The Definitive Hercules Collecting Guide and Reading Order

The Hercules comic books definitive issue-by-issue collecting guide and trade reading order for omnibus, hardcover, and trade paperback collections. Find every issue and appearance! Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated September 2024 with titles scheduled for release through December 2024.

Hercules has had a peculiar career as a Marvel superhero.

After what later proved to be an imposter appearing in his stead in Avengers #10, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby debuted the real Hercules in Journey Into Mystery Annual 1. There, he appeared along with his father Zeus in an attempt to create a set of worthy colleagues for Thor, Odin, and the Asgardian pantheon.

In short order, Hercules was established as a sort of good-time loving, screw-up demi-god, repeatedly cast out of Olympus by Zeus for his various transgressions.

During an early expulsion he rooms with the Avengers, assisting them in several adventures as repayment. Later, after a run of adventures with Thor, he moves to Los Angeles to found the short-lived Champions with other characters who were team-less in the mid-70s – Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Iceman, and Angel.

Hercules rose to solo prominence in the early 1980s with a pair of mini-series and a graphic nove. However, this Hercules penned by Bob Layton, wasn’t the one readers knew from The Champions. He was a 24th Century future version of the god who was – once again – exiled from Olympus!

In the early 90s, Hercules settled in for an official run as an Avenger with his Champions colleague Black Widow. However, after Onslaught caused The Avengers to disappear from the Marvel Universe while he was on leave, he became a hero adrift – appearing briefly in Heroes for Hire as well as his first in-continuity mini-series in 1997.

Hercules would finally get his starring turn as a result of a battle with an old foe – Hulk! In the 60s, Hercules proved to be one of the few heroes who could stand toe-to-toe with the Jade Giant. In 2007, he took over Hulk’s title in the wake of World War Hulk, becoming The Incredible Hercules! His book was a fan favorite, spawning two mini-series and another brief ongoing in 2011 before Hercules disappeared from the page. He would see revival in a 2016 All-New, All-Different Marvel series, which controversially ignored his canonical bisexuality – which was made more permanently canonical by Al Ewing in Herc’s starring run in Guardians of the Galaxy.

While Hercules still isn’t a marquee hero at Marvel, it seems that he won’t ever disappear again for more than a few years at a time.

• The Silver Age (1965 – 1975)
• The Champions (1975 – 1978)
• Hercules of the 24th Century (1982, 1984, 1988, 2010)
• The 1980s
• Hercules, The Avenger (1991 – 1996)
• Hercules Unleashed & Heart of Chaos (1996 – 1997)
• Avengers Reborn (1998 – 2005)
• Hercules Vol. 3 and Civil War (2005 – 2007)
• The Incredible Hercules (2007 – 2010)
• The Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)
• Marvel Now (2012 – 2015)
• All-New, All-Different Marvel (2015 – 2017)
• in The Avengers in Marvel Legacy & Fresh Start (2017 – 2019)
• Guardian of the Galaxy (2020 – 2021)
• Occasional Avenger (2024 – Present)

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Hercules in the Silver Age (1965 – 1975)

Hercules was introduced in Journey Into Mystery Annual 1, where he starred alongside a god of a different pantheon, Thor. After appearing as a not-quite-villainous adversary to the god of thunder, Hercules joined the Avengers in issue #38, and later went-on to co-star in Thor.

(Technically, he had previously appeared in Avengers #10, but that was later retconned to be an impersonator.)

Journey Into Mystery (1952) Annual 1: Thor vs. Hercules
This collection includes a number of scattered Thor and Hercules issues, all of which appear below: Journey into Mystery Annual #1; Thor (1966) #126, 221, 356, 400 (backup), 437, and Annual 5; Thor: Blood Oath #3-4; Incredible Hercules #136. See Thor for other collection options.

Flashbacks that predate Hercules’ debut include: Incredible Hercules #126 (an origin story), Avengers (1963) #39 & 265, Dark Avengers: Ares (2009) #2, Hercules: Heart Of Chaos (1997) #1-2, Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed (1996), Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 (2000) #112, Marvel Preview (Magazine) (1975) #10 (2nd story), Marvel Saga (1985) #1, Thing Vol. 2 (2006) #7, and Thor (1966) #356

After his debut, Hercules appears retroactively in a series of flashback issues/series: Thor (1966) Annual 5, Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants (2011) #1, Thor: Blood Oath (2005) #2-4, and Immortal Weapons (2009) #1

Journey Into Mystery (1952) #124-125 & Thor (1966) #126-131: See Thor. Hercules is expelled from Olympus and comes to blows with Thor over the attentions of Jane Foster. Hercules is implied or behind-the-scenes in #127, and appears only in the opening of #131. Issue #126 appears in Thor vs., above.

