Honestly, if you’re looking for a character that perfectly embodies the "too good for this world" trope, it’s him. Hercules Record of Ragnarok (or Heracles, if you're a stickler for the Greek) isn't just another beefy deity in a series full of them. He is the moral compass of a show where most people are just trying to murder each other.
He didn't start as a god. He was Alcides, a scrawny kid from Thebes who had more heart than muscle. He became a god by drinking the Ambrosia, the blood of Zeus, just to protect his city from Ares. That’s the core of his character. He’s the only fighter in the tournament who genuinely loves both sides. It makes his fight in Round 4 against Jack the Ripper one of the most emotionally exhausting things to watch.
The Paradox of Hercules Record of Ragnarok
People always ask: "If Hercules loves humanity so much, why is he fighting for the gods?" It’s a fair question.
He’s a man of his word. He made a deal with the gods to save his people, and he takes that honor seriously. But his plan was kinda naive. He thought he could win his match and then beg the gods to spare humanity. He believed his "family" on Mount Olympus would listen to reason if he proved his loyalty.
Compare him to Buddha, who just flipped the bird to the gods and switched sides. Hercules couldn't do that. His sense of justice is tied to his internal code, not just winning. He saw himself as a bridge. Unfortunately, bridges often get walked on.
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Why Round 4 Hits Different
The match between Hercules and Jack the Ripper is basically "The Purest Hero vs. The Most Malicious Human."
Jack turned the entirety of London into his weapon. He used trickery, piano wires, and literal buildings to wear Hercules down. While other gods might have just vaporized Jack, Hercules took every hit. He wanted to "save" Jack from his own malice.
Even when his arm was chopped off and he was covered in blood, he didn't hate Jack. He felt pity. That final hug? It wasn't a finishing move. It was a genuine act of love for a man who had never known it. When Hercules Record of Ragnarok faded away, he left Jack—and the audience—feeling like the "winner" was actually the one who lost.
The Twelve Labors (Herculean Exodus)
In the series, Hercules uses his club to channel the beasts he defeated during his famous labors. It’s called the Herculean Exodus. But here’s the catch: every time he uses a labor, his tattoo grows. If it reaches his heart, he dies.
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- First Labor: Nemean Lion. A massive shockwave from his club that can level a street.
- Sixth Labor: Birds of Stymphalia. He creates a violent gust of wind to deflect projectiles (like Jack's knives).
- Twelfth Labor: Hound of Hades, Cerberus. This is his trump card. He transforms, gaining massive claws and insane destructive power, but the pain is so intense it would kill a normal god.
We didn't even get to see all twelve. Fans still debate what the "Cleaning of the Augean Stables" would have looked like. A giant wave of water? A literal shit-storm? We’ll probably never know, but the mystery adds to the hype.
Factual Accuracy: The Voice Behind the God
If you watched the English dub, you might have felt a weird sense of nostalgia. That’s because George Newbern voiced him.
He’s the guy who voiced Superman in the Justice League animated series. It was a brilliant casting choice. You have the voice of the world’s most famous superhero playing the world’s most famous mythological hero. In the Japanese version, Katsuyuki Konishi brings a different, more "shonen protagonist" energy that also works perfectly.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans call Hercules "weak" because he lost to Jack. That’s just wrong.
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Hercules was arguably one of the physically strongest gods in the roster. He was tanking hits that would have killed most humans instantly. He lost because he was fighting in London, Jack’s "home turf," and because he refused to stop being a hero. He wasn't trying to just kill Jack; he was trying to understand him.
His death wasn't a failure of strength. It was a sacrifice of his life for his ideals.
If you're looking for more ways to dive into the lore of Hercules Record of Ragnarok, here is what you should do next:
- Watch Season 2, Part 1 on Netflix: Pay close attention to the background characters during the Hercules fight. You’ll see Castor, his childhood friend, which adds a whole new layer of sadness to the ending.
- Read the Manga (Chapters 20-30): The art in the manga captures the "Tattoo" progression much more vividly than the anime does. You can see the physical toll the labors take on his body.
- Analyze the Jack vs. Hercules Parallel: Look at how their color palettes contrast. Hercules is all bright golds and reds, while Jack is dull purples and greys. It’s classic visual storytelling.
Hercules might be gone from the tournament, but his impact on the story—especially on Jack the Ripper's character development—is permanent. He’s the reason the gods started to realize that humans weren't just ants to be stepped on.