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Ares #1-5
Ares: God of War
For thousands of years, Ares the God of War has been the most violent and ruthlessly efficient killer in Zeus' stable. The Nuclear Option to be sent in when you absolutely, positively need to kill everything in sight. Now, Ares - who has invaded Olympus, attempted to take over earth, stood at the walls of Troy and fought toe to toe with and against Earth's greatest heroes - has turned his back on Olympus and centuries of brutal warfare to begin life anew on Earth with one to raise his child. But what happens when Olympus, under siege and in danger of falling, calls on its most violent son to come to its rescue? And what happens if Ares refuses? Will Zeus destroy his son - and his grandson - to save his city? This story brings together heroes new and old, uniting Hercules and the Greek Pantheon with the Marvel Universe. Ares is the God of War, so we promise this is like no heroic book Marvel has done before. Heads will fly and blood will flow between Ares and anyone who stands in the way of his son. Collects Ares #1-5.
120 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2006
About the author
Michael Avon Oeming
857 books65 followersMichael Avon Oeming is an American comic book creator, both as an artist and writer.
His 1998 comic book Bulletproof Monk was made into a film of the same name.
The previous mentioned collaborations are The Mice Templar from Image Comics, which he draws and co-authors with Bryan J.L. Glass,[1] and Powers from Icon Comics which he draws, and sometimes co-authors, with Brian Bendis. His creator-owned projects include Rapture, on which he collaborated with his wife, Taki Soma,[2] and The Victories, both for Dark Horse Comics.
As of 2010, he is employed as a staff member of Valve Corporation, working on Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 and Portal 2 webcomics.
His 1998 comic book Bulletproof Monk was made into a film of the same name.
The previous mentioned collaborations are The Mice Templar from Image Comics, which he draws and co-authors with Bryan J.L. Glass,[1] and Powers from Icon Comics which he draws, and sometimes co-authors, with Brian Bendis. His creator-owned projects include Rapture, on which he collaborated with his wife, Taki Soma,[2] and The Victories, both for Dark Horse Comics.
As of 2010, he is employed as a staff member of Valve Corporation, working on Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 and Portal 2 webcomics.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Want to Read
December 1, 2010This looks like a great book to read =) WANNA READ IT SOO BAD!!
October 30, 2013
If Marvels Thor and the Hulk were merged into one person it would be Ares. Its a good story with good art. The characters are interesting enough. There is a strange time jump but it doesn't take away from the story.
July 18, 2010
I have one thing against this series, one complaint. Why tease us with an interesting, intelligent god of war, only to toss him into the Avengers as a Hercules clone?
My apologies to Hercules.
My apologies to Hercules.
August 2, 2024
Maybe I didn't understand what they were going for, but this one felt kinda messy and all over the place for me. For the most part the entirely of this book felt like a water down version of Punisher and 300 written by a right winger who didn't understand the source material they were watering down. I have no idea of the author or their beliefs, but it just felt like they had a cool concept with no execution.
The ending also felt rushed, with no solution beyond "keep fighting and eventually you'll win". Maybe that was partially because they only had a 5 issue run allotted to them to tell the story, but I feel more could have been done here. Part 3 - 5 feel hollow and rushed.
There are some interesting concepts started here, but it never goes anywhere. There is a beautifully written moment where Achilles and Ares are talking and Achilles questions why Alex is so important to Ares as Ares has other sons. Ares replys by saying "[his other sons] never asked who they were. They never questioned themselves."
So which Achilles responds "and have you?" Later in the same conversation Ares wonders "What kind of God of war am I? I ponder my fate like a poet." This is haunting writing and absolutely beautiful ideals for Ares as a character to ponder. And you know what comes of that conversation? NOTHING! It immediately switches back to "let's solve everything with violence and bloodshed."
For a book who's main ideal is "let's change our nature, and be nothing like our fathers" Or "let's break the violent cycle our fathers have made for us" it does nothing to allow it's characters to actually change and grow.
Like I said, I don't know the authors views or what limitations they were under so there could be a reason for that, but as it stands Marvel's Ares: God Of War is something that has so much potential, but decides to beat it's possibilities down for violence and spectacle.
3/10
The ending also felt rushed, with no solution beyond "keep fighting and eventually you'll win". Maybe that was partially because they only had a 5 issue run allotted to them to tell the story, but I feel more could have been done here. Part 3 - 5 feel hollow and rushed.
There are some interesting concepts started here, but it never goes anywhere. There is a beautifully written moment where Achilles and Ares are talking and Achilles questions why Alex is so important to Ares as Ares has other sons. Ares replys by saying "[his other sons] never asked who they were. They never questioned themselves."
So which Achilles responds "and have you?" Later in the same conversation Ares wonders "What kind of God of war am I? I ponder my fate like a poet." This is haunting writing and absolutely beautiful ideals for Ares as a character to ponder. And you know what comes of that conversation? NOTHING! It immediately switches back to "let's solve everything with violence and bloodshed."
For a book who's main ideal is "let's change our nature, and be nothing like our fathers" Or "let's break the violent cycle our fathers have made for us" it does nothing to allow it's characters to actually change and grow.
Like I said, I don't know the authors views or what limitations they were under so there could be a reason for that, but as it stands Marvel's Ares: God Of War is something that has so much potential, but decides to beat it's possibilities down for violence and spectacle.
3/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2017
This was a nice little surprise. The story itself is very self-contained and doesn't tie into the Marvel Universe very much save for a reference or two about the Avengers, and the multiple pantheons existing together. Oeming really develops Ares well, especially as a father figure. The art was mostly well done, and often interesting, but it felt like faces were inconsistent at times.
July 8, 2019
Ares: God of War, ossia come Avon Oeming ti rilancia un personaggio minore Marvel, fondamentalmente un villain che potrebbe dare molto di più a livello narrativo, senza per questo modificare troppo il personaggio e il suo rapporto con gli altri dei greci, specie Ercole, come finora raccontato in 50 anni di storie.
La pecca maggiore di questa opera sono i disegni decisamente scarsi.
La pecca maggiore di questa opera sono i disegni decisamente scarsi.
July 1, 2020
I really liked it, but the story was quite predictable.
August 2, 2022
A pleasant surprise, even if it's a little stupid at times. Worth it alone for the image of Ares as psychotic sitcom dad to Alex for years while they pretend to be mortals.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews