'Star Wars: Path of the Lightsaber' Manga Review

Japanese storytelling–particularly the films of Akira Kurosawa–was a well-known influence on George Lucas’s creation of Star Wars. It’s fitting then, that manga has been a part of the franchise for nearly 30 years, dating back to Hisao Tamaki’s adaptations of the Original Trilogy (available soon as a deluxe art book from Dark Horse) and continuing with occasional adaptations of various books and TV shows. In 2021, Viz Media released the first original Star Wars manga - the fantastic Edge of Balance series - as part of the ongoing High Republic initiative.

With Path of the Lightsaber, Kenny Ruiz takes that a step further with the first Star Wars manga that is completely its own story. While it is naturally connected to the saga as a whole, taking place in between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, the story occupies its own, new place in Star Wars Canon. It represents a new and exciting era in Star Wars storytelling, and Path of the Lightsaber kicks things off with a bang.

Plot

Path’s opening pages introduce us to the crew of the Random Luck, a drilling ship contracted to find an ancient abandoned spaceship. Like any Star Wars adventure, we quickly find out that the job isn’t quite so straightforward. The ship is a Jedi-owned vessel from the High Republic era, and the protagonist, Nioka, finds the Jedi’s lightsaber aboard.

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As Nioka prepares for adventure, her excitement is cut short when their client arrives, a First Order enforcer named Itai. Itai is attempting to join the Knights of Ren and wants to claim both the saber and the ship in the name of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. This begins a series of action setpieces and chase scenes that find our heroine over her head in her quest for what is right.

This is quintessential Star Wars. Space exploration, thrilling action, and the little guy fighting back against their oppressor. The backbone of the story directly follows from the themes established by the ending of The Last Jedi: hope is not lost. Despite the victories of the First Order, the galaxy is full of everyday people who are ready to fight back. You don’t have to be a Jedi to make a difference… though having a lightsaber doesn’t hurt.

While the story isn’t necessarily breaking new ground, its familiarity is never stale. In a way Nioka’s story is an echo of Luke Skywalker’s Hero Journey. She is a young worker who yearns for a life of adventure and fighting the good fight. However, by taking place during the Sequel Trilogy, Path of the Lightsaber feels completely fresh.

This volume is an exciting first chapter and teases an even more unique story for Nioka to follow.

Characters

One of the most exciting things about the announcement of Path of the Lightsaber was the lack of recognizable characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting new stories about Luke Skywalker and any other number of beloved characters. But there’s always something exciting about something completely new.

To that end, Nioka is a perfect protagonist. If the story here is a direct continuation of The Last Jedi’s hopeful ending, then she is carrying the legacy of Temiri Blagg (that’s Broom Boy, for anyone who’s not obsessed with Wookieepedia deep dives). Like the young Canto Bight stablehand, Nioka is inspired by secret messages from the Resistance and dreams of being a Jedi. Even while working jobs for the First Order, her optimism is unwavering.

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Like so many Star Wars protagonists, she’s at least a little bit naive, but she has a pure heart and plenty of charm. In that, she’s not unlike Wim, the young dreamer from Skeleton Crew, or Mattis Banz, the Resistance fighter who swore he was a Jedi in the obscure early-Canon Join the Resistance series. There’s even shades of Sabine Wren’s surprise Jedi training as Nioka struggles to adapt to her newfound weapon. But she’s more than just an amalgam of those who came before; Nioka is a fascinating character in her own right, and I look forward to seeing her growth through more volumes to come.

Always at Nioka’s side is Barun, an aging veteran of the Galactic Civil War who serves on the drilling crew. Unlike the stereotypical grizzled veteran trope, though, Barun is not jaded and defeated. He acts as a mentor to Nioka and is the main source of her optimism. His exaggerated tales of what he witnessed at the Battle of Endor provide hope that this new war can resolve the same way. He’s the perfect sidekick in this story, often providing comic relief but also serving as an emotional anchor for Nioka.

Carrying on another classic Star Wars tradition is Itai, the masked antagonist. We don’t learn much of his character beyond the classic quest for power, but he is a perfect foil for the in-over-her-head young star of the story. He is intimidating and clearly not holding back, and that tends to be all you need for a classic Star Wars villain. As a bonus, Itai comes along with RR-20, a probe droid assistant that somehow manages to keep the story light with self-deprecation as he continually lets his master down.

In the final act of the book, we’re introduced to Tobue Taizen, a fighter with a direct link to the Emperor and begins a major transformation for Nioka. Since he joins the story late, I’ll avoid spoilers, but despite the minimal page time, it’s Taizen who has me most excited for a second volume.

Style

From the first page, before any plot begins, one thing is clear: Path of the Lightsaber is a gorgeous book. Every page is dripping in style, whether it’s an intense action scene or slow, emotional dialogue. Ruiz’s black and white linework is stunning, never once lacking the energy of a full-color comic. Some readers who are less used to manga might occasionally have difficulty parsing some of the fast paced scenes, but the payoff is frenetic art that perfectly fits the story.

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Where Ruiz really shines is in his character work. His faces are expressive in a way that can only be shown in comics, particularly when it comes to Nioka’s unbridled hope and joy. Even characters without a face like the masked Itai manage to convey emotion through the art.

Much of the world-building is handled through dialogue and exposition, and Ruiz manages to make each character feel unique and complete. But the story itself would be clear even if there was no text at all. His writing and art style are straightforward and well-paced, and the book comes together as a wonderful package.

Entertainment

Despite a hefty page count of just over 200, considerably longer than any of the Edge of Balance Volumes, this is a one-sitting book. Immediately after we meet Nioka, we’re enthralled with her story. While there are slower, emotional beats throughout, at no point does the story drag.

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Ruiz delivers all the action you’d expect from a manga with “Lightsaber” in the title. It’s all fun to read and beautifully rendered. Most gripping is how unique the fighting is - rather than the classic saber vs saber combat we see so often, Itai’s main weapon is a kusarigama, a hook on a chain, which makes for combat like we’ve never seen before.

Beyond the expected action, the story is full of heart. You really care about these characters, and there are several genuine laugh out loud gags. There’s truly never a dull moment. Simply put, Path of the Lightsaber is exactly what a manga should be: fun.

Once you finish it, I dare you not to pick it up for a second readthrough.

Overall

Path does a great job building out this era in a way that feels meaningful, with just enough connections to give an impact while also remaining self-contained. For too long, the Sequels have remained sparse, but stories like this, alongside the amazing ongoing comic Legacy of Vader and the upcoming Legacy, are finally changing that.

But most importantly, this is just a plain fantastic story. Nioka will likely never be a household name like Rey or Kylo Ren, but her story doesn’t feel like a fringe tie-in to the movies. Kenny Ruiz mixes compelling character work with high-octane action to give readers a perfect Star Wars adventure, complete with fantastic art. Path of the Lightsaber is perfect for both new readers and long-time manga fans.

Keep an eye out for more Path of the Lightsaber, because this series is going to be one to watch.

RATING: Masterpiece

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