Civil War II: Gods Of War #3 of 4
Title: Friends And Foes
Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Emilio Laiso
Colors By: Guru-EFX
Letters By: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover By: Jay Anacleto & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover By: ACO & Romulo Fajardo Jr
Release Date: 08/17/16R
ating: Rated T+
Price: $3.99
Hercules, was once renowned for his heroics inspiring legend and song alike, becoming the first superhero. Now in the modern world, he has become more known for his drunken behavior and unruly behavior, he has been reduced to a joke, even amongst those he calls friend. Now he has had enough, and has decided to fully embrace the modern world and do so sober! But is it too little too late?
When a new Civil War rips through the Marvel Universe the heroes are called into action, all except the first, Hercules. Hercules has his hands full anyway with a new age of Gods called The Uprising Storm who threaten to tear the world apart, unless he can assemble a group of friends like Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Ire, Theseus, Sigurd, and Lorelai to take on this threat, that only they, the Gods of War can see coming!
Plot: Hercules has been marked by The Uprising Storm to become their God of Chaos. The infection has sent Hercules into a berserker rage that may be too much for his ancient band of warriors to handle alone, but can Earth’s Mightiest stop what Gods and Legends can not?
Story: First I have to say that one of the highlights of All-New, All-Different Marvel was the series Hercules. I am a huge mythology buff, and always loved the stories of Hercules, and always felt disappointed that the Marvel character was such a joke, acting like a perpetual frat boy. But along came the All-New, All-Different Marvel and Hercules was clean and sober and ready to be worthy of his legends. I was sad to hear the series was cancelled, but happy to hear that this mini series will continue that story
Marvel is really stretching to make tie-ins to Civil War II. They could have just continued Hercules for the four issues, instead of changing this to a new story arc. But this issue really plays off of something that has been building since Hercules began, the infection has taken hold of Hercules and he is transforming into the God of Chaos, but the way the Gods of War and the Avengers solve this was kind of weak, and I think it was shoehorned in and not the original vision Abnett had planned going into the Hercules series. All it took was Captain America to need Hercules again, and to give the call AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! I get the importance of this in the grand scheme as he has been struggling with the feeling that not even his friends feel him worthy anymore, but I think it was condensed into this small scene when I would have preferred more, like that moment when maybe his neighborhood believes in him again. Maybe he could have dealt with it longer, see the internal conflict, or something other than AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! Instantly shaking him free. I think if given more time, this could have been done better.
Now even though I thought that was rushed, I did enjoy fact that they played off of the history of the characters here. We get acknowledgement of Hercules bond with the Avengers and Captain America in particular as well as the bond between Hercules and Gilgamesh and how him and Cap sort of represent the past and present of Hercules as friends, and brothers.
The comedy here was brilliant! Spider-Man was perfectly in character thwippin and quippin like no other, but the big scene stealer for quips was Tiresias, and the fashion commentary of the blind Oracle. Tiresias’ comments on Captain Marvel’s costume and even Medusa’s hair and Inhuman skin tone had me cracking up, and wanting to see even more of the character.
Art: The art here has fallen from the Luke Ross art in Hercules, and even earlier issues of this series. Gilgamesh was seen pretty much like Hercules used to be, he was down on his luck but by divine intervention maintained his body, here we see him looking like he is a middle-aged hasbeen/neverwas ex-high school quarterback. There were also times where the detailed lack. But overall I did enjoy the art, and the coloring was really well done. The tones were great for each character really making them standout in a crowd where a good bit of them had blue and or red going on, we got some good tonal differences that allowed them to stand apart.
Verdict: Overall Civil War II: Gods of War #3 is a really good issue, and the best “tie-in” to the whole Civil War II event, even though it really isn’t a tie-in. So I say if you’re looking for more Civil War II story, something that enriches the main event, this isn’t that book, but if you’re looking for a great story, and want to read some great characters that may not get page time anywhere else in the Marvel Universe pick this up. I hope Hercules and the Gods of War find a spot in Marvel NOW!