While the Disney+ exclusive was reinvigorating the Star Wars fandom alongside the sequel trilogy, a handful of Japanese mangaka were hard at work on a collection of manga that captured the magic of the Star Wars Universe. The black and white pages of each panel are proof of the fact that the magical power of the force is not limited to the screen.
Each of the individual manga that make up The Legend Of Luke Skywalker collection are worth a read. Like every episode of The Mandalorian, the manga offers fans a chance to jump back into the Star Wars universe after the fall of the Empire. Similar source material and setting are not the only things these two projects share though. The list below recognizes 10 similarities between the manga and the hit Disney+ exclusive series.
10 The Imperial Perspective
Chapter 15 of The Mandalorian reintroduces Mayfeld, an Imperial officer who fled the Empire in order to pursue the life of a hired gun. Bill Burr's performance as Mayfeld offered viewers a look into the world of an Imperial Soldier and might even make fans of John Boyega's character in the sequel trilogy a bit jealous.
"The Starship Graveyard" Manga offers readers a similar feeling, as they peak into the life of an Imperial Officer who loves the Empire because of the sense of order it provides. After Luke Skywalker destroys this officer's Star Destroyer, he leads him on a journey that will make viewers truly feel the miraculous power of the force.
9 A Miraculous Force
When originally introduced in May of 1977, the power of the Force was not what fans have learned to view it as today. The Force in the original trilogy was so pivotal to the plot that even when presented as a whisper it seemed powerful.
The Legend Of Luke Skywalker Manga and The Mandalorian follow the standards set by the original trilogy by using The Force as a miraculous Deus Ex Machina. The anime and manga mediums are well known for their reliance on the Deus Ex Machina, which makes Star Wars the perfect mythology to be explored by mangaka.
8 Shifting Genres
Every episode of The Mandalorian falls into the genre of science-fiction, but the way it expresses the tropes expected of this genre varies from episode to episode. Some episodes lean into tropes common to the horror genre, while others embrace western tropes.
The Legends Of Luke Skywalker Manga also jumps between different genres. "I, Droid" is an A.I. sci-fi story, while "The Starship Graveyard" is as much a part of the war genre as it is sci-fi. Perhaps the most common genre to be paired with the traditional sci-fi tropes in Star Wars is the fantasy genre. The Force's power in The Mandalorian and The Legends of Luke Skywalker could appropriately be called wizardry by fans of this franchise.
7 New Protagonists
Seeing the world through the eyes of a Jedi is cool, but watching as others marvel at the power of the Jedi is breathtaking. The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal in the role of Din Djarin, a foundling that adheres to the Mandalorian code as strictly as possible. Though the Mandalorian warriors have made it to the screen before, Pascal's character is unique in the way he risks his life for his code.
The Legends of Luke Skywalker manga introduces a number of new protagonists. The first manga in the collection gives viewers the chance to meet Luke Skywalker through the eyes of an Imperial Officer. Other manga show the Star Wars Universe through the eyes of a droid, a bug, and even a young biology student.
6 Hoodie Luke
The force is as mysterious as it is powerful. One of the most memorable scenes from the original trilogy follows Hoodie Luke into the depths of Jabba's Palace. The final episode of The Mandalorian season 2 also tracks Hoodie Luke, but this time through the hallways of Moff Gideon's Imperial Light Cruiser.
The mysterious nature of the force and the Jedi is incredibly appealing. The Legends of Luke Skywalker manga takes advantage of this appeal by reintroducing Hoodie Luke. While the characters around him wonder at the power of the force, they are also forced to wonder who the mysterious man beneath the hood is.
5 A Droid's Perspective
One of the short manga stories presented in The Legends of Luke Skywalker manga leans into Star Wars' sci-fi roots by using a droid protagonist who goes by the name Zeta. Zeta's knowledge of the world is limited to the data he has in his computer-like brain, which makes the concept of the force entirely foreign.
The power to defy all preconceived ideas of reason is just one of the powers the force possesses in the Star Wars universe. Just as the IG unit from the first season of The Mandalorian defies Din Djarin's preconceived ideas of reason, Luke defies Zeta's by using the force to accomplish a task no human or droid could have achieved in "I, Droid."
4 The Call Of The Force
The most recent season of The Mandalorian saw Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and his force wielding ally work to find other force wielders. This objective led the pair to a planet where Grogu could use the force to send a beacon out into the universe.
Similarly, the final story included in The Legends of Luke Skywalker manga uses the call of the force to lead Luke Skywalker into the belly of a beast. Here, he saves three ancient force wielders from their eternal slumber. Though some Star Wars Legends tell of Luke Skywalker's struggles to find other force wielders after the fall of the empire, other sources like The Mandalorian and The Legends of Luke Skywalker have shown that the force regularly pushes and pulls Luke throughout the universe in order to find others like himself.
3 Both Are Set After The Fall Of The Empire
Both The Mandalorian and The Legends Of Luke Skywalker Manga follow the adventures of protagonists living in the era between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy. For fans curious about the state of the universe after the empire collapsed, these two story collections are the place to find these answers.
Though The Legends Of Luke Skywalker Mmnga is not technically canon material, it embraces the words Rey speaks when she is faced with the reality of Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens. If fans are interested in the stories of Luke Skywalker that Rey heard while stranded on Jakku, they should pick up a copy of The Legends of Luke Skywalker.
2 A New Perspective On Jabba's Palace
Marvel Studios has become known for their trailer-esque post-credit scenes. The Mandalorian's final episode may prove that Disney has learned from their subordinate studio, as they use the final stretch of their credits to tease fans with a new series titled The Book Of Boba Fett.
The post-credit scene gives fans the chance to revisit Jabba's Palace from a new perspective. The Legends Of Luke Skywalker manga offers readers the same opportunity, but instead of seeing it through the eyes of Boba Fett, "The Tale Of Lugubrious Mote" shows readers what Jabba's Palace looks like through the eyes of a tiny little bug and his new friend, Princess Leia Organa.
1 The Return Of The Droid Army
The Mandalorian reintroduces the droids as antagonists years after their introduction in the Prequel Trilogy. Fans of Star Wars must have been wondering what happened to the droid army after Palpatine rose to the title of Emperor. It seems odd to relegate a force that contested the might of a clone army exclusively to the roles of prison guard and mobile data bank.
The Legends Of Luke Skywalker manga gives readers the chance to see Luke Skywalker stand up to a small army of hostile droids much as he did in the final episode of The Mandalorian season 2. If fans of the show want to experience the chills they felt while watching the show, "I, Droid" will certainly do the trick.