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Cover of Tiny Hercules
Graphic · ages 7–11

Tiny Hercules

Written by Jon Lock · Illustrated by Nich Angell

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Book 1 in Tiny HerculesView the full series

Top giftable

A full-colour funny graphic novel that turns Greek myth into chaotic middle-grade comedy. Best for Dog Man, Bunny vs Monkey and InvestiGators fans who want fast jokes, big action and a tiny hero with mythic ambitions.

  • Best for7–11
  • FormatGraphic
  • Length208 pp
  • Read aloud~1 hr40 min
Where to buyPaperback
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£7.99£9.99Save £2.00
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The vibe

What it’s like.

Style

  • Conversational
  • Comedic
  • Onomatopoeic

Tone

  • Funny
  • Silly
  • Exciting
  • Absurdist
  • Adventurous

Themes

On the pagetiny hercules, full colour graphic novel, comic adventure, small hero, greek mythology, underdog hero, mythology comedy, chaotic action

Experience meters

Energy5/ 5
Humour5/ 5
Scariness1/ 5
Peril2/ 5
Wonder4/ 5
Cosiness2/ 5
Emotional intensity1/ 5
Conceptual intensity1/ 5

What’s it about?

The story.

Tiny Hercules introduces a very small version of the legendary hero, throwing mythological adventure into the high-energy world of modern children's graphic novels. The appeal is immediate: bold full-colour art, fast comic pacing, silly danger and an underdog hero trying to prove himself in a world of oversized expectations. Jon Lock and Nich Angell's series is a recent 2026 launch, so its long-term place in the children's comics landscape is still developing, but publisher and review positioning clearly place it in the funny, reluctant-reader-friendly lane alongside Bunny vs Monkey, Dog Man and InvestiGators. It is not a careful classical-mythology primer, though it can act as a playful gateway to Greek myths. It adds a highly commercial, high-energy graphic-novel option with strong child appeal and useful mythic flavour.

Fit check

Right for your child?

Where it lands by age

  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 9
  • 11
  • 13
  • Best fit · 7–11
  • Read aloud · 6–10
  • Independent · 7–11

Prose load

Light

Visual support

Very high

Reluctant-reader friendly

Very

Read-aloud quality

Workable

Works well for

  • Gift-buying
  • Reluctant readers
Low sensitivityNo content warnings

Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.

Bedtime suitability

3 / 5 · Workable

Sensitive-child

4 / 5 · Good fit

Graphic intensity

1 / 5 · None

Best for

  • Funny graphic novel
  • Greek mythology
  • Reluctant readers
  • High energy comedy
  • Small hero

Avoid if

  • Wants accurate mythology retelling
  • Prefers calm graphic novels
  • Dislikes chaotic comedy

Particularly good for children who are…

  • Reluctant reader
  • Struggling with reading
  • Neurodiversity or learning differences
  • Low self esteem

In the classroom

How it works in school.

A funny mythological-comic romp — a reluctant-reader pleaser with a playful nod to Greek myths.

Classroom role

  • Classroom library
  • Topic companion

A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.

Why it lands

Why they love it.

Why kids love it

  • Being special or chosen
  • Adventure and freedom
  • Surviving danger
  • Making a difference

Why parents love it

  • Shared humour
  • Quick to read

In the series

Tiny Hercules.

2 books · open the series →

About the creators

About the creators.

JL

Jon Lock

Writer · United Kingdom

Jon Lock is a British author best known for the Tiny Hercules picture-book series, bright, joke-paced picture books about a small superhero with very small problems. Lock's voice is warm, character-driven and read-aloud-ready. A reliable contemporary UK picture-book author for ages 3–6.

More from Jon Lock →
NA

Nich Angell

Writer & illustrator · United Kingdom

Nich Angell is a British illustrator and author best known to children's-book readers as the visual partner of Jon Lock on the Tiny Hercules picture-book series, bright, joke-paced picture books about a small superhero. Angell's style is character-driven, bold and warmly cartoony, well-suited to read-aloud silly picture books. A reliable contemporary UK picture-book illustrator for ages 3–6.

More from Nich Angell →

If you liked this

Three ways out of this book.

If you liked this, try…

Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.

Come into this from…

Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.

Where to go next…

Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.

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Last reviewed · May 2026Suggest a correctionHow we recommend
£7.99£9.99
Waterstones · 2 shops
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