Incredible Hercules has been around for about a year and a half now. With about twenty one issues out ever since it has taken over the throne of Hulk in 2008. Who would’ve thought that a comic series that has Hercules and Amadeus Cho as the main characters would last this long? Well with it going bi weekly now and a huge event coming our way, it’s safe to say this title is going to be safe for a while longer. But how this this series come about? Why did Marvel want this title to exist? When the hell will the numbering be what it should be?

I can’t answer the last question, but the other two are answered in this oversized hardcover collecting of the first twelve issues of the new run. However, there is a word of warning when it comes to this trade. The first half of this collects the Incredible Hulk comics when World War Hulk was around. Amadeus Cho and Hercules are around, but they are more side players then anything else. But that shouldn’t turn you away from a great series of tie-in’s by Greg Pak (and eventually Jeff Parker). Pak has been a great writer for the Hulk and he definitely gives time to explore the side characters during the war. This is where Cho becomes a bit more likable and his genius is brilliantly shown during combat.

But if you don’t like World War Hulk, then don’t worry! The second half of the hardcover collects the first adventure Cho and Hercules would have. This comic is a bit dated, I know, because of the line up of Mighty Avengers and the stupid Registration Act popping up. If you take those aspects out of the comic then you have a very fun and funny comic to read. Fred Van Lente joins Greg Pak (and stays to this day) to add his touch of bizarre to the story. Basically it’s just a big chase with Hercules and Ares as these two brothers have a big feud going way back in the glory days of Greece. Just seeing these two duke it out is a blast to read, and then you add in missles to the fray….Well how can you not love this more?

If there’s something that is consistant about the trade is the great artists involved. Gary Frank, a man I completely forgot did this run, does the first two issues. If you love his run with Geoff Johns on Action Comics then all you need is to copy and paste my love of him from issues of that series to this review. Then the next two issues we have Leonard Kirk and if you loved his run on Captain Britain. Well…you get the idea. Finally Khoi Pham rounds up the artists as he takes art duty for the other eight issues involved. Now I’m not a fan of his work as of late, especially during his now recent run on Mighty Avengers. But his style works for the most part, with only a few uneven panels. Considering how consistant he is for the most part, this is a good looking trade as a whole.

I’ve always loved this title because how it went from ‘C’ title to practically ‘A’ material in a matter of issues. I’ll admit that once this hardcover is done, Lente and Pak anties up the fun with Secret Invasion and the war with the gods. But still, this is a very fun trade and if your interested in this series; this is a must buy. Heck this hardcover also collects a one shot with Hercules fighting Hulk during the old days of Greece. What else do you want in a fun comic? A God Squad? Well…..wait up on that.