Joe Hercules hit the stands in the first issue of Hit Comics. He took over the cover slot for many issues beginning with the tenth.
As rendered by Lou Fine, he looked positively kinetic as he busted up cars, bears and bad guys. He was drawn inside the comic mostly by Reed Crandall, so Hercules at Quality had the top talent the company had to offer.
What he didn't have was an origin aside from just being born a right-thinking American male. A mid-western farm boy who fights for right with powers greater than regular men, the source of his powers is never explained -- the Golden Age of comics was resplendent in its simplicity.
Read his debut adventure here.
Here are the Hercules covers from his run in Hit.
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Lou Fine was the comic artist who made other artists' brains fall out.
ReplyDeleteHe makes my brain fall out -- outstanding stuff!
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Have these been reprinted?
ReplyDeleteWhile the Joe Hercules stories haven't been reprinted, the entire Hit Comics run is available at the amazing Digital Comic Museum, well-worth a visit!
ReplyDeletehttp://digitalcomicmuseum.com/
Dan Zolnerowich ("Dan Enloz" was one of his pen-names) illustrated Herc's appearances (including the origin story shown above) in Hit Comics #1-6, George Tuska did #7, John Celardo ilustrated #8-10.
Reed Crandall took over as of #11 and stayed through #17, with the longest run on the strip.
The artist on #18 is unknown.
Arthur Peddy did #19-20.
Lou Ferstadt rendered #21, the final Joe Hercules tale.
There's one additional Joe Hercules appearance!
ReplyDeleteIn Quality's Uncle Sam Quarterly #2, the Uncle Sam story "The Villains' Revolt, Or Who Swiped my Comic Book?" featured guest stars Hercules, the Ray, Black Condor, Neon the Unknown, and Quicksilver (Max Mercury).
It was illustrated by future MAD Magazine superstar Dave Berg!
Thanks as usual for the great info Britt.
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