After #127: Tales To Astonish (1959) #79 (2nd story)

Avengers (1963) #38-44, Annual 1, 45-50: See The Avengers. Hercules lives and adventures with the Avengers, but he does not formally join the team until #45; he quits in #50.

After Avengers #44: Tales Of Suspense (1959) #92 (2nd story)

After Avengers #50: Silver Surfer (1968) #4, Ka-Zar (1970) #1 (2nd story), Sub-Mariner (1968) #29, Avengers (1963) #99-100 (flashback), Avengers Forever (1998) #2 & 12 (flashback)

Avengers (1963) #99-100: See The Avengers. An Olympus-focused story.

Thor (1966) #221-239: See Thor. Hercules is Thor’s companion in this run, before moving to LA at the end to set up his run in The Champions. Issue #221 appears in Thor vs., above.

During Thor #225: Thor (1966) #277-FB-BTS

After Thor #228: Uncanny Origins (1996) #4-OP, Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988) #144-FB

After Thor #231: Marvel Team-Up (1972) #28

After Thor #236: Avengers (1963) #137 (flashback)

The Champions (1975 – 1978)

Marvel Masterworks: The Champions
Collects the entire Champions run on one of the largest Marvel Masterworks of all time! Collects Champions (1975) #1-17; Iron Man Annual (1970) #4; Avengers (1963) #163; Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) #14; Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #17-18, Hulk Annual #7

Champions (1975) #1-11: The Champions Classic, Vol. 1

Champions (1975) #12-17: The Champions Classic, Vol. 2
Collects Champions #12-17, Iron Man Annual #4, Avengers #163, Super-Villain Team-Up #14 and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #17-18.

Click to expand a list of guest appearances in this period.

Avengers (1963) #172-177: See The Avengers. Implied in #172. The Avengers battle The Collector and Korvac in this classic run.

After Avengers #177: Defenders (1972) #62-65, Daredevil (1964) #155-157, Captain America (1968) #228-229, Avengers #181: Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #24 (5th story)

Hercules of the 24th Century (1982, 1984, 1988, 2010)

These Bob Layton stories – beginning in the 80s with a sequel over 20 years later – follow the Olympian adventures of an alternate future Hercules and do not fit with present-day Marvel continuity. Instead, they picture a space-faring Hercules of the 24th Century as he steps in the middle of intergalactic conflict.

Hercules (1982) #1-4 & Hercules (1984) #1-4: Hercules: Prince of Power hardcover
Previously collected in a 1988 trade paperback (ISBN 978-0871353658)

Marvel Graphic Novel #37 (1988) – Hercules, Prince of Power: Full Circle (ISBN 978-0871353979)
This story is recollected in Hercules: Full Circle along with material from Marvel Tales #197, Marvel Comics Presents #39-41, and Marvel Age #4 and #65.

Marvel Comics Presents #39-41: Above in Full Circle.

Hercules: Twilight of a God (2010) #1-4: Hercules: Twilight of a God

Hercules in the 1980s

While the far-future Hercules starred in his own limits series, the in-continuity Hercules continued as a supporting player in Thor and Avengers.

Thor (1966) #289 & 291-292: See Thor

 Avengers #211 (considered for membership), Silver Surfer Vol. 3 (1987) #14 (flashback), Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #1 – The Death of Captain Marvel OGN, Silver Surfer Annual 6 (flashback)

Contest of Champions: See Marvel Universe Events. Marvel Super Hero Contest Of Champions (1982) #1, 2-3 bts

Avengers (1963) #249 & Thor (1966) #350-353: See The Avengers and Thor. Hercules is behind-the-scenes or implied in #350-352

After Thor #353: Avengers (1963) #275 (implied in flashback), Captain America (1968) #301

Avengers (1963) #250-260, Annual 14 & Fantastic Four Annual 19: See The Avengers

After Avengers #251: Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #12 (3rd story)

During Avengers #255:  Rom, Spaceknight (1979) #65 (implied in #66)

After Avengers #255: Thor (1966) #356 (appears in Thor vs., above)

During Avengers #258: Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #270

Avengers (1963) #261-265: See The Avengers. Issue #263 crosses over into FF #286.

