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Start with Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree if you want one continuing quest led by Aseo the Tarnished and played for comedy. Start with Elden Ring: Distant Tales Between if you prefer an anthology of “what if?” stories focused on characters such as Roderika, the Blackguard, Rya, Corhyn, Alexander, Patches and Millicent. Neither is an objectively superior adaptation: they deliver different formats, tones and reading priorities.
At a glance: which Elden Ring manga fits you?
| Question | Choose The Road to the Erdtree | Choose Distant Tales Between |
|---|---|---|
| What is the structure? | A continuous quest following Aseo from one objective to the next | Stand-alone or loosely connected “what if?” character stories |
| What is the clearest tone signal? | Yen Press labels it Comedy, Sword and Sorcery, and Video Game Tie-in; chapter titles are deliberately parody-like | Fantasy and video-game tie-in stories built around alternate possibilities |
| Who is the narrative anchor? | Aseo the Tarnished, alongside familiar game characters | NPC spotlights, including Roderika, the Blackguard, Rya, Corhyn, Alexander, Patches and Millicent |
| Best for readers who want | Progression, a recurring protagonist and a comic send-up of the game’s journey | Variety, character vignettes and lore-adjacent scenarios outside the main route |
| English availability listed by Yen Press | 10 volumes listed | Vol. 1 listed; the serial page includes chapters through 11.2 and additional material |
If you are undecided and want the safest first purchase, choose The Road to the Erdtree: its protagonist and forward-moving goal give a new reader an immediate through-line. Choose Distant Tales Between instead when your main attraction is the supporting cast and the possibility of seeing the Lands Between from unusual angles.
What The Road to the Erdtree actually is
Aseo’s continuing quest
Nikiichi Tobita draws The Road to the Erdtree, with Elden Ring and FromSoftware credited as the original author. Yen Press presents the series as an adventure in which Aseo the Tarnished pursues the Erdtree and the goal of becoming Elden Lord. That objective supplies the series with a conventional direction: Aseo travels, meets characters and confronts the next obstacle rather than resetting to a wholly new cast every chapter.
The first volume’s contents include “You Thought This’d Be Serious, Didn’t You?”, “Likely Maiden,” “Time for Patches,” and “Seek Stormveil Castle.” Even before reading, those titles establish that the manga is willing to undercut the solemn presentation associated with the game. They also suggest a route-based rhythm: an introduction to the premise, an encounter with a possible maiden, a Patches episode and movement toward Stormveil Castle.
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Comedy is the premise, not an occasional aside
Yen Press tags the manga Comedy, Sword and Sorcery and Video Game Tie-in. Its publisher description calls it “The epic and foreboding world of the award-winning video game Elden Ring gets turned on its head in this absurd comedy adventure!” The phrase “turned on its head” matters: this is not marketed as a panel-by-panel, solemn adaptation of the game’s principal plot.
That does not mean the setting or characters are disposable. The joke depends on readers recognizing the game’s situations, terminology and personalities. The difference is that Aseo’s behavior, the timing of encounters and the chapter framing are designed to produce parody and surprise. Readers seeking a serious retelling of the Tarnished’s journey should adjust expectations before opening volume one.
What Distant Tales Between actually is
An anthology built from alternate possibilities
Haruichi draws Distant Tales Between, with Elden Ring and FromSoftware credited as the original author. Yen Press describes it through “What if?” premises: Roderika at Roundtable Hold, a Blackguard searching for flavors beyond prawn and Rya’s childhood are among the examples given for the collected volume.
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Yen Press’s wording is an invitation to ask, “The world of the Erdtree is vast and brimming with possibility. So come! Pull up a seat and let yourself ask ‘What if?’” The stories therefore begin with the game’s people and locations but are not constrained to reproducing the exact sequence of the game’s main quest. A chapter can examine an untold moment, imagine a different motivation or build a comic or emotional scenario around one NPC.
Character worlds rather than one campaign
The collected volume organizes chapters around character worlds, including Roderika, the Blackguard, animals, Corhyn and Rya. KADOKAWA’s Japanese description of volume 2 presents an ongoing collection of possible stories about Alexander, Patches, Corhyn and Millicent. In practical terms, that means the series can change viewpoint and mood quickly.
