Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills - The Manga

by Greg Rucka, Jon Tsuei (Illustrations), Subaru (Illustrations)

The manga adaptation of the novel Star Guardians of the Whills , by Greg Rucka, revisits fan-favorite characters Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe before they joined the Rebellion in the blockbuster film Rogue A Star Wars Story .

Jump into hyperspace with all-new Star Wars publishing!

The Force is with me, and I am one with the Force.

– Chirrut Îmwe

Presiding over the Kyber Temple on Jedha, the Guardians of the Whills, Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe, had hoped to maintain a peaceful balance despite the growing presence of the Empire in their Holy City. They struggle to maintain their beliefs as stormtroopers threaten to take over, when Saw Gerrera appears offering them a chance to help Jedha. How far are Baze and Chirrut willing to compromise for peace, or will Saw’s plan be too dangerous to risk?

Star Guardians of the Whills revisits Baze and Chirrut before they meet the rebellion members who turn the tide in the fight against the Empire in Rogue A Star Wars Story . Writer Jon Tsuei and manga artist Subaru bring the origin story of this fan-favorite duo to life in a new manga adaptation based on the novel by Greg Rucka.

© & TM 2021 LUCASFILM LTD
Copyright © 2021 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

Genres: Star Wars, Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2021

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good adaptation of the novel. Not the most action packed comic but it was based on a novel. Though I would have liked more of the fights to be highlighted. Especially by Chirrut, yes I am a big Donnie Yen fan and want to see him fight in any format.

However what this book does really well is show case the friendship between Baze and Chirrut, the facial expressions from the artwork are great. I did find Baze more interesting as he has lost his faith in the force but not in Chirrut, though even Chirrut is tested in this book.

A good book of faith, friendship and purpose. I think it captures all the important aspects of the novel. More story based than the usual action from Manga.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that there was a story out there about my two faves from Rogue One, I knew I had to read it. While the movie showed the doomed fate for these two, this manga really shined on their friendship. Featuring some other familiar faces as well, we really got to dive into the history of Jedah before Chirrut and Baze became known to us. I absolutely love their friendship and how much they care for one another. The jokes alone had me dying. I really hope we get more from these two because I just adore the hell out of them.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The manga is a really nice improvement on Greg Rucka's original novel. I found the novel just okay—not terrible, not amazing. But the translation to manga suits these characters. The story that felt a little thin in novel form is perfectly fine here. I recommend this as a quick read for any fellow Rogue One fans. After spending time in the High Republic era, I find it refreshing to return to the Star Wars era that I'll always like best.

[Renn]

GIVE ME ALL THE STAR WARS MANGAS PLS AND THANK YOU

[jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

MORE STORIES ABOUT BAZE AND CHIRRUT PLEASE

[Danny Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun manga. I haven't read a manga in over a decade. And when I saw there was a manga for 2 of the best characters in the Star Wars universe, I knew I needed it. A prequel to Rogue One that follows Chirrut and Baze during their days on Jedah just before running into Jyn, Cassian and K-2SO. You get a bit more insight as to who these two besties were and their true purpose before the Empire rose to power and what they were up to the days leading up to Rogue One. This was a very quick read. It really captured the same back and forth humor that these characters portrayed on the big screen. And it makes the hurt of their fates in the movie that much more powerful. This is definitely a must read if you are a fan. I definitely see myself reading this multiple times in my future.

[Amy H. Sturgis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely good manga adaptation of one of my favorite Star Wars novels. Well done indeed!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.

Rating - /5

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good background story for the Guardians of the Whills. Many sage sayings.

[Marius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebellion des Glaubens

Inhalt: Mit " Wächter der Whills" adaptiert Jon Tsuei Greg Ruckas Geschichte über Chirrut Imwe und Baze Malbus. Auf 204 Seiten voller Illustrationen von Subaru erfährt der Leser, wie die beiden Protagonisten ihren eigenen Widerstand organisieren, um den Einwohnern Jedhas zu helfen. Diese haben mit Hunger, Krankheit und Tod zu kämpfen. Doch bald müssen die Wächter erkennen, dass sie nicht alleine gegen die Übermacht des Imperiums ankommen können. Glücklicherweise hat ein alter Fan-Liebling den heiligen Planeten für seine Rebellion auserkoren: Saw Gerrera!

