Review written by Zellogan and edited by Weixiaobao here in MH
Title: Ares
Genres: Epic, adventure
Author: RYU Geum Chel
Artist: RYU Geum Chel
Start Date: 2001
End Date: 2007
Number of chapters at review: 109
Number of chapters read by reviewer: 109
Category Ratings: (1-10 scale)
Art: 8.5
It's a manhwa, the art is already a little different because of that. The design and the overall style is atypical. It's clean, not overcharged by details, it's easy to figure out what's going out during a fight. It's dynamic and fluid. We can also clearly see the different emotions on characters face. I join an image: the three heroes: baroona, ares and mickael (from left to right).
img149.imageshack.us/img149/3664/aresv02c10001002za5.jpg
Plot: 8
It's an epic manhwa. So, there is war, betrayal, dramatic twists, ... It's kind of a light "berserk". The story is about three abnormaly talented boys who can easily destroy 30 soldiers by themselves. Each of them have an intersting past. Even if it's a shounen, death is very present and everyone can die at every moment. The story becomes darker and darker volume after volume.
Characters: 8
The story is about three characters. But the main character is an odd young boy named Ares. He's incredibly skilled and look carefree even if he have a dramatic past. He's the kind of guy who attract others around him. He enjoy fighting (even killing) but he is not emotionless. He look frail and no one can expect him to be this strong. He doesn't seem very reliable either. He is not dumb or smart.
Michael is the second of the three talented young boys. Michael is much more secret and don't talk a lot. He is very proud and he is probably one of the smartest guy in the manhwa. Michael have a dark side and is emotionless most of the time.
The third character Baroona is less important than the two first ones. But it's possible that he becomes more important later.
There are a lot of secondary characters in the manga.
Themes: 7
Everything turns around war, friendship, betrayal, revenge, ... It's about what you expect from an epic manhwa
Originality: 6
The originality comes from the design. The story is not original but it's still very well done. Originality could have been a 10 if there wasn't a manga called "BERSERK".
Overall: 9
One of my favorite manga/manhwa and it's almost unknown (probably because it's Korean). It's problably one of the top5 manhwa ever done. In my personal "top 10 best manga ever", i have two manhwa: shin angyo onshi and ares.
If you like berserk or claymore, if you like epic mangas with war, you need to read this one.