Star Wars has been adapted into nearly every form of media out there. For fans of comics, these are worth checking out.
Over the decades, Star Wars has grown far beyond the big screen, with seemingly endless numbers of books, comics, and TV shows. Star Wars has seen its fair share of comics and graphic novels ever since Luke Skywalker left his homeworld of Tatooine way back in 1977. Almost immediately, Star Wars comics took off, and they’ve only expanded since.
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Following Disney’s purchase of the Star Wars IP, many of the once-canonized stories found in the Expanded Universe comics were relegated to the past. There are loads of creative and engaging tales to be told, buried in the pages of years gone by. Dig a little deeper, and fans might discover that the best comics from the Star Wars galaxy are even more powerful than they could have possibly imagined.
Updated on October 13, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: After a long hiatus after the prequel trilogy, the IP is up and running again, with Disney pushing the brand to the hilt. Star Wars made the transition from the Hollywood big screen to comics and graphic novels look easy. Part of the resurgence of comic culture in the 1990s was due to the production of Star Wars-related materials in the absence of new movies or TV shows. Today it’s an array of investments that includes TV shows, spinoff films, novels, and more comic books.
18 Star Wars: Princess Leia
Written by:
Mark WaidArtist:
Terry DodsonPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
March 2015
Leia is far from a minor character in the Star Wars universe, but that doesn’t mean she’s always gotten the stage time she deserved, so this is one of the best Star Wars comics just for that alone. Princess Leia got a chance to shine in 2015’s Star Wars: Princess Leia mini-series by Mark Waid.
Picking up after the destruction of her home planet Alderaan, the comic follows Leia, Queen Breha, and Bail Organa as they struggle to cope with the Empire’s actions. One predictable consequence is that the original trilogy never gives Leia the time or space to confront the destruction of Alderaan, a gap that Star Wars: Princess Leia happily fills.
17 Star Wars: Crimson Empire
Written by:
Mike Richardson and Randy StradleyArtist:
Doug WheatleyPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
December 10, 1997
Stormtroopers are the very definition of faceless evil, yet they are a far deeper and more varied group than the franchise often reveals. Only the most talented Stormtroopers rose to the ranks of Palpatine’s personal guard. Learning about the life of one of these guards, both before and after the collapse of the Empire, is a unique experience in Star Wars fiction.
Star Wars: Crimson Empire is the story of Kir Kanos, who was once one of the Emperor’s red-robed bodyguards. Kir is an excellent protagonist in his own right to make this one of the best Star Wars comics, but the story is also great simply for the way it deepens the universe’s lore.
16 Star Wars
Written by:
Roy Thomas, Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy, and othersArtists:
Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Al Williamson, and othersPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
April 1977
When the original Star Wars trilogy ended there were no new movies planned, but the franchise continued in the form of video games and comic books. The first Star Wars comic books were running concurrently with the movies, but told the story of Han, Luke, and Leia’s adventures after the destruction of the Death Star but before the Battle of Hoth that begins The Empire Strikes Back.
The first edition starts immediately after the end of the first movie, with Han and Chewbacca traveling to pay off their bounty with the reward money only to have it stolen and everything snowballing from there into another epic battle against the Empire.
15 Star Wars: Purge – Last Stand Of The Jedi
Written by:
John OstranderArtist:
Doug WheatleyPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
December 28th, 2005
One of the most