Ares

• Core Identity: Ares is the immortal Olympian God of War, a brutal and peerless combatant who has evolved from a classic villain of Thor and Hercules into a complex, honor-bound anti-hero and tragic Avenger.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Ares functions as the living embodiment of conflict, a force of nature as much as a character. He is the son of Zeus and brother of Hercules, initially serving as a recurring antagonist to Marvel's heroes before undergoing a significant character shift, seeking a mortal life before being drawn back into battle as a member of the mighty_avengers and later, the dark_avengers.
• Primary Impact: His most significant impact was during the Dark Reign and Siege storylines, where his membership in Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers provided a veneer of legitimacy and terrifying power to the team. His brutal, sacrificial death at the hands of the Sentry during the Siege of Asgard is one of the most memorable and shocking moments of that era, cementing his transition from villain to tragic hero.
• Key Incarnations: The primary distinction is between his presence and absence. In the Earth-616 comics, Ares is a long-standing, deeply developed character with a rich history. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ares has not appeared and is not known to exist, with the Olympians' role being significantly reduced and different in tone compared to their comic counterparts.

Ares made his official debut in the Silver Age of Comics in Thor #129, published in June 1966. He was co-created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, who were in the process of building out the cosmic and mythological corners of the burgeoning Marvel Universe. Just as they had successfully adapted Norse mythology with Thor and the Asgardians, Lee and Kirby turned their attention to the Greek pantheon. In this initial appearance, Ares was presented as a straightforward antagonist, a divine rival to his half-brother Hercules, who had recently been introduced as a foil and ally to Thor. Ares's creation was a natural extension of Marvel's “gods-as-superheroes” concept. He embodied the more negative aspects of the Greek gods—their vanity, jealousy, and penchant for meddling in mortal affairs for their own violent amusement. His early design was that of a classic Greek hoplite, often clean-shaven, which would later be drastically updated to the more familiar bearded, biker-esque warrior look. For decades, he remained a second-tier villain, primarily appearing in Thor, Avengers, and Hercules titles to stir up trouble, driven by his eternal jealousy of his more favored brother. It wasn't until the mid-2000s that writer Michael Avon Oeming and artist Travel Foreman dramatically re-envisioned the character in the 2006 miniseries, Ares: God of War. This series provided him with a new depth, a modern visual design, and a compelling motivation: leaving the endless squabbles of Olympus behind to live a mortal life as a construction worker and raise his demigod son, Alexander Aaron (Phobos). This pivotal series transformed Ares from a generic villain into a complex anti-hero, paving the way for his subsequent inclusion in high-profile teams like the Mighty Avengers and Dark Avengers, and elevating him to a major player in the Marvel Universe for the first time.

Ares is one of the twelve Olympian gods, the son of Zeus, the Skyfather and King of Olympus, and Hera, the Queen of the Gods. Born into a realm of immense power and eternal life, Ares was destined to embody the very concept he was named for: war. From his earliest days, he reveled in conflict, bloodshed, and the tactical artistry of battle. His brutal, direct nature and love for violence put him at immediate odds with many of his fellow Olympians, particularly his half-sister Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy, and most famously, his half-brother Hercules. While Hercules was celebrated for his heroic deeds, strength, and jovial nature, Ares was feared and often reviled. He saw Hercules's popularity among mortals and gods alike as a personal insult, a sign that his own essential role in the cosmic order was unappreciated. This deep-seated jealousy fueled a rivalry that spanned millennia. Ares frequently conspired against Hercules, attempting to discredit, defeat, or kill him on numerous occasions. He allied himself with other villains, such as Pluto, God of the Underworld, and even manipulated mortals to wage wars in his name, all in an effort to prove his superiority. For centuries, Ares was a consistent threat. He attempted to conquer Olympus, fought against the Avengers, and clashed with Thor, seeing the Asgardian Prince of Thunder as another rival for the title of the ultimate warrior-god. However, his endless cycle of villainy brought him little satisfaction. After a particularly brutal conflict with the Japanese gods led by Amatsu-Mikaboshi, Ares grew weary of the petty games and political machinations of Olympus. He made a profound decision: to abandon his divine station and live among mortals, seeking to understand the humanity he had so long despised. He settled in Dover, New Jersey, taking up the human guise of “John Aaron” and working as a carpenter and construction worker. During this time, he fathered a son, Alexander Aaron, with a mortal woman. For several years, Ares dedicated himself wholly to raising Alex, attempting to shield him from the violent world of gods and monsters. However, this peace was shattered when Olympus was threatened once more. Despite his desire for a quiet life, his inherent nature as the God of War and his love for his son drew him back into the fray. This reluctant return marked the beginning of his transformation from a pure villain to a complicated anti-hero, a warrior who fought not for glory or chaos, but for a cause he could believe in—first for his son, and later, for his adopted home of Earth.

