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Men of Wrath
Ever since Great-Grandfather Isom killed a man over some sheep, a black cloud has hung over the Raths, an Alabama family caught in a generational cycle of violence. Now, a century later, aging hitman Ira Rath takes a job that will decide his family's fate once and for all. Are all Raths doomed to live and die by the sword, or can one of them finally break the chain?
Acclaimed creators Jason Aaron (SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Scalped) and Ron Garney (Daredevil, Weapon X) bring their creator-owned tale of a Southern family whose only legacy is violence, to Image Comics in a remastered collection.
Collecting MEN OF WRATH #1-5
Acclaimed creators Jason Aaron (SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Scalped) and Ron Garney (Daredevil, Weapon X) bring their creator-owned tale of a Southern family whose only legacy is violence, to Image Comics in a remastered collection.
Collecting MEN OF WRATH #1-5
144 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2015
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,382 books1,709 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 4, 2015
Men of Wrath is a short, but oh so sweet, piece of southern noir that I really fuckin’ dug. Jason Aaron continues to feed my jones for hardboiled crime fiction with this mean little ditty.
No convoluted story here, just a straight gut-punch of a tale about the men of the Rath family and their legacy of violence passed from father to son with each new generation. Ira Rath’s brimming with the crazy maliciousness that seems to have corrupted all the men of the Rath family tree. He’s the definition of an ice cold sonofa’ bitch. This book narrowly focuses on Ira, the enmity between him and his son, a house fulla’ guns, and a bloody climax that kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.
This one is heavy on the cruelty and right to the point. 5 issues and done. Sometimes it should be like that. Plenty of violence and very little mercy to go around. Aaron’s doesn’t seem as long-winded in this one as in some of his other, more well-known books. I’m cool with that. Plus, he’s got Garney ridin’ shotgun with this book. Aaron seems comfortable to allow Ron to do his fair share in tellin’ the tale.
Ron Garney really impressed me. I’ve been ambivalent towards most of his stuff in the past, but it’s usually of the capes and cowls variety. No web-shootin’ or claw poppin’ here, and he nailed it. Either his style or my tastes have changed, because I also went for the more recent Wolverine stuff he did with Aaron a little ways back. Here’s to hopin’ that these two boys hook up again for another book down the road.
If you like happy endings, sensitive characters, and lots of profound dialogue look elsewhere. If you’re cool with mean folks, doing horrible things, with lots of bullets and blood, this one’s worth a look-see.
Get this review and more at:
No convoluted story here, just a straight gut-punch of a tale about the men of the Rath family and their legacy of violence passed from father to son with each new generation. Ira Rath’s brimming with the crazy maliciousness that seems to have corrupted all the men of the Rath family tree. He’s the definition of an ice cold sonofa’ bitch. This book narrowly focuses on Ira, the enmity between him and his son, a house fulla’ guns, and a bloody climax that kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.
This one is heavy on the cruelty and right to the point. 5 issues and done. Sometimes it should be like that. Plenty of violence and very little mercy to go around. Aaron’s doesn’t seem as long-winded in this one as in some of his other, more well-known books. I’m cool with that. Plus, he’s got Garney ridin’ shotgun with this book. Aaron seems comfortable to allow Ron to do his fair share in tellin’ the tale.
Ron Garney really impressed me. I’ve been ambivalent towards most of his stuff in the past, but it’s usually of the capes and cowls variety. No web-shootin’ or claw poppin’ here, and he nailed it. Either his style or my tastes have changed, because I also went for the more recent Wolverine stuff he did with Aaron a little ways back. Here’s to hopin’ that these two boys hook up again for another book down the road.
If you like happy endings, sensitive characters, and lots of profound dialogue look elsewhere. If you’re cool with mean folks, doing horrible things, with lots of bullets and blood, this one’s worth a look-see.
Get this review and more at:
November 23, 2015
The Raths are a cursed family. Since great grandpappy Isom stabbed a man to death over some sheep a hundred years ago, the Rath men have lived bloody lives. Today, Ira Rath is the most ruthless hitman in the south, coldly killing men, women and children with brutal efficiency. But as good as he is at dealing out death, everyone meets the reaper in the end and Ira’s just received news that he has lung cancer. He’s also been given a new contract: his estranged son, Ruben.
