As much as it pains me to say this, Dark Souls #2 is Dark Souls in name only. The comic book adaption of From Software’s brutal action-adventure game struggled to depict the series best traits in issue one, and issue two isn’t any better. For a series best known for its minimal storytelling and first-hand experience, the job of transforming Dark Souls into a comic was never gonna be easy – and to its credit, Titan Comics’ take on the franchise has some good things going for it – but it’s becoming clear the comic book series just can’t capture the essence of the games.

After acquiring the Dragon’s Tooth from the Crystalline Labyrinth, Dark Souls #2 begins with Fira and Aldrich chatting around a roaring fire (and dead mouse carcass) about step two of their plan. We learn the duo intends to resurrect Andolus – an ancient dragon slain by the Baron Karams – in order to restore Fira’s order, the Harrowmark, much like how it resurrected the land of Ishra following its death. The ritual, however, requires more precious relics associated with the dragon, so a hunting Fira and Aldrick must go until all MacGuffins are obtained. With this being the Forsaken Forest,

The ritual, however, requires more precious relics associated with the dragon, so a hunting Fira and Aldrick must go until all MacGuffins are obtained. With this being the Forsaken Forest, Fira and Aldrich’s nature hike naturally turns into fighting for dear life from a deadly spider invasion. The creative team of writer George Mann and illustrator Alan Quah remains the same.

Just to get it out of the way, Quah’s illustrations remains the biggest strength of the Dark Souls comic. The Forsaken Forest shares the same twisted scenery of the games, and the demonic creatures are about as horrific as you imagined they would be. Action is another plus for Dark Souls #2, as the book knows when to have Fira out hacking and slashing in an impressive fashion. Fira overtaking a monstrous spider should have been the highlight of the comic, however, the achingly generic “If ye were hungry, ye need only have asked” soiled what would have been a bad ass moment.

The cringy “If ye were hungry” line sums up my current impression of the Dark Souls comic so far. Everything is just so generic. There’s nothing about this reading experience that makes me believe I’m reading a Dark Souls comic and not an everyday medieval fantasy story. It doesn’t help when the two main leads – Fira and Aldrick – are so uninteresting to read about. How can you compel readers to keep reading your book when your heroes are about as electrifying as a dead battery?

Lack of identity is killing the Dark Souls comic and it’s a problem that shouldn’t be happening when this series is based off an already established series with its own lore to draw from. No matter how many covers featuring the game’s art are released, the Dark Souls comic just doesn’t feel like a Dark Souls comic.

Dark Souls #2

Writer: George Mann

Artist: Alan Quah

Colorist: Komikaki Studio feat. Norah Khor TCS

Publisher: Titan Comics

FC – 32PP – $3.99 – On Sale: May 25