Ares does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of the current timeline, he has not been seen, mentioned, or alluded to in any film or Disney+ series. The MCU's exploration of the Greek Pantheon has been extremely limited, confined almost entirely to the events of Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). In that film, Thor, Jane Foster, Valkyrie, and Korg travel to Omnipotence City, a nexus for gods from across the universe. There, they seek the aid of Zeus and the other Olympians to fight Gorr the God Butcher. The MCU's depiction of the Olympians is starkly different from the comics. They are portrayed as decadent, arrogant, and cowardly, led by a Zeus who is more concerned with orgies and his own image than with protecting innocent lives. This characterization serves as a comedic foil to Thor's earnest heroism and provides a justification for Gorr's crusade. The MCU's Zeus is shown to have a son, Hercules, who appears in a mid-credits scene played by Brett Goldstein. This confirms the existence of at least one of Zeus's famous children, but Ares's absence is conspicuous. There are several potential in-universe and out-of-universe reasons for this omission:

• Thematic Redundancy: In a universe with Thor (God of Thunder), Hela (Goddess of Death), and Thanos (a warlord), the specific niche of a “God of War” might have been seen as thematically repetitive for a cinematic introduction.
• Character Overlap with DC: The rival DC Extended Universe prominently features Ares as the primary antagonist in Wonder Woman (2017). Marvel Studios may have wished to avoid direct comparisons or audience confusion by sidelining their own version of the character.
• Narrative Simplicity: Introducing the entire complex family dynamic of the Olympians (Zeus, Hera, Ares, Athena, Hercules, etc.) would have bogged down the already fast-paced plot of Thor: Love and Thunder. Focusing solely on Zeus and teasing Hercules was a more streamlined approach.

Should Ares ever be introduced into the MCU, his origin would likely be tied to the established Omnipotence City. He could be presented as a more militant and aggressive Olympian, perhaps one who disagreed with his father's passive and hedonistic leadership, creating an immediate and compelling internal conflict within the Greek Pantheon.

Ares is one of the most formidable physical combatants in the entire Marvel Universe. His powers and skills are a direct reflection of his divine portfolio as the God of War.

As a true Olympian, Ares possesses superhuman attributes far exceeding those of mortals and most superhumans.

• Superhuman Strength: Ares possesses vast physical strength, placing him in the highest echelon of Marvel powerhouses. While his half-brother Hercules is generally considered to possess greater raw strength (Class 100+), Ares is easily capable of lifting well over 100 tons. He has proven strong enough to go toe-to-toe with beings like Thor, Wonder Man, and Sentry, and to physically shatter mountains and tear tanks apart with his bare hands.
• Superhuman Durability: His body is virtually indestructible to conventional injury. He can withstand high-caliber bullets, immense impact forces, extreme temperatures, and powerful energy blasts without sustaining damage. His divine flesh and bone are far denser than human tissue. He was able to survive a direct blast from Balder's sword and fight on, and even withstand blows from a mind-controlled Hercules.
• Superhuman Stamina & Agility: Ares's divine metabolism produces almost no fatigue toxins, allowing him to exert himself at peak capacity for days on end without tiring. He is also incredibly agile and possesses reflexes far superior to the finest human athlete.
• Immortality & Regenerative Healing: Ares is functionally immortal. He does not age and is immune to all terrestrial diseases. While he can be injured, his divine life force allows him to heal from wounds at a superhuman rate. He can regenerate massive amounts of damaged tissue, though he cannot regrow missing limbs or organs without magical assistance. Only an injury that disperses a significant portion of his bodily molecules could kill him permanently, as demonstrated by his death at the hands of the Sentry.

