Written by Cazenove
Illustrated by Larbier
Colors by Alexandre Amouriq & Mirabelle
3. Hercules: Tough Times for Heroes
Cazenove - Larbier
MYTHS AND HEROES
Hercules: Tough Times for Heroes
© 2015 BAMBOO ÉDITION
© 2023 BRAINFOOD PUBLISHING
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
TRANSLATION: Georgio Valentino
DESIGN ADAPTATION: Paris Koutsikos
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Nikos Chatzopoulos
BRAINFOOD PUBLISHING
Empedokleous 28 & Souri 20, 12131 Peristeri, Athens, Greece
Tel.: (+30) 210 2514123
www.brainfood.gr
June 2023
• Email: contact@brainfood.gr
ISBN: 978-618-5427-84-9
All rights not expressly granted here are reserved. Any unauthorized copying, alteration, distribution, transmission, performance, display or other use of this material is prohibited.
NOT EVEN A BOWL OF SOUP OR A DROP OF SODA! YOU’RE GETTIN’ SQUAT! NOTHING!
NO MORE POTIONS FOR YOU, HERCULES!...
NEVER AGAIN!!!
AWW… C’MON, CIRCE…
IMPOSSIBLE… I WANTED TO WHACK THE LERNAEAN HYDRA BUT CIRCE WON’T MAKE ME A POTION OF SUPER STRENGTH TO GIVE ME A FIGHTING CHANCE…
THAT AIN’T RIGHT…
I’M DONE FOR, TIMMY… I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FINISH MY 12 LABORS…
BOO HOO…
NOTHING AT ALL!
OF COURSE YOU WILL, YOU’LL SEE…
…ALL BECAUSE I CALLED HER UGLY!
IT’S NOT FAIR…
3
THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE GIVEN ME ALL THESE LABORS, BUT… ...TO THE AMAZONS! !
THAT’S WHAT THEY DO… …THEY SCRAP!
POW BAM SNAP
OR ARES… HE CAN BLOW UP AN ENTIRE PLANET, RIGHT? SO ONE LITTLE HYDRA…
SPLAT SPLAT
ODYSSEUS WOULD TAKE IT ON HIS STUPID BOAT…
MIDAS WOULD TURN IT INTO SOLID GOLD IN A SPLIT SECOND…
… AND MAKE IT SICK…
EVEN PENELOPE COULD CAPTURE IT IN A SUPER TIGHT SWEATER!
… BUT NO, IT’S UP TO ME… SO I MIGHT AS WELL KILL MYSELF AND THEN GO TO BED…
SIGH
4
CRACK BIFF
ARTEMIS WOULD SLICE IT INTO BITE-SIZE PIECES WITH A SINGLE ARROW!… SPLAT SPLAT T H W A C K
WAIT, HERCULES! LET ME TALK TO CIRCE! SHE LIKES ME… ME!
LOOK… HERE SHE COMES NOW!
YOU’LL SEE I’M RIGHT!
YOU JUST HAD A LITTLE FIGHT, THAT’S ALL! HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE TIME! NO BIG DEAL!
SO SHE DOESN’T HATE ME? OF COURSE NOT!
SHE’S EVEN BRINGING THAT POTION OF SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH! IT CAN’T BE…
IT IS… I’LL ASK HER…
HI, CIRCE! IS THAT THE POTION OF SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH YOU’VE PREPARED?
POTION OF SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH? IT SURE IS, TIMMY!
HI, CIRCE!
…I’M DEAD MEAT…
WELL, WHADDYA SAY?
5
WE’RE AMAZONS, NOT MERCENARIES, HERCULES! NO ONE TELLS US WHAT TO DO! BUT… WHAT CAN I GIVE YOU TO DEFEAT THE NEMEAN LION FOR ME? A LION?
AN ENORMOUS BEAST WITH RAZORSHARP TEETH AND EVERYTHING! IT’S ON MY LIST OF 12 LABORS, I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE…
…HE JUST WON’T LET ME KILL HIM…
I DON’T THINK WE’VE EVER THRASHED A LION, MYRINA…
DRAGONS, GIANTS, OGRES, YES… BUT NO LIONS YET…
LET’S DO IT!
