Hephaestus took to wife the love-goddess Aphrodite, usually called Venus today, and at some point in their marriage became suspicious that Aphrodite had been committing infidelity. The light-god Apollo was said to have confirmed this to the smith-god and so Hephaestus set about a plan to catch her being unfaithful. Hephaestus fashioned a chain-link net made of Adamantine, the metal of the gods, that was so incredibly strong that no one could escape from it. Eventually, he surprised Aphrodite and the war-god Ares as they lay together in bed. He threw his magic net over them and hauled them before the Olympian gods and displayed them as they were, naked and wrapped in each others arms. To this day, Hephaestus has been estranged from Venus and desires to have little to do with her. Likewise, he openly distrusts his brother Ares since he caught him with his wife. 

As the master craftsman of the gods, Hephaestus manufactured various materials, primarily from mystic metal for both the gods and mortal heroes. With help from the Cyclopes, who were his workmen and assistants, he fashioned the Aegis for Zeus. He also made weapons and armor for the other gods and heroes. For Athena, he made her shield and for the god of love, Cupid, he made the arrows. The chariot which the sun-god Apollo rode across the sky was made by Hephaestus and he also fashioned the invincible armor of the demigod Achilles during the Trojan War. Hephaestus is also credited for making the chains which bound the Titan-god Prometheus to Mount Caucasas for centuries before eventually being rescued by the demigod Hercules during the course of his reputed Twelve Labors.

When the worship of the Olympians spread from Greece to Rome years after the destruction of Troy, The Romans adopted Hephaestus as one of their own gods and called him Vulcan.

(Thor Annual#5) - Hephaestus was present as Hercules attempted to convince Zeus into starting a war with Asgard. Hephaestus advised Zeus against the battle. Hephaestus was present when Zeus made a pact with the Asgardian skyfather Odin to end a war that had been begun by Hercules against the Asgardians.

(Thor I#129) - Hephaestus was present when Hercules was forced down to Hades, to assume Pluto's place as ruler of the realm.

(Thor I#131) - Hephaestus observed Hercules' return to earth, after he had been rescued by Thor.

(Avengers I#281) - Hephaestus served Zeus in his attempt to gain revenge on the Avengers for injuries Hercules had suffered which Zeus believed the Avengers to be responsible for. Hephaestus fought Thor in Olympus, and during their battle, Thor shattered Hephaestus' boot, tearing at his limp leg. Thor was taken aback by this, as he was suffering from a curse laid on him by Hela which had left him nearly crippled, but Hephaestus did not believe in Thor's empathy. The battle ended when Ares struck Thor from behind, which upset Hephaestus.

(Avengers I#283-284) - Hephaestus brought Thor's hammer Mjolnir to his workshop using a series of winches, in the hopes that he might lift it himself. Just as he seemed to have lifted it, Thor returned to reclaim it with the other Avengers, and Hephaestus set his mechanical woman servants on them. However, Hephaestus was convinced that the Avengers had been wronged by Athena, and allied himself with them in an attempt to end the fighting and help heal Hercules' injuries. Before Hephaestus and the others could explain themselves to Zeus, they were struck down by him for being found with the Avengers. It took Hephaestus some time to recover from Zeus' attack, as his fury against his own children was greater than that he had against the Avengers.

(Hercules III#4 - BTS) - Hephaestus was presumably present with the Olympian pantheon as they convened a board meeting on Earth at the Olympus Group, assuming the appearances of mortal businessmen in an attempt to maintain some connection with humanity. Zeus had gathered them to confront Hera for manipulating Hercules into appearing on a reality television show as part of an attempt to gain revenge upon him, but he wound up being jeered at by his own family for his many infidelities. They finally voted against interfering with Hercules' labors.

Comments: Adapted by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.