Aaron’s called this his darkest story yet which isn’t totally right – if you’ve read the Bullseye issues from his Punisher MAX run, you’ll know how fucked up Jason Aaron can be - but Men of Wrath is still pretty damn bleak. The story does open with the murder of a family, ending with Ira hurling the baby seat – with the baby strapped in – into a swamp!
As the opening scene establishes, Ira is a wholly unsympathetic anti-hero. He’s a bit like Frank Castle except even The Punisher has a code: don’t kill innocents. Ira is black rage unleashed in human form – and he’s the main character!
But this isn’t an exercise in bad taste or shock value and Men of Wrath’s story is a grimly compelling, fast-moving one. The story barrels forwards as we’re introduced to the Rath family history alongside Ira’s dark mission of death, and Ruben’s disastrous handling of his life. Aaron does throw some curveballs at the reader so the story changes so things don’t turn out like you might think - just know it doesn’t end well for anyone.
There’s something very biblical about Men of Wrath, the story of a southern family’s violent history – Old Testament biblical, that is, the super batshit crazy book! The story starts with one man killing another over some sheep (the blood of the lamb), beginning the curse of the Rath family. The Raths are metaphorically marked from then on – the sins of the father passing on to the son, from generation to generation (original sin) – culminating in a father trying to kill his son (Abraham and Isaac).
Then there’s the title – “Wrath” like the wrath of God – and the strong sense of place in the American South, a heavily religious area, underlines this overall impression. There’s even an indication early on that Ira’s cancer is punishment for his wickedness - he says that he’s not a smoker and that he knows who caused it, turning to spit blood at a picture of Jesus.
It’s this religious veneer that gives it this sense of timeless savagery despite it’s contemporary setting and separates it from a story of southern hicks killing one another like in Aaron’s other series, Southern Bastards. Men of Wrath feels epic at times despite being essentially another revenge story.
There’s nothing especially distinct about Ron Garney’s art and I was surprised to note that he and Aaron had created so many comics together, especially as I’d read them all! But it’s not bad art either and the comic looks fine throughout - I also liked that Ruben wears a Wolverine mask when he attempts to rob the gas station, a nod to the several Wolverine books they’ve worked on in the past!
If you enjoy dark violent thrillers, Men of Wrath won’t let you down. If there’s one type of story Jason Aaron knows how to write, it’s that kind. And fans of Scalped, Southern Bastards, Punisher MAX, and Weapon X will definitely like this intense, dramatic comic. It’s unpleasant at times and filled with horrible people doing horrible things, but Men of Wrath is a very enjoyable, viscerally exciting read.
Aaron’s called this his darkest story yet which isn’t totally right – if you’ve read the Bullseye issues from his Punisher MAX run, you’ll know how fucked up Jason Aaron can be - but Men of Wrath is still pretty damn bleak. The story does open with the murder of a family, ending with Ira hurling the baby seat – with the baby strapped in – into a swamp!
As the opening scene establishes, Ira is a wholly unsympathetic anti-hero. He’s a bit like Frank Castle except even The Punisher has a code: don’t kill innocents. Ira is black rage unleashed in human form – and he’s the main character!
But this isn’t an exercise in bad taste or shock value and Men of Wrath’s story is a grimly compelling, fast-moving one. The story barrels forwards as we’re introduced to the Rath family history alongside Ira’s dark mission of death, and Ruben’s disastrous handling of his life. Aaron does throw some curveballs at the reader so the story changes so things don’t turn out like you might think - just know it doesn’t end well for anyone.
There’s something very biblical about Men of Wrath, the story of a southern family’s violent history – Old Testament biblical, that is, the super batshit crazy book! The story starts with one man killing another over some sheep (the blood of the lamb), beginning the curse of the Rath family. The Raths are metaphorically marked from then on – the sins of the father passing on to the son, from generation to generation (original sin) – culminating in a father trying to kill his son (Abraham and Isaac).