Beyond his physical might, Ares wields powers tied directly to his domain.

• War Mastery (Odikinesis): Ares has a supernatural, intuitive understanding of all forms of conflict. He is a master of every weapon ever created, from ancient swords and spears to modern firearms and explosives. His combat skills are nearly unparalleled; he is arguably the single greatest hand-to-hand and armed combatant to ever come from Olympus.
• Strategist & Tactician: He is a genius-level tactician and strategist, with millennia of experience leading armies and analyzing battlefields. He can instantly identify tactical advantages, weaknesses, and the most efficient path to victory in any conflict.
• Incitement of Violence: Ares can psychically influence the emotions of others, capable of inciting feelings of rage, hatred, and bloodlust in individuals or entire crowds, effectively turning peaceful situations into violent riots.

Ares utilizes a variety of weapons, both ancient and modern, often crafted by the divine smith Hephaestus.

• Adamantine Weapons: His preferred weapons are often forged from Olympian Adamantine, a metal nearly as durable as Proto-Adamantium. These include a massive battle axe, swords, daggers, and spears. These weapons are magically enchanted and virtually unbreakable.
• Olympian Armor: He typically wears a suit of divine armor that grants him further protection from harm.
• Modern Arsenal: Since his “reboot” as an anti-hero, Ares has fully embraced modern warfare. He is an expert marksman and frequently carries a vast arsenal of military-grade firearms, explosives, and other contemporary weapons into battle, seamlessly blending ancient divine combat with modern firepower.

Ares's personality is as brutal and direct as his fighting style. He is arrogant, proud, and possesses a warrior's code of honor, though it is often a self-serving one. He despises weakness and cowardice, and respects strength and martial prowess above all else. For much of his history, he was driven by jealousy and a lust for power. However, his time on Earth raising his son fundamentally changed him. He developed a paternal, protective instinct and a weary understanding of humanity. While still incredibly violent and quick to anger, his actions became driven by a desire to protect the innocent and serve a cause greater than himself. He saw his role in the Mighty Avengers and later the Dark Avengers as that of a soldier serving his country (America). He is a man of action, not words, and is deeply uncomfortable with politics and deception, a trait that ultimately put him on a collision course with his final leader, Norman Osborn.

As Ares is not present in the MCU, this section is a speculative analysis based on the established powers of other divine beings in the franchise.

If introduced, an MCU Ares would likely possess powers consistent with other high-tier divine beings like the Asgardians and Olympians.

• Physiology: He would almost certainly have superhuman strength, durability, and longevity on par with Thor or the MCU's Hercules. His strength would likely be in the “city-block level” tier, capable of battling Frost Giants, Chitauri, or other powerful threats. His durability would allow him to shrug off energy blasts from Iron Man's armor and withstand blows from the Hulk.
• Combat Prowess: His core identity as the God of War would translate to him being one of the most skilled fighters in the MCU. His proficiency would likely surpass that of even characters like Captain America or Black Widow, blending ancient fighting styles with a mastery of any weapon he touches. He could be depicted as a tactical genius, a “Captain America of the gods.”
• Weaponry: An MCU Ares would wield a signature enchanted weapon, perhaps an axe or spear, likely forged by an MCU version of Hephaestus. This weapon would be capable of channeling divine energy and would be durable enough to clash with Mjolnir or Stormbreaker.

