God of War is a four-issue Dark Horse comic miniseries written by Chris Roberson and illustrated by Tony Parker with coloring help by Dan Jackson. The first issue was published in November, 2018, with the fourth and final issue published in February, 2019. Its followed up by God of War: Fallen God, which serves as its prequel.
The miniseries were released as a single volume on June 11, 2019. The volume also contains Issue #0, a short comic that was released digitally with some of the game editions.
The series focus on Kratos new life in the Norse wilds set before the events of God of War (2018).
Description[]
The God of War takes on the world of Norse gods, starting with a cult of bear berserkers!
Kratos, God of War, has returned! His war on the gods of Olympus long past, Kratos builds a new life for himself in the remote Norse wilds. Seeking to put the rage that defined most of his life behind him, Kratos inadvertently sparks a feud with a mysterious cult of berserkers after attempting to save a stranger being mauled by a monstrous bear. But for the former Ghost of Sparta, no good deed goes unpunished.
This collection of pulse-pounding skirmishes includes God of War #0-#4.
Story[]
Issue #0[]
Kratos is in the woods, looking to test himself in controlling his rage. He encounters some wolves, but does not wish to fight them. Later, he attends his wounds at home, and his wife wonders if he fought a bear. Kratos reveals it was wolves, thinking that she thinks he went out to seek a fight, however Kratos only intends to control his rage. He didn't fight the wolves, they attacked, however he only defended himself and was fending them off. He didn't hurt them, and was proud that he managed to control his rage. His wife then calls Atreus inside for dinner. She mentions that Kratos defeated some wolves, which impresses Atreus as he didn't had any weapon. However, Kratos is annoyed, and states he failed at what's important. The wolves left because two trolls have appeared. Kratos did not intend to fight them either, however the Troll's intentions where clear. After the Trolls attacked him, he lost to his rage and slaughtered them.
Issue #1[]
In the morning, Kratos learns that his wife went hunting. He tasks his son with chopping some wood, while he heads to the woods to test himself. He often goes to the woods to look for a challenge and test himself in controlling his rage. Kratos sees a deer that gets spooked by wolves, however he manages to control himself and avoids fighting the wolves. Later, he encounters a bear ripping a man apart. He tries to control his rage, but loses, and jumps in fighting the bear. Kratos kills it, but gets annoyed that he lost control. He then heads back home to rest, so that he can test himself again tomorrow.
He sees that Atreus haven't chopped any wood yet. As his wife still isn't back, he tells Atreus to start chopping. Unknown to Kratos, some berserkers had followed him home, blaming him for killing their brother. Kratos states he haven't killed any man, but only a beast today, however he is ready to fight if they wish. The berserkers then transform into bears.
Issue #2[]
Kratos engages the bears in a fight, while telling Atreus to go and hide. However, while Kratos is busy with one of the bears, the other one sneaks up to Atreus. Seeing that, Kratos breaks the spine of the bear and charges the other, saving Atreus. The bear manages to pin Kratos down with its claw. Struggling, Kratos manages to get an axe and lodges it in the bear's skull, killing it. The leader berserkers sees his brothers dying and swears to come back with the rest of his clan and kill Kratos. As he runs, Kratos goes after him and tells Atreus to come with him. While following his trail, Atreus wonders why he needs to come as well and Kratos explains that this is the safest place for Atreus right now, since if he loses the trail, the berserker may come back to their home and kill Atreus, while Kratos is still looking for him.
After following the trail for a while, Kratos loses the berserker. His anger then overwhelms him as until he kills the man who knows the way to their home, they won't be safe. Seeing that he loses it, Kratos tries to control his anger and succeeds, and calms down. Atreus suggest they visit Valla, the old seer, as she may know where to look for the berserker. Kratos agrees, noting that while he usually avoids her, his wife often visits her. Kratos tells Atreus to lead the way.
After a while, they reach the old seer's house. Kratos enters first to check if its safe. The seer then speaks in his language, telling him that he is welcome and that she knows Kratos' past and the secrets of the beast-men who he seeks.
Issue #3[]
The seer tells Kratos that his path is covered in blood and he must control his rage. She explains that he is looking for the berserkers. Not many of them remain and they draw their strength and power from animal spirits, which they have enshrined in a totem which they worship as a god. The berserker's rage fuels his faith, and if he is found worthy, his body is twisted into physical manifestation of his anger. The berserkers are decreasing their numbers with each generation and the seer sees that soon they will be all gone. The seer further explains that the berserker's source of power, their fury, is also their weakness. As they transform, they no longer act out of wisdom, but out of fury and because of that they often make foolish choices. The seer point out that Kratos should understand this. Kratos doesn't reply, but silently agrees.
Kratos asks her where he can find their bear totem. The seer states that she can perform a ritual to reveal the location, however there is a price to pay. Kratos asks about the price, but the seer tells him he will need to pay it when the time comes. Kratos accepts and then leaves her to perform the ritual.
While waiting outside, Atreus wonders what will happen if while they wait here, the men return and find their mother at home. However, before Kratos can answer, the seer comes out and states she know their location. She explains they are in a longhouse, a day from here in the foothills of the great mountain. She tells Kratos to destroy their totem, to rob them from their power and then then deal with them as men. She also tells him to face them as a man himself, capable of reason, and not an engine of rage. If he fights them on their own terms, he will lose. Atreus wonders if they should be going, however Kratos tells him he isn't going with him. He tells him and the seer, that Atreus will remain there and after he is done, he will return to get him.
Kratos then heads out. After a day's journey, he reaches the longhouse. He sees that they are asleep and decides that the wise choice is to destroy their totem first, instead of directly attacking them. While its easy to strike them in their sleep, he knows that if one of them wakes up, he will call upon his god and transform. Just as he reaches the totem, a berserker wakes up and starts yelling. Kratos tries to explains that a berserker violated the sanctity of his home and if they step aside, he will let them live, but if they attack him, he will kill them, however either way, he will destroy the totem. As he points at the totem, the berserker's fury overwhelms them and they start to transform.
Issue #4[]
Cover Gallery[]
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