![Size 12 - Jordan Son of Mars Low Black Grape Ice 2013 [580603 008]](https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/tSEAAOSw-AtmBhri/s-l300.jpg)
![2012 NIKE AIR JORDAN SON OF MARS DARK GREY UNIVERSITY GOLD-BOR SZ 9 [512245-038]](https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/IIEAAOSwpdpkJdP-/s-l300.jpg)
Collecting the Jordan Son of Mars: "It's Gotta Be the Shoes"
The Jordan Son of Mars, a hybrid sneaker first released in 2012, is a sequel to the Jordan Spiz'ike. The Son of Mars was a tribute to Atlanta-born, Brooklyn-raised film director Spike Lee, best known for his movies Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, 25th Hour and Inside Man. Lee's films often take a gritty look at relevant enduring societal issues like race relations and poverty. Four of his movies were designated by the Library of Congress to be included in the National Film Registry for being "culturally or historically significant.
Lee teamed up with the Jordan Brand to produce a series of commercials frequently featuring himself as Mars Blackmon, his character from the 1986 film She's Gotta Have It. The Son of Mars shoe is a mash-up of the models Lee had a hand in promoting, including the Air Jordan 3, 4, 5, 6 and 20. Many of the Lee-directed commercials featured the iconic tagline "It's Gotta Be the Shoes," which helped sell millions of shoes for the Jordan Brand in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The Son of Mars presents a stylish silhouette that's also rugged and athletic. The shoe's design doesn't just borrow design elements from the five iconic Air Jordan releases. It recreates some of the most memorable and recognized features from each shoe, creating a look that's equally at home on the court or in the club.
Colorways and Style Details of the Son of Mars
The materials used on the Son of Mars shoes vary depending on the colorway. If you like a loose or soft fit in the upper, go with a nubuck or suede model. A colorway featuring leather in the upper will provide a more form-fitting feel. The leather upper is also more durable and won't show as much wear as nubuck or suede. The elephant skin overlay accents, borrowed from the AJ 3, are present on the uppers in the toe and heel area, providing a stylish flair and added protection.
There are many colorways to choose from, and these are some of the most popular:
Bordeaux (512245-038 ) has a combination of different greys with a University Gold Jumpman on the tongue and Bordeaux accents on the laces and toe.
Fire Red (512245-112) sports a White sole with an icy outsole, Pure Platinum elephant print overlays on the heel and toe, and Black and Fire Red accents on the base, tongue and collar.
Marvin The Martian (512245-006) is a Black shoe with a Green Pulse translucent outsole, Cool Grey midsole and Red interior and Jumpman logos.
Hot Lava (512245-105) features a White leather upper, shark tooth midsole accents, and a Red translucent outsole.
In 2013, the Jordan brand released a low-top version called the Son of Mars Low, which included notable colorways like Black Cement (580603-002 ), Pro Stars (580603-031) and Tour Yellow (580603-708). As hybrid shoes, not all Son of Mars sneakers are used on the court. While it functions well as a basketball shoe, the line is fashionable enough to wear with street clothes, pairing well with shorts or straight-cut jeans. The Son of Mars Low shoes have a look that caught on with the celebrity set, and the kicks have been spotted on the feet of Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne and Rihanna.
If the mid-foot front strap and Velcro attachment pad across from it aren't your style, they can be removed without damaging the shoe. Carefully pull out the stitches to expose the laces for a clean, fresh look.
Performance and Fit of the Son of Mars
Traction in the Son of Mars is identical to the AJ 5 because the sneakers use the same midsole and outsole construction. The front and heel sole sections are a herringbone tread made with clear material and featuring icy splatter details. A visible Jumpman logo lies underneath the front sole, with another on the tongue. For maximum traction, cleaning the clear sole regularly with a brush or cloth is key.
Ventilation features include perforations on the side panels, a nod to the AJ 6, and a mesh tongue, which provides most of the shoe's airflow. The shoe features a molded arch in the midsole for maximum support. The mid-foot strap, taken from the AJ 20, adds stability, creates a tight fit and establishes total heel lockdown inside the shoe.
Cushioning is also identical to the 5, meaning the sneakers need some time to break in. The first few times wearing the shoes, they may feel dense. But a greater level of cushioning develops with regular use as the polyurethane is compressed and relaxed. The shoe boasts both heel and forefoot encapsulated Air units, with the one in the heel being visible in the sole.
Jordans Release Dates, News and Articles
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