Friday, February 8, 2019

Bring on the Bad Guys: Mars

Real name: Ares
A.K.A.: God of War, Ares Buchanan
First appearance: Wonder Woman I#1 (Summer 1942)
Abilities: Mastery of war and over all weapons
Quotes: "My men shall rule with the sword!"
Worst act: Being the personification of war and slaughter
Created by: William Moulton Marston (script) and Harry G. Peter (pencils/inks)

Another character that would become a long running foe Mars/Ares (DC settled on the Greek version after the Crisis and the Roman before), Mars was the god of war and probably Wonder Woman's most persistent foe outside of Paula Von Gunther and the Cheetah.

The living embodiment of war and mindless slaughter, Mars was seen as having a base on the planet Mars and using dead souls as his troops (you think the Martian Manhunter ever talked about that?). Along with his lieutenants, Mars would side with the Axis Powers.

I admit some bias, but I always preferred George Perez's take on the character. Peter's version seemed too much like a muscle man walking off a peplum flick whereas Perez's Ares was only humanoid, like the armor around him was only containing the very nature of war itself.

Still, for a character who supposed to be an ambassador of peace having her fight war itself makes sense.

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