More Hercules! More Hercules! More Hercules!

OK, now things get REALLY interesting on these later issues. Sam Glanzman's art gets quite loose and the layouts start to get... well...kinda far out!



Sweet huh! A totally unique look that Sam pretty much only used on this book. Just look at that DESIGN! How 'bout the lettering! I'm not sure i've ever seen anything quite like it.

The series kinda ran out of steam after issue 12 when writer Joe Gill got done recounting ol' Herc's labors, and the last two issues are pretty much slug-fests with Mars, God of War, but still excellently executed by Mr Glanzman. Let's hear it for the total lack of editorial interference at Charlton! See what can be wrought when that artist is, uh....LEFT ALONE! Hey, editor! Leave them artists alone!

As a BIG fan of Jack Kirby's "Thor", i must say that these books have an "earthy" feel that the Marvel Asgard stuff lacks. Don't get me wrong, the grandeur, scope and dynamism combined with The King at his artistic and design peak is an industry high-point, but the folksy tone of these Hercules books is not to be disparaged, and they still hold up very well today (try saying that about a lot of late '60's books).

As an added treat, we have a great issue of Midnight Tales. Disregard the cover, which (as usual) has nothing to do with the interior. And what an interior. Inside this gem we find stories with titles like "Orion" by Don Newton, "Jason" by Joe Staton and "The Oracle" by Wayne Howard....and that should tell you why this is up with the Hercules books... OK?

Hercules #9 or here - Hercules #9!
Hercules #11 or here - Hercules #11!
Hercules #12 or here - Hercules #12!
Hercules #13 or here - Hercules #13!
Midnight Tales #11 or here - Midnight Tales #11!