Then there’s the title – “Wrath” like the wrath of God – and the strong sense of place in the American South, a heavily religious area, underlines this overall impression. There’s even an indication early on that Ira’s cancer is punishment for his wickedness - he says that he’s not a smoker and that he knows who caused it, turning to spit blood at a picture of Jesus.
It’s this religious veneer that gives it this sense of timeless savagery despite it’s contemporary setting and separates it from a story of southern hicks killing one another like in Aaron’s other series, Southern Bastards. Men of Wrath feels epic at times despite being essentially another revenge story.
There’s nothing especially distinct about Ron Garney’s art and I was surprised to note that he and Aaron had created so many comics together, especially as I’d read them all! But it’s not bad art either and the comic looks fine throughout - I also liked that Ruben wears a Wolverine mask when he attempts to rob the gas station, a nod to the several Wolverine books they’ve worked on in the past!
If you enjoy dark violent thrillers, Men of Wrath won’t let you down. If there’s one type of story Jason Aaron knows how to write, it’s that kind. And fans of Scalped, Southern Bastards, Punisher MAX, and Weapon X will definitely like this intense, dramatic comic. It’s unpleasant at times and filled with horrible people doing horrible things, but Men of Wrath is a very enjoyable, viscerally exciting read.
April 21, 2026
Pretty cool story but the art was a little too gritty for my tastes. Suited the story well though so likely to be popular with others.
The story is crazy, especially as it's roughly based on Jason Aaron's family history. A blood feud inspired by dead sheep. Absolutely nuts.
The story is twisted and dark, making the gritty art style perfect. It's quite short, though, so for me the blood feud wasn't quite as epic as it could have been, had it been drawn through more generations.
As mentioned, the art wasn't to my tastes but I think a lot of people will enjoy this sombre style.
A decent read to keep you busy for a couple hours, and a really interesting idea. Worth the time and effort for sure.
The story is crazy, especially as it's roughly based on Jason Aaron's family history. A blood feud inspired by dead sheep. Absolutely nuts.
The story is twisted and dark, making the gritty art style perfect. It's quite short, though, so for me the blood feud wasn't quite as epic as it could have been, had it been drawn through more generations.
As mentioned, the art wasn't to my tastes but I think a lot of people will enjoy this sombre style.
A decent read to keep you busy for a couple hours, and a really interesting idea. Worth the time and effort for sure.
May 19, 2018
”Men of Wrath – Má Raça” (2015) é uma novela gráfica brutal – tingida a vermelho sangue e quase totalmente dominada pelos tons escuros. Os seus criadores são: Jason Aaaron (n. 1973) – o mesmo de ”Southern Bastards” -, e Ron Garney (n. 1962).
Jason Aaron introduz a violência sem que o leitor consiga constatar algum indício ou alguma sugestão de loucura ou de ameaça. Num sentido perturbante, a morte e a vingança são representadas sem remorso e de uma forma absolutamente implacável; Ira Rath é um assassino profissional que está no mesmo nível de algumas das personagens criadas pelo escritor Cormac McCarthy (n. 1933). O sangue dos Rath tem um problema…
A leitura desde ”Men of Wrath – Má Raça” é intensa e desconfortável, os eventos alternados no passado e no presente, acontecem a um ritmo vertiginoso, sem que se vislumbre quais são as suas verdadeiras motivações, tudo ocorre de uma forma repentina e inesperada.
Na contracapa surge um aviso esclarecedor: “Contém violência e linguagem que pode ser considerada imprópria”. Apesar de tudo ”Men of Wrath – Má Raça” combina uma excelente história com a violência extrema, criando algo de significativo e de relevante, sobre dramas familiares (o livro é inspirado na própria história dos antepassados de Jason Aaron); e sobre como uma simples discussão sobre umas ovelhas pode iniciar um ciclo longo e sangrento de violência sulista no Alabama, sendo passada de pai para filho, consecutivamente ao longo de um século.
NOTA: a edição portuguesa da G. FLOY STUDIO é perfeita.
