HERCULES

Real Name: Herakles

Class: Demigod (Olympian Gods)

Occupation: Warrior

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Alcmene (mother, deceased), Demeter (aunt), Hades (uncle), Hera (aunt), Hestia (aunt), Poseidon (uncle), Zeus (father)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mount Olympus

First Appearance: All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941)

Powers: Hercules possessed vast superhuman strength, endurance and durability. As a demigod he was immortal.

History: 

(Sea Devils #14) -  The Olympian gods mocked Hercules, telling him his might was great, but he was still mortal and beneath the lowliest of gods. Hercules approached Zeus and asked him to grant him godhood, promising to perform any might task he desired. Zeus told him he d be made a god if he defeated Neptune by nightfall, knowing full well the god of the sea was too mighty for him to handle. Hercules was in despair, but Hera took pity on him, and gave him magic seaweed that boosted his strength and let him breath underwater. Hercules traveled to Earth s seas and attacked Neptune without warning. Neptune wanted no part of the fight, but Hercules wouldn't relent. Their fight passed by a sea carnival held by the Sea Devils, who were going to award a crown of king of the sea to whoever could catch a sea serpent at large. The Devils knew the sea would fall into chaos if Neptune fell, but Hercules  wounded pride would be just as bad if he were defeated, so they set about delaying the fight, roping Hercules, leading him into the tentacles of a man  o war, and rolling boulders on him from a seamount. Night fell, and the giants were at a standstill, so Hercules lost by default. Hercules vowed to destroy the Devils for costing him godhood. The sea serpent appeared and attacked the Devils, but Hercules easily dispatched it, saying the Devils belonged to him. The Devils awarded him the king of the sea crown, and he was so touched that he said he d wear it with pride in Olympus.

(DC Comics Presents #41) - Hercules decided to invade Paradise Island, and enlisted Hermes, promising him the hand of Wonder Woman if they succeeded. Hermes used his swiftness to steal Hippolyta s belt of strength, enabling Hercules to bind the Amazons. When Wonder Woman arrived she was angry, and unimpressed by the idea of Hermes having won  her. She told Hermes she d willingly become his lover if he could best her in a race for the belt and he accepted. Wonder Woman defeated him, and he returned to Olympus in disgrace after handing her back the belt. Hercules was furious, and challenged her to a feat of strength. He was still in a rage that both Wonder Woman and her mother had defeated him in the past, and wanted to prove how mighty he was. Wonder Woman threw him in a fall of wrestling, and he too left the island in bitter defeat.

Comments: Adapted to comics by William Moulton Marston & H.G. Peter.

Hercules was a demigod of classic Greek mythology. For more information visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules.

Hercules received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10.

Hercules had a cameo in JLA #90.