Award-winning author Rik Hoskin has just launched his new self-published “Hercules Versus” novel series, the first book available now from AmazonUK and other Amazon channels, with more soon to follow.
Offering all-new stories of Hercules after he completed his Twelve Labours, the series features striking covers by by comic artists Sachin Nagar and Kewber Baal, based on based on designs by Nick Taylor, with graphic design by Kate Ford.
Rik, who we interviewed most recently here on downthetubes, is a multi-award winning, New York Times bestselling writer of comics, novels, video games and animation. You may know him for his novels in the long-running Deathlands saga; he’s also written Star Wars, Superman, Doctor Who and Shrek comics, among many others, and provided dialogue, often as lead writer, for a variety of video games including Crimson Desert, Snowbreak: Containment Zone and Game of Khans
Rik tells he’ll be releasing new stories every two weeks for a while, so there’s plenty of time to hitch a ride.
“I first became enamoured with Greek Mythology when I was about seven years old, care of a hardcover library book called Gods, Men and Monsters, written by Michael Gibson,” he say of his new series. “I’d already known about Hercules through Marvel Comics, but this book drew me properly into his world.
“I was fascinated by the idea that there were gods who came before these gods, beings known as the Titans. I loved how so many of the stories were warnings about greed, or relied on trickery – often on people tricking themselves. But most of all, I loved Hercules, most especially how he also popped up in the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece as one of the Argonauts – just like the way all those Marvel Comics I was reading would intersect to create the sense of a wider, dynamic universe!
“… I have six books mapped out, and a seventh very much in mind. And then we get down to the “wouldn’t it be cool if we saw Hercules Versus XYZ…?” ideas that are all just scribbled notes right now — you can join in if you want to send your own madcap idea (Hercules Versus Werewolves? Sure, why not!).
“And also, don’t tell anyone yet, but I actually have this idea for a spin-off series about Hercules’ half-sister — but we’ll get there when we get there!”
One Immortal Hero. Infinite Enemies. The Man, The Myth, The Legend…
Wherever people were in danger, whenever the gods brought pain or misery, Hercules would be there, bringing hope and standing up for justice…
Hercules Versus Vampires
Night Versus Day!
Hercules washes up at the island port of Baltus as a broken man. His legendary Labours behind him, he’s disillusioned and desires only to be left alone. But when he stumbles into a town where supernatural abductions are commonplace, and whose residents live in nightly fear, Hercules must once again find the hero within – or die trying!
• Available to buy as a digital edition here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Coming Soon…
Hercules Versus the Dragon Lady
Hell Versus Heaven!
It’s the street party from Hell. But when dawn strikes, the party, and its attendees, all disappear, abducted beneath the Earth. When Hercules and Hylas stumble onto the partygoers, they soon find themselves drawn into the underworld, where an ancient evil is plotting an audacious overthrow of Heaven…
• Available to preorder as a digital edition here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Hercules Versus the Undead
Life Versus Death!
When an orphaned princess petitions Hercules to help her regain her stolen throne, he and his adventuring partner, Hylas, chart passage to the abandoned island palace she fled from as a child. But once they enter, the heroes find it’s a far stranger and more deadly building than they could have anticipated – a place where the dead demand a terrible price, so they might live again…
• Available to preorder as a digital edition here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Check out all Hercules Versus… books here on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Find out more about the series, and upcoming novels at herculesversus.com
• Read our exclusive interview with Rik, published last month
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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All books are or will also be available in paperback from those same links … amazon is just a bit slow at showing pre-orders for paperbacks, but once the books hit release date you’ll see them pop up!
And book 1 is on “kindle unlimited” which I think means you can read it for free.
Thanks, John! Hope everyone enjoys the books as much as I did writing them!
– Rik