August 24, 2015
Good old-fashioned tragic ass-kicking, like someone took a pot full of 80's action flicks, reduced it on a slow boil until all that's left is some dry bones and a lot of bitter acid. Then decided to add one pinch of foul-mouthed sugar so we don't die in the midst of a fit of choking on our own nosebleed.
It's a trip to try out something where Jason Aaron just kicks out six issues and walks away clean - or maybe I should describe it more like cleansed, like a good dose of ground glass mixed with Metamucil would do.
He's a little restrained here - like he doesn't have room to really let his Aaronisms breathe, so he just gets down to the business of telling his story and does it simple. Angry. Violent. Philosophical in the margins. Almost Greek in its essential theatrics.
Which is all fine, and a tidy little outing. But not quite his epic masterpieces of hard-life storytelling.
Good. Not quite great. Worth reading. Probably not worth spending a lot of money on.
It's a trip to try out something where Jason Aaron just kicks out six issues and walks away clean - or maybe I should describe it more like cleansed, like a good dose of ground glass mixed with Metamucil would do.
He's a little restrained here - like he doesn't have room to really let his Aaronisms breathe, so he just gets down to the business of telling his story and does it simple. Angry. Violent. Philosophical in the margins. Almost Greek in its essential theatrics.
Which is all fine, and a tidy little outing. But not quite his epic masterpieces of hard-life storytelling.
Good. Not quite great. Worth reading. Probably not worth spending a lot of money on.
January 2, 2016
This book got my nasty-ass grit-lit tooth to achin'. Now I wanna pig out on some Southern Gothic. The kinda fiction that's got violence, perversion, religious lunacy, unflinching racial issues, deconstructions of masculinity, a strong sympathy for the hard lot of women in this god-awful world, blues musicians, booze, drugs, slimy politicians, blood fueds, good-for-nothins', ecological disaster, post-reconstruction decay and the love of a good-hearted dog. This comic book ain't got all that, but what it does got goes down better than a mess of beans 'n' cornbread and a tall glass of buttermilk 'n' bourbon to wash it down. Sin sure do taste fine.
October 8, 2015
Hardcore, man...
I already knew Jason Aaron was a mean twisted bastard (read Scalped and Southern bastards if you need to be convinced) but here he reaches a new low in terms of morality and new heights in terms of ultraviolence.
Father-son relations are blasted away (with a double barreled sawed off) in this ultra-noir story of senseless violence,sins, hate and revenge without any hope of redemption. Pure Aaron. Yeah, the man is a mean twisted bastard, but he's sure good at it.
After a nice 1st issue Ron Garney kind of went freewheeling in terms of penciling/inking (sometimes reminiscent of Klaus Janson's style, sometimes of Joe Kubert's, sometimes Frank Miller's). It's not that bad, but it's not his best stuff ever either. On the other hand his storytelling is as good as ever and perfectly suits the story. We've seen these two working as a team for a few years now and as the Brubaker/Philipps duo, they seem to be made for each other.
I already knew Jason Aaron was a mean twisted bastard (read Scalped and Southern bastards if you need to be convinced) but here he reaches a new low in terms of morality and new heights in terms of ultraviolence.
Father-son relations are blasted away (with a double barreled sawed off) in this ultra-noir story of senseless violence,sins, hate and revenge without any hope of redemption. Pure Aaron. Yeah, the man is a mean twisted bastard, but he's sure good at it.
After a nice 1st issue Ron Garney kind of went freewheeling in terms of penciling/inking (sometimes reminiscent of Klaus Janson's style, sometimes of Joe Kubert's, sometimes Frank Miller's). It's not that bad, but it's not his best stuff ever either. On the other hand his storytelling is as good as ever and perfectly suits the story. We've seen these two working as a team for a few years now and as the Brubaker/Philipps duo, they seem to be made for each other.
September 26, 2020
This was bleak as fuck, and I kind of loved it.
This is a story that starts with a warning from Jason Aaron saying this is the darkest tale he's ever written. I actually believe him here. We have Ira Rath, a piece of shit hitman who will do pretty much anything for money. The story opens to him slaughtering a family, including a baby, just to set the vibe of the story. When he's given a mission to take out a family member you don't even have to question it, he's going after him.
