The long history of Star Wars' influence among manga artists and creators is a testament to its global appeal and popularity. In acknowledgment of that influence, earlier this month, LucasFilm released Star Wars: Tribute to Star Wars, a bound volume of artwork from over 40 well-known Japanese manga artists and illustrators depicting their artistic interpretations of that Darth Vader, Leia, Luke, and others from that "galaxy far, far, away."
Along with each image is a short explanation by the artist on how they first experienced Star Wars, and how that affected them as a fan, as a manga content creator, and in the manga industry in general. For instance, for one of the duo of artists formally known as Akira Himekawa, who penned the popular The Legend of Zelda and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess mangas, Star Wars helped release their creative impulses by opening their minds to the possibility that there are other beings in the universe besides those on Earth. More practically, the artists write how Star Wars helped them understand the elements of a good story, such as "overcoming challenges" and "charismatic characters," which they would go on to integrate into their own manga
Similarly, Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN artist Yoshikazu Yasuhiko writes how Star Wars disrupted many of the visual principles held common by manga artists at the time and forced them to throw out their old habits and develop new ones. At first, Yasuhiko writes, most manga artists such as himself just tried to imitate the Star Wars visual style. He even admits that helmet designs for a few of Gundams were based on Darth Vader's iconic helmet.
For other manga artists, the influences of Star Wars went much deeper than their artistic skills and styles. Kamome Shirahama, who besides inking Witch Hat Atelier, also worked for Marvel and DC, writes how she got hooked on Star Wars as a child after watching Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones in the theaters. Like many other fans, once hooked she went to watch the other movies. She was so impressed by the Clones story that she decided to pursue a career in art so that she could one day create something like it. Indeed, she writes that without Star Wars, she would not be who she is today.
While the art in and of itself is a treat for the fans, the book also serves to display the richness of styles and depth of artistic ability within the manga industry. This is especially important for an American comic public that may be unfamiliar with manga.
With so many manga artists offering their unique and diverse interpretations of the Star Wars universe, fans are presented with a book of gorgeous images in a variety of artistic mediums offering a range of presentations from bold and energetic to minimal and subdued, humorous to somber. Moreover, rather than focus on any specific era in the Star Wars saga, the illustrations, as a collection, cover the history of Star Wars as presented in the movies and television cartoons.