History: (Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #17, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #1 (fb)) - The destruction of the Old Gods sent a godwave from the source that struck Earth. The gods of the Greeks would be born from this godwave and usher in the Third World. The Titans Kronos and Rhea birthed the first six Olympian Gods, who rebelled against them and cast them from power. The brothers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades drew lots to divide up their new domain. Zeus became ruler of the sky, Poseidon the ocean, and Hades the netherworld, with Mount Olympus and Earth as common ground for all of them. The Olympians were worshipped by the Greeks, who built up a mythology around their gods.

(DC Comics Presents #32 (fb, BTS)) - Aphrodite gave birth to Eros, and he grew to be a god of love. His mother cultivated love’s romance, but he was drawn to raw passion, and had disagreements with his mother over how they should spread love to humanity.

(Sea Devils #14) - The Olympian gods mocked Hercules, telling him his might was great, but he was still mortal and beneath the lowliest of gods. Hercules approached Zeus and asked him to grant him godhood, promising to perform any might task he desired. Zeus told him he’d be made a god if he defeated Neptune by nightfall, knowing full well the god of the sea was too mighty for him to handle. Hercules was in despair, but Hera took pity on him, and gave him magic seaweed that boosted his strength and let him breath underwater. Hercules traveled to Earth’s seas and attacked Neptune without warning. Neptune wanted no part of the fight, but Hercules wouldn’t relent. Their fight passed by a sea carnival held by the Sea Devils, who were going to award a crown of king of the sea to whoever could catch a sea serpent at large. The Devils knew the sea would fall into chaos if Neptune fell, but Hercules’ wounded pride would be just as bad if he were defeated, so they set about delaying the fight, roping Hercules, leading him into the tentacles of a man ‘o war, and rolling boulders on him from a seamount. Night fell, and the giants were at a standstill, so Hercules lost by default. Hercules vowed to destroy the Devils for costing him godhood. The sea serpent appeared and attacked the Devils, but Hercules easily dispatched it, saying the Devils belonged to him. The Devils awarded him the king of the sea crown, and he was so touched that he said he’d wear it with pride in Olympus.

(DC Comics Presents #32) - Wonder Woman was on JLofA monitor duty when she was approached by Eros, god of love, who’d fallen for her. She spurned him, telling him her heart belonged to Col. Trevor, and he was enraged. Superman arrived at the JLofA satellite, and Eros struck them both with his arrows, making them fall passionately in love. Superman and Wonder Woman embraced and kissed, but used their will to prevent their newfound passion from going further, knowing in their hearts that they loved Col. Trevor and Lois Lane respectively. Eros watched them try to deny their passions from Mount Olympus, and was pleased. Aphrodite caught him, and wondered if he was up to mischief as usual. She said the Romans had it right when they depicted him as a winged infant, because he didn’t understand the intricacies of love. Superman and Wonder Woman traveled to Mount Olympus to confront Eros. Eros’ mother Aphrodite was unhappy with her sons actions, and led the heroes to a cave containing the Blue Lotus of Lost Love that would remove unwanted passion

(Spectre III #58) - When God disappeared form Heaven, Spectre sought information from other pantheons, including the Olympians. Zeus thought he was hubristic to see the Olympians as less than the Judeo-Christian creator, and told him that all divinity was the manifestation of the godwave after the passing of the Old Gods. Zeus told him their was a disturbance in the Source, the creative power all gods acknowledged. Ares told Spectre to be gone, and Spectre warned him his mission of vengeance could one day see him calling Ares to task for the blood he'd spilled.

Comments: Adapted to comics by William Moulton Marston & Henry J. Peter.

The Olympian Gods received profiles in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #17 and Who’s Who Update ‘87 #4.

The Olympian Gods had a cameo in Swamp Thing II #75

The Olympian Gods came from classic Greek mythology. For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympian_gods.

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