4 out of 5

By this point in the series, you likely know what you’re in for, but artist Nikiichi Tobita (and either acting as writer, or somehow working from “FromSoftware, Inc.’s” scripts) has really got the formula down pat: the traced / computer-reproduced imagery from the game is given good life with Tobita’s take on characters, and the way he manipulates their features like an Elden Ring puppet show. It’s stiff, yes, and the action still doesn’t really “move” – akin to painted comic book art – but Tobita has learned to lean into it as much as possible and mostly stages things in support of that stiffness, setting up plot / joke beats with little anime sweat beads on faces (or helmets) and gets the absolute most out of lead tarnished Aseo, with whom Nikiichi obviously gets the most liberty.

At this point in the story, Tobita (or FromSoftware, etc..) also has to start making some actual story choices – questline decisions; which ending to potentially aim for – which helps to give the narrative (and Aseo) further character beyond just following the general outline. It is interesting to see what Tobita decides to drop completely or abbreviate (like a visit to Nokron is given very little time, while Kenneth Haight somehow gets several pages), but that has more or less value depending on how deeply involved with the game a reader might be, though I really don’t see someone as reading this without being at least a casual Elden Ring player – the story is definitely not written for those with zero experience, as beyond some of the in-jokes, I really don’t know how the general gist and cast would have much relevance if you’re going in cold. Then again, From’s storytelling is so oblique in the first place – as stated in previous reviews, I kind of wanted to see if this series would help me get a better understanding of some lore versus sifting through scattershot lore videos and wiki pages – that maybe the subject matter would seem so strange to a complete noob as to have about the same effect as the game.

Whatever your reasons for reading, we’re at a great point in the series where the tone, pacing, and art style are all well established, and the story (such as it is) has more direction than Aseo just being a bumbling fool. I like Aseo at this point. The Ranni Fan Club jokes wear thin but I respect the dedication to it, and even with the thinning, Tobita milked a chuckle out of me. (But I like Nepheli’s grafting gag more.)