Following Marvel’s foray into the medium under Disney’s direction, two recent Star Wars spin-offs will soon be receiving manga adaptations all their own.
On April 25th, Square Enix’s Big Gangan magazine announced that, beginning with their upcoming May 25th issue, their publication would feature manga adaptations of both The Mandalorian and the Star Wars: Visions anthology anime.
The former, which will recount the events of the Disney Plus series, will be helmed by Yusuke Osawa, the mangaka of the short-lived Spider-Man: Fake Red.
Taking to Twitter, Osawa confirmed that not only will The Mandalorian be an ongoing monthly series, but that Lucasfilm would also be supervising the project.
Further, Osawa also revealed that he would be working on one of four adaptations of Star Wars: Visions set to appear across Big Gangan’s summer issues.
新連載のお知らせ！！！
「スター・ウォーズ マンダロリアン」来月発売の月刊ビッグガンガンから始まります！ルーカスフィルム監修です！さらに同時に始まる「スター・ウォーズ ビジョンズ」の連載でも「9人目のジェダイ」の回を描きます！読んでね！！ pic.twitter.com/oaC1EhpFYu— 大沢祐輔 (@kurikaramaru) April 24, 2022
The first, scheduled to release in the June issue alongside the debut of The Mandalorian, will be an adaptation of the anthology’s seventh episode, The Elder, as produced by Witch Hat Atelier mangaka and The Elder character designer Kamome Shirahama.
I will be drawing the official comic version of [ #STARWARS Visions -The Elder- ] in the May 25 issue of Monthly Big Gangan,” tweeted Shirahama following Big Gangan’s initial announcement. “I am so happy to be able to draw the Jedi I designed the characters for in this comic! I also drew the color cover, so please check it out!!!”
【NEWS!】 I will be drawing the official comic version of [ #STARWARS Visions -The Elder- ] in the May 25 issue of Monthly Big Gangan. I am so happy to be able to draw the Jedi I designed the characters for in this comic! I also drew the color cover, so please check it out!!!! pic.twitter.com/aVPnI71gnG
— 白浜鴎🏳️🌈とんがり帽子アニメ化 (@shirahamakamome) April 25, 2022
The second chapter, an adaptation of Star Wars: Visions’ eight episode Lop & Ochô set for Big Gangan’s July issue, will be done by Haruichi, the mangaka behind Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan.
“Originally, it was a project that started from the enthusiasm of the person in charge of big 👍 who loves SW!!” revealed of their involvement with the series. “Also, as a fan of [the variety show] How Do You Like Wednesday, it’s incredible to be able to draw Yasaburo, who is portrayed by [the show’s creator and narrator] Tadahisa Fujimura.”
元々SW大好きビッグガンガン担当さんの熱意から動き出した企画で「うさぎと言えば春壱さんでしょう！！👍」としっかりうさぎ担当できて幸せです！！
あと水どうファンとしても藤やん演じる弥三郎親分を描けるのは感無量です。がんばります〜！🐰✨— 春壱 Haruichi (@haruichithm) April 24, 2022
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Yusuke’s story, an adaptation of Studio Trigger’s The Ninth Jedi, will then follow suit and debut in Big Gangan’s August publication.
The final chapter of the Star Wars: Visions manga adaptations, based on Studio Trigger’s The Twins, will be done by Satou Keisuke, the mangaka who previously provided the illustrated adaptation of another Studio Trigger production, Little Witch Academia.
“Announcement!” exclaimed Keisuke on Twitter in light of the news going public. I will draw “The Twins” episode of the Star Wars: Visions comic, which begins in the monthly Big Gangan releasing on 5/25! Thank you to all Star Wars and TRIGGER fans!”
告知！#スターウォーズ
5/25発売の月刊ビックガンガンにて始まる
スターウォーズ:ヴィジョンズのコミカライズ
「the twins」の回を描かせて頂くことになりました！
スターウォーズファンな方もTRIGGERファンな方もみんなよろしくお願いしまーーーーーーす！ pic.twitter.com/zkZmMg9hyg— 左藤圭右🐟 (@fibonaccin) April 25, 2022
Historically, what we’ve seen with manga adaptations of other stories is that mangaka will often take creative liberties with the source material more often than not in a way that really improves upon the original work..
As such, the above adaptation to pay particular attention is The Mandalorian, as there lies the possibility that Osawa’s take on the series will fix some of the more glaring issues from the original show.
Plus, if The Mandalorian manga adaptation is a success, it would not be surprise if an adaptation of The Book of Boba Fett follows suit. Maybe we’ll even get more original Star Wars manga too.
Are you excited for theese upcoming Star Wars manga adaptations? Which one are you the most excited for? Let us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!