Writer: Elliot Kalan
Art: Alessandro Ranaldi
Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Price: $3.99
Release date: August 16th, 2023
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Disney Villains: Hades #1 Review.
THE DISPATCH
It’s a new comic in Dynamite’s line comics about the Disney villains, this one profiling the Lord of the Underworld, Hades, from Disney’s Hercules. Disney Villains: Hades #1 features Hades attempting to get the fabled golden fleece. This issue really expands more on the Greek mythology than is seen in the film, although some of the characters were seen in the Hercules animated series spinoff such as Medusa, Icarus, and Jason of Iolocus, more popularly known in myths as the leader of the Argonauts. Hades is very in-character and speaks in a style worthy of James Woods. This comic captures his hotheaded temper as well as his sarcastic sense of humor. It is unclear where in the timeline of the movie this issue is taking place in, but it is too early to tell whether it can be considered canon.
ART
The art in Disney Villains: Hades #1 is somewhat reflective of the animation style of the film, though perhaps somewhat exaggerated. Disney fans may consider Jason to look an awful lot like Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove. The character of Jason did appear in an episode of Hercules the animated series, but the artist apparently felt a Kronk facsimile would be better than how he appeared in the show. Icarus is also strikingly different from his appearance in the show. In the series, he was the best friend to young Hercules. Here, he is depicted as bald and muscular, quite a contrast from how he appeared in the show. It’s possible that this series is set when Hercules is an adult, but since he is not seen, it’s hard to tell at this point. It’s also interesting to see a more anachronistic biker– or rather chariot– gang, a group clearly meant to look like a stereotypical motorcycle gang but instead using chariots. The final page shows a split between Hades’ and Jason’s faces. They also manage to depict the characters of Pain, Panic and the 3 Fates accurately with how they appeared in the film.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Disney Villains: Hades #1 expands on the character of Hades and his minions from the film, but also keeps him the same witty, wicked villain that you love to hate. The comic has good humor, adventure, and presents the tales of Greek mythology in a fun way to the reader, much like the movie and spinoff series did. Fans of the movie will enjoy this comic.