Advanced Comics Review: "THE HERCULOIDS #1" Revives a Classic

THE HERCULOIDS VOL. 1 #1

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

STORY: Tom Sniegoski

ART: Craig Rousseau

COLORS: Omi Remalante, Jr.

LETTERS: Jeff Eckleberry

EDITOR: Joseph Rybandt

COVER: Francesco Mattina

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Joseph Michael Linsner; Bjorn Barends; Felipe Massafera; Mike Mignola; Rob Liefeld; Francesco Mattina

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2025)

Rated “Teen”

“The Herculoids” created and designed by Alex Toth

“The Herculoids” was an American Saturday-morning animated television series that was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.  It originally aired on CBS for 18 episodes from September 1967 to January 1968.  Rooted in science fiction and fantasy, “The Herculoids” featured characters created and designed by the late Alex Toth (1928-2006).

“The Herculoids" was originally set on the planet Amzot and featured eight regular characters.  The main characters were members of a space barbarian family:  Zandor, the father; Tara, the mother; and Dorno, the son.  In order to keep their planet safe from invaders, they fight alongside the other five regulars, a group of giant pets:  the laser dragon, “Zok,” the space rhinoceros, “Tundro,” the rock ape, “Igoo,” and the shape-shifting duo of “Gloop and Gleep.”

Over the decades, there have been comic books featuring The Herculoids, published by Gold Key Comics, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics.  The latest is The Herculoids Volume 1, which is part of Dynamite Entertainment's licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery.  The Herculoids is written by Tom Sniegoski; drawn by Craig Rousseau; colored by Omi Remalante, Jr.; and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry.

The Herculoids Volume 1 #1 opens with the story of the legendary planet that is fabled for its riches and for the terrible fates that befall anyone or any entity that seeks to exploit those riches.  Known alternately as “Quasar,” “Pentagoran,” and “Shorin-Zahh, it is best known as “Amzot.”

Quen-Tel, a mercenary, believes that he has found the information that will show him the way to this world hidden in the furthest reaches of space.  He leads an expedition to the planet with boldness and confidence.  However, he is about learn why those who survive Amzot's terrible fates speak of their encounters with horrific, imposing monsters that guard the mysterious world.  Still, the lure of its abundant resources is too great to resist.  Raiders and pirates continue to come from across the galaxy, and Quen-Tel leads the latest. 

Will this expedition also discover why survivors tell blood-chilling tales of those who protect Amzot from constant attacks?  Will these sentient beings meet The Herculoids?!

THE LOWDOWN:  Since July 2021, Dynamite Entertainment's marketing department has been providing me with PDF review copies of some of their titles.  The Herculoids Volume 1, Issue #1 is the latest, and this maybe the first comic book featuring The Herculoids solo that I have read.

The Herculoids does not open with a bang.  Writer Tom Sniegoski offers a gentle introductory tale, although there is some “fantasy violence.  This is a chapter that reintroduces the characters of the famed vintage Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning animated series.  Issue #1 is also a tame introduction for those who are new to the tale.

Artist Craig Rousseau offers an unadorned first issue with plain, straightforward storytelling, and Omi Remalante, Jr.'s coloring keeps-it-simple-stupid.  Jeff Eckleberry captures the classic vibe of old cartoons and vintage comics with his lettering.  I believe that this first issue is relatively quiet as the creative team plants the seeds that will rapidly sprout into an intense first arc.  That is, however, for next time.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Dynamite Entertainment's Warner Bros. comic book series and of “The Herculoids will want to read The Herculoids Volume 1.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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