A YJA Moment - Hercules

The demi-god known as Hercules is well known in the ancient world.  Born of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena, he grew up to be incredibly strong and resilient.  He was heralded as the greatest of the Greek Heroes, emulated by many throughout the years.

Although in his life he did great things, it seemed everything Hercules did came at a terrible cost.  He opposed the great goddess Hera, which ended up costing him his family.  During his great labours, he subdued the Amazons but committed great crimes against them which made them their lasting enemy despite all attempts to atone for his sins.

At some point, he left for the stars using the great Star Chariot with his good friend Dorian to found the colony world of New Calydon.  Joined by Newton and Tewt (actually the centaur Nikomedes and the satyr Thoön), he had many adventures before returning to Earth.

In the modern-day, Hercules found himself without much of a purpose.  His attempts to become a hero in New York City ended when he ran afoul with Thor, a frequent rival. Their spectacular brawls in midtown Manhattan ruined his reputation in the city and made him an enemy of Thor's team The Shield.

When he learned of fabled monsters in the sewers underneath the Big Apple, Herc took up his mighty club and descended into the depths of the city to earn glory and rehabilitate his reputation.  He ended up turned to stone when he gazed upon the Gorgons living in an abandoned subway station.

And so, that appeared to be the end of the Son of Zeus, until the fates decreed otherwise.  During a conflict in the Underworld, Hercules's soul was whisked away by the Reality Stone to serve in the Grail Wars.  When he was not called into service, his essence simply disappeared.

Awaking on a strange planet, Hercules had been returned to life, but in a mortal body. Undeterred by this, he called upon his mighty Star Chariot and traveled to New Caledonia, the planet he had once called home.

There he reconnected with his centaur and satyr companions and retrieved his mighty Tempest Band, a magical ring that contained a lightning bolt stolen from the Wizard Shazam.  Wearing the ring, he called down the lightning and was again empowered to do mighty deeds.

Now traveling the space-lanes, Hercules seeks to forge a new legend amongst the hundreds of species in Known Space.