Secret Wars II: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in #5, 8-9

After #261: Secret Wars II (1985) #5, Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide (2008) (flashback), Fantastic Four (1961) #285

After #263: Fantastic Four (1961) #286, Captain America (1968) #314

After #264: Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #316, Secret Wars II (1985) #8

After #265: Secret Wars II (1985) #9

Avengers (1963) #266-272, Annual 15 & West Coast Avengers Annual 1: See The Avengers. Issues #270-272 are mirrored by Alpha Flight #36

After #266: New Mutants (1983) #40 and 81 (flashback)

During #270: Alpha Flight (1983) #36, Eternals Vol. 2 (1985) #8, Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #320-323 (and, between 322-323, Marvels: Eye Of The Camera (2009) #5 (flashback series)), Power-Man & Iron Fist (1978) #125 (flashback), Captain America (1968) #318

During #270-272: Alpha Flight (1983) #36

After Annual 15 & WCA Annual 1: Power Pack (1984) #28, Captain America (1968) #323

Avengers (1963) #273-285 & Annual 17: See The Avengers. Hercules is implied in #277 & 282 and does not appear in 280.

After #285: Solo Avengers (1987) #11 (2nd story)

Thor (1966) #406-418: See Thor

The Terminus Factor: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in Thor Annual 15, Avengers West Coast (1989) Annual 5 and Avengers (1963) Annual 19.

Thor #419-426: See Thor

After #408: Fantastic Four (1961) #333, Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 3 (1990) #9

After #412: Avengers (1963) Annual 19 (3rd story, flackback)

After #426: Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 3 (1990) #1 (2nd story), Sensational She-Hulk (1989) #25

Hercules, The Avenger (1991 – 1996)

Avengers (1963) #329-330 & 332-340: See The Avengers

After #333: Alpha Flight (1983) #98-101, Web of Spider-Man (1985) #75

Infinity Gauntlet: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules is implied or behind-the-scenes in #2 & 6

Avengers (1963) Annual 20: See The Avengers

After Annual 20: behind the scenes or impled in Incredible Hulk (1962) Annual 17 (2nd story), Avengers West Coast (1989) Annual 6, Thor (1966) #436-437

Avengers (1963) #343-344: See The Avengers. Thor #437 is simultaneous to these issues; it appears in Thor vs., above.

After Avengers #344 & Thor #437: Quasar (1989) #28, Captain America (1968) #395, Quasar (1989) #28-29, Thor (1966) #444

Galactic Storm: See The Avengers. Hercules appears throughout this event in. Avengers (1963) #345, Iron Man (1968) #278, Captain America (1968) #399, Avengers (1963) #346, Iron Man (1968) #279, Captain America (1968) #400, Wonder Man Vol. 2 (1991) #9, Avengers (1963) #347, Captain America (1968) #401

After Galactic Storm: New Warriors (1990) #26

Avengers (1963) #350 (2nd story): See the Avengers

Infinity War: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules is a major participant in this event and appears throughout its tie-ins.

Click to expand a list of Hercules chronology during this event.

After Infinity War: Thor (1966) Annual 17 (flashback), Fantastic Four (1961) Annual 25, Avengers (1963) Annual 21 (1st and 3rd stories), Thor (1966) Annual 17 (2nd story)

Avengers (1963) #348-366: See The Avengers

After #349: Quasar (1989) #41-42

After #357: Mys-Tech Wars (1993) #1 (behind-the-scenes in #2), Battletide (1992) #2-4, Thor (1966) #458

After #366: Avengers: Collectors Edition (1993), Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #403-404, Quasar (1989) #47

Infinity Crusade: See Marvel Universe Events.

Click to expand a list of Hercules chronology during this event.

