As a kid there was something about the Disney version of Cinderella that I loved. There was a lightness and grace to the animation of Cinderella and the Prince, and the costumes were like eye-candy without being overly elaborate. They were what paved the way for today’s princess craze among little girls I suppose, though Disney and other animation studios have produced many princesses with all kinds of smarts, spunk and costume styles since then.

Now that I’m all grown up I know that I can look to Ares and Aphrodite for a dose of beautiful artwork, eye-candy wardrobe and sparkling romantic banter as tasty as a box of heart-shaped Sweet-Tarts. Divorce lawyer Will Ares and wedding planner Gigi Averelle are fun to watch as they flirt and put out professional fires. They have a bet that Gigi will go out on a date with Will if producer Evans Beatty (Will’s client) and movie star Carrie Cartwright (Gigi’s client) actually go through with their wedding. If the wedding doesn’t happen, Will has to take out a full–page ad revealing how many marriages he’s ruined.

In #6, the wedding has happened but there’s still some background information Will reveals to Gigi that could determine whether she goes through with the date or not. Gigi surprises him as well, quite pleasantly but the date still hangs in the balance (the “real” date, that is). What’s for sure is that there’s honest-to-gosh chemistry between Will and Gigi and they’ll make a great couple if they can navigate the minefield of clients, ex-clients and media that surrounds them in La-La Land.

The scenes have a limited color palette that, whether illuminated with romantic moonlight or the lighting of a late-night diner, shimmer with the ethereal glow of new romance—even the jewelry seems to light up! Gigi may not be a princess but, as a wedding planner, is perhaps more of a fairy-godmother of sorts, who handles crises coolly with her smart phone as magic wand. Her facial expressions are priceless and it’s easy to see why Will is taken by her. He serves as the prince in that he’s tall, handsome and seems to appreciate Gigi’s ability to remain one step ahead of him instead of being the least bit intimidated by it. These two challenge each other and I want to see their relationship as it develops.
If you like rom-coms, you’ll embrace Ares and Aphrodite with its charming lead characters. The sweetness is cut with just the right amount of tartness (hence my earlier candy reference) and even if you’re new to the series, like I am, you’ll be left wanting more, going back to the beginning for the lovely artwork by Megan Levens and clever writing by Jamie S. Rich.

Going forward, I’m intrigued by the ending of Ares & Aphrodite: Love Wars #6 as the shifting Hollywood landscape (not earthquakes, mind you, but mercurial moves by their big name clients) could knock them off balance at any moment.

If you want to get into a romantic mood for Valentine’s Day, give Ares & Aphrodite a whirl around the dance floor. Also, if you happen to be a Cinderella fan, there’s a lovely “glass slipper” image here just for you!

Story: Jamie S. Rich Art: Megan Levens
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.1 Overall: 9.0 Recommend: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.