Even in his cradle, Hercules showed a strength that was not of this world. But the goddess Hera held a grudge against him, and the hero's greatest trial would not come from monsters. This is the story of how the famous Twelve Labors began.

A lion no weapon can wound, a serpent with nine heads, a giant boar, and a king hiding inside a bronze jar. In his first six labors, Hercules discovers that strength alone is not enough — he will need patience and cleverness too.

A raging bull, mares that eat flesh, the queen of the Amazons, golden apples at the edge of the world and, at the last, a descent into the realm of the dead. In his final labors, Hercules reaches the very limit of his strength — and discovers where perseverance can lead.