An MCU Ares would need to be distinct from Thor. While Thor's power is tied to thunder and the sky, Ares's would be purely martial. He wouldn't fly or summon lightning; his power would be grounded, physical, and tactical. The visual representation of his powers might involve him briefly entering a “battle-fury” state, where his strength and speed are amplified, or magically summoning weapons to his hand. Compared to the comic version, an MCU Ares would likely have his power levels adjusted for cinematic consistency. His ability to psychically incite rage might be downplayed or removed to keep him as a more physical threat. His personality would likely be simplified, focusing on the “honorable warrior” archetype to create a clear contrast with his father Zeus's deceitful and hedonistic nature as seen in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Ares is not a character who makes friends easily, and his alliances are almost always born of convenience or a shared purpose on the battlefield.

• Phobos (Alexander Aaron): Ares's most important relationship is with his son, Alexander. His love for Alex was the catalyst for his entire character transformation. He left Olympus to give his son a normal life and returned to battle to protect him. Alex, who inherited his father's war domain and developed fear-based powers, looked up to his father as a hero. Ares's death was a devastating blow to Alex, who was later killed himself and then resurrected. Their relationship is the humanizing core of Ares's modern story.
• The Mighty Avengers (led by Carol Danvers & Tony Stark): After the events of Civil War, Iron Man recruited Ares to his new government-sanctioned Avengers team. Ares saw this as the ultimate soldier's calling: serving a great nation. He respected Stark's authority and Carol Danvers' leadership, viewing them as his commanding officers. He acted as the team's powerhouse and enforcer, a “Wolverine” figure who would do the dirty work others wouldn't. While he never truly bonded with his teammates on a personal level, he fought alongside them with loyalty and brutal efficiency.
• Norman Osborn: This was less an alliance and more a tour of duty. Osborn recruited Ares for his Dark Avengers, selling the God of War on the idea that they were the official protectors of America. Ares, distrustful but loyal to the chain of command, agreed. He served as the team's “Thor” and moral compass, frequently questioning Osborn's increasingly erratic and villainous methods. This relationship was fraught with tension and ultimately led to Ares's demise when he finally realized the depths of Osborn's insanity.

• Hercules: Ares's eternal rival. For millennia, their conflict defined them. Ares despises Hercules for being Zeus's favored son and for being beloved by mortals. Their battles are legendary, a clash of brute force (Hercules) versus martial skill and savagery (Ares). While their relationship has softened slightly in modern times, with moments of grudging respect, the deep-seated animosity remains a core part of their identities.
• Amatsu-Mikaboshi (The Chaos King): The Japanese god of evil and chaos was responsible for a devastating attack on Olympus that solidified Ares's disillusionment with the gods. During the Chaos War storyline, Mikaboshi became a multiversal threat, destroying entire pantheons and even the underworlds. A resurrected Ares fought valiantly alongside Hercules and the God Squad against the Chaos King's forces in a battle for all of existence.
• Zeus: A complex and antagonistic relationship. Ares has always felt scorned and unappreciated by his father, who favored Hercules and Athena. This paternal rejection is a major source of Ares's anger and resentment. He has openly defied and even battled Zeus on multiple occasions, viewing him as a corrupt and ineffective leader.

• Olympians: By birth, Ares is a prince of Olympus and a member of its pantheon. However, he has spent most of his existence at odds with his family, viewing them as decadent and out of touch. He has both fought against them in bids for the throne and defended them from external threats.
• Mighty Avengers: His first major superhero team affiliation. He served as the team's heavy hitter, bringing a level of ruthless aggression that often made his heroic teammates uncomfortable. He was instrumental in battles against Ultron, the Skrull invasion during Secret Invasion, and Doctor Doom.
• Dark Avengers: His most famous and tragic affiliation. As a member of Norman Osborn's team, he provided the public with a familiar heroic face alongside other villains masquerading as heroes. He genuinely believed he was serving the United States, and his slow realization that he was being used by a madman formed his central character arc during Dark Reign.

