Hebe (Marvel Comics)
Encyclopedia
Hebe is a Marvel Comics
deity. One of the children of Zeus and Hera
, she is the wife of Hercules
and the cup-bearer of the Olympians. Hebe first appeared in Ka-Zar #1 (August 1970), written by Allyn Brodsky and Frank Springer
. She is based on the mythological character of the same name
.
, starting with issue #127.
and Hephaestus
), she is the Goddess of Youth and the cup-bearer of the gods, responsible for brewing ambrosia
. She was married to the newly-divine Hercules as a peace-offering between Hercules and her mother Hera, and for a time the two of them had a happy relationship. However, Hercules grew dissatisfied with life on Olympus, and returned to the mortal world in the late 20th century in search of adventure. He also began having affairs, which left Hebe distraught, as Hera told her that the failure of her marriage was her fault.
In the modern era, following the destruction of Olympus at the hands of Amatsu-Mikaboshi
, Hebe served her mother Hera as a secretary at the Olympus Group. She later arranges for Norman Osborn
and his Dark Avengers
to arrive on the site of a battle between Hera and Hercules' group, believing that her ultimate duty was still to him. When Hera discovered her betrayal, she blasted Hebe with her thunderbolt, sending her hurtling out of the Olympus Group tower to the ground. Relatively unharmed, she fled the scene in search of Hercules, but could not find him.
She is later discovered by Aunt May
living with a group of homeless people in Central Park
, and is convinced to take her followers to a shelter that May works at. May quickly befriends Hebe, whose ambrosia mixture makes the shelter a huge success. May sets her up on a blind date with her nephew Peter Parker
, which is interrupted by an angry Hercules. Hebe tearfully confronts him about why he abandoned her, and Hercules admits that it was never her that drove him away, rather, his desire for adventure, as he cannot be happy as a god away from the world. Hebe says that she loves him for that, and the two depart on better terms, with Spider-Man, to confront Hera's evil scheme. However, Hebe's joy of reunion with her former husband was quickly dashed away when Hercules apparently sacrificed himself to save Earth.
She subsequently becomes Amadeus Cho
's assistant when he takes over the Olympus Group, and is ecstatic to learn that Hercules was not found in the Underworld. Hebe's ambrosia is revealed to be one of the four elements needed to ascend to the power-level of the Skyfathers by Vali Halfling
. Hebe is one of the few surviving deities after the Chaos King destroys the Council of Godheads in his Chaos War
, re-uniting with Hercules in an island of Hawaii, and, despite her protests for Hercules not to agree for Gaea and Pele to re-make him as a true All-Father, Hercules nevertheless consents, and ascends to the full power and prestige of Skyfather.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
deity. One of the children of Zeus and Hera
Hera (Marvel Comics)
Hera is a fictional deity in the Marvel Comics Universe based on the Greek Goddess of the same name. Hera first appeared in the pages of Thor #129, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
, she is the wife of Hercules
Hercules (Marvel Comics)
Hercules is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery Annual #1 and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby....
and the cup-bearer of the Olympians. Hebe first appeared in Ka-Zar #1 (August 1970), written by Allyn Brodsky and Frank Springer
Frank Springer
Frank Springer was an American comic book and comic strip artist best known for Marvel Comics' Dazzler and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D....
. She is based on the mythological character of the same name
Hebe (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Hēbē is the goddess of youth . She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe was the cupbearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia, until she was married to Heracles ; her successor was the young Trojan prince Ganymede...
.
Publication history
The character first appeared in Ka-Zar #1, and very sparsely over the subsequent four decades. She made a notable appearance in Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed (October 1996). She then appeared in Hulk vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide #1 (June 2008), and became a recurring character in the second year of The Incredible HerculesThe Incredible Hercules
The Incredible Hercules is an ongoing comic book series written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and published by Marvel Comics. The series stars the mythological superhero Hercules, his sidekick Amadeus Cho, the seventh-smartest person in the world, and half-sister Athena, Goddess of Wisdom,...
, starting with issue #127.
Fictional character biography
The third child of Zeus and Hera (her brothers are AresAres (Marvel Comics)
Ares is a fictional character, a deity in the Marvel Comics Universe based on the Greek god of the same name. He first appears in Thor #129 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
and Hephaestus
Hephaestus (Marvel Comics)
Hephaestus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Hephaestus first appeared in Thor #129 , and was adapted from mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
), she is the Goddess of Youth and the cup-bearer of the gods, responsible for brewing ambrosia
Ambrosia
In ancient Greek mythology, ambrosia is sometimes the food or drink of the Greek gods , often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whoever consumes it...
. She was married to the newly-divine Hercules as a peace-offering between Hercules and her mother Hera, and for a time the two of them had a happy relationship. However, Hercules grew dissatisfied with life on Olympus, and returned to the mortal world in the late 20th century in search of adventure. He also began having affairs, which left Hebe distraught, as Hera told her that the failure of her marriage was her fault.
In the modern era, following the destruction of Olympus at the hands of Amatsu-Mikaboshi
Amatsu-Mikaboshi (comics)
Amatsu-Mikaboshi is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe, a supervillain and demonic god of evil who is best known as an enemy of Hercules...
, Hebe served her mother Hera as a secretary at the Olympus Group. She later arranges for Norman Osborn
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
and his Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that have featured various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers...
to arrive on the site of a battle between Hera and Hercules' group, believing that her ultimate duty was still to him. When Hera discovered her betrayal, she blasted Hebe with her thunderbolt, sending her hurtling out of the Olympus Group tower to the ground. Relatively unharmed, she fled the scene in search of Hercules, but could not find him.
She is later discovered by Aunt May
Aunt May
May Reilly Parker-Jameson, commonly known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared as May Parker in Amazing Fantasy #15...
living with a group of homeless people in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, and is convinced to take her followers to a shelter that May works at. May quickly befriends Hebe, whose ambrosia mixture makes the shelter a huge success. May sets her up on a blind date with her nephew Peter Parker
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, which is interrupted by an angry Hercules. Hebe tearfully confronts him about why he abandoned her, and Hercules admits that it was never her that drove him away, rather, his desire for adventure, as he cannot be happy as a god away from the world. Hebe says that she loves him for that, and the two depart on better terms, with Spider-Man, to confront Hera's evil scheme. However, Hebe's joy of reunion with her former husband was quickly dashed away when Hercules apparently sacrificed himself to save Earth.
She subsequently becomes Amadeus Cho
Amadeus Cho
Amadeus Cho, also known as Mastermind Excello, is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Greg Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, the character first appeared in Amazing Fantasy vol. 2 #15...
's assistant when he takes over the Olympus Group, and is ecstatic to learn that Hercules was not found in the Underworld. Hebe's ambrosia is revealed to be one of the four elements needed to ascend to the power-level of the Skyfathers by Vali Halfling
Agamemnon (comics)
Agamemnon is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Agamemnon is a half-human and half-Asgardian god...
. Hebe is one of the few surviving deities after the Chaos King destroys the Council of Godheads in his Chaos War
Chaos War
The Chaos War, also known as the Second Cataclysm, is a fictional war in the Dragonlance setting. The war was massive, drawing in nearly all the people of Ansalon, as well as the gods themselves...
, re-uniting with Hercules in an island of Hawaii, and, despite her protests for Hercules not to agree for Gaea and Pele to re-make him as a true All-Father, Hercules nevertheless consents, and ascends to the full power and prestige of Skyfather.