Avengers (1963) Annual 22 & #367: See The Avengers

After Annual 22: Sleepwalker (1991) #26-27, Darkhawk (1991) #33

X-Men/Avengers: Bloodties: See The Avengers – Avengers (1963) #368, X-Men Vol. 2 (1991) #26, Avengers West Coast (1989) #101, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #307, Avengers (1963) #369

After Bloodties: Avengers West Coast (1989) #102, Warlock & The Infinity Watch (1992) #26-28

Avengers (1963) #370-375 & Annual 23: See The Avengers

After #371: Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #417

After #357: Thunderstrike (1993) #10

After Annual 23: Tales Of The Marvels: Wonder Years (1995) #2, Marvel Double Feature: Thunderstrike (1994) #16 (2nd story)

Avengers (1963) #378-382 & 384-390: See The Avengers

Click to expand a list of guest appearances in this period

Avengers: The Crossing: See The Avengers. Hercules chronology in the event is: Avengers: Crossing (1995), Avengers (1963) #391, Iron Man (1968) #321 & 323, Avengers (1963) #393, Iron Man (1968) #324, Avengers (1963) #394, Avengers: Timeslide (1996), (also in Sensational Spider-Man (1996) #3, not collected with The Crossing), Iron Man (1968) #325, Avengers (1963) #395, Age Of Innocence: Rebirth Of Iron Man (1996)

After The Crossing: Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #440, Avengers Unplugged (1995) #4, New Warriors (1990) #72

Avengers (1963) #398-399: See The Avengers

After #399: Avengers (1963) Annual 99 (flashback)

Onslaught: Hercules sits out this event, and so he is not part of the group of Avengers whisked into the pocket Heroes Reborn universe.

After Onslaught: X-Men Vol. 2 #59 (need to check this, may be a dream or flashback)

Hercules Unleashed & Heart of Chaos (1996 – 1997)

Hercules finally enjoys a brief moment in the spotlight while the Avengers and their famous trinity of leaders were whisked away into the Heroes Reborn pocket universe in the wake of Onslaught.

Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed One-Shot (1996)

After Unleashed: Quicksilver (1997) #7 (flashback), Imperial Guard (1997) #1 (flashback)

Heroes For Hire (1997) #1-3: See Luke Cage. Hercules is for hire in this first arc.

Hercules: Heart of Chaos (1997) #1-3: Thor Epic Collection Vol. 24: The Lost Gods (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956509 / digital TBA)
Collects Journey Into Mystery (1996) #503-513 & -1, Valkyrie (1997) #1, and Hercules and the Heart of Chaos (1997) #1-3

After Heart of Chaos: Marvel Team-Up Vol. 2 (1997) #2-3

Hercules in Avengers Reborn (1998 – 2005)

Almost all of the Avengers extended cast appears in the opening arc of their return in 1998, but Hercules doesn’t join the cast of the book for several years.

Before Avengers: Heroes Reborn: Return (1997) #2

Avengers Vol. 3 (1998) #1-4: See The Avengers

After Avengers #3 (and during 4): Heroes For Hire (1997) #12-13, Captain America Vol. 3 (1998) #3

After Avengers #4: X-Force/Champions (1998) #98, Thor Vol. 2 (1998) #6-7 & 12-13, Thunderbolts (1997) #22, Fantastic Four Vol. 3 (1998) #21

Contest of Champions II: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in #3-4

Avengers Vol. 3 (1998) #25: See The Avengers

After Avengers #25: New Warriors Vol. 2 (1999) #10, She-Hulk (2004) #9 (11:1)-FB

Maximum Security: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears only in Maximum Security (2000) #3

After Maximum Security: Thor Annual 01

Avengers Vol. 3 (1998) Annual ’01, #44, 46, 54-55: See The Avengers. Behind-the-scenes in the annual

After Avengers #44: Thunderbolts (1997) #57 (and 58 behind-the-scenes), Captain America Vol. 3 (1998) #50 (6th story)
After Avengers #55: JLA/Avengers (2003) #2, Thor Vol. 2 (1998) #36, 39-41

Avengers Vol. 3 (1998) #58: See The Avengers.

After Avengers #58: She-Hulk (2004) #1, Wonder Man Vol. 3 (2007) #5 (flashback), She-Hulk (2004) #9

Avengers (1963) #501-503: See The Avengers or Marvel Universe Events: Avengers Disassembled

After Avengers #503: Hercules Vol. 3 (2005) #1 (brief flashback), She-Hulk (2004) #12, more #1 flashbacks, Great Lakes Avengers (2005) #2 (flashback)

Hercules, Vol. 3 (2005) and Civil War (2005 – 2007)

Hercules is distraught at the loss of his friends wake of Avengers Disassembled, which motivates his second in-continuity series. Afterward, he appears throughout Civil War.

Hercules Vol. 3 (2005) #1-5: The New Labors of Hercules

After #5: Fantastic Four: Foes (2005) #6

Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants (2011) #1-4
The present-day scenes of this series occurs here, though the series was released five years later.

