What's interesting is that as far as I can recall, Ares has shown nothing powerwise that would make him and Thor out to be equals.
This statement, if true, confirms what I've suspected all along. The top brass at Marvel, top writers included, are not that big on Thor. When I look at current Marvel writers, I see quite a bit of former DC talent doing a lot of the foundational work in shaping out the new Marvel hierarchy. If a guy as influential as Bendis thinks Ares is equal with Thor, (or perhaps even his superior!) I see some hard times ahead for Thor fan's.
I'm sure he'll still kick some ass in his main title, but fans of Thor better lay low when it comes to his Avengers appearences. And heaven help them if there is ever another JLA crossover!
The fact is Thors a character whose basically too much of a powerhouse for a team like the avengers. The problem is alot of their rogues he should be able too take out alone which defeats the purpose of a team book so he will constantly be jobbed. Also the Hierarchy for marvel is usually X-men/ Spiderman in first place, Hulk as second and everyone else (with an exception hear and there) will fall by the waste side.
i have always tried to read comics as i was an old timer and had bn reading them for over 30 some yrs and had just picked up on comics in the last 10 yrs.... i wonder to myself what would old 70's 80's 90's comic writers think of what modern writers had done to their characters..
i dont think Ares has bn viewed as being a god in the same league as thor or above him although i think he should have bn seeing as what kind of god he is..
i think a lot of old school writers would and have cried with what writers have done to thor powerwise as well as other characters who have had similar treatment just to sell more comics at the expense of their image.
at least DC writes their character up powerwise until they need a retcon... modern marvel writers seem to write them down and through the gutter removing skills and powers and give them new retcons by simply revealing more of ones past or deals with mephisto...
Yeah, I mean I think story and characterization should always come first before power levels and crazy feats, but it does seem like a lot of modern writers are unsure how to handle some of the more powerful characters in comics. JMS did a good job in my opinion paying homage to the great Thor writers before him, which I think is a good trait of any writer in the business; to be able to add to the character and their history without feeling the need to tear it all down just to do what you want to do as a writer handling the character.
@Cosmic comet,
IMO they allow things to happen to him on (and off) panel that they would never allow with their top tier characters. But I'm not really a big Thor fan so maybe I'm reading it wrong.