As I've written in the past, when you introduce a super smart hero, you have to be EXTREMELY careful that the character doesn't turn into a crazy mix between a Mary Sue/Pet Character/Walking Deus Ex Machina.

So that's why this week's Incredible Hercules thrilled me, because it appears (SPOILERS AHEAD!) that Amadeus Cho, who had more Mary Sue/Pet Character/Walking Deus Ex Machina potential than any new character I've seen before, is going to be taken the other way - as Cho, in the issue, after getting knocked out by Black Widow (in a neat scene, mainly because it's always nice to see Amadeus Cho get knocked unconscious), thereby injuring his pet, basically turns evil, and now Hercules suddenly is going to have to STOP his erstwhile new best buddy from doing some pretty drastic stuff.

I dig it - super smart VILLAINS are much cooler. They still have some danger of pet character-dom, but it is a lot less egregious.

So yay, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente!!!

Cho as a villain is a brilliant idea!!