This is filled with brutal murders, quick pacing, and characters you don't like. But somehow I was captivated the whole time, wanting to know who will live, and surprised at how some characters meet their demise. A brutal noir tale of sacrifice and vengeance, with a bloody cycle of revenge that never really stops.
Not for the faint of heart, but if you're ready for some dark shit, look no further. A 4 out of 5.
This is a story that starts with a warning from Jason Aaron saying this is the darkest tale he's ever written. I actually believe him here. We have Ira Rath, a piece of shit hitman who will do pretty much anything for money. The story opens to him slaughtering a family, including a baby, just to set the vibe of the story. When he's given a mission to take out a family member you don't even have to question it, he's going after him.
This is filled with brutal murders, quick pacing, and characters you don't like. But somehow I was captivated the whole time, wanting to know who will live, and surprised at how some characters meet their demise. A brutal noir tale of sacrifice and vengeance, with a bloody cycle of revenge that never really stops.
Not for the faint of heart, but if you're ready for some dark shit, look no further. A 4 out of 5.
May 27, 2020
An old Alabama man kills people for a living, and he's damned good at it. Then he's given the contract on his own estranged son.
Well written, well drawn, fairly predictable. Not going to win any awards. Just a decent short story.
----------------------------------
2nd Read:
On the surface Men of Wrath is a straightforward assassin-changes-his-ways story, but it is somewhat enriched by its departures from the formula.
It's decent, but it's a quick, light treatment that lacks the space it needs to be great.
Well written, well drawn, fairly predictable. Not going to win any awards. Just a decent short story.
----------------------------------
2nd Read:
On the surface Men of Wrath is a straightforward assassin-changes-his-ways story, but it is somewhat enriched by its departures from the formula.
It's decent, but it's a quick, light treatment that lacks the space it needs to be great.
July 13, 2019
An utterly bleak crime noir about a family where the fathers and sons have a tradition of killing many people, mostly each other. Well done for what it is, but too dark for me today.
December 29, 2020
Cold. Rough. Unredeemed. And OVER. Yet thoroughly enjoyable.
June 28, 2019
Aaronova drsná jednohubka.
Tohle na moc slov nebude, protože jakýkoliv delší popis by vyšel na delší čtení než komiks samotný. Hlavní hrdina je totiž muž málo slov a jako všichni muži jeho rodu vždycky všechno raději řešil násilím.
Naštěstí drsní jižani Aaronovi docela jdou a tak i když je to klišovité až hanba a člověk většinu děje snadno odhadne, tak to dýchá takovou krásnou, poctivou osmdesátkovou atmosférou a vyjít to tehdy, tak se rozhodně dočkáme filmové verze s Arniem.
Pokud tedy nečekáte žádné zlomové dílo, ani hluboce propracovaný děj, tak vás nemá ani co zklamat. Teda pokud nejste odpůrci násilí na zvířatech.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- vám doma běží osmdesátkové akční filmy pořád dokola
- jste fanoušci hodně jednoduchých příběhů s dostatkem mrtvol na stránku čtvereční
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- jste tomuhle už dávno odrostli, protože v porovnání s moderními kousky to kulhá na obě nohy
Tohle na moc slov nebude, protože jakýkoliv delší popis by vyšel na delší čtení než komiks samotný. Hlavní hrdina je totiž muž málo slov a jako všichni muži jeho rodu vždycky všechno raději řešil násilím.
Naštěstí drsní jižani Aaronovi docela jdou a tak i když je to klišovité až hanba a člověk většinu děje snadno odhadne, tak to dýchá takovou krásnou, poctivou osmdesátkovou atmosférou a vyjít to tehdy, tak se rozhodně dočkáme filmové verze s Arniem.
Pokud tedy nečekáte žádné zlomové dílo, ani hluboce propracovaný děj, tak vás nemá ani co zklamat. Teda pokud nejste odpůrci násilí na zvířatech.
