Star Wars: Thrawn (The Manga), Vol. 1
Grand Admiral Thrawn’s legend begins far from the Empire, deep within the enigmatic Chiss Ascendancy. Exiled from his people and driven by a relentless strategic brilliance, Thrawn navigates a treacherous world of shifting loyalties, hidden threats, and political maneuverings. Across dangerous missions and high-stakes confrontations, he proves himself a master tactician—one whose cold precision and insight draw the attention of powers beyond his own galaxy.
This is the story of Thrawn’s earliest rise, reimagined in striking manga form. From the shadows of the Unknown Regions to the brink of Imperial discovery, Star Wars: Thrawn: The Manga Vol. 1 charts the formative steps of a mind destined to reshape the galaxy.
Writer: Man Tsang (based on the novel by Timothy Zahn)
Penciller: Man Tsang
Page Count: 192 pages
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Published by: Panini
ISBN: 9781804913864
The growing list of Star Wars manga titles has an impressive new addition with the arrival of Hong Kong artist Man Tsang’s adaptation of Timothy Zahn’s 2017 novel Thrawn. Announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 18, 2025, the title was published by Panini on June 9, 2026, and is scheduled for a US release by Penguin Random House on September 29, 2026.
Man Tsang’s art style is sharp and vivid, characterized by extensive detail and a rich use of shading. Before reading, I was concerned that the manga might clash visually with the existing 2018 Marvel Comics adaptation of the same novel. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the two works align quite well. The manga feels authentic to the established look of the characters, locations, and ships, yet it avoids feeling like a mere carbon copy or a retelling of a retelling. Instead, it offers the reader a chance to experience a familiar story through a fresh perspective. The pacing is handled with care, staying true to the plot of the original prose while reintroducing it in a new style with masterfully directed panels.
To provide some context on the scope, the original novel is 427 pages, while the trade paperback collecting the six issues of the Marvel miniseries is 136 pages. The first volume of this manga, which traces the events up to Thrawn’s arrival at the Ansion military base, runs for 192 pages. The visuals remain consistently true to the Star Wars universe, and the gorgeous cover and color introductory pages demonstrate that Tsang is equally skilled in both monochrome and color work.
There is an intriguing stylistic quality to some of the character designs that feels like a hint of Leiji Matsumoto’s influence. As a longtime fan of Matsumoto’s work, I found this to be a delightful touch. Overall, this is a strong start to the adaptation. I am genuinely looking forward to volume 2 and hope that this proves to be an ongoing project that could eventually cover both Thrawn canon trilogies.
