News culture “It’s a DLC that hasn’t been seen in a video game yet,” the manga “Dark Souls Redemption” offers a unique insight into the masterpiece of the creators of Elden Ring
During the Japan Expo 2024 we were able to chat with Shonen | Julien Blondel, designer and author of the manga Dark Souls Redemption, the official adaptation of the cult action role-playing game.
Following the humorous approach ofElden Ring The Path to the World TreeMana Books editions return with Dark Souls Redemptiona new manga – seriously – that adapts a license from FromSoftware! The first volume has been available since June 6th and on the drawing side we find Shonen (BB Project, Lords of Chaos) and on the writing side Julien Blondel (Elric).
“It’s a kind of proof, now that we’re both working on it,” the latter tells us during Japan Expo 2024… Proof that hides a very complementary duo, and for a very simple reason. Julien Blondel describes himself as a “big player” (of Dark Souls, among others) and doesn’t feel like he understands a game before he’s platinumed it. Shonen, for his part, owns FromSoftware’s action RPGs, but has never taken the time to create them. In a way, that’s good, because Dark Souls Redemption appeals not only to fans of the original video game.
A universe of its own
Because yes, with Mana Books’ manga, we’re not here for a lesson in lore or an in-depth biography of Siegmeyer de Catarina (the famous Onion Knight). No, we are certainly officially in the world of Dark Souls, but in a kind of bubble that is never explored by the games“We quickly felt that this was the best approach for everyone,” continues Julien Blondel. For us, in terms of creative freedom, but also to avoid systematic validation of elements (with Bandai Namco, the Japanese rights holders – ed.). And because it allows you to be the author of a proposed story, lore or character.”
We propose a zone of freedom, a license that does not affect what has been established in the lore, but that will also enrich the Dark Souls universe. This is a Dark Souls DLC that does not yet exist in a video game.
In Dark Souls RedemptionWe follow the adventure of a young woman with amnesia who suddenly awakens from a deep sleep. Of course, she would like to know who she is and how she got there… So she will start exploring the world at her disposal – full of terrifying and gigantic creatures (Dark Souls), but also full of answers. Answers that are hidden both in the setting and in the mouths of the characters.
The game, but in the manga
“I even think that players would have been disappointed if they had only received, in quotes, a manga novelization of a universe or lore they already knew,” believes Julien Blondel. “We also wanted readers who had never played Souls (…) not to feel lost or forced to have references and access keys to understand the story.”
For this reason repayment mainly uses the codes of Dark Souls“Dark Souls is an adventure in which you discover the world as you play. “We wanted everyone to discover the story while reading,” the author concludes. “If we start with ‘Once upon a time’ and tell the story of the world and then the character is in full possession of his powers and has a quest, we have not understood anything about Dark Souls (…) In fact, it is more up to the souls to discover the world than to develop the world itself.”