Mohlo by se vám líbit, pokud:
- vám doma běží osmdesátkové akční filmy pořád dokola
- jste fanoušci hodně jednoduchých příběhů s dostatkem mrtvol na stránku čtvereční
Spíš vás zklame, pokud:
- jste tomuhle už dávno odrostli, protože v porovnání s moderními kousky to kulhá na obě nohy
September 9, 2016
História de vingança ultra-violenta e sangrenta que se lê num trago. E dava um thriller do caraças.
December 5, 2020
Men of Wraith collects issues 1-5 of the series by Jason Aaron and art by Ron Garney.
The Rath family is cursed with violence. Ever since Isom Rath stabbed a man over his family’s sheep, an ever deepening rage has been passed down from father to son. Today, Ira Rath is a hitman who will do whatever job is given to him, no matter how violent or deplorable, by the Poth crime family. That is until he is given a job that will decide the fate of his family.
I’m a sucker for a Southern crime story and this was no exception. I have read a few of Jason Aaron’s books including Scalped and Southern Bastards so I know how dark his work can be. This book is no exception and is not for the squeamish. Blood is spilled in buckets by the Rath family in a never ending cycle of violence. While the characters seem cold, Aaron weaves an intriguing story of family, legacy, and trying to escape hour past.
The Rath family is cursed with violence. Ever since Isom Rath stabbed a man over his family’s sheep, an ever deepening rage has been passed down from father to son. Today, Ira Rath is a hitman who will do whatever job is given to him, no matter how violent or deplorable, by the Poth crime family. That is until he is given a job that will decide the fate of his family.
I’m a sucker for a Southern crime story and this was no exception. I have read a few of Jason Aaron’s books including Scalped and Southern Bastards so I know how dark his work can be. This book is no exception and is not for the squeamish. Blood is spilled in buckets by the Rath family in a never ending cycle of violence. While the characters seem cold, Aaron weaves an intriguing story of family, legacy, and trying to escape hour past.
October 31, 2015
The main guy is a bit violent. I liked the art work though.
October 9, 2019
Men of Wrath by Jason Aaron is one of those comics that makes us in the comic book reading world so excited that there are publishers like Image Comics willing to put these stories out to the public. This is a character driven tale of violence and family and fathers and sons.
Ever since Great Grandfather Isom Rath stabbed a man to death over some sheep, the men in the family of Rath have been different. A darkness and taste for blood, once kept controlled, rose to the surface. Men who dealth in violence and very often, died by it.
Over a century later, Ira Rath lives alone on his ranch. He has become the most deadly and coldest hitman there is. There is no job too dark or too immoral. If it lives, Ira Rath can kill it. He lives simply, the money he has stockpiled away as well as every weapon as well. His home is an arsenal. Now a job has come his way that will decide the fate of the cursed family of Rath.
The next target for Ira Rath is his own son and his pregnant wife. If it lives, Ira Rath can kill it.
This was one of the most intense and violent comics I have read in many years. The story, loosely based on writer Jason Aaron's own family history, is intriguing and moves along at a clip. There is that moment where you want to believe that Ira would not kill his own son but the dreaded realization is also present, that this is what he does. He kills. The artwork by Ron Garney supports the dark and gritty nature of this story.
A really good tale that is worth looking for.
Ever since Great Grandfather Isom Rath stabbed a man to death over some sheep, the men in the family of Rath have been different. A darkness and taste for blood, once kept controlled, rose to the surface. Men who dealth in violence and very often, died by it.
Over a century later, Ira Rath lives alone on his ranch. He has become the most deadly and coldest hitman there is. There is no job too dark or too immoral. If it lives, Ira Rath can kill it. He lives simply, the money he has stockpiled away as well as every weapon as well. His home is an arsenal. Now a job has come his way that will decide the fate of the cursed family of Rath.
The next target for Ira Rath is his own son and his pregnant wife. If it lives, Ira Rath can kill it.
This was one of the most intense and violent comics I have read in many years. The story, loosely based on writer Jason Aaron's own family history, is intriguing and moves along at a clip. There is that moment where you want to believe that Ira would not kill his own son but the dreaded realization is also present, that this is what he does. He kills. The artwork by Ron Garney supports the dark and gritty nature of this story.