Bewertung: "Wächter der Whills" überzeugt mit einer eigenen Geschichte über den Widerstand auf Jedha. Als Jyn Erso in "Rogue One" dort eintrifft, steht das Netzwerk schon. Doch hier fängt der Leser von Null an und kann die vorhandenen Lücken füllen. Chirrut und Baze unterscheiden sich deutlich in ihren Herangehensweisen, doch sind beide liebenswürdige Charaktere. Der blinde Mönch fühlt mit der Macht. So kann er andere Charaktere durchschauen und hinter Fassaden sehen. Er tendiert zum Abwarten und überzeugt die Personen um sich herum mit Gelassenheit und unerschütterlichem Glauben. Häufig lockert er die Situation durch Witz auf. Wenngleich Baze in diesen Humor gerne einsteigt, sieht er Dinge häufig realistischer und drängt zur Tat. Statt Abwarten, will er handeln. Seinen Glauben hat er weitgehend zurückgedrängt, jedoch wäre es falsch ihn als ungläubig zu betiteln. Beide sind gut getroffen und sympathisch. Saw Gerrera überzeugt in seiner Paraderolle als unerbittlicher Partisan. Alteingesessene Fans finden die Hassliebe zu ihm schnell wieder. Jedha als Handlungsort sticht natürlich heraus. Immernoch sind Glauben und Hoffnung hier tief verwurzelt, obwohl das Imperium Tempel und andere heilige Stätten geschlossen hat. Der Schreibstil des Autors ist einfach und verständlich. Die Zeichnungen im Mangastyle treffen die Atmosphäre und Charaktere. Der Leser fühlt sich in die Star-Wars-Galaxis versetzt.

Fazit: Ein kleine Geschichte über Widerstand und Hoffnung mit sympathischen Charakteren. Guter "Lückenfüller" für Rogue-One-Fans. Gesamt: 5/5

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Guardians of the Whills, The Manga is a wonderful contribution to the Rogue One movie mythology. We spent far to little time with Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus. Two of my favorite characters from the movie. This manga adaptation of Greg Rucka’s books is fun read. They kept Rucka’s young readers format and gave us a great artistic tale. Subaru’s art is delightful. I enjoy his style. His cartoony realistic style is a perfect blend for Star Wars books. I can’t wait to see more from him.

If you like young readers books and like Star Wars this might be the manga for you. If you want more of Chirrut and Baze then you need to read this manga.

[Admiral Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really nice. The message was beautiful and I loved seeing how Saw was involved!

[kaitlphere · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed spending more time with Saw Gererra, Baze, Chirrut, and Jedha. I got a laugh out of how Baze got his giant gun. The plot was pretty basic.

[Tyler W · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I see something remotely related to Rouge One, I’m gonna read it :D

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always surprises me when a full-length novel can be converted in a single-volume manga. It's been far too long since I read the Guardians of the Whills novel to do an actual comparison, but this definitely reads as a full story with nothing missing.

And what a story. We get some of the background on the Empire's occupation of Jedha, how Saw got there and how his priorities differ from those of others fighting the Empire - how he doesn't subscribe to the "not fighting what we hate, but saving what we love" doctrine. We also get to experiene more of Baze and Chirrut's delightful relationship. (And this book drove home for me once again how cowardly it is for Disney to not just let them be a couple.)

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manga (adapted from a novel) about Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus before the events of Rogue One. Entertaining and well worth a read.

[TaunTaunTalk_de · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeder der den Star Wars Filme Rogue One a Star Wars Story gesehen hat, kennt auch die beiden sehr auffälligen Charaktere Chirrut Imwe und Baze Malbus diese beiden Wächter der Whills erleben wir in diesem Film als geheimnisvolle Bewohner des Wüstenmond Jedha. Diese Heilige Stadt, welche vom Imperium besetzt und geplündert wird und dann später vom Todesstern zerstört wird ist auch der Handlungsort dieser Geschichte in denen Chirrut und Baze die Hauptrolle übernehmen.
Zum Inhalt: Das Imperium hat sich auf Jadha niedergelassen und sorgt dafür, dass die Bevölkerung darunter leiden muss. Essen, Medikamente und sogar das Wasser wird knapp.Die Einwohner haben keine Chance irgendetwas dagegen zu unternehmen. Auch eine Flucht lässt das Imperium nur unter ganz bestimmten Bedingungen zu.
Chirrut und Baze helfen, wo und wie sie nur können, um das Leiden der Bewohner so gut es geht zu lindern. Sie überfallen auch imperiale Transporte und verteilen die Ware an Waisenhäusern, was natürlich immer wieder für Gefahr sorgt vom Imperium gefangen genommen zu werden und im schlimmsten Fall dabei ums Leben zu kommen.
Eines Tages werden die beiden zu einem geheimnisvollen Fremden geloggt, welcher sich als Saw Gerrera entpuppt. Dieser bietet ihnen an, sich ihm und seiner Revolution anzuschließen, um das Imperium auf Jedha gemeinsam zu bekämpfen.

Ob sich die beiden Saw Gerrera anschließen findet ihr am besten selber heraus, den ihr erfahrt hier noch so einiges von Chirrut und Baze. Ihre Beziehung zueinander wird vertieft und zeigt auch kleinere Einblicke in ihre Vergangenheit. Auch der Humor kommt nicht zu kurz, welcher sich sehr an den aus Rogue One orientiert.

