Titan Comics has announced that the next installment of their well-received comic series based in the Dark Souls universe is in the works, with its first issue set to land in comic book shops on January 31st, 2024.
Dark Souls: The Willow King will return fans to the decaying world of Dark Souls, which is based upon Bandai Namco's multi-award-winning game franchise.
The Willow King will be the fifth entry in the Dark Souls comic by Titan Comics, which was first published back in 2016 and has been well received by fans and critics alike. The comics are a collection of graphic novels that are based on the critically acclaimed video game franchise and offers fans of the game the opportunity to explore new stories and characters within the Dark Souls universe.
The new title will see the return of cult sci-fi and fantasy writer George Mann, best known for his alternate history detective series Newbury and Hobbes and his sci-fi noir novels The Ghosts, which is set in the same universe. He has also written novels for Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes.
Mann will be joined by break-out artist Maan House who has worked on Top Cow's Witchblade and Cutter. He was also a cover artist for the Evil Within series.
There will be several alternate covers available for Dark Souls: The Willow King, and I've included several of them below, as well as some additional information!
Cover A: Stephanie Hans
Cover B: Maan House
Cover C (Wraparound): Alan Quah
Cover D: Nick Marinkovich
Cover E: Diego Yapur
Dark Souls: The Willow King is a four-part series that follows "Herald the Unlived". He is resurrected as an Unkindled by the mighty King Ustrad Uthrel after he fails to link the First Flame. He is ordered to seek out the revived Lord of Cinder, know as The Willow King. The story sees Herad unite three mighty warriors in his perilous journey into the unkown.
The folks over at Titan Comics are excited, to say the least! The series editor Calum Collins said, “I am extremely excited to work with George and Maan to return to the world of DARK SOULS and seek to link the flame once more! In this story, a band of desperate ashen hollows will attempt to link the flame where they once failed, venturing into the creaking monster-filled domain of the Willow King to accomplish their goal. Expect grim gothic vistas, twisted monsters, and an epic quest into a dungeon unlike any seen before.”
Writer George Maan shared his excitement for the series saying “Like an Unkindled, we’re rising from the ashes to bring you something entirely new and exciting. We’ll journey with Heroth the Unlived as he and his companions seek out a reluctant Lord of Cinder, The Willow King, to try to bend him to his task. Expect new monsters! Giants! Unseen horrors! Dungeon delves and ruined cities! Will the flame ever be linked? You’ll have to read to find out… unless the Hollows get to you first…”
Dark Souls: The Willow King #1 will land in comic book shops, and in digital format, beginning January 31st, 2024. The first issue will include covers from Stephanie Hans, Maan House, Alan Quah, and more!
You can pre-order the title from your local comic shop, or Forbidden Planet if you're in the UK and Europe.
About Dark Souls
The Dark Souls video game franchise, developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, has gained critical acclaim and a massive following since its inception in 2011.
The first installment was released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in September of 2011. Its global release followed the next month (October). A PC version of the game was released in August 2012.
The second installment, Dark Souls II, was released worldwide in March of 2014 for PC, PlayStation3, and Xbox 360.
Dark Souls III, the third installment in the popular gaming franchise, was released in Japan in March of 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows/PC. The worldwide release followed the next month in April of 2016.
The Dark Souls series is well-known for its high level of difficulty, intricate world design, deep lore, and minimalistic storytelling. Players navigate through dark and treacherous environments, facing off against formidable enemies and bosses, while uncovering the lore of the world through exploration and interaction with the environment.
The core gameplay revolves around exploration, combat, and character progression. Players can customize their character’s skills and abilities, and they must carefully manage their health and stamina during combat. The series places a strong emphasis on learning from failure, as players will die frequently and must learn from their mistakes to progress.
The Dark Souls franchise has sold more than 15 million units worldwide.