Dark Horse Comics and Lucasfilm teamed up to run their first publishing Kickstarter campaign, reprinting deluxe editions of Hisao Tamaki's award-winning adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope manga. The campaign offered 15 reward tiers spanning 6 distinct book editions. The books were available in two formats, large and wide, with pledge levels ranging from early bird rewards at $35 to bundles at $2,000. These included the two-volume hardcover Collector's Edition and the ultra-rare, 25-set $1,500 Signed Darth Vader Masterpiece Edition, along with add-ons like original art, prints, and a large format triptych portfolio. The successful multi-channel social campaign launched with a $50,000 goal and closed having raised $400,095 from 2,146 backers over its 30-day run from September 16 to October 17, 2025.

Art Direction: My art direction for the project centered on giving each book edition its own distinct identity while keeping every tier visually unified as part of a single Star Wars universe. The design language drew from the manga’s original graphic title treatment, echoing the opening page where artwork was drawn inside the iconic Star Wars lettering. For the Vader edition, the goal was to create a clear departure from the rest of the line to match its premium price point, so every deluxe treatment available was brought to bear: foil, embossing, and premium materials throughout. The palette leaned austere. Red, black, and metal, evoking the cold, imposing interior of a TIE fighter, the kind of environment Vader himself would feel at home in.

Print Deliverables: 6 distinct edition books, two interior layouts in large and wide format, deluxe edition treatments for each edition, 6 prints, an oversized profolio triptych

Digital and Social Deliverables: main campaign video, teaser trailer video, 6 3D mockups, 32 social media graphics, campaign site design, over 80 campaign digital assets

Deluxe edition treatments: foil paper cover, book cloth, page edge printing, gold page edge gilding, foil stamping, sculpted and printed metal decals on debossed leather, custom metal bookmark charm

Kickstarter Site