Marvel has always been up front about the comic connection to traditional mythology.  This is exemplified with Thor as they actually mix all of the Norse Sagas and Eddas directly into Marvel universe continuity, even as far as making the nine-realms and Ragnarok important aspects of the universe.  They are continuing this trend by bringing in the Greek mythological character Hercules into the regular Marvel universe, integrating even more classic religious mythology.

Dan Abnett and Luke Ross are bringing the character in and trying to avoid many of the “cartoonish” character interpretations that popular depictions of Hercules tend to follow.  According to Dan Abnett:

This is not a grim and gritty take on Hercules. It’s going to be triumphantly celebratory of everything that Hercules has ever been, but it is him cutting back to basics and going, “Right, I need to get my act together again and prove that I’m a serious warrior and hero.

His position as a serious warrior is also going to be true to the actual characteristic of the character: his fluid sexuality.  Hercules is a bi-sexual/queer character that shifts his attraction between the genders of his partner, and that is going to be a key element of the new Marvel storyline.  Likewise, they are going to avoid many of the awful cliches that have come along with queer male-bodied characters in comics which creates one that lacks any heroic and “warrior” characteristics.