HERCULES BOLDWOOD

Real Name: Hercules Boldwood

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Head Counselor

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Alex, Binky, John Candy, Rick, Robin, Vanessa, former camp attendees

Enemies: Rex DeForrest II

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Camp Ickeemanunu, USA

First Appearance: Camp Candy#5/1 (September, 1990)

Powers/Abilities: Hercules Boldwood is a dedicated camp counselor, keen to make an outdoor camp experience fun for attendees. However, age has reduced his muscle mass and he requires spectacles. Despite his frail appearance, his motivation to keep the camp going keeps his physical energy going. He can lift another human being and carry him on his shoulders uphill, as well as do short vaults using a pole. He has excellent knowledge of local flora and fauna.

Height: 5'4"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Gray
Hair: White

History:

(Camp Candy#5/1 (fb)) - Dynamically fit Hercules Boldwood was Head Counselor at the remote Camp Ickeemanunu where John Candy attended as a child.

(Camp Candy#5/1 (fb) - BTS) - Little John was so impressed by Boldwood that he chose to become a Camp Counselor himself. Twenty years passed and Boldwood aged considerably. Camp attendee numbers dwindled. Boldwood was threatened by aggressive and sly industrialist Rex DeForrest II to stick to the law and keep camp attendee numbers to at least eight, or the camp would be razed for an industrial waste facility. Boldwood's eyesight began to fail and he thought friendly animals as attendees while the camp fell into considerable disrepair. Meanwhile, now a Camp Councelor, John Candy enthusiastically took his latest camp group (Alex, Binky, Rick, Robin, Vanessa) on a bus trip to see his old summer camp and mentor.

(Camp Candy#5/1) - Candy arrived with his group, barely recognizing the run-down camp and the aged Boldwood, who in turn had trouble recognizing Candy without his spectacles. Boldwood told Candy of his plight. Boldwood was initially unsure if Candy was who he said he was, but Candy's penchant for bumbling destruction was sufficient proof. DeForrest II arrived to threaten Boldwood, but Candy and his group made up the numbers to make it appear the camp was still going. However, DeForrest II insisted that Boldwood still be a fit and active counselor. Boldwood struggled to pitch a tent, so DeForrest II demanded a harsher task of climbing nearby Backbreak Hill with an all-or-nothing deal for ownership of the camp. Initially frightened at the prospect, when he saw Candy fall at a rickety wooden foot bridge, Boldwood felt revitalized, and he became much more spritely, even carrying Candy partway up the steep hill. Winning the bet and now able to keep Camp Ickeemanunu open, Boldwood pledged to gear it for the aged and teach them to be more active and feel younger.

Comments: Created by Angelo DeCesare & Howard Post.

Marvel's Camp Candy comic is a spin-off of the Camp Candy animated series, which ran for 3 seasons from 1989-1992. Although the "Star Comics" stable officially closed in 1988 with no more Marvel comics cover-badged as Star Comics, the "Star Signals" page (similar to the old "Bullpen Bulletins" page) continued in various comics and listed comics grouped under that banner (citing them as Star Comics); Camp Candy was one of those. Sort of an unofficial Star Comics line.

This profile was produced for the Appendix 25^th anniversary's celebratory event to represent Camp Candy.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Hercules Boldwood has no known connections to:

• HERCULES - Long-lived Olympian god and adventurer, Avengers member--Journey into Mystery Annual I#1
• HERCULES - centuries old hero, died; spirit form merged with newborn Martin Simon Burns in 1926, gave him power to become Marvel Boy--Daring Mystery Comics I#6/1
• HERCULES - Egyptian hero, blood from his mummy empowered Martin Oskner Burns to become Marvel Boy in 1942--USA Comics#7/3
• HERCULES (Varen David) @ WWII era - superhumanly strong hero---Mystic Comics I#3/2
  
• HERCULES - Champions of California member, joined pro-registration forces--Civil War#6
  
• or any other "Hercules" or "Boldwood" characters

images: (without ads)
Camp Candy#5/1, p7, pan1 (main image)
   p4, pan5 (headshot)
   p2, pan4 (as young adult)

Appearances:
Camp Candy#5/1 (September, 1990) - Angelo DeCesare (writer), Howard Post (pencils), Roberta Edelman (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2026
Last updated: 09/30/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com.

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix!

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