HEBE

Real Name: Hebe

Occupation: Goddess of children and youth; cupbearer of the Olympian gods

Legal Status: Citizen of Olympus

Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of Hebe except as a mythological character.

Other Aliases: Juventas (Roman Name), Ganymeda, Dia

Place of Birth: possibly Olympus

Marital Status: Separated

Known Relatives: Zeus (father), Hera (mother), Gaea (great-grandmother), Ouranos (great-grandfather, deceased), Cronus (grandfather), Rhea (grandmother), Demeter, Hestia (aunts), Chiron, Hades, Poseidon (uncles), Hercules (husband), Alexiares, Anicetus (sons), Ares, Hephaestus (brothers), Eileithyia, Eris (sisters), Apollo, Dionysus, Hermes (half-brothers), Artemis, Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite (half-sisters), Cupid (nephew), 

Group Affiliation: The Gods of Olympus

Base of Operations: Olympus

First Appearance: Ka-Zar I #1

History: Hebe is the youngest daughter of Zeus, Ruler of the Olympian Gods, and his wife, Hera, goddess of marriage. In ancient times, Hebe was regarded as the goddess of youth. She was often called upon in ancient times to protect children, but on Olympus, she also protected the nectar which granted the gods their youthful vigor and mystical longevity. Although one of the favored children of Hera, Hebe was often treated with disrespect by Ares, the god of war, who often called upon her to fill his bath.

Despite being the divine protector of children, Hebe longed to be a mother in her own right. When Hercules ascended to godhood, Hera decided that Hercules would be a good husband to her in order to dissuade her previous hostility with him. Hebe and Hercules had two sons named Alexiares and Anicetus, who remained eternally children. Hercules, however, despite being the ideal husband, was not content to remain on Olympus and was always seeking adventure on earth. Hercules did ask her to restore the youth of his mortal nephew Iolaus so that he could defend his mortal children from King Eurystheus of Mycenae.

Hebe saw Hercules several times on his returns to Olympus, particularly when he came to defend the Olympians from the Titan, Typhon. She came to his side after an argument with Zeus and refused to be seen by his side until Hercules resolved things with their father. Hercules was eventually critically wounded by the Masters of Evil, enemies of the Avengers, a group of costumed champions of which Hercules was a member. Hebe was by Hercules' side as Zeus held the Avengers accountable for Hercules' injuries. The Avengers fought their way from the underworld to reveal to Zeus the truth as Hercules was healed by the Titan Prometheus.

Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 310 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Strength Level: Hebe possesses the normal human strength of a Olympian goddess of her size, height and build who engages in extensive regular exercises. She can lift (press) 25 tons under optimal conditions. 

Known Superhuman Powers: Hebe possesses the conventional physical attributes of the Olympian gods. Like all Olympians, she is immortal: she has not aged since reaching hood and cannot die by any conventional means. She is immune to all Earthly diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If she were somehow wounded, her godly life force would enable her to recover with superhuman speed. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of her bodily molecules to cause her a physical . Even then, it might be possible for a god of significant power, such as Zeus, Poseidon and Apollo or for a number of Olympian gods of equal power working together to revive her. Hebe also possesses superhuman strength and her Olympian metabolism provides her with far greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (Olympian flesh and bone is about three times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the Olympians' superhuman strength and weight.)

Hebe has several powers to tap into and manipulate mystical energies. Like all gods, she can travel from Olympus to earth, usually in a form invisible, immaterial and intangible. She can alter her form and appearance, mystically levitate herself and telepathically perceive the thoughts of mortals and gods, even gods not necessarily native to Olympus. She is also able to mystically restore the youth and vitality to mortals with portions of nectar derived from the Golden Apples of the Hesperides.

Paraphernalia: Hebe protects and distills the nectar of the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. These apples grant the Olympians their youth and immortality. These apples and the nectar from created them can also render youth to mortals.

Clarifications:  Hebe is not to be confused with:  

 

Last updated: 05/01/06

 

Back to Main Page