Thrawwwwwn!
So . . . I've just started the new "Thrawn" book. You know the one. The one by Timothy Zahn. You know the guy. The guy who popularised the expanded universe of "Star Wars" in the early Nineties with a trio of books that came to be called the Thrawn Trilogy. When people complained about the disposal of all "Star Wars" spinoff media that preceded Disney's acquisition, they were mostly thinking about the Zahn stuff. And lo! Thrawn turned out to be one of the high points of the old universe that got inducted into the tighter Disney version, making his new debut on the "Rebels" cartoon.
But now there's this book. No hiding the intent. In the original series that came to be named after him, he was still just the antagonist. Despite his popularity, he wasn't even given a viewpoint. He was only seen through the eyes of other characters. But in this book, officially called "Thrawn", he actually gets to narrate bits by himself, which isn't even traditional for "Star Wars" novels. I think that "I, Jedi", an older book, was actually called that because it broke the norm by featuring first-person narration.
But the best aspect I've encountered at this point is the fact that it basically feels like "Encino Man" in space. With a mysterious blue alien instead of an enigmagic surfer caveman. And an earnest young translator cadet instead of Pauly Shore. And though Brendan Fraser is apparently absent from "Thrawn", the situation's meliorated by my automatic tendency to imagine the titular character's portrayal by Benedict Cumberbatch. But yeah. Thrawn goes to school. It's pretty great. It would have been regardless, but this in particular is pretty great.
Bonus Question!
Best blue guy with glowing eyes?
Nightcrawler!
Ooh. But could he meet Thrawn? It'd be like blue Errol Flynn versus blue Sherlock Holmes!
Actually, this sounds exactly like the sort of scenario Nightcrawler would create for himself in the Danger Room. Dude treats that thing like his own personal version of Abed's Dreamatorium.
As well he should.