The Hero and the Horror!

While out gazing at the stars, Hercules suddenly enters a trance like state and begins crying out that the stars are calling out to him. Hearing Herc’s shouts, Eric Masterson retrieves his roommate from the balcony and walks him back to his bedroom. When Eric’s son Kevin asks what’s wrong with “Harry Cleese”, his father says that Herc is suffering from the flu. Kevin however doesn’t buy it.[1]

Meanwhile, an alien being known as the Dark Dweller arrives on Earth in the form of a ball of energy. Materializing to physical form in a darkened alley, the alien is spotted by a homeless man. The alien quickly sucks the human’s life force, regaining his strength after a long trip through space and instantly learning the local language. The Dweller then leaves the withered husk behind to find others he can feast upon.

Later, after Eric Masterson has gotten Hercules to bed, he his assistant Susan Austin to come over to look after Kevin while he goes for a walk. He worries about Hercules, who hasn’t been the same since they returned from the Black Galaxy and wonders what can be done to set things right. Slipping into a nearby ally, Eric taps his cane on the ground triggering a transformation into Thor, who then takes flight into the night sky.

At that same moment, two police officers have come upon the Dark Dweller’s first victim. Before they can do anything, the Dweller uses his hypnotic powers to take mental control over one of the cops and forces him to shoot his partner, winging him in the arm. However, before the wounded officer can be killed, Thor comes to the rescue after being drawn to their location by the gunshots. The Dark Dweller tries to take mental control of Thor, but the thunder god is able to deflect his hypnotic beams with Mjolnir. The monster transforms into a four-armed creature of titanic size, but Thor easily fights him off. He also is able to fend off a bulldozer taken into control by the alien invader. Realizing that he can’t stop the thunder god, the Dweller uses his power to freeze Thor’s good arm and Mjolnir then turns into a red mist so it can flee the scene. With the Dark Dweller now gone, the officer under his control is freed and the two cops thank Thor for his help. Thor decides against searching for the monster since Eric Masterson is due home any minute.

The following morning, Eric has to rush in the morning to get Kevin ready for school and heads out for an appointment with a client. On the way, Susan Austin expresses her concerns about “Harry’s” state of mind and reminds Eric that representatives from the child welfare department will be coming over to check in on Kevin’s living conditions.[2] Masterson then meets up with his fellow architect Jackie Lukus and they meet with the boisterous Aloysius Jamesly, who has grand ideas for his next building designs. Their lunch meeting is interrupted when there is a robbery at the jewelry store next door. Eric is prepared to take off so he can change into Thor, but luckily Lieutenant Marcus Stone and his team of officers quickly bust the thieves before he has a chance.

Back at the Masterson apartment, Hercules has changed into his Olympian clothing and tries to pump himself up. However, he is stricken by another bout of cowardice and depression and heads back inside.[3] Little does he know that the Dark Dweller sensed his great power and is following him inside in its mist form. Once indoors, the creature assumes physical form and overpowers the Olympian and hypnotizes him. When Eric returns home later that evening, the Dark Dweller has Hercules subdue him. When Susan Austin arrives moments later, the creature enthralls her. When Eric struggles to get free, Hercules is ordered to toss the mortal out the window. Eric goes over the edge of the balcony and as he struggles to hold on drops his cane and loses his grip moments later.

Recurring Characters

Thor, Eric Masterson, Hercules, Dark Dweller, Susan Austin, Kevin Masterson, Jackie Lukus, Aloysius Jamesly, Marcus Stone, Vinnie Evans,

Continuity Notes

1. After being hyper-evolved in Avengers Annual #17, Hercules ended up contained in the Black Galaxy by the Celestials as part of a process to create a new member of their race. Freed by Thor, Herc has been acting out of character as he feels as thought a part of him is missing, as seen in Thor #406-408. Hercules will ultimately regain the missing part of him when the Celestials finish the birthing process, see Thor #419-424.

2. Eric has been in a custody battle with his ex-wife Marcy since Thor #392.

3. Another reason for Herc’s cowardice is due to the fact that before the whole abduction by the Celestials thing, he got the shit kicked out of him by the Masters of Evil in Avengers #273-277.

Topical References

• Hercules is depicted watching the Flintstones on an old CRT television. The depicted TV should be considered topical as this is an obsolete technology. Watching the Flintstones wouldn’t necessarily be topical if you believe that Herc is merely watching a re-run.

The Greatest Love

Fandral is attacked by Targi the Terrible and his minions Garloff the Unwashed and Borgus of the Baneful Glare when the fast-talking adventurer insults Targi in his own tavern. Fandral easily trounces them in combat, much to the delight of the female patrons who fawn over him when the battle is over. However, the dashing warrior can’t stay, telling them that he must meet with his one true love.

Recovering from his drubbing, Garloff decides to follow after Fandral, not to resume their fight, but so he can meet the goddess that Fandral values above all others. The noble warrior decides to honor the request and invites Garloff to join him on his journey. It is one fraught with danger as travel seas filled with monsters, and climb hostile mountain sides with deadly creatures around every corner. The entire way, Fandral assures Garloff that the woman they are going to see if worth all the danger.

They soon arrive at a cottage near the Gardens of Jord where Fandral introduces Garloff to the woman he has been speaking of his entire time: His own mother. Fandral’s mom invites the two men in for a great meal as she fawns over her son. However, rather than disappointment, Garloff is inspired to make the trip to visit his own mother.

Recurring Characters

Fandral