A MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL
By Bob Layton, with John Workman & George Roussos (Marvel)
ISBN: 0- 87135-397-0
One of Marvel’s earliest miniseries successes was an “out of continuity†saga featuring Greek demigod and occasional Mighty Avenger Hercules in a lighthearted action romp across the universe of the future. Carousing and combat were the order of the day (see Hercules, Prince of Power ISBN-13: 978-0-78510-555-8) and with comedy comrades the Rigellian Recorder (a po-faced, sentient robot programmed to acquire all knowledge) and a cheap ‘n’ sleazy Skrull named Skyppi, he had a fine old time until Zeus called him home to take over the family business. As the only remaining Olympian god on our plane of reality he was charged with settling down and creating his own pantheon…
Thirty years later on the planet Wilamean in the Andromeda Galaxy a supremely powerful dictator named Arimathes is Emperor of a rapidly expanding, aggressive interstellar nation. Incredibly strong, and boiling with indignant rage, he is hunting for the deadbeat dad who abused his mother and disappeared into the void…
Closing out this future saga was never going to be an easy task and this competent thriller sadly falls a little short of the mark set by its boisterous, exuberant predecessors. The laughs are fewer and seem a little forced when Hercules is put in the position of responsible adult, but the action is spectacular and the subplot of the Prince of Power’s one time paramour as embittered, spiteful Queen Mother adds some welcome balance and consequence to the immortal’s “love ’em and leave ’em†serial dalliances.
Less fun, more considerate but still full of mirth and mayhem, this is a solid end to a saga from an industry that doesn’t often do “closureâ€. Produced in the oversized 285 x 220 mm (rather than the now customary 258 x 168 mm) format this big story is – warts and all – still a big, enjoyable read well worth tracking down; and who knows, perhaps one day American publishers will revive the large-page format for our edification and their profit.
© 1988 Marvel Entertainment Group/Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.