HE’S HIDING HERE… RIGHT BEHIND THESE BUSHES!
HE’LL MAKE A BUSHY FUR COAT! IS THAT… A LION?
YUP! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH BLOODTHIRSTY EYES? …AND THOSE TEETH! LOTTA TEETH!
WHAT A GREAT BIG KITTY CAT!
YOU’RE A CUTIE! YES, YOU ARE!
HEE HEE!
LOOK AT THOSE PRETTY NAILS!
HOW CUTE!
6
ZOUUUU
THE REAL TRICK BEHIND THE TROJAN HORSE IS TO MAKE THEM THINK IT’S EMPTY…
…WHEN IN FACT IT’S CHOCK-FULL OF FIERCE WARRIORS!
…BUT IT CAN ALSO BE USED AS A BATTERING RAM… GRUNT! GRUNT!
WHO’S THERE?
…OR A GETAWAY CAR… GET ME OUTTA HERE! BOOM
…A FEW MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE IT THE ULTIMATE WEAPON…
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLE… ? !
ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING, TIMMY?
HEE HEE HAW HAW HEE HEE HEE
7
I THINK I FINALLY GOT MY SUPERPOWERS! I’M SO EXCITED!
HEEHEE!
YEAH YEAH YEAH!
JUST IN TIME!
I ORDER THEE, STONE!!!
LET’S SEE WHAT WE GOT!
FIRST TRY…
I ORDER THEE, WIND!!!
C’MON! TORNADO!
I ORDER THEE, INSECT!!!
HMM…
I ORDER THEE, TREE!!!
WHATCHA DOING, TIMMY?
ORDERING A PIZZA…
8
LYMPIZZA
WE AMAZONS DON’T NEED MEN!
WE’RE FIERCE AND INDEPENDENT WARRIORS!
YEAH!
WE CAN DEFEND OURSELVES!
CHANGE OUR OWN TIRES!
NOTHING SCARES US! GO ON, SIT!
BRAVO! RIGHT ON, SISTERS! I’M RIGHT WITH YA! WE ARE ALL EQUAL!
BUT IF IT’S ALL THE SAME, LET’S DISCUSS IT LATER…
I’M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE NAP WHILE YOU DO THE DISHES!
9
!
UMM… I KNOW… I KNOW!
WHAT’S THIS, HERCULES?
A CENTAUR!
BINGO!
HALF HUMAN, HALF HORSE!
AND THIS? A MINOTAUR! A SPHINX!
BODY OF A WINGED LION WITH THE FACE OF A WOMAN!
A SIREN!
HALF WOMAN, HALF FISH! A SATYR!
A MAN WITH GOAT HORNS AND HOOVES!
HALF HUMAN, HALF BULL! EASY!
FAILED!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST?
UMM… A CREATURE, HALF CENTAUR, HALF HORSE?
HUH?
WELL, WHAT WAS IT? TRICK QUESTION…
SHEESH! THE MOUNT OLYMPUS ENTRANCE EXAM IS TOUGH!
10
WELL, OF COURSE I CAN FORGE YOU A WEAPON! WE’RE NOT IN AN ICE CREAM SHOP, ARE WE?!
ZEUS EVEN SAID IF I DO WELL ON MY EXAMS, I’LL BE THE GOD OF HEAVY METAL! PRETTY COOL, HUH?
HEPHAESTUS
HEPHAESTUS
HERE, LOOK AT THIS SWORD I’M FORGING ALL BY MYSELF! WITH ONLY MY HAMMER AND MY GLOVES!
WHOA...
AND THERE’S MORE! SHIELDS, SABERS, AXES, MACES… NAIL CLIPPERS…
EVERYTHING!
GIVE IT A TRY, ARTEMIS!
BANG
DON’T MOVE A MUSCLE! COMIN’ RIGHT UP!
EASY!
HUFF
COME ON, HIT ME! WHADDYA NEED!