Ares (2006) #1-5: Ares: God of War
Hercules appears in all but #1. These five issues are also collected in Dark Avengers: Ares, which primarily collects Dark Reign: Ares #1-3 (in which Hercules does not appear).

After Ares: Thing Vol. 2 (2006) #6, She-Hulk Vol. 2 (2005) #7, Thing Vol. 2 (2006) #8

Civil War: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears throughout the main Civil War series and many of its tie-ins. His appearances are listed below. See Marvel Universe Events: Civil War for collection information.

Click to expand a list of Hercules chronology during this event.

Hercules may also appear in the following comics during this period: Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1 (flashback story fits after Champions #16) and Hulk (2000) #100

The Incredible Hercules (2007 – 2010)

While Civil War was playing out on Earth, the Incredible Hulk was embroiled in a different sort of conflict across the universe on the planet Sakaar after being forcibly removed from Earth by the Illuminati. He is understandably enraged (moreso than usual) when he returns, which results in World War Hulk. Hercules becomes one of the major heroes resisting Hulk’s green-fisted reign, which leads to him taking over Hulk’s Incredible title.

To learn more about this era, read my write-up of it as one of the Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibuses of 2017!

as deluxe oversized editions…

#106-115: Vol. 1: Smash of the Titans
Issues #106-112 were branded as Hulk. Also collects Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide

#116-125: Vol. 2: Sacred Invasion

#126-141: Not collected in this format.

in a 2019 Complete Collection line…

Incredible Hercules: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (2019 paperback, IBSN 9781302918668 / digital)
Collects Incredible Hulk (2000) #106-112, Incredible Hercules (2008) #113-120, Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide (2008) #1; and material from Giant-Size Hulk (2006) #1, Amazing Fantasy (2004) #15, and Incredible Hulk (2000) #100

Incredible Hercules: The Complete Collection Vol. 2 (2021 paperback, IBSN 978-1302923488 / digital)
Collects Incredible Hercules #121-137

in order of release…

#106-111: World War Hulk: The Incredible Hercules
At this point the title was still Hulk, but Hercules appears in each of these issues.

Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 (2000) #112: See below in Against the World

World War Hulk: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in #2 during Hulk #107. After Hulk #112, Hercules also appears in World War Hulk: Aftersmash (2008)

After the end of World War Hulk, Hercules co-opts Hulk’s title as his own. It’s his first ongoing in over forty years of publishing!

#112-115: Vol. 1: Against the World
Issue #112 is still titled as a Hulk issue occurs prior to World War Hulk: Aftermash. Also collects Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide, which occurs just before #116 (after the issues that follow #115). Available in hardcover.

After #115: She-Hulk Vol. 2 (2005) #30, Fantastic Four (1961) #556 & 562, then When Titans Collide.

#116-120: Vol. 2: Secret Invasion
Available in hardcover.

#121-125: Vol. 3: Love & War
Available in hardcover.

In the midst of staring in his own title, Hercules also joins the Mighty Avengers.

Mighty Avengers (2007) #21-27: See Mighty Avengers

After Mighty Avengers #23: Planet Skaar: Prologue (2009), Fantastic Four (1961) #569, Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 (1968) #601

#126-128: Vol. 4: Dark Reign
Includes #126-131. Issue #126 primary occurs prior to Journey Into Mystery Annual 1. Available in hardcover.

Mighty Avengers (2007) #28-34: See Mighty Avengers

After Mighty Avengers #31: Realm Of Kings: Inhumans (2010) #1-2, Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #3, Secret Warriors (2009) #10, Deadpool Team-Up Vol. 2 (2010) #899

#129-136: Vol. 4: Dark Reign
Includes #126-131

#132-137: Vol. 5: The Mighty Thorcules
Hercules does not appear in #137 – it’s primarily an Amadeus Cho story. Available in hardcover. Issue #126 also appears in Thor vs., above.

#138-141: Vol. 6: Assault on New Olympus
Includes Assault on New Olympus Prologue (2009), which falls before #138. Available in hardcover.

After #141: Avengers vs. Atlas (2010) #3,

The Mighty Avengers (2007) #35: See Mighty Avengers. Hercules does not appear in #36.

