Image via Yen Press
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We’re already well aware that Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree is a gag manga following a hapless Tarnished names Aseo as he goes on what is essentially the game’s campaign. He’s a dork and not too bright, people’s characteristics are exaggerated. Everyone gets pretty silly. However, the interesting thing is that the sixth volume, which is largely about facing Starscourge Radahn during the Radahn Festival, actually gets more serious than any before it.
Editor’s Note: There will be mild spoilers for volume 6 of the Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree and Starscourge Radahn.
While there is a jovial nature to the Radahn Festival, similar to how the Godrick the Grafted fight turned into a competition and event, it’s a bit more serious here and pulls more from lore and the actual boss battle. While Melina and Jerren appear as commentators, the tone is different. It still involves the Redmane Knights trying to arrange an honorable death for their former leader. The NPC Summons from the fight, which are Blaidd, Finger Maiden Therolina, Great Horned Tragoth, Iron Fist Alexander, and Okina all show up as allies, and Patches is there too. There’s a nod to Aseo being able to summon Torrent, and the fight starts just like it does in the game, with his magic arrows.
We’re also immediately getting some other tidbits of genuine lore, which changes the dynamic from other pieces. In a nod to his love for his horse Leonard, we learn how he uses gravitational magic to be able to still ride it. (I mean, there’s also a great gag tied to that.) There’s a nod to how and when some people use Runes when it comes to Melina helping Aseo prepare at one point. And remember how before I mentioned Torrent is summoned? It’s done in the same way someone would actually use the horse in the fight, as Aseo calls upon him to dodge Radahn’s Rain. Throughout the depicted fight, he’s acting as we’d genuinely expect in-game. And, while Aseo is often a joke character who’s somehow managing to luck into doing well, he’s actually heroic here.
What’s also great is that none of this feels out of character, even though Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree is a gag manga. There are a few jokes during this fight. We see Aseo volunteered for a certain tactic. But Nikiichi Tobita largely plays it straight for this, and it works much better than I would have expected. It even makes it feel a little more satisfying. Of course, after the harrowing moments, things go back to usual. But it comes together in a way that really pays tribute to how fantastic the Starscourge Radahn fight is in Elden Ring here.
I think it helps keep things interesting in Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, as volume 6 is about when some manga series could start to get predictable or boring. This is still as good and solid as the day it started. It remains a generally accurate reproduction of the game experience in many ways, while also being incredibly funny for both newcomers and fans of the title and manga. Plus, it really pays tribute to Starscourage Radahn, one of the more fascinating characters in Elden Ring lore, in a fitting and even respectful manner.
Volume 6 of Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree manga is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 7 on October 28, 2025.
