Issues like this shows why I love this series so much. I’m getting a head of myself but really: this is why Hercules is such a great character to have a comic with. This has been a funny and action packed series since it took over the Hulk’s job and now we might have the best issue of the year for the series. Yeah I know I praise this series all the time, and I’ve made it my pick at least four other times this year. Please believe me when I say this though: This might be the most fun you’ll have reading a comic this year. Read this issue every week and it’ll be the best out of the pile. You wanna know why?

Cause Fred Van Lente and Greg Pak has shown how to make a funny and exciting comic book month after month. This storyline of Hercules pretending to be Thor has been so entertaining. They are making fun of the character so much that it’s almost obvious that Thor has to do some payback. Seeing Thor in the Hercules costume is so funny to look at but it doesn’t stop there folks. I love the consequences in this fight; that either men will lose there respect with other characters if they lose. If Hercules wins, then Thor looks bad (but Thor is Hercules!); and if Thor wins, then Hercules looks bad (and Hercules is Thor!). It’s a confusing conundrum that gets solved with one thing: Who the hell cares and let’s fight!

This was just a fun fight and the witty banter between Thor and Hercules was downright hilarious. It helps that they keep references all of their previous matches because it is true. Thor and Hercules together is one of the staples of the Silver age and even today. Plus I gotta admit, even though I love the Thor ongoing it is nice to see Thor be a bit more happy and funny in this. Not bashing JMS on his run, but seeing Thor crack a smile and play dirty is refreshing. In fact the entire fight is nothing but dirty and lowblows. Thor (as Hercules) kicking Hercules (as Thor) in the naughty bits is definitely the funniest panel of the year for me. Then you get the amazing sound effects like: SUKKAPUNCH, BACKATCHA, and my favorites; NUHHKKRACK and HWWWWEDGE. Pretty obvious what those two mean.

The fun doesn’t stop there, because we have amazing artwork by Reilly Brown. Who I want full time on this series form now on. Just the panel layouts are more then enough to enjoy the artwork. The fight is done perfectly and all of the best moments are highlighted in their own way. Characters looks beautiful and always on model, it kinda feels like your reading a fantasy book at some points. Like this was an homage to fantasy stories, like J.R.R. Tolkien work, but now it just looks great to see a fight in this setting. Also, again seeing the characters in the other costumes just makes me smile. It’s an idea that’s never been done and it looks great here.

Again it might be crazy to say all of this, but this really is my favorite single issue this year. Yes I know we have ‘Batman and Robin’ leering it’s head at me but it’s true! I haven’t had this much fun in a comic in a long time and thanks to the creative team; this was a fun comic. This is what I was talking about earlier on the site with Marvel going back to the old days. The arc had nothing to do with Dark Reign, or any other nonsense. This was just a quick, three issue arc, that turned out to be a fun time for all. That’s what I want back with the Marvel universe. Maybe Incredible Hercules is paving the way to make that happen again. Either way, you are seriously missing out on the best single issue of the year. Hyperbole be damned!