Mir persönlich hat dieses Manga sehr gefallen daher kann und möchte ich ihn mit gutem Gewissen jedem empfehlen, der an einer Story um Chirrut Imwe und Baze Malbus interessiert ist.

Für Manga Einsteiger vielleicht noch wichtig, dass auch dieses Werk gespiegelt wurde,es kann also wie jedes andere Comic oder Buch gelesen werden.

Für 10 Euro bekommt ihr 204 Seiten Action auf Jedha mit Chirrut Imwe und Baze Malbus.

Star Wars - Wächter der Whills 1

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading "Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills - The Manga". I haven't read the original book that this was adapted from, but I really enjoyed the manga. It is great, especially in how Chirrut and Baze's friendship and characters were written. They both are different than one another. Baze is calmer, easygoing, and strong in faith whereas Baze is opposite. Yet, they work together very well and have a great friendship. I love the dialogue that they shared.

I also like Chirrut's characterization here. Just like in the Rogue One movie, he strongly believes in the Force. However, his faith is tested and he has doubts. I found that to be realistic and well-written. I also enjoyed how caring he and Baze are as well as how introspective and reflective he is.

Indeed, one of the issues he reflects on is the impact of their actions, particularly their work with Saw Gerrera. With each attack that they (and Saw's forces) launch, the Empire retaliates with brutality. Saw is pragmatic and believes the ends justify the means. However, author Greg Rucka does a great job in showing the consequences, especially in the lives of children in Jedha. These concerns result in a mostly solid finale to the story. It involves some great conflict and tension and was well-written and well-illustrated.

Thus, the story was solid and characterization was solid. There were a couple issues though. One is that the pacing was a bit too fast at times. For example, there were some sudden time skips in a couple areas. In addition, while I enjoyed the finale, it felt like there could have been more story to tell. From what I gathered, this is just a single book, and not one in a series. Still though, these issues are minor and the book is a nice read.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a good plot, solid characterization, nice art, and dialogue. It's a nice tie-in to Rogue One also.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Manga adaptation of Greg Rucka's novel, this story follows Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus on Jedha months before the start of 'Rogue One'.
As the Empire grinds Jedha under its boot, Chirrut and Baze try to figure out how they can protect the people of their homeworld. The possibility of fighting back arises, however, when they join forces with the revolutionary Saw Gerrera.

Chirrut and Baze were brilliant additions to the Star Wars mythos and I was immediately endeared not just to them as individuals but their relationship as a duo when I saw 'Rogue One' for the first time. So getting to spend more time with them is definitely something I'm onboard for.
I particularly liked how this book explores the way in which they choose to resist the Empire and contrasts it with that of Saw. Saw and his Partisans are dedicated to toppling the Empire at any cost but we soon discover that Chirrut and Baze are less concerned by the politics and more by the effect it has on the people. Their empathy and compassion mean that 'at any cost' is not a type of war they're willing to fight and that plays into their role in 'Rogue One' too.

For me, however, this book was a bit let down by its artwork. The style was just not one I liked, finding it a bit too simplistic, which detracted from my enjoyment of the book as a whole by a significant amount.
It's a particular shame because seeing these events in Chirrut and Baze's lives through a visual medium like Manga actually made them more vivid than when I read the prose novel, and I just feel that better art would've elevated it much further.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The manga adaptation of Guardians of the Whills adds a beautiful visual component to a story about two of the best characters to come out of Star Wars since the Disney purchase. Set shortly before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we get a bit of background on Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe and what set them on the path to join the Rebellion.

I'm not going to rehash my review of the story, which you can find here, and instead focus on the art. Subaru does a great job capturing the emotions and expressions of the characters, taking the place of descriptive text and really telling half of the story just through the artwork. Everything you feel from reading the original story you'll feel here and more, whether it be the jokes or the tragedy. I hope to see more of this artist's work in the Star Wars universe in the future.

The only downside to this manga is that it's just a retelling of a story we've already seen and not something new. That isn't a knock against it at all - I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a Baze and Chirrut fix, or just a good Star Wars story. I only hope we get more of their adventures at some point in the future.

[Isiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can never get enough of Chirrut and Baze, they deserve a whole series. I'd especially like to learn more about their past as guardians before the Empire took Jedha. They have such a great dynamic they make the entire story such a fun read. Just like in Rogue One, they are a funny, domestic, badass power couple with the deep trust, understanding (and bickering) of an old married couple.

As for this story, it's a perfect showing of what life was like under Imperial rule and the trouble the rebels faced in trying to help. It also further develops Chirrut and Baze's life before Rogue One as well as the situation between the Saw Gerrera and the Imperials.

