by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (artist)
The Story: Phobos, the youngest member of Nick Fury’s Secret Warriors, and son of Ares, God of War, is dismayed to discover that his father has fallen in battle. Recalling a promise made to his dad, the young God of Fear goes on a mission to get restitution from the person he holds responsible: The President of the United States! Meanwhile, Nick Fury spends some quality time with the resurrected Steve Rogers during the Siege of Asgard.
What’s Good: The Siege specials that Marvel has published this month have fallen all over the map in turns of quality. They’ve ranged from amazing (Loki) to forgettable (Captain America), and this one-shot centering on the Secret Warriors’ part in the war firmly plants itself in the “solid” category. It’s also nice that, of all the specials, this story definitely deserved to be told considering it’s connection to the death of Ares, a huge moment in the parent title’s proceedings.
Phobos’ reaction to his father’s demise was handled fittingly. I certainly didn’t expect him to break down and cry like a baby, but there’s always the worry that a writer might go for the melodrama in an issue like this, thereby sacrificing pre-established personality traits. I shouldn’t have worried, as Hickman makes sure that Phobos responds in the only way he knows how: by getting revenge. The writer’s choice as to who becomes the focus of our protagonist’s ire was an unexpected one, but upon retrospect makes perfect sense. While the Sentry is certainly the man who pulled the trigger in Ares’ death and Osborn is, by that definition, the one responsible for loading the gun, then the President can easily be considered the one who supplied them the weapons. Phobos’ decision to go straight for the supplier, so to speak, was a welcome plot direction that gave this issue a breath of fresh air. Hickman also takes advantage of the story to reiterate that the God of Fear is a one bad motherf***er. Watching as he tears his way through a small army of Secret Service agents with only a sword supplied some very cool visuals. The character’s badassness is assured with his sign-off at the end of the issue: “The God of Fear. Son of War.” Hardcore, man.
What’s Not So Good: There’s not a whole lot here to complain about. As I said earlier, the issue was solid, and that goes for the art. Vitti supplies capable pencils that move the story along and tells the tale well, but they didn’t wow me at all. Even the “widescreen” moments with Phobos cutting into the agents elicited nary a widening of the eyes as I read. Maybe I’m being a bit unfair considering this issue was released the same week as Secret Warriors #15, drawn by Stefano Casseli, but that’s my opinion. The moments between Cap and Fury were also sort of inconsequential. They felt tagged on only to remind you that this was a Siege tie-in and to give a quick plug for Hickman’s next Secret Warriors arc. Finally, on a nitpicky note, despite that this comic is titled Secret Warriors, the rest of the cast doesn’t appear, except for Phobos and a pinch of Fury. So, know that going in.
Conclusion: Definitely one of the better Siege one-shots, Hickman and Vitti deliver a solid, if not amazing, issue. Well worth a look if you’re either a Siege or Secret Warriors reader.
Grade: B
-Joe Lopez
Filed under: Marvel Comics Tagged: | Alessandro Vitti, Comic Book Reviews, Jonathan Hickman, Nick Fury, Phobos, Secret Warriors, Siege, Siege: Secret Warriors, Siege: Secret Warriors #1, Siege: Secret Warriors #1 review, Siege: Secret Warriors review, weekly comic book reviews
I loved how Phobos, the moment Ares dies, becomes the God of War. He almost instantly knows what to do.
Bah, I had to pass on this one this week–there was just too much stuff to buy, my wallet was begging for mercy, and this was one of the ones I reluctantly had to put back. (Along with Detective Comics…sigh.)
Based on this though, since next week’s probably going to be a lot lighter, I might fill it out by picking this one up. I’ve always loved Ares, and am feeling rather like Phobos does in terms of wanting to see someone pay for his pwning. (I’m not quite following how he decided that the President is to blame though…shouldn’t he be gunning for Sentry?)
I expected this to be the best of the bunch and you’re right, Loki remains the the top.
Everyone of these one shots have been filler at their worst and this issue (Which reads like it’s missing an “A” storyline) is just mediocre. Nowhere near as excruciating as the Spider-man issue but still utterly just as pointless.
Ugh…forgot about this. I might have to go back to the LCS and pick this up.
I saw the previews though, and the artwork left me unimpressed as well. In my mind, this showed what a great colorist like Sunny Gho can do for your book.
Compare Vitti’s arc on Secret Warriors with this. His work on SW looked head and shoulders above this.