“Incredible Hercules,” written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, continues to rack up appearances on more “Best of 2009” lists from comics bloggers. Here are the latest:
CBR’s Top 100 Comics of 2009:

“Incredible Hercules'” continues to be the best superhero comic on the market. The stories are a mix of great elements: action, excitement, pathos, and best of all humor. The characters continue to be fascinating as well. Thanks to this series, Hercules is now one of my favorite characters, and even though he’s a god, he’s one of the most human of Marvel’s heroes. Plus, this year Pak and Van Lente showed that Herc’s sidekick, Amadeus Cho, was just as compelling a character as the titular god.

Josh On Comics – Best Character of 2009: Hercules:

Brilliantly funny, and a pleasing tonic to the hordes of more responsible, some would say boring heroes, van Lente’s [and Pak’s] Hercules manages to be an utter buffon while remaining immensely likeable. His relationship with Amadeus Cho is also very sweet, the two of them are currently one of my favourite pairings in comics.

Comics And More:

The stories are great: battles with Amazons, teaming up with Namora, going on an odyssey with other gods to take down a skrull god…they’re just a lot of fun and I really look forward to reading more.

Newsarama Best Shots Best of 2009:

Bronze – The Incredible Hercules (Marvel Comics): One of the very best books Marvel has been responsible for, the continuing tale of a god, his human sidekick, and his child-aged father (who also happens to be the king of the gods). Humor, action and drama are all represented equally in this book, reminding us that not everything in the Marvel Universe has to be doom and gloom and politics. His battle (as Thor) against Thor (as Hercules) is a true highlight of the book. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente deserve credit for not only rehabilitating an at-best second tier character, but making The Incredible Hercules a true must-read title.

Film Fodder’s Top Ten Series of 2009:

In short, we have a series that is funny, fun, all within continuity, and it still manages to make itself relevant to meta-events like Dark Reign. All that, and I didn’t even talk about Amadeus Cho, one of the best new characters in Marvel to date.

Afronerd:

Marvel has a gold mine In the Incredible Hercules with its humor and the buddy dynamic of Amadeus Cho

Randy Lander’s Inside Joke Theatre — Favorite Ongoing Series
Comics Alliance — Best Use of a Pen and Paper Role Playing Game as the Basis of an Exciting Plot
Comic Book Club Best of 2009 – Alex’s List
Comic Book Club Best of 2009 – Justin’s List

Shazhmmm:

Herc is better than all other superhero comics that came out in 2009, and frankly is about the only thing that gets me into the shop these days. It’s not just hilarious, but a smart integration of myth, archetypal heroic storytelling, and awesomely retarded superhero b***s***. All the epic godly grandeur, improbable science, and fantastic sound effects are grounded by one of the more believable relationships in comics, the friendship of Hercules and Amadeus Cho.

Section244:

MY FAVORITE ONGOING SERIES (SUPER HERO): Incredible Hercules by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente.
There were a number of ongoing titles I followed this last decade which I would consider great comics (see below), but above them all I’ve chosen Incredible Hercules.

Aptitude Test:

Maybe the most fun superhero book in years. On the surface, a super-goofy adventure book staring Herc and teen sidekick/super-genius Amadeus Cho, full of giant fights and the best sound effects in comics. On closer inspection, it becomes a great exploration on the nature of heroics, and the relationship between superheroes and their older brother, ancient myth.

UPDATE: Add Jeff at Jim Hanley’s Universe to the list!

Folding in intricacies of greek myth, quantum mechanics, asides that do everything from brilliantly extrapolating the mechanisms of the afterlife to the best sound effects in comics (SUKKA-PUNCH!), rip-roaring action set pieces and complex yet accessible stories, this is the smartest comic on the stands while never loosing its goofiness.

The Austin American Statesman has dubbed “Incredible Hercules,” “Captain America,” “Secret Six,” and “Detective Comics” as “four of the very best mainstream comics being published today.” Here’s the blurb about Herc:

“Hercules” is a perfect admixture of vintage mythology, sitcom humor, high adventure and punching.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Comic Book Resources’ “Buy Pile” once again lauds “Incredible Hercules” with a rave for issue #139. Here’s an excerpt:

Between the action and the backstory there’s just enough going on for it to all meld together interestingly, thanks again to a well-balanced script from Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with creative and engaging artwork from Rodney Buchemi, Reilly Brown and Guillem Mari. Some things worth noting: Zeus and Quicksilver sharing a very fun moment, Amadeus using other people to do his will (“What the hell, kid?”) and an “amazing” line from Peter Parker (“I prefer to think of myself as an irreverent commentator on the mundane foibles of everyday existence. Like a Thurber or Keillor! Except I do it while kicking people in the face!”) that are all gems that help this issue shine.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Marvel has released the cover image and solicitation for the Hercules book for March 2010 — “Hercules: Fall of an Avenger” #1. The next era for “Incredible Hercules” begins here, so ask your local comic shop to pre-order your copy today! Here’s the blurb:

When the most beloved Olympian of all time falls, who will mourn him? Acclaimed INCREDIBLE HULK artist Ariel Olivetti joins writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente for a two-part mini-epic that marks the end of an era and the beginning of something utterly unexpected for Hercules, the Lion of Olympus. Bring your hankies — and your golden adamantine maces — as an all-star cast including Thor, Namor, Namora, Snowbird, Alflyse, Bruce Banner, and of course, Amadeus Cho send off the Son of Zeus with shocking tales, smash-tastic action, bawdy tomfoolery, and heart-rending drama that will change the course of Marvel’s marvelous mythological milieu… forever! Plus: There are some missions that require a woman’s touch- so the rest of the Agents of Atlas hang back and let Venus and Namora go out and show their stuff!

Click here for the full story.

In Newsarama’s Comic Book Favorites of 2009 Tourney, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have been nominated in the Writers category and their series “Incredible Hercules” has been nominated in the Ongoing Series category.
Click here to vote for “Incredible Hercules”
Click here to vote for Pak and Van Lente

“Incredible Hercules,” written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, has been named one of the top ten best comics of 2009 by ComicsAlliance.com. Here’s the lead:

I’ve been singing this book’s praises so much that I’m actually listed on its Wikipedia page, but the fact of the matter is that this is the best comics based on mythology have been since the heyday of Walt Simonson’s run on “Thor.” Over the past two years, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente and an amazing team of artists have not only revitalized the character of Hercules himself, they’ve also — and I’m just gonna come right out and say it– given him the best teen sidekick since Jimmy Olsen with Amadeus Cho.

Click here to read the whole thing.

The “Assault on New Olympus Prologue,” written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente with art by Rodney Buchemi, has gotten some nice recommendations and reviews. A couple of excerpts:

“So, yeah, this is a comic where Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente writes a fight between Spider-Man and Hercules over a seemingly airhead goddess. It has everything that makes Pak, Van Lente, Incredible Herc, Spider-Man, MarvelComics, mythological superheroes, and comics in general great.”
— Brad Curran, Comic Book Resources
“The stellar team of Pak and Van Lente unleash the next arc of the Hercules series in this one shot. Hercules, Amadeus, two teams of Avengers, the Agents of Atlas, and Ares all feature in this event, and Olympus itself will never be the same. Step-Mommy Dearest Hera has been a really bad girl as of late, and Hercules has a few things to sort out with her. Pak and Van Lente are responsible for one of the best series out there today, and backstopped by artist Rodney Buchemi, they’re going to give us even more in the next few months.”
— William Keogh, ComixFan.com