A BOW! I BROKE MINE HUNTING THE CENTAUR…
COOL, HUH? LIKE I SAID, THIS STUFF IS BUILT TO LAST!
11
ARMORER HARDWARE STORE
ARMORER HARDWARE STORE
HUH?
EXCUSE ME, YOUNG LADY, WHICH WAY TO THE GRECIAN ANATOMY EXPO?
GOOD GODS! I LOOKED HIM IN THE EYES! WHAT WAS I THINKING! ?
HEY, MEDUSA! HEEHEEHEE HEEHEEHEE
EH, NO BIG DEAL… I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT!
BUT… HOW… CAN YOU?
OH YEAH, IT’S JUST…
TIMMY, I TURNED ANOTHER PERSON TO STONE! I’M A MONSTER! I’M HOPELESS!
WELL, MEDUSA, WHADDYA THINK?
HE LOOKS A LOT BETTER THIS WAY, DOESN’T HE? THANKS, MIDAS!
DON’T WORRY, I JUST NEED TO FETCH A FRIEND!
TELL THE GUY NOT TO MOVE, OK?…
TH… THANKS, TIMMY…
ANYTHING ELSE TO TURN TO GOLD…
…OR CAN I GO?
12
GRRRRR… I’VE HAD QUITE ENOUGH OF A SHELLACKING BY THIS NEMEAN LION!
I’LL GO CLEAR OUT THE AUGEAN STABLES! A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT CLEANING TO START THE DAY!
MISTER AUGEAS, I’VE COME TO CLEAR OUT YOUR STABLES!
OH YEAH?
WHAT FOR? SCRATCHSCRATCH
I’M GONNA START WITH AN EASY LABOR, FIND MY FEET A LITTLE…
HMM… NOT THAT ONE… CAPTURE THE BOAR… PFFF… GO TO THE UNDERWORLD… WE’LL SEE LATER…
…BESIDES, THEY’LL ONLY GET DIRTIER IF I WAIT…
…AND THEN…
SCRATCH SCRATCH
WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT! OVER THERE!
ALRIGHTY! LET’S START WITH A LITTLE SWEE…
WH… WHERE’S THAT NEMEAN LION?
…HE’S REALLY GONNA GET IT…
13
MUNCH ? MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH MUNCH
ELIS
HIS LIVING ROOM…
CLEANING THE AUGEAN STABLES IS ONE OF THE 12 LABORS OF HERCULES!
GOOD LUCK!
KITCHEN?
BATHTUB?
RATHER THAN CLEAN HIS STABLES… I’LL JUST TIDY UP HIS HOUSE… SAME THING, RIGHT? IF YOU SAY SO…
TOILET?
HERCULES, AND IF YOU… PSSPSSPSSPSS…? OH YEAH!!!
ON THE LIST IT SAYS “CLEAN THE STABLES OF AUGEAS”… NOT AUGEAS HIMSELF…
LIKE I SAID, SAME THING!
SCRATCHSCRATCH
14
RETCH
BEDROOM?
FOR YOU, ODYSSEUS, I SEE WATER… LOOOOTS OF WATER… LIKE IN THE BATH?
YOU WILL SAIL THE STORMIEST OF SEAS! BUT NOT ONLY THAT…
YOU WILL FACE MONSTERS AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, SIRENS, A GIANT MAN-EATING CYCLOPS!
…THEN YOU WILL MARRY PENELOPE, WHO WILL GIVE YOU A SON: TELEMACHUS…
THERE!
END OF TRANSMISSION!
YOU WILL RISK YOUR LIFE MANY TIMES OVER IN THE TROJAN WAR!
STORMS, MONSTERS, WAR…
THAT’S NOTHING…
YIKES… DID YOU HEAR WHAT THE ORACLE PREDICTED FOR ME? HOW AWFUL! NO KIDDING…
“YOUR SON WILL BE CALLED TELEMACHUS”… WHAT A DUMB NAME! NOW THAT’S REALLY AWFUL!
15
IT’S… PRETTY CHOPPY OUT HERE… TODAY! FOR SURE!
