Skrull gods' residence.Along the way they have various little adventures, a la "The Odyssey".

Writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have reached across a remarkable breadth of Marvel continuity, from "Alpha Flight" to Jack Kirby's "The Eternals" to Michael Avon Oeming's "Ares" miniseries.Almost every character brought in is accorded some measure of character arc, most notably Snowbird, whose grief over the death of Alpha Flight in 2006 is finally addressed.The writers weave together various different strands of Marvel history to create a coherent whole.There is an expert balance of humour, drama, and pathos, and the writers excel in handling these characters as genuine gods.The origin of the Skrull gods and the final confrontation with Kly'bn and Sl'gur't are both utterly epic; they far exceed anything in "Secret Invasion" itself.The story ends with a couple of dynamite hooks for future stories.

The art is provided by Rafa Sandoval, and it is incredibly beautiful.This arc made me instantly a fan of Sandoval's work, and I hope that he can do another arc at some point in the future.

Pak and Van Lente's Hercules series is a great Marvel saga in the making, and I cannot recommend it more highly. ... Read more