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Readers should not approach Distant Tales Between expecting every installment to advance one heroic party toward the Erdtree. Its cohesion comes from the shared setting and recurring game cast, not from a single uninterrupted plot. The anthology format also makes it easier to read one story at a time or revisit a favorite character without tracking a long chain of quest events.
How the narrative formats differ
Continuous progression in The Road to the Erdtree
Aseo gives The Road to the Erdtree a visible spine. Even when an individual chapter focuses on a joke or a side character, the reader knows where Aseo is trying to go and can measure the story against that destination. This format rewards readers who enjoy serialized momentum, recurring gags and the anticipation of the next recognizable game location.
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The route also makes the manga a natural companion for someone who remembers the game as a sequence of discoveries: leaving the starting area, meeting important figures, dealing with Patches and seeking Stormveil Castle. The manga’s version is comic rather than documentary, but its movement through the world gives the book a sense of journey.
Episodic “what if?” stories in Distant Tales Between
Distant Tales Between does not require you to follow one campaign. A story about Roderika can stand on its own, while another can shift to the Blackguard, Rya or Corhyn. The change in viewpoint is the point, not a detour from a central quest.
This structure suits readers who enjoy short arcs, character studies and alternate scenarios. It also lowers the commitment required to sample the book: if one premise does not appeal to you, the next chapter may feature a completely different character or comic setup. The trade-off is that readers who need a strong cliffhanger-to-cliffhanger plot may find the anthology less urgent than Aseo’s series.
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Tone: parody adventure versus character vignettes
What to expect from the comedy of The Road to the Erdtree
The chapter title “You Thought This’d Be Serious, Didn’t You?” is effectively a mission statement. The series plays with the contrast between Elden Ring’s ominous mythology and the absurdity that can emerge when a determined but unconventional Tarnished encounters it. The comedy can come from characterization, reversals of familiar scenes and the collision between game mechanics or quest logic and ordinary behavior.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsChoose this manga when you want the setting’s dramatic language repurposed for jokes. Do not choose it as your first option if your priority is sustained tragedy, a strict reproduction of the game’s lore chronology or a neutral retelling of every boss and quest.
What to expect from Distant Tales Between
Distant Tales Between has a broader tonal range because each story starts from a different character and premise. The Blackguard’s search for flavors beyond prawn is an inherently lighter setup, while a childhood story about Rya can emphasize background and feeling rather than quest spectacle. The anthology can be playful, but its appeal is less dependent on one continuous comic voice.
Its “what if?” framing also makes room for interpretations that the main game leaves unexplored. The result is best understood as licensed alternate storytelling in the Lands Between, not as a replacement for the game’s canonical route.
Cast and lore: who gets the spotlight?
Aseo first, familiar faces second
In The Road to the Erdtree, Aseo is the reader’s primary point of entry. Game characters appear as he encounters them along his pursuit of the Erdtree and Elden Lord title. If you want to watch one outsider learn the world, make mistakes and keep moving, this arrangement is the stronger match.
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Because the story is anchored to Aseo, supporting characters primarily serve the journey’s scenes and jokes. You will see recognizable names, but the manga’s central question remains what happens to Aseo next.
NPC-centered stories in Distant Tales Between
Distant Tales Between reverses that emphasis. Roderika, the Blackguard, Rya, Corhyn, Alexander, Patches and Millicent are not merely stops on one protagonist’s route; they are the subjects of their own scenarios. Animals also receive a dedicated category in the first collected volume’s chapter organization.
This makes the anthology especially attractive after playing the game and wanting more time with side characters. It can also work for a reader whose favorite part of Elden Ring was the NPC writing rather than the act of clearing the main areas. Since the stories are alternate possibilities, treat added context as imaginative expansion unless the manga explicitly aligns with an established game event.
Does either manga follow the game’s main story?
The Road to the Erdtree follows the broad idea of a Tarnished pursuing the Erdtree and Elden Lord goal, but its comedy framing means it should not be mistaken for a strict adaptation. The named chapters point toward recognizable locations and encounters while openly signaling parody.