This five-issue miniseries is the cornerstone of the modern Ares. The story finds Ares living a quiet life as a construction worker, raising his son Alex. When the forces of Olympus, led by his uncle Pluto, come to forcibly return him and take his son, Ares is forced to unleash his divine power once more. The series brilliantly juxtaposes his life as a loving single father with his true nature as a brutal God of War. He is forced to confront his past and his violent instincts to protect the one thing he truly loves. This storyline single-handedly provided Ares with the depth and motivation needed to transition him into a main character in the Marvel Universe, establishing his new look and his core conflict: the struggle between the man he wants to be and the god he is.

Following Ares: God of War, Ares was recruited into the post-Civil War Mighty Avengers. His role was to be the team's ultimate weapon. During this time, he was a key player in the Secret Invasion event. When the Skrull fleet arrived, Ares was on the front lines, fighting with savage glee against the alien invaders. A pivotal moment came when he faced down a Skrull “god-killer” unit that included a Super-Skrull with the powers of several of Hercules's greatest foes. His loyalty to Earth over all else was proven, and he demonstrated that even a God of War could be a hero when the world was at stake. His time with the team highlighted the culture clash between his ancient warrior ethos and the modern superhero code.

This is the definitive and tragic final act of Ares's heroic journey. After Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn was given control of America's national security, and he formed his own team of Avengers. He convinced Ares to join, arguing that they were the officially sanctioned heroes of America. Ares, as a soldier, respected the chain of command and served Osborn, despite his deep misgivings about his teammates (like Bullseye and Daken). Throughout Dark Reign, Ares acted as the team's conscience, constantly warning Osborn against crossing lines. The story culminates in Siege, where Osborn, manipulated by Loki, leads the Dark Avengers in an all-out assault on Asgard, which was then located over Broxton, Oklahoma. Ares initially believes Osborn's lie that the Asgardians are a threat. However, when he witnesses Osborn's unhinged villainy and realizes the entire war is based on deception, he turns on him. Ares vows to kill Osborn, but before he can, he is attacked by the Sentry, who has been fully consumed by his dark persona, the Void. In a shocking and horrifically brutal confrontation, the Void literally tears Ares in half. His heroic last stand, defying a tyrant, and his gruesome death cemented his legacy as a fallen Avenger and one of the most tragic figures of the era.

• DC Comics Counterpart: It is impossible to discuss Marvel's Ares without acknowledging his famous counterpart in the DC Universe. The DC Ares is primarily an antagonist of Wonder Woman and is often depicted as a more manipulative, shadowy figure who orchestrates conflict from behind the scenes, contrasting with Marvel's more direct, hands-on warrior. While Marvel's Ares eventually found a measure of redemption, DC's Ares almost always remains a force of pure malevolent conflict.
• Marvel: Avengers Alliance (Video Game): Ares appeared as a playable character in the popular Facebook game. His portrayal was faithful to his comic book version during the Dark Reign era, functioning as a “Bruiser” class character with abilities focused on overwhelming his opponents with powerful melee attacks and weapon-based skills.
• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): While Ares himself did not have a major role in the Ultimate Universe, the concept of gods was explored differently. The Ultimate Asgardians were initially believed to be super-soldiers, and the wider pantheons were not as clearly defined. A version of Ares would likely have been reimagined as a super-powered warlord or general rather than a literal god.
• Chaos War (Resurrection): During the Chaos War event, Ares was temporarily resurrected from the underworld by the Chaos King to fight for him. However, Ares's will proved too strong, and he quickly turned against his would-be master, joining his brother Hercules and the “God Squad” to fight the multiversal threat before ultimately perishing again once the threat was vanquished.

• hercules
• phobos
• olympians
• dark_avengers
• siege_comics
• norman_osborn
• thor

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