The art is also beautiful- much better than a lot of the comics tbh.

For those who love the characters or are interested in this era of Star Wars, I would highly recommend it.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the novel this manga was based on first. But I wanted to offer a Star Wars Manga in my middle school unit (because every year, I find at least four Star Wars fans like me). This one doesn't read like a traditional manga which makes it a little more accessible for kids who are struggling. This is the back story of two characters I really did enjoy in Rogue One: Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe. (If you don't know who they are, they are the Jedi guardian who chanted: "I am one for the force and the force is with me" and his overly buff and big friend who act more like a body guard.) They are on Jedha when the Empire starts its occupation and mining of Kyber crystals.

I loved the art style. I feel like this novel really nailed the personalities I saw of these two characters in Rogue One. I also loved how their whole purpose is to save orphans and stop what was causing them to become orphans after they get the kids somewhere safe.

I highly recommend it.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was an adaptation of a novel by Greg Rucka when I picked this up from the library. I'm largely keeping up with Star Wars comics and barely paying attention to the novels. At any rate, this feels like a complete story, though I'm sure it's abridged. The focus is Chirrut and Baze and their relationship, and I think it will be very satisfying to people who love those characters. It also does a good job of showing the difference between them and someone like Saw. They may both be fighting the Empire, but they're not really on the same side. Obviously, this is set just before Rogue One. The story itself is a bit slight, but I didn't mind because the character work is good. The art is clean, easy to read, and the characters are recognizably themselves. A really nice read.

[Zettifar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic story for rogue one fans and especially fans of baze and Chirrut.

Such a fun afternoon read on finding out some back story around Baze , Chirrut trying to protect the people of jedha from the empire and help the sick and injured. Some run ins with Saw guerrera and his partisans group that i feared almost broke up Baze and chirrut over their different ideas on how to fight the empire and give the people of jedha hope.

in the end a great read for thinking on does fighting back and destroying give hope or does finding a way to survive and preserve life without loss of life give people hope?

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, small-scale Star Wars story with some decent messaging about resistance to fascism and ideological differences that interact in that kind of space. I wouldn't say that there's anything here that isn't more fully explored in the excellent Andor series or the Rogue One film, but this is a fine companion piece. I haven't read the novel that this was adapted from, but I suspect that this is the kind of story that works better for me as a graphic novel than it would as a novel. This is digestible without feeling threadbare, while many of the Star Wars novels feel like they struggle to justify their length and existence.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Da es ein eins von zwei Büchern ist, bei denen es um Chirrut und Baze als Hauptchars geht, hat das Buch direkt einen Stern mehr verdient, weil die zwei einfach to toll sind und viel zu wenig im Film vorkommen ;w;.
Der Zeichenstil ist leider sehr.. rudimentär (um nicht zu sagen, nicht sonderlich hübsch xD), aber trotzdem. Auch darüber seh ich hinweg, um mehr input zu den zwei Chars zu kriegen.
Die Story ist etwas 0815, spielt eben kurz vor dem Rogue 1 Film, wo sie noch gegen die Imperiale Besatzung kämpfen.

[Denise K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich liebe den Roman, auf dem dieser Manga basiert, und der Manga ist ebenfalls richtig gut.
Ich mag den Zeichenstil sehr und die Charaktere kommen toll zur Geltung und ihre Interaktionen miteinander haben das selbe Gefühl der tiefen Verbundenheit, wie es im Roman der Fall ist.
Einziger kleiner Minuspunkt in meinen Augen ist, dass eine Szene am Ende, die ich im Buch sehr mochte, im Manga abgewandelt wurde.
Aber das ist eine ziemliche Kleinigkeit.

Klare Empfehlung. Und ich werde ihn mit Sicherheit oft lesen, weil es für mich ein echter ComfortRead war.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills - The Manga by Greg Rucka offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of beloved characters Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe before their Rebel days in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The manga adaptation breathes new life into their backstory, providing fans with a deeper understanding of their journey. With its engaging storytelling and dynamic artwork, this manga is a must-read for any Star Wars enthusiast eager to explore the galaxy far, far away.

[Clifford Luebben · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Star Wars read. I appreciated how the story shows different characters wrestling with how to best fight against the heavy oppression they face from the Empire. I enjoyed the portrayal of the main characters friendship. And I always like nuggets of “force spirituality” in my Star Wars stories. The only qualm I have is that this story indicates the Guardians had a deeper connection & knowledge of Saw Guerrera & his army than I recall Rogue One indicating. But that was my only qualm.

[Echoes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t speak for how this was as an adaptation of the novel as I have not read it yet, but I really enjoyed the manga. It was a quick read with a very cute art style and a good story that expands the characters of Chirrut and Baez. Of all the Star Wars manga I’ve read so far, this is definitely my favorite.