Ares

The origin of the Sons of Ares, written before Darrow's story began.

The Sons of Ares comic series, published by Dynamite Entertainment in 2017, explores the origins of the rebel group known as the Sons of Ares from Pierce Brown's Red Rising novels. Written by Pierce Brown and Rik Hoskin with art by Eli Powell, this six-issue prequel is set before the events of Darrow’s story. The narrative centers on a pivotal historical shift: when a Gold falls in love with a baseborn Red, changing the course of history within an all-powerful Society ruled by Golds at the expense of lower castes.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Sons of Ares
Significance: Origin story of the Sons of Ares rebel group

Lore & Background

Set in the freshly colonized solar system, this series details how the founding members of the Sons of Ares began to destroy society from within. The story is described as a fast-moving exploration of an inflexible regime and its effects on key figures who strive against a dehumanizing system. Rik Hoskin noted that while the story remains true to the books, it offers a unique perspective on the limits of humanity in such a harsh, cruel, and unfair environment. Pierce Brown emphasized that the series is made for both new and veteran readers, serving as a dream come true to bring this specific era of the Red Rising universe to comic book form.

Reader's Guide

The Sons of Ares comic runs for exactly six issues, published by Dynamite Entertainment throughout 2017. The first issue was released on May 10, with the final issue arriving on October 25, 2017. Created as a prequel to the Red Rising novels, it was announced in July 2016. Beyond the print run, a full-cast dramatized audiobook of the graphic novel was later released by GraphicAudio in 2020. The creative team includes writer Pierce Brown, co-writer Rik Hoskin, and artist Eli Powell.