I DIDN’T KNOW THERE COULD EVEN BE SUCH A MONSTER STORM… ME NEITHER!
POSEIDON MUST HAVE A RIGHTEOUS BEE IN HIS BONNET TO UNLEASH SUCH RAGE!
MAYBE HE DIDN’T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT!
MAYBE THE SIRENS WERE SNORING!
AH… NOW THAT’S BETTER…
ANYWAY, I’M DONE WITH IT, THE BOAT, THE SEA… ALL OF IT!
…GROANNN...
DON’T WORRY… POSEIDON’S NOT READY TO KICK UP ANOTHER STORM!
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
…GROANNN…
HE’S SEASICK, TOO!
…GROANNN...
16
THANKS FOR COMING TO HELP ME RESCUE THESEUS FROM THE UNDERWORLD, TIMMY!
OH WHY OH WHY
OH WHY
AND NOW I CAN CROSS THIS OFF MY LIST OF 12 LABORS!
THERE!
WE COULDN’T ALLOW AN INNOCENT SOUL TO BURN DOWN HERE! IF YOU SAY SO…
LET’S SPLIT!
B
BO OOO LAAAAAM M
UMM… ARE YOU SURE THAT’S THESEUS?
MY BAD! BUT THERE’S NO WAY I’M GOING BACK DOWN THERE!
“RESCUE THESEUS FROM THE UNDERWORLD”… DONE!
17
?
THANKS FOR HELPING ME WALK CERBERUS, BUDDIES!
I’M ALWAYS AFRAID THESE THREE’LL RUN AWAY…
GOOD ONE!
NICE!
18
GUYS, DID YOU SEE WHAT HEPHAESTUS GAVE ME? ? ? !
A FAN? THERE’S NO WAY HE MADE THAT! NO WAY!
OF COURSE HE DID! WHO D’YA THINK MADE IT?
IMPOSSIBLE! HE ONLY MAKES WEAPONS… …NOT FASHION ACCESSORIES!
BAH! ENOUGH! YOU’RE JUST JEALOUS!!!
THAT’S NOT IT, IT’S JUST WEAPONS ARE KINDA HIS THING…
BOOM
WELL, THEN… LET’S SEE… ANY BLADES IN THERE?
IS THAT WHERE THE ARROW GOES?
YOU SURE IT DOESN’T SHOOT FLAMES?
MAYBE A FABRIC CLUB? A LADIES SLINGSHOT?
PSSHT! JUST BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEVER GIVE A YOUNG LADY SUCH A ROMANTIC GIFT…
APHRODITE, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU TO ABSOLUTELY NEVER WAVE YOUR FAN…
19
FL A P FL A P FLAP
SERIOUSLY? YOU’RE GONNA TRY TO CLEAR OUT THE AUGEAN STABLES AGAIN? BUT YOU SAW IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, HERCULES!!! THAT’S SOME SERIOUS FILTH…
YEAH, BUT THIS TIME, I’M NOT GOING ALONE! I HAVE A PLAN SO GOOD IT’S SCARY!
NEXT TO AUGEAS’ KINGDOM RUNS A RIVER… THE ALPHEUS! AND GUESS WHAT I’M GONNA DO!
RUN AWAY?
NO! THIS’LL BE A PIECE OF CAKE! JUST BUILD A LITTLE DAM AND VOILA! JUST IMAGINE…
THE ALPHEUS WILL COME ROARING THROUGH LIKE A TORRENT, SWEEPING AWAY ALL IN ITS PATH! AND I CAN CROSS ONE LABOR OFF MY LIST!!!
HMM… I THINK YOU’D BETTER THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE… NO WAY! WHY SHOULD I? THIS’LL DO IT!
LOOKS LIKE YOUR RIVER’S BEEN USED TO CLEAN A BUNCH OF GARBAGE ALREADY… ALPHEUS
20
IT SAYS HERE YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THE STABLES OF AUGEAS, NOT AUGEAS HIMSELF…
I ALREADY TOLD YOU! SAME THING!
21 ?
SNIFF SNIFF
SCRUB SCRUB
S SHPLA