During this era, Hercules may also appear in: Ms. Marvel (2006) #21, Giant-Size Avengers (2008) #1, Nova (2007) Annual 01, Punisher War Journal (2007) #17, New Avengers (2005) #43, Black Panther (2005) Annual 01, AAFES 7th Edition (2009) One-Shot – ‘An Army of One’, Captain America (2005) #50 (flashback, listed above), Guardians of the Galaxy (2008) #18, Dark Avengers: Ares (2009) #2, The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #627

Hercules makes the following appearances in this period that fit into other points in his continuity: Amazing Spider-Man Family (2008) #8, Mythos: Captain America (2008) #1, X-Men: First Class Finals (2009) #3, Gambit and the Champions: From The Marvel Vault (2011) #1 (during Champions #7)

Hercules in The Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)

The Heroic Age marked a returned to big, fun, straight-forward stories for most of Marvel’s heroes – but not for Hercules! Hercules had seemingly died at the end of The Incredible Hercules, leaving his protegé Amadeus Cho to figure out how to return him to life.

It’s confusing that both of these series are titled “Hercules” when he appears in them so sparsely, but rebooting to two limited series likely gave the stories a boost in sales that his ongoing title couldn’t produce. They culminated in the Chaos War event, the grand finale where the returned Hercules amasses Earth’s heroes to battle his former God Squad ally The Chaos King while all of Earth (heroes included!) fall into a deep sleep.

Afterwards, Hercules run continues in the simply named “Herc.”

Before “Fall of”: Iron Man/Thor (2011) #3-4, Avengers (2010) #4 & 6, Avengers Academy (2010) #2

Hercules: Fall of an Avenger (2010) #1-2: Incredible Hercules: The New Prince of Power
Hercules only appears in #2. Collected with Prince, directly below.

Heroic Age: The New Prince of Power (2010) #1-4: Incredible Hercules: The New Prince of Power
Hercules appears in #1 and 4. Collected with Fall, directly above.

Chaos War: See Marvel Universe Events. This was a Hercules-centric event, and Herc appeared prominently in the main series as well as in the Chaos King and God Squad one-shots. See Marvel Universe Events: Chaos War

Hercules approximate chronology in this event was: Chaos War (2010) #1, Chaos War: Chaos King (2011) #1, Chaos War (2010) #2-3, Chaos War: God Squad (2011) #1, Chaos War (2010) #4, Chaos War: Ares (2011) #1, Incredible Hulks (2010) #620, Chaos War (2010) #5

Incredible Hulks #620-622: See Hulk. #620 occurs prior to Chaos War #5.

After Hulks #622: X-Men: To Serve And Protect (2011) #4, Thunderstrike (2011) #1, Avengers Academy (2010) #7 & 11

Fear Itself: See Marvel Universe Events. Herc does not appear directly in Fear Itself, but Herc’s series launches as a tie-in to Fear Itself.

Herc (2011) #1-6: Fear Itself: Herc
These issues also included in Complete Series, with details below

#6.1: In Complete Series, below

After #4: Avengers (2010) #16

Spider-Island: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in Spider Island Daily Bugle (2011) #1 and briefly towards the end of this story in #672-673, roughly coinciding with #7-8 in his solo title. See Marvel Universe Events: Spider-Island for more information.

Herc (2011) #7-10: Herc: The Complete Series by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Contains #1-10 & 6.1

After Herc #10: Hulk (2008) #49, Avengers Academy (2010) #29-31 (as an instructor; mostly played for laughs).

Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants (2011) #1-4
The present-day scenes of this series occurs just after the 2005 mini-series.

Marvel Vault: Gambit & The Champions (2011): From The Marvel Vault
This issue illustrates a stock script that included a pre-X-Men Gambit in a Champions flashback. It fits between Champions #7-8

Additional appearances in this era: The Thanos Imperative (2010) #3, Deadpool & Cable (2011) #26

Hercules in Marvel Now (2012 – 2015)

Hercules hardly appears in the Marvel Now era, making sparse guest appearances after Age of Ultron. An alternate-timeline version of him starred in X-Treme X-Men.

X-Treme X-Men, Vol. 2 #7, 7.1, 9-12: See X-Treme X-Men. Note that this is not the 616 Universe Hercules. He appears throughout the X-Termination event in X-Termination (2013) #1-2, Astonishing X-Men #60, and Age of Apocalypse #14.

