Comics Review: "THE HERCULOIDS #2" Comes Out Swinging

THE HERCULOIDS VOL. 1 #2

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; Eric Powell; 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 #2 opens with a recap of how the mercenary, Quen-Tel, was able to convince a mysterious consortium to provide him with an experienced exploratory and extraction team and one of its largest refinery ships.  He was given all this so that he could lead an expedition to Amzot in a bid to steal all of Amzot's natural resources.  There is one big problem, though.

Amzot is the home of “the Herculoids,” and no matter what advantage you might think you have over them, you don't.  That's true even when you take what is supposed to be their most vulnerable family member.  F**k around; find out.

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 #2 is the latest, and this maybe the first comic book featuring The Herculoids solo that I have read.

The Herculoids #1 did not open with a bang.  In that debut issue, writer Tom Sniegoski offered a gentle introductory tale, although there was some “fantasy violence.  This was a chapter that reintroduced the characters of the famed vintage Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning animated series.  Issue #1 was also a tame introduction for those who are new to the tale.  With this second issue, Sniegoski unleashes the Herculoids beasts on this story that is full of intrigue and explosive action.  I think this chapter will please both longtime fans and new fans of The Herculoids.

Artist Craig Rousseau offered an unadorned first issue with plain, straightforward storytelling.  Here, he also goes wild with Issue #2, depicting lots intense action and heightened drama, showing off what he will likely bring to the series going forward. Omi Remalante, Jr.'s coloring continues to keep-it-simple-stupid with a hues that emphasize the action.  Jeff Eckleberry captures the classic vibe of old cartoons and vintage comics with his lettering.

I think The Herculoids 2025 has potential, which this second issue shows off.  I plan to come back, and perhaps, you should also, dear readers, if you are fans of this franchise.

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.

A-

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

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