Best use of a God in a Comic Book

Instead of breaking it up into different mythologies, this time I included them all to see where the cards fell. How I do these is kind of hard to explain, but the covers chosen are random, and from the randomness we get a pattern.



Here we have longtime Conan foe Thoth-Amon. The name is taken form Egyptian deities Thoth and Amon. Thoth was the voice of the main god Ra, and is credited with giving Isis the spell needed to resurrect Osiris. Amon, or Amun, was the god of fertility, often depicted as having ram horns, as shown in this guise. It is interesting that Conan started as a pulp story, long before comics were popular. Thoth Amon first appeared in the short story, "the Phoenix and the Sword", published in 1932. The title of this issue is "King Conan", so I guess this means Schwarzenegger will be president someday.



Here, Hercules backs up the Hulk in a world war, the Angel, and ... hell I don't know, Ninja Chick and Wing Footed Girl are also in tow. Hercules is the most used god in comics, and he has also been portrayed by the current Governor of California i the film "Hercules in New York."



Atlas is here hanging out with Hercules. Actually, he is helping Hercules with the eleventh of the twelve labors. Hercules was supposed to take some golden apples that was protected by a 100 headed dragon. Hercules tricked the dimwitted Atlas into getting the apples for him, in return Herc held up the world while Atlas performed this task. Atlas was going to leave Hercules holding the bag, but Herc was able to trick him again. Currently, you can see Atlas holding up the world in front of Rockefeller Center in New York.



Here, Cupid's arrow is aiming at the center of a well, signaling the coming of the Age of Aquarius, which will be ruled by love and harmony or something like that. I'm not good at astrology.



Zeus is the king of the god's. Here he is hurling thunderbolts at Diana because he is pissed off. I'm not sure, but I think she refused to go out with him or something.

The Best Uses of Mother Earth in a Comic Book II

I really love the bizarre covers of the 50's and 60's. This one from 1962 is kind of eerie. An office looks out his window and sees a tower being destroyed. Gasping, he drops the phone. Ok, so a tiny Earth sends a spaceship that is disproportionate in size to destroy skyscrapers on a much larger Earth. Where did they come up with this stuff?



Recycle and conserve or Hulk smash!!!



That's right. Screw the Earth! It's overrated anyway.



I actually owned this one when I was a kid. In one story the Phantom Stranger is the wandering Jew, in another he is an angel who would not choose sides when Lucifer rebelled, which led to him being cast down to Earth and getting his wings pulled off.



I love superhero team ups! In this issue, the Harlot of Babylon, Chtullu, and Atlas team up to invade the Earth! While the Dark Tower stands in the left hand corner looking on.

Best Uses of a Greek/Roman God/Goddess in a Comic Book

Hermes/Mercury for whom this blog is partially inspired. He is the god of communication, the messenger of the gods. the Romans would say, if you find a sync in a movie it is coming from Mercury, as he is the god of stories. His staff is two snakes wrapped around a stick, which is a symbol still used by the medical profession today. It looks just like a strand of DNA, which was unknown to the ancient Greeks. He is a protector of the mischievous, and I hear lately he is moonlighting by delivering flowers and selling cars that bear his name.



Zeus is the king of the gods. He killed his dad in order to get the job. Whenever lightning struck the Earth, it was said that Zeus threw the bolt. In this pic he is annoying Captain Comet by giving him a static electricity shock and asking him to pull his finger. In front of the Captain's date even. Some ancient deities just don't have any cuth.



Calliope is Zeus's daughter and the original muse, blessed with an incredible singing voice. Even though she is modest, she sometimes poses naked for comic book covers.



Then don't go in the cave Superboy! Duh! Hercules is the son of Zeus and an earth woman. He is famous for performing the 12 labors. Here he is hanging out with Superboy and Samson from the Old Testament.



Hercules maintained a friendship with Superboy until he became Superman. However things went sour when Superman tricked Hercules and his friend Atlas into looking at Medusa, which turned them to stone. Atlas is believed to be the first king of Atlantis, and modern maps are named for him, which is ironic because Atlantis isn't on any of them.