Before Age of Ultron: Fantastic Four #1

Age of Ultron: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears briefly in flashback in Wolverine and the X-Men 27.AU

After Age of Ultron: Fearless Defenders (2013) #9, Marvel Knights: Hulk (2014) #4, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man (2013) #10, Deadpool (2013) #27, Captain America (2013) #25, S.H.I.E.L.D. (2015) #1, Thor (2014) Annual 01, and Ant-Man (2015) Annual 01

Hercules in All-New, All-Different Marvel (2016 – Present)

Hercules merited his own short-lived ongoing series in All-New, All-Different Marvel, which continued into a Civil War II mini-series. After the event, Hercules rejoins The Avengers!

#1-6: Vol. 1: Still Going Strong

Around this time, guest appearances in Mockingbird (2016) #1, Vision (2016) #5, and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe (2016) OGN .

Civil War II: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules series effectively continues in a four-issue Gods of War mini-series collected in Civil War II: Gods of War, which echoes the group of characters he lead in the first Civil War. He does not appear in the actual Civil War II event, though he does turn up in The Fallen (2016) #1

In the wake of Civil War II, Hercules joins a relaunched Avengers while (ironically) the younger members of the team re-form as “The Champions.”

Monsters Unleashed: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in #1-3 & 5 as well as the tie-in Avengers (2017) #1.MU.

Avengers (2017) #1-8: See Avengers

In this period, he also appear sin Captain America: Sam Wilson (2015) #19, Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme (2016) #6-12, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mother Entropy (2017) #5 

Secret Empire: See Marvel Universe Events. Hercules appears in #0-5 and FCBD and in Secret Empire: Underground (2017) #1.

During Secret Empire: The Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #30 and Captain America (2017) #25

Avengers (2017) #11: See Avengers

Also in this period: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again (2017) #1 

Hercules The Avengers in Marvel Legacy & Marvel Now (2017 – 2019)

Hercules resumes his memberships in the Avengers in Marvel Legacy, appearing in their Worlds Collide crossover with The Champions in The Avengers (1963) #672-673 & Champions (2016) #13-14 (and in the epilogue in #15). See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present) for collection information.

Also in this period: Iceman (2017) #6-7, Invincible Iron Man (2017) #593, Not Brand Echh (1967) #14, Might Thor (2015) #702, and Marvel 2-In-One (2017) #3

Then, Herc as a cast member in the weekly Avengers event, “No Surrender.” He appears in Avengers (1963) #675-690 (though he’s not in #685). See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present) for collection information.

After No Surrender in Venomized (2018) #1-4, Punisher (2016) #224-227, and Uncanny X-Men: Winters End (2019) 1

Herc returns to co-anchor another major Avengers arc with Scarlet Witch in Avengers: No Road Home (2019) #1-10, which is legacy-numbered as a part of Jason Aaron’s Avengers (2018). See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present) for collection information.

After No Road Home, in Unstoppable Wasp (2018) #7, Thor (2018) #16 and a non-continuity appearance in History of the Marvel Universe (2019) #6.

Hercules, Guardian of the Galaxy (2020 – 2021)

Writer Al Ewing pays homage to Herc’s classic cosmic stories by Bob Layton (as well as to his canonical bisexuality) during his membership in Guardians of the Galaxy (2020).

#1-18 & Annual 1: See Guide to Guardians of the Galaxy. Herc is not significantly in issues #9, 13-14, & 17. Also during this run he is in Empyre: Aftermath Avengers (2020) #1 and Last Annihilation: Wiccan & Hulkling (2021) #1.

Also in this period: Iron Man (2020) #9, Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2021) #1

After this series, in Winter Guard (2021) #3, The Thing (2021) #1, The Marvels (2021) #9, Marvel’s Voices: Pride (2022) #1, Damage Control (2022) #1 & 4, Avengers: War Across Time (2023) #5, Spider-Boy (2023) #3, Guardians of the Galaxy (2023) #1, and out of continuity in Hulk: Grand Design – Madness (2022) #1 and Alligator Loki Infinity Comic (2022) #19.

Herc, Occasional Avenger (2024 – Present)

Blood Hunt (2024): Herc appears in Captain America’s team in Avengers (2023) #14-16. See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present).

Immortal Thor (2023) #13-14, Giant-Size Thor (2024) #1, & Immortal Thor (2023) #15: See Guide to Thor – Odinson

Avengers Assemble (2024): After Blood Hunt, Herc returns to team with Cap again in this Avengers mini-series. See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present).

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