A really good tale that is worth looking for.
December 12, 2017
3.5 stars -- I feel like, if done properly, this graphic novel could be turned into a Netflix miniseries. The illustrations and storyline were creepy and compelling. I feel as if at times the creator was just trying to be as gross or shocking as possible, which I didn't really care for. However, this is one memorable baddie and a twisted tale of horror.
September 14, 2022
Por acaso, até gostei desta história. Não é uma história que eu vá recordar para sempre, mas lê-se bem e entretém. Recomendo.
May 13, 2019
Yine tam bir Jason Aaron çizgi romanı, tek kelimeyle mükemmel. Aaron bence Amerikan çizgi romancılığında grafik şiddeti en iyi kullanan yazardır.
February 6, 2019
Wow. Review forthcoming.
February 22, 2022
A Sad Tale of Breaking the Mould
OVERALL RATING: 4 stars
Art: 3.25 stars
Prose: 4.25 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Pacing: 4.5 stars
Character Development: 4.5 stars
World Building: 4 stars
I was surprised with this short run. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. My one negative would be the art. Not a huge fan of Ron Garney's art style here but it does suit the story. Art is always very subjective anyway. Now the story as a whole was very well laid out with a couple of twists. The brilliance of this comic is that I felt the dialogue was anything but verbose and it was the perfect blend of text and frames. As to the plot, the focus lies squarely at how father's shape their sons. There are huge moral implications we parents oft fail to see. I know this first hand, as I idolised my father like most children, but that reverance also had negative implications in my own growth as my dad would often not follow some laws and good morals and oft saw himself above them. This had a profound impact on my own moral code and my seeing some codes as breakable. Just like the Rath's incessant blood lust such negative implications can be devastating and it was nice to see Ruben was doing everything he could to break his family's curse/folly. Old man Rath's character development was also excellent. Well worth a read. The story is very dark with plenty of swearing.
OVERALL RATING: 4 stars
Art: 3.25 stars
Prose: 4.25 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Pacing: 4.5 stars
Character Development: 4.5 stars
World Building: 4 stars
I was surprised with this short run. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. My one negative would be the art. Not a huge fan of Ron Garney's art style here but it does suit the story. Art is always very subjective anyway. Now the story as a whole was very well laid out with a couple of twists. The brilliance of this comic is that I felt the dialogue was anything but verbose and it was the perfect blend of text and frames. As to the plot, the focus lies squarely at how father's shape their sons. There are huge moral implications we parents oft fail to see. I know this first hand, as I idolised my father like most children, but that reverance also had negative implications in my own growth as my dad would often not follow some laws and good morals and oft saw himself above them. This had a profound impact on my own moral code and my seeing some codes as breakable. Just like the Rath's incessant blood lust such negative implications can be devastating and it was nice to see Ruben was doing everything he could to break his family's curse/folly. Old man Rath's character development was also excellent. Well worth a read. The story is very dark with plenty of swearing.
May 16, 2015
This was an interesting story set in North Central Alabama where you see the final acts of a dying bloodline awash in it's own blood.
In the story, a hitman is given his son to kill after he runs into some trouble with a local criminal organization. The boy is on hard times, trying to obtain money for his unborn child and girlfriend, while trying not to become his father.
The story goes back in time and shows us from many generations before how the Wrath family has bathed in blood and this final chapter is no different.
It is rare that you get to see stories, let alone comic book stories set in Alabama, so it is nice to see Jason Aaron using childhood influences in his work. Being from that part of the world as well, it is nice to have one of the better storytellers in the game right now relaying these stories.
In the story, a hitman is given his son to kill after he runs into some trouble with a local criminal organization. The boy is on hard times, trying to obtain money for his unborn child and girlfriend, while trying not to become his father.
The story goes back in time and shows us from many generations before how the Wrath family has bathed in blood and this final chapter is no different.
It is rare that you get to see stories, let alone comic book stories set in Alabama, so it is nice to see Jason Aaron using childhood influences in his work. Being from that part of the world as well, it is nice to have one of the better storytellers in the game right now relaying these stories.
