Star Wars is not new to Manga, but 45 Japanese manga artists and illustrators are preparing a new “Tribute to Star Wars” set to drop in Spring 2022….
Back in the day, in my first incarnation of collecting Star Wars comics, two volumes intrigued me more than most:
Firstly, Hisao Tamaki’s “Star Wars Manga: A New Hope 1.”
Secondly, Toshiki Kudo’s “Star Wars Manga: The Empire Strikes Back 4.”
These volumes, found separately and sporadically, were a breath of fresh air for this reader, as they combined two of my passions.
Having shifted from Star Wars (when it “ended” with Return of the Jedi) to anime (Robotech, Voltron, etc., and manga-inspired American comics), these two books above really spoke to me.
I loved the kinetic energy of the manga-style art.
Meanwhile, I had these wonderfully familiar stories to enjoy.
More Star Wars Manga
Later, Star Wars added more manga titles, including Star Wars Rebels.
Image: VIZ Media
The three-volume adaptation of Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars novel.
Image: Yen Press
Another Claudia Gray adaptation, Leia: Princess of Alderaan.
Image: Yen Press
And the adaptation of Ken Liu’s novel, Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Legends of Luke Skywalker.
Image: VIZ Media
Meanwhile, all of these examples lead up to something really amazing.
However, and sorry for burying the lede here, but the next manga is:
Image: Viz Media
With a synopsis that reads:
Image: VIZ Media
The above story will hit shelves on September 7, 2021.
A Tribute to Star Wars
But, and I do say BUT, a new project coming down the pike sounds downright epic.
Announcement: Explore the galaxy through the beautiful artwork of 45 outstanding Japanese manga artists and illustrators, including Akira Himekawa, Taiyo Matsumoto, and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. Star Wars: Tribute to Star Wars drops Spring 2022! pic.twitter.com/wyFCZ6IZSb
VIZ Media posted:
Meanwhile, we found the product description at AnimeBooks.com:
Image: AnimeBooks.com
Star Wars series is non-stoppable with animation series, original movies, side movies, a dedicated land in the Disney Theme Parks, and so much more. No part of the world [is without] Star Wars fans, and the same goes with artists featured in this book.
This tribute book features over 40 different Japanese artists showing their love for the series with illustrations of their favorite characters and scenes. With illustrations from Star Wars I to Star Wars IX, some of the artists are included in this book.
- Kazuo Mafune
- Keita Amemiya
- Kenji Tsuruta
- Kotaro Sekine
- Miwa Ueda
- Peach-Pit
- Seishi Kishimoto
- Shimoku Kio
- Taiyo Matsumoto
- Yohsuke Tamori
- Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
- Yuugen and more.
96 pages.
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko worked on Mobile Suit Gundam. Image: Yasuhiko.
I can’t wait to pick up the above Star Wars volume, but I will be happy to (re)acquaint myself with many of the other titles in the meantime!
Feature Image: VIZ Media