Distant Tales Between is even less of a main-story retelling. Its “What if?” premises and NPC-centered chapters deliberately branch into possibilities around the game’s world. Read it as an anthology set in the Lands Between, with stories that may illuminate a character’s perspective without reproducing the game’s chronology.
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English editions, page counts and current availability
The following details reflect publisher listings available on October 18, 2026. Retail stock and future volume counts can change, so confirm the listing when you buy.
| Edition or status | The Road to the Erdtree | Distant Tales Between |
|---|---|---|
| English volume 1 title | Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 1 | Elden Ring: Distant Tales Between, Vol. 1 |
| ISBN | 9781975364892 | 9798855430592 |
| English volume 1 length | 178 pages | 184 paperback pages; 192 pages in digital metadata |
| English volume 1 date | May 23, 2023 | August 25, 2026 |
| Collection status listed by Yen Press | 10 volumes listed | Vol. 1 listed; the serial page shows chapters through 11.2 and more |
The differing page figures for Distant Tales Between describe separate format metadata, not two different stories: the paperback listing gives 184 pages, while the digital metadata gives 192. The Road volume’s 178-page figure is for its English volume 1 listing.
Yen Press lists Amazon among the retailers for both volume-one paperbacks. Prices and stock are volatile, so use the exact product names and ISBNs above when checking a retailer rather than relying on an old price or an automatically generated search result.
Choose by the reading experience you want
Pick The Road to the Erdtree when these statements sound like you
- You want a clear protagonist whose journey continues from chapter to chapter.
- You enjoy comedy built from a serious fantasy setting being deliberately undermined.
- You want a manga that moves through recognizable Elden Ring objectives and locations.
- You prefer a longer series with 10 volumes currently listed by Yen Press.
- You are comfortable with parody rather than a faithful, solemn adaptation.
Pick Distant Tales Between when these statements sound like you
- Your favorite Elden Ring material is the NPC cast and its unanswered side stories.
- You prefer episodic reading, changing viewpoints and self-contained premises.
- You like alternate-history or “what if?” takes on an established game world.
- You want stories about Roderika, the Blackguard, Rya, Corhyn, Alexander, Patches or Millicent.
- You would rather sample several character concepts than follow one Tarnished across a campaign.
A practical reading order for undecided fans
- Identify your tolerance for parody. If the idea of a solemn Elden Ring scene being turned into an absurd joke sounds fun, begin with The Road to the Erdtree. If that sounds off-putting, begin with Distant Tales Between.
- Choose your preferred anchor. Select Aseo when you want one protagonist; select the NPC anthology when you want the viewpoint to change from chapter to chapter.
- Use the first volume as a format test. The first Road volume establishes its comic quest through four named chapters, while the first Distant Tales collection samples several character worlds. You can decide from that structure without committing to every currently listed volume.
- Read the other series second for contrast. Starting with one does not spoil the basic appeal of the other. The Road supplies forward momentum; Distant Tales supplies side-angle perspectives on the same setting.
Common expectation traps
“Road to the Erdtree” is not a serious game script
The Erdtree goal and familiar locations may resemble the game’s route, but the Comedy tag and publisher’s “absurd comedy adventure” description set a different expectation. Buy it for a comic interpretation of the journey, not for a definitive lore transcript.
“Distant Tales” is not one large quest with a rotating narrator
Its stories are organized around possibilities and character worlds. Some figures may recur, but the collection’s identity is anthology-based. A reader who requires one escalating conflict should choose Aseo’s series instead.
More chapters does not automatically mean a complete English collection
The Distant Tales serial page reaches chapter 11.2 and more, while Yen Press lists only volume 1 in English at the stated date. Serial chapter visibility and collected English availability are different measures; check the current publisher listing before assuming a later chapter has a translated book release.
Bottom line: make the format your deciding factor
Choose The Road to the Erdtree for a continuing, Aseo-led comedy adventure that turns Elden Ring’s foreboding quest into parody. Choose Distant Tales Between for a rotating cast of NPC-focused “what if?” stories that explore possibilities around the Lands Between. The first is the better starting point for plot momentum; the second is the better starting point for character variety.
Quick Recap
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