DISNEY VILLAINS: HADES #1, from Dynamite Comics on 8/16/23, finds the King of the Underworld undertaking a plan to capture the mythical Golden Fleece… with a little help from his friends.
The Details
- Written by: Elliot Kalan
- Art by: Alessandro Ranaldi
- Colors by: Alessandro Ranaldi
- Letters by: Alessandro Ranaldi
- Cover art by: Karen S. Darboe (cover A)
- Comic Rating: All Ages
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 16, 2023
Is It Good?
DISNEY VILLAINS: HADES #1 is the next Disney villain to get the Dynamite prequel treatment with a snappy, witty, amusing taking on the Olympian God with a bad attitude. Elliot Kalan’s take on the God of the Underworld captures the spirit and the tone of James Woods’s acclaimed performance in a new adventure packed with potential.
Kalan’s script centers on Hades after he endures yet another slight by Zeus and the Olympian gods by not receiving an invite to yet another social event. After a quick consult with a knowledgeable trio of witches, Hades learns the Golden Fleece is his ticket to revenge, but he has to assemble a team of competent losers to make his plan a reality.
If you’re familiar with the Disney cartoon musical Hercules, you’ll immediately pick up Hades’s snappy banter and slick dialog delivery. However, Kalan introduces a bevy of new characters from Greek mythology with unique styles and personalities that complement Hades perfectly.
What’s great about this comic? Kalan nails Hades’s manner of speech, turns of phrases, and erratic temperament to a tee. Hades’s plan makes sense since it matches his general disdain for his fellow gods, and the idea of using the Golden Fleece adds something new to Hades’s mythology using familiar elements with a clever twist. Further, Kaplan’s choice of characters who’ve been punished or wronged by the gods in some way to join Hades’s team is a brilliant move.
What’s not so great about this comic? Honestly, not much besides one or two minor nitpicks. You wanted a Hades-centric comic? You get a Hades-centric comic.
How’s the art? As with all of Dynamite’s Disney adaptations, the art is limited by the style the license will allow, so it’s up to the artist to provide creativity without deviating too far from familiar faces. Alessandro Ranaldi nails Hades’s look, mannerisms, and emotional expressions beautifully. Each panel approximates a film cell you might pick out of a Disney cartoon, and the transitions are smooth as glass.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Hades spitting mad after he’s excluded from yet another Olympian Gods brunch invite. Deciding this insult is one too many, Hades decides he must destroy the rest of the gods. But how?
After a quick visit to the Stygian Witches, Hades learns about the Golden fleece of Transformation that can make anything possible. The Golden Fleece, however, is guarded by many dangerous traps and a sleepless dragon. When Pain and Panic fail to retrieve the magical prize, Hades sets out to form a team of mythical characters to help him get the Golden Fleece – including Arachne, Orpheus, and Icarus.
We conclude the issue with a few more stops and an unexpected rival.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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DISNEY VILLAINS: HADES #1 nails the snappy, witty, amusing charm of the Hercules prequel story about Hades’s attempt to destroy the gods by stealing the Golden Fleece. Kalan expertly recreates the voice and personality of Hades from the Disney film, and the art looks great.
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