BIOGRAPHY - Page 3
At an unspecified point, the Olympians had returned to Earth and were again under Zeus' leadership. Changes had also occurred in the life of Hera's nemesis Hercules since then; he was now a member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers. 
During a battle with the Masters of Evil, Hercules was grievously injured. Zeus was enraged with Hercules teammates and elicited his fellow Olympians to capture the Avengers to punish them, believing that they were responsible for his son's fate. Zeus had several Olympians that were loyal to him kidnap the Avengers and imprison them in the underworld but they managed to escape to Olympus. Now on the run, the Avengers sought out some of the other more reasonable Olympians and convinced them of their innocence. This was not enough to thwart the fury of Zeus, who attacked the Avengers and his errant children. He was out of control. The Wasp had been on vacation when Zeus ordered the attack, so she was taken separately. While Zeus was battling her team and his own children, Hera found the Wasp and revealed that she had been secretly working with the titan Prometheus to restore Hercules, seeing no other way to end Zeus' madness. Her plan did work, though not perfectly. Prometheus did restore Hercules, sacrificing some of his own lifeforce, seeing it as payment for an earlier boon. Hercules was far from grateful when he awoke and he attacked Hera and Prometheus. Eventually, his teammates managed to get through to him and he calmed down. Hercules in turn met with his father and succeeded in convincing him of the Avengers' innocence. Zeus' rampage was now over. In the aftermath, Hera confessed her own role in saving Hercules and the Avengers. Zeus was humbled by the incident and forbade any of the Olympians gods from setting foot on Earth again. [Avengers (1st series) #271, 281-285]
Despite her earlier aid of Hercules and the Avengers, Hera still hated him. She and son Ares watched him with his allies from afar on Mount Olympus from the pool of revelation. Both frustrated, Hera and Ares bickered about who hated Hercules more; Hera for seeing Hercules as a symbol of her husband's adultery or Ares who was jealous of Hercules prized position in his father's heart. Hera stated they had simply not been proactive enough and proposed a wager to her son to see who could cause the “halfing” the most pain, the most bitter suffering. Ares was confident he would win the bet but Hera remarked she was “the master of revenge.” Hera and Ares started their contest by tracing Hercules and his teammates Crystal, Black Knight and Eric Masterson (then Thor) to Whiteplains hospital in Westchester County. The Avengers were visiting sick children, a trip Crystal had organized with hospital worker Taylor Madison. Ares informed his mother of his plan; he intended to possess one of Hercules friends (in this case Masterson) and force Hercules to kill him to save his own life. Ares was feeling pretty self-assured but so was Hera, as she had just seen the mortal Taylor Madison.
Hercules managed to figure out that Ares was behind the attack due to the language he used while he possessed Masterson. Due to quick thinking and teamwork with Crystal, they were able to fell Masterson and Ares, who both collapsed on the ground. Hera picked up her fallen son, revealing her presence. She actually complimented Hercules for having the intellect to defeat Ares. Hercules cursed Hera, who teleported away with Ares telling him no “brief” lives were lost and that he should consider the matter a mere family disagreement. Back on Olympus, Hera continued to plot, watching Hercules and the young woman Taylor Madison from the pool of revelation. [Avengers (1st series) #349]
As Hera predicted, a romance bloomed with Hercules and Taylor. On one occasion, she was caught by Zeus observing Hercules and Taylor. Zeus told her that he heard a rumor that some Olympians had been interfering in the affairs or mortals. She believed that, by placating to his tremendous ego, she was able to convince him that it was not she who had violated his edict but that she would, in his stead, seek out this betrayer. In hindsight, this was Zeus giving her an opportunity to come clean, already aware of her scheming but, in her arrogance, Hera didn't notice. [Avengers (1st series) #357] Hera continued to amp up her plans by directly infiltrating Taylor's life. She assumed the identity of “Augustine Jones” and became Taylor's roommate in New York City. Taylor had ended the relationship with Hercules, as she believed she was dying, which she revealed to “Augustine.” Hercules was still attempting to reconcile with her, however, and when he phoned, “Augustine” answered. She said that Taylorwas still interested and to meet her at “La Circe” restaurant that night. [Avengers (1st series) #380]
Hera assumed Taylor's form and went on this date with Hercules to ensure he believed they had reconciled. As she left, she was cornered by her son Ares, who started to think her actions amounted to madness. He warned her that she put them all at risk due to the consequences of her husband's anger should her violation of his edict be discovered. Hera reminded her son of their wager and that she intended to win. She stated that Taylor was Hercules predestined soulmate and therefore her instrument of revenge. Hera dismissed her son, stating he was boring her and that she would ensure she would not be caught. As he was spiriting away, she said that soon all those who Hercules held dear would soon die. [Avengers (1st series) #381]
Hera, still in her role of Augustine, convinced Taylor to go with her to Avengers mansion, looking for Hercules. When they got there, Hercules was not home, but given Hera's entitled nature, she managed to push her way past the Avengers butler Jarvis to wait for him. Giant-Man was quite taken with her and was serving her wine when she inquired if the room they were in contained everyone currently in the mansion. When he replied yes, she quickly incapacitated the assembled Avengers (Deathcry, Black Widow, Giant Man and Crystal) in addition to Taylor and Jarvis. When Hercules returned with Quicksilver, Hera revealed herself. She had placed her captives in a yellow orb, which appeared to be draining their lifeforces. Hera told Hercules that she could abide him no longer, that he had been a constant reminder of her husband's infidelities with “pale blooded” women. As Hercules attempted to save his friends, Hera told him that they would all die in front of him and only then may he understand the pain his existence had inflicted on her. As Hera and Hercules fought, they were interrupted by Zeus. Hera attempted to plead with Zeus that what he had witnessed was nothing, but Zeus revealed he had been aware of her plan since its inception. Ares had informed on her in an attempt to curry favor with him. Zeus said that he had in fact created Taylor, a perfect soulmate for his son in an attempt to lure Hera into openly acting against Hercules. Taylor was a mere magical construct and, with Hera's confession, she would simply fade away. Hercules and Taylor embraced as she disappeared. Hercules was heartbroken and attacked Zeus, believing what he did was exceptionally cruel. Hera interestingly was silent, appearing solemn during the whole affair. Whether she was acting repentant, terrified of her husband or just secretly happy that Zeus' plot against her hurt Hercules far more than what she had planned was unclear. [Avengers (1st series) #382, 384]
One reason for which Hera was so silent was a simple one: fear. This was demonstrated soon after. Following their fallout, Zeus continued to watch Hercules from the pool of revelation, the two now estranged thanks to Zeus' actions. In a reversal of fortunes, Hera caught her husband scrying. Hera mocked him for his obsession with his “illegitimate” whelp and again reminded him that Hercules was a reminder to her of all of his affairs with mortal women. Lashing out, Zeus responded that “mortal women know when to shut up.” Hera appeared to be literally terrified of her husband, the moment perhaps giving insight into just how toxic their marriage really was. [Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed #1]