Dark Souls isn't just for gamers, but for bookworms too!

Nakladatelství Crew is expanding its catalog with a new series: Dark Souls (DS). The famous Japanese video game series now reaches readers in the form of a Japanese comic, or manga.

If you've never played the game, don't worry—you'll still enjoy the manga. The synopsis makes it clear that you're stepping into a story that doesn't require any prior gaming experience. If you have spent a “few” hours playing DS, you'll have a much better grasp of the emotions that aren't described in words but hinted at through the art.

Simply put, you find yourself in a world where a dead woman comes back to life, but without any memories of her past. It doesn't take long for a commotion to erupt around this character, leading to the first intense, action-packed fight scenes. Even though you won't learn much in this introduction, the atmosphere and the mystery will pull you in and won't let go until you finish the manga.

I was surprised by how well the artist played with black and white. The alternation between full-page spreads and fragmented panels keeps the reader constantly on their toes. Thanks to detailed close-ups of the characters, you can really feel their emotions. The punchy and occasionally witty dialogue is integrated into the art so well that it doesn't feel intrusive, yet it doesn't need any extra explanation. Beautiful work!

As is customary with manga, you'll find bonus material in the form of sketches at the end. They make you realize just how good a job the artist did, as even these sketches are quite detailed, and the final version is thought out down to the last detail. Every (un)colored space serves a purpose, making the story engaging and readable.

I haven't come across a manga recently that managed to introduce the character traits of everyone involved in just the first volume. Even though there's a bare minimum of text and dialogue, you won't be indifferent to the characters; on the contrary, you'll be able to experience the story right along with them.

All in all, the start was excellent! I hope the following volumes continue in the same spirit. I think Ira's story will gradually become more complex, and readers can look forward to interesting twists and revelations.

author Adéla Tomanovicsová