Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #7
Published November 1968
Cover Price $0.12
Pages 36
Editing Sal Gentile

Cover Details - "Bull of Minos!"

Characters Hercules
Genre fantasy
Pencils Sam Glanzman (signed)
Inks Sam Glanzman (signed)
Reprinted in Charlton Classics (Charlton, 1980 series) #7.

18 page Hercules story "The Bull of Minos"

Characters Hercules
Synopsis The first story begins with King Eurystheus being confronted by Hera who demands he find a task that will frustrate Hercules in his attempt to ascend to Olympus as a full-fledged god. She suggest he be sent to get the Bull of Minos. Eurystheus commands it so and Hercules heads off, but not before Hera afflicts him with a magic spell that robs him of his strength. Hercules is smacked to the ground by a girl and robbed as he was helpless on the ground. Hercules at last through sheer will overcomes the spell and gets aboard a ship and heads to Minos with the blessing of Poseidon. Before they get to Minos the ship has to make land for repairs and Hercules goes for a stroll. He meets up with Anteus, a giant warrior who challenges the Man-God. Hercules battles the giant only to discover that Anteus only grows stronger and larger when he makes contact with the ground. Finally Hercules knocks him out with a giant column to the noggin and then throws him into the sea. He joins up again with his mates and heads to Minos. King Minos hears of Hercules and sends the Minotaur to intercept him. After making landfall Hercules encounters the Minotaur but defeats him and makes the monster take him to the Bull of Minos. The Minotaur complies and Hercules then confronts the giant bull. He finds he cannot defeat the beast by hand but digs a pit, fills it with water and then gets the Bull into it where he at last can bind it and drag it back to the ship. He takes the Bull to Eurytheus and unleashes the brute to rampage through his court. The story ends with Hercules and Zeus exchanging warm thoughts.
Genre fantasy
Script Joe Gill (signed)
Pencils Sam Glanzman (signed)
Inks Sam Glanzman (signed)
Letters typeset
Notes synopsis courtesy of Dean Webb
Reprinted in Charlton Classics (Charlton, 1980 series) #7.

1 page Hercules letters page "Hercules"

Characters Hercules
Synopsis synopsis courtesy of Dean Webb ironcially one of them comments on the text stories that have been running in the series. The editors say they are necessary to meet postal regulations, but ironically there is no such story in this issue. One strange comment though is elicited from the editors in response to a criticism that Charlton had cancelled many of their hero books. The comment suggests that matters other than sales had to do with the cancellations. I can only assume the departure of Dick Giordano is the reason, but that's speculation. Another letter objects to the design of Herc's eyes by Glanzman, and after a very politically correct response about Asians, they editors seem to agree that Hercules should not have "slanted" eyes, though based on the comic Glanzman does what he wants in that regard.
Letters typeset
Notes Letters from Joseph Momberg, Joe Pierre, Michael Greczek.

9 page Thane of Bagarth story "Chapter Seven: The Captive"

Characters Thane of Bagarth
Synopsis The story begins with Freahulf being captured by raiding Swedes as they kill the royal envoy from Beowulf sent to fetch her. We then cut to Hrothelac in a dungeon in England for a moment before cutting back to the Swedes who ride past Garmscio, Thane of Rothfor who hides from the raiders. The scene changes to the castle of King Beowulf who orders an attack on the Swedes to revenge their raids, but before he can make the order specific he collapses in agony. He's not dead, but sorely ill. Meanwhile the scholar Daeghred, father of Freahulf, finds the dead envoy and discovers his daughter is missing. He goes to the Thane of Bagarth, Eowanda but is summarily rebuffed. Eowanda then gets news of Beowulf's illness and begins to plot. The scent shifts again to Beowulf's castle where the sickened King has recovered but cannot lead his soldiers and so orders his First Councilman Eadstan to do so and to also be wary of Eowanda. We are reminded of Beowulf's vision that Eowanda would lead his troops in battle. Eadstan heads off with warriors to complete his mission.
Genre sword and sorcery
Script Steve Skeates (signed)
Pencils Jim Aparo (signed)
Inks Jim Aparo (signed)
Letters Jim Aparo
Notes synopsis courtesy of Dean Webb