''Hugo Hercules'' was an American weekly comic strip published in the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'', written and drawn by Wilhelm Heinrich Detlev Körner. It ran for five months, from September 7, 1902, to January 11, 1903, totaling seventeen strips. Despite its short run, it is considered the earliest

superhero fiction Superhero fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction examining the adventure fiction, adventures, personalities and ethics of costumed crime fighters known as superheroes, who often possess Superpower (ability), superhuman powers and battle si ...

comic.

Characters and story

A good-natured man endowed with

superhuman strength Superhuman strength is a superpower commonly invoked in fiction and other literary works, such as mythology. A fictionalized representation of the phenomenon of hysterical strength, it is the power to exert force and lift weights beyond what is ...

, Hugo wandered about town, helping people with their problems and shocking them with his surprising displays of power. He was so strong he could pick up an elephant, kick a house like a football, wield an artillery cannon like a handgun, and lift a locomotive engine off the tracks and pull its cargo behind him at train speeds. Casual about his incredible feats, Hugo often repeated his catchphrase, "Just as easy", shrugging off the adoring crowds. Sometimes referred to as the first

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

, the strip was not a great success and Körner eventually left comics to become a painter.Bill Blackbeard & Dale Crain, ''The Comic Strip Century''. Northampton, MA: Kitchen Sink Press, 1995. 2 volumes. 480 pp.

Strips

* Sept 7, 1902
Hugo Hercules Obliges Beauty in Distress.
* Sept 14
Hugo Hercules Stops the Terrible Runaway.
* Sept 21
Hugo Hercules to the Rescue Once More.
* Sept 28: (no strip) * Oct 5
Hugo Hercules Rescues Lady Disdain Once More.
* Oct 12
Hugo Hercules Performs Another Prodigy.
* Oct 19: (no strip) * Oct 26
Now, Wasn't This Kind of Hugo Hercules?
* Nov 2
Hugo Hercules Saves Four Comic Supplement Lives.
* Nov 9
Hugo Hercules Has a Great Pull with the Conductor.
* Nov 16
Hugo Hercules Misses the Football, But --"
* Nov 23
It's Just as Easy for Hercules to Make a Touchdown.
* Nov 30
Hugo Hercules Gets Along Quite Well Without a Cab.
* Dec 7
Hugo Hercules Does a Little Holding Up Himself.
* Dec 14
Hugo Hercules Comes to the Rescue of the Cannon Ball Limited.
* Dec 21
The Fire Engine Broke Down - But Hercules Was There.
* Dec 28
Hugo Hercules at New Year's Bowling Contest.
* Jan 4, 1903
Hugo Hercules Goes Ice Boating.
* Jan 11, 1903
Hugo Hercules Wrestles with a Bear.

Other appearances

Hugo Hercules appears in the 2015 graphic novel '' Nemo: River of Ghosts'', written by

Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', Swamp Thing (comic book), ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman: The Killing Joke' ...

and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill.

References

{{reflist American comic strips Hercules, Hugo Hercules, Hugo 1902 comics debuts 1903 comics endings Hercules, Hugo Superhero comics Public domain comics Hercules, Hugo Hercules, Hugo Hercules, Hugo Comic strips started in the 1900s