As a Star Wars fan, it’s hard not to know about Thrawn, especially in the last year. The blue-skinned master tactician was a fan favorite due to Timothy Zahn’s epic novelizations, and now, thanks to Ahsoka, the character is in canon and even more relevant. Now comics fans can get in on the excellent novelization by the same name in the adaptation of Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances. The second book in the more recent Thrawn trilogy, this new series co-written by Jody Houser, has Thrawn teamed up with Vader in an excellent first issue.
This story is set during the reign of the Empire as we get to see Grand Admiral Thrawn on a mission with Darth Vader in the present while also filling us in on the time Thrawn teamed up with Anakin Skywalker in the past. It’s a juicy tale for fans of the prequels as well as those interested in learning more about Thrawn in the present timeline.
This is the kind of comic that gives and then gives some more. I kept turning the page thinking, “Surely it’s over, and the rest is ads,” but no, it tells a rather lengthy story as it sets up its two timelines. While it helps define Thrawn and his master tactician personality right down to his ability to hear ideas from his subordinates, it’s also an intriguing look at Darth Vader and his previous self, Anakin Skywalker.
I’d be shivering in my boots!
Credit: Marvel
By juxtaposing both characters, we see how Darth Vader isn’t as masterful in every decision while showing his humanity. In some cases, Darth Vader is always right and impressively powerful. In this issue, we see him callously make decisions that bludgeon in their finality rather than have the patience Thrawn exhibits to see things through. Thrawn may not be a Sith, but his strategizing ability is unparalleled.
It’s also just nice to see a well-told story during the prequel era. Drawn by Pat Olliffe and Andrea Di Vito, Darth Vader looks as good as ever, and the framing is strong. When Thrawn insists a subordinate give them their plan even though Darth Vader just shooed them away, we see them from an angle to convey the split happening. There’s a confrontation occurring, and the drama of it is aided by the framing and blocking of the characters. It’s a testament to the art that this is mostly a dialogue-driven story, but you’ll never feel bored.
It’s also a testament to the well-written dialogue by Houser. The chess game taking place between Thrawn and Vader is felt, and you can tell the quiet rage of Vader is boiling at the surface. There’s also a bit of action, which naturally occurs thanks to the good plotting as the two enter a cantina.
I was pleasantly blown away by Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances #1, yet it should be no surprise, given how great the original source material is. Fans of the Star Wars prequels and Thrawn should not miss this exciting new miniseries. The drama between these two villainous tacticians is palpable while this book further cements the fact that Thrawn is the most interesting thing to come out of Star Wars since the original trilogy.
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