Star Wars Prequel Novel Guardians Of The Whills Re-Imagined As Manga This Summer

American manga publisher and anime distributor Viz Media has announced, and also recently opened pre-orders for, Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills. The manga is expected to be released on August 10, and runs 196 pages.

The manga’s synopsis reads as follows: “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?”

Set before and also directly tied into the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Guardians of the Whills manga is both an adaptation and re-interpretation of the 2017 novel of the same name written by Gary Rucka and illustrated by Diogo Saito. It “revisits Baze and Chirrut before they meet the rebellion members who turn the tide in the fight against the Empire.”

Earlier this year, Viz Media also announced it will this fall release a new book of essays from enigmatic video-game creative Hideo Kojima, whose fans were likely not shocked to learn its full title was The Creative Gene: How Books, Movies, and Music Inspired The Creator of Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid. Kojima’s book is due out on October 12.