1998’s Star Wars Manga: A New Hope was a memorable series, illustrated by Hisao Tamaki and winning the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material in 1999, and now the series is to receive the ‘Art of’ treatment, as Dark Horse head to Kickstarter for a special Masterpiece Edition available only on the crowdfunding platform, while the The Collector’s Edition will be available at retail.
As part of Star Wars Celebration, Dark Horse Comics is announcing that they will publish The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope—The Manga. Two stunning volumes will each be available wherever books are sold, and will spotlight Hisao Tamaki’s original art from his acclaimed 1997 manga adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope and include a new English translation. Ahead of retail launch in Summer 2026, Dark Horse Comics will also be offering special editions through the publisher’s first ever Kickstarter campaign. This beautifully drawn manga will be available through Kickstarter in two distinct editions, each offering a unique way to experience this extraordinary adaptation. The Collector’s Edition features the same two-volume hardcovers that will be available at retail but with Kickstarter exclusive covers. The Masterpiece Edition will faithfully reproduce Tamaki’s art at its original size in two volumes and include an auxiliary volume. The Masterpiece Edition format will be exclusively available through Kickstarter. Fans can now follow the prelaunch page for the Kickstarter page.
In 1977, the world was changed by the release of George Lucas’s seminal space fantasy epic. Fascinating characters, groundbreaking special effects, and breathtaking action affected audiences in ways that movies never had before and seldom have since. Twenty years later, Hisao Tamaki adapted the films in his own singular style that allowed legions of Star Wars fans to enjoy their favorite story in an exciting new way. It was later published internationally in English by Dark Horse Comics, winning the 1999 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material to confirm Tamaki’s reputation among manga and Star Wars fans alike. Now, Dark Horse has meticulously scanned and assembled Tamaki-sensei’s original art boards to chronicle and showcase the creation of a unique artifact of popular culture.
“The editor in charge of the project…asked, “Would you like to draw Star Wars?” and without hesitation or second thought, I responded, “A New Hope? Absolutely!” said Hisao Tamaki. “I have to draw Star Wars.”
These deluxe Kickstarter-exclusive sets offer fans an opportunity to revisit the classic adventure through new eyes and in a fresh voice. A standard edition of The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope—The Manga will be released in comic shops and bookstores in 2026. Join Dark Horse and Lucasfilm to explore the creative journey of a novel view of a galaxy far, far away.
