The band of
disparate heroes (Hercules, Black Widow, Ghost Rider, Iceman, Angel) plus the
goddess Venus stand amazed at Pluto’s announcement that Venus must wed Ares and
Hercules marry Hippolyta or the universe dies. Herc refuses and goes to assault
Pluto only to be beaten by Ares. Herc hurls Ares into Hippolyta and attacks
Pluto only to be overcome by the Lord of the Underworld. Black Widow devises a
plot to rescue the unconscious Hercules. Ghost Rider and Angel attack Pluto and
he blasts them; Venus and Natasha take advantage of the distraction to drag
Herc away while Iceman seals up the portal with a mountain of ice. They all
(minus Ghost Rider who is scouting out the area) escape via ice bridge….
Pluto and company
find they cannot pursue with the ice mountain blocking the portal. Pluto
transports himself, Ares, and Hippolyta to Olympus where they confront Zeus. Pluto
reminds Zeus (and enlightens the reader) that he, Pluto, has formed a league
with gods of the dead from other pantheons and Zeus, fearing an attack, was
forced to conclude a peace treaty with them; to seal the treaty the two
marriages were arranged. Angry at having been placed in Pluto’s power, Zeus
nevertheless agrees to make Venus and Herc abide by these commitments. Once
Zeus leaves, Pluto reveals the secret reason: as the law forbids a spouse to
oppose spouse, Herc and Venus will be prevented from defending Olympus against
attack by Pluto’s forces….
The heroes gather
in a safe spot and Ghost Rider joins them to report that the portals and
invaders are all gone. Then the Huntsman arrives on a bridge of fire, with
orders from Zeus to fetch Hercules and to show he is serious, he hurls a bolt
of fire which paralyzes the heroes—all except Ghost Rider, protected by his
Satanic power. He fights back, blasting the Huntsman with hellfire, who
vanishes before he hits the ground. Herc and Venus are unconscious as the
Huntsman’s attacks are more effective against Olympians. Because he can
withstand the Huntsman’s firebolts, Ghost Rider is chosen to guard them while
Black Widow, Angel, and Iceman pursue the villain. Huntsman conjures up a
Titan, Menoetius, killed by one of Zeus’ lightning bolts, transforming his body
into living energy, and orders him to attack the thee heroes. The speedy Iceman
attacks the Titan from all sides with ice while Black Widow hooks a metal cord
to a steel flagpole and ropes the Titan, who, standing in melted ice, is
electrocuted. Huntsman is also knocked down and Angel steals his staff—but the
Olympian has greater powers….
Ghost Rider is
protecting Hercules and Venus when he sees Pluto, Ares, and Hippolyta rushing
toward him so he reacts by blasting them with hellfire—and then he discovers
they are his three friends, magically disguised by the Huntsman, who overpowers
Ghost Rider and carries his two quarries off to Olympus. There are some
recriminations against Johnny Blaze and, since none of them know how they can
go to Olympus to rescue Herc and Venus, the group splits up in despair….