April 21, 2015
This might be the sickest and most blackhearted of all of Aaron's books, though it is still sad and has pathos. It has a lot of that Warren Ellis or Garth Ennis styled ultraviolence, though it isn't played for humor. Unlike Kirkman though, his strong writing makes it work as more than shock value.
I think we can all see some of the big moments coming in certain issues but it works like a charm. The quality of the dialogue and the rural noir aesthetic are what initially drew me to Aaron with his work on Scalped (and now Southern Bastards) and his Punisher Max and Wolverine runs (which weren't rural, but still nailed that quality). As much as I love his Thor and Wolverine & The X-Men runs I couldn't help but grin when I saw him working in that mode again.
I think we can all see some of the big moments coming in certain issues but it works like a charm. The quality of the dialogue and the rural noir aesthetic are what initially drew me to Aaron with his work on Scalped (and now Southern Bastards) and his Punisher Max and Wolverine runs (which weren't rural, but still nailed that quality). As much as I love his Thor and Wolverine & The X-Men runs I couldn't help but grin when I saw him working in that mode again.
December 6, 2020
Jason Aaron says that he and Ron Garney set out to make something dark and gritty and "real". I can't much tell how real this book is, but it's dark and gritty and an entertaining southern noir story. A screwed up tale of the cycle of violence and fathers and sons, passing their hate and anger through the generations until the tragedies reaches an apex in this story. No punches pulled, no good men, just a lot of wrath. And honestly, it's not usually my cup of tea, but Jason Aaron always knocks it out of the park with his crime stories and this is another great one. Coupled with Ron Garney's gruesome and fantastic pencils it was a thrill ride from start to finish.
May 12, 2015
Fair Warning: This is not a story driven by heroism and higher morals. In the first couple of pages the protagonist murders a couple and their infant child in cold blood.
This is an engrossing tale of dysfunctional familiar relations, set in the good ole boy culture of Alabama. The writing and art work are perfectly matched to the brutality of the story. And it is a brutal story, (in the introduction we are told that the creators were aiming for something mean.)
Which is worse? That I found such a violent story so enjoyable? Or that I found the cast to be very familiar?
This is an engrossing tale of dysfunctional familiar relations, set in the good ole boy culture of Alabama. The writing and art work are perfectly matched to the brutality of the story. And it is a brutal story, (in the introduction we are told that the creators were aiming for something mean.)
Which is worse? That I found such a violent story so enjoyable? Or that I found the cast to be very familiar?
April 26, 2015
Jason Aaron incorporates a bloody piece of his family history in this brutal tale. It was a good read but I felt like this was Aaron on automatic pilot. The fact that I've seen Ron Garney produce better artwork doesn't help at all.
December 27, 2018
Skimming Aaron's list of books, I haven't read any of his more popular titles. This was my intro to his southern gothic style. Not bad, but not blown away either. Southern bastards amd scalped etc will stay near the middle of queue.
January 9, 2019
Dark, darker, darkest.. Jason Aaron is a great writer, his Scalped and Southern bastards are great crime-noir stories, this one is alo a crime story. About a hitman. Its short, its brutal and its great.
March 24, 2019
Not Aarons best. Simple heavy handed action crime story. Aaron loves the father son relationship in his stories and its again evident here. Just not an overly strong plot.
April 13, 2020
“Men of Wrath” by Jason Aaron (Writer), Ron Garney (Artist)
Brutal story of multiple generations of angry fathers and sons
#1
Near as I can figure, it started with some sheep….
.
#2
The brutality continues
.
#3
We still got us some family history ain’t been written.
.
#4
I’m a Rath. It’s in my blood.
.
#5
It was like … I was dreamin’. Dreamin’ of sheep.
Brutal story of multiple generations of angry fathers and sons
#1
Near as I can figure, it started with some sheep….
.
#2
The brutality continues
.
#3
We still got us some family history ain’t been written.
.
#4
I’m a Rath. It’s in my blood.
.
#5
It was like … I was dreamin’. Dreamin’ of sheep.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews