Thrawn 1

Grand Admiral Thrawn, renowned as one of the most strategically brilliant and merciless minds in the Star Wars universe, takes center stage in his own six-part miniseries! Penned by Jody Houser (known for ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION) and visually brought to life by Luke Ross (of STAR WARS: DARTH MAUL, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS ADAPTATION fame), this comic series adapts Timothy Zahn's New York Times bestselling novel, chronicling Thrawn's ascent through the Imperial ranks to become one of the most formidable military strategists in the galaxy! [sic]

The comic begins with an excerpt from the log of Imperial cadet Eli Vanto. Vanto's mission involves examining a peculiar settlement and wreckage on an unnamed planet situated in Wild Space, following the Unknown Alien protocols. Due to his proficiency in Sy Bisti, Captain Voss Parck assigns Vanto the task of interpreting markings on a set of crates.

As Vanto contemplates tales of the Chiss, a mysterious Chiss warrior uses a Monofilament cable to bring down a V-wing starfighter. He abducts the pilot, fills the pilot's suit with pyussh berries, and seizes the pilot's blaster, extra power cells, and concussion grenades. The Chiss warrior then attaches explosives to rodents, releasing them into the Imperial encampment, triggering a series of explosions.

Subsequently, the Chiss warrior employs another monofilament cable to disable a second V-wing. After incapacitating the pilot, he appropriates the comlink, blaster, power cells, and concussion grenade. Utilizing these stolen items, the stranger launches an ambush, eliminating several Imperial Navy troopers. Captain Parck deploys two squads of stormtroopers along with an Imperial Troop Transport. However, the Chiss warrior ambushes and kills a stormtrooper, taking the stormtrooper's armor.

Imperial forces discover the body of the missing stormtrooper. With communication channels disrupted, Captain Parck orders the Imperial team to retreat. He also instructs that the hut and the crates be transported aboard their Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Strikefast. Within the Strikefast's hangar, the Chiss warrior, disguised, emerges from a crate, only to be apprehended by stormtroopers.

Captain Parck, accompanied by Vanto, interrogates the captured Chiss. Vanto addresses the Chiss warrior in Sy Bisti, the language of the Chiss people. The Chiss warrior identifies himself as Mitth'raw'nuruodo, permitting them to refer to him as "Thrawn." Thrawn explains to the Imperials that he was exiled to the uncharted planet due to disagreements within his society regarding his advocacy for preemptive military actions.

Given Vanto's familiarity with the Chiss language and culture, Captain Parck assigns him to serve as Thrawn's liaison, translator, and assistant. He also assigns Vanto to instruct Thrawn in Galactic Basic Standard. Vanto learns that Captain Parck intends to bring Thrawn to Coruscant, believing that the Emperor Palpatine would be interested in Thrawn. Parck instructs Vanto to gather as much information as possible about Thrawn's homeworld and its inhabitants.

Vanto meets with Thrawn in his holding cell. Thrawn infers that Vanto is reluctant to serve as a translator, assistant, or interrogator. Vanto has modest aspirations, aiming only to become a logistics and supply officer. Thrawn expresses interest in Vanto, surprising Vanto, who questions why Thrawn isn't more interested in Captain Parck and the Emperor. Thrawn tells Vanto that as a translator, he "holds his words and their meanings in their hands." Thrawn adds that Vanto is connected to his immediate survival.

At the Imperial Palace, Captain Parck presents Thrawn to the Emperor inside his throne room. Thrawn declares to the Emperor that he represents "a resource unlike any he has encountered before." When the Emperor inquires further, Thrawn warns of threats lurking in the Unknown Regions that may one day pose a danger to his Empire. He offers his assistance in identifying and neutralizing these threats.

When the Emperor asks what he seeks from the Empire, Thrawn proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement, offering his knowledge and skills in exchange for future consideration for his people. Thrawn is willing to take a risk with the Emperor concerning the fate of his people. The Emperor asks Thrawn if he would choose the Empire over his people if a threat rose against his people. Thrawn affirms his loyalty to the Emperor and says that Anakin Skywalker can vouch for him.

The Emperor realizes that Thrawn is the Chiss he had anticipated upon receiving Parck's message. When Thrawn asks if Skywalker survived the Clone Wars, the Emperor falsely claims that he did not. Thrawn expresses his sorrow at Skywalker's passing, describing him as a resourceful and valiant warrior. The Emperor informs Thrawn that Skywalker had briefed him on Thrawn's talents and abilities before his "passing."

Thrawn offers to serve as the Emperor's advisor on matters concerning the Unknown Regions, requesting that his translator, Vanto, be assigned to serve alongside him. After Parck informs him that Vanto has three months remaining before graduating from the Myomar Academy, the Emperor orders that Vanto complete his training at the Royal Imperial Academy on Coruscant.

At the Royal Imperial Academy, Thrawn and Vanto are greeted by an unfriendly Commandant Deenlark, who enrolls Thrawn in a three-month orientation course. Deenlark also bestows upon Thrawn the rank of lieutenant. Privately, Vanto informs Thrawn that Deenlark's decision to grant him the rank of lieutenant was not out of generosity but rather to undermine his position among the other cadets. Vanto explains that the other students might perceive him as Deenlark's favorite or as a failed officer undergoing remedial training.

Thrawn faces xenophobic harassment and mockery from certain Imperial cadets. Later, Thrawn and Vanto receive an invitation to the metallurgy lab to engage in a card game with the well-connected Spenc Orbar and his associate, Rosita Turuy. Vanto cautions that it is a trap, but Thrawn counters that "sometimes walking into a trap is the best strategy because there are few traps that cannot be turned against their designers."

Inside the metallurgy lab, Orbar reveals that he and Turuy invited them to discuss tactics and strategy for his battle simulation classes. After discussing the King's Lane card, Orbar challenges Thrawn to a game of Highland Challenge. Despite Orbar possessing a King's Lane card, Thrawn manages to gain the upper hand. When an instructor discovers them, Thrawn assures him that Cadets Orbar and Turuy were conducting a test that he and Vanto were observing. Before departing, Thrawn advises Orbar never to forget there is no such thing as a guaranteed "winning hand."

While walking, Thrawn imparts a lesson to Vanto about anticipating one's adversary before abruptly pushing him over a hedge. Shortly thereafter, Thrawn is ambushed by several hooded cadets. Vanto rushes to Thrawn's defense, throwing dirt at the attackers, temporarily blinding them. Thrawn manages to fend them off until other cadets arrive. Thrawn remains unconcerned about his own injuries, remarking that predators maintain a delicate balance between stealth and speed.

Following the incident, Vanto and Thrawn submit comlink records to Commandant Deenlark as evidence that Cadets Orbar and Turuy instigated the attack on Thrawn. Given Orbay and his accomplices' influential connections and protection, Deenlark fears the political ramifications of taking disciplinary action against them. To avoid political complications, Thrawn suggests that Deenlark send Orbar's accomplices for starfighter pilot training at the Skystrike Academy due to combat reflexes. He convinces Deenlark to send the three troublemakers to the Skystrike Academy incommunicado in order to frighten Orbar into rectifying his behavior. While disagreeing with Thrawn for bypassing the proper Academy processes, Deenlark accepts Thrawn's solution out of political expediency.

Three months later, Thrawn and Vanto receive their initial assignments in the Imperial Navy. Lieutenant Thrawn is designated as the second weapons officer aboard the Gozanti-class cruiser Blood Crow, while Ensign Vanto is assigned to serve as Thrawn's aide aboard the Blood Crow.

Vanto is disheartened, suspecting that Thrawn orchestrated his situation with the Emperor. Thrawn responds that the Emperor has not contacted him since their initial meeting. Thrawn assures a disappointed Vanto that the Blood Crow is scheduled for duty in border sectors where Sy Bisti is spoken. He explains that he merely pointed out that it would be beneficial to have two Sy Bisti speaking officers aboard the ship.

Thrawn offers to decline the assignment, but Vanto points out that the Navy does not alter orders based on the preferences of junior officers. Thrawn and Vanto accept the situation. Vanto reflects that Chiss do not make idle boasts or promises and that they persist once they set their mind to something.

While Colonel Mosh Barris appears during the Empire's initial contact with Thrawn in the original Thrawn novel, Captain Voss Parck assumes most of his speaking roles in the comic adaptation. In the original novel, Barris leads the scouting expedition on the uncharted world and decides to withdraw back to the Strikefast against Captain Parck's orders.

• UPC 759606088409; February 14 , 2018 ; Marvel Comics [1] 00111; Cover A; Paul Renaud 00121; Cover B; Lucasfilm Ltd. 00131; Cover C; Francesco Mattina 00141; Cover D; John Tyler Christopher
• UPC 759606094394; May 1 , 2019 ; Marvel Comics; True Believers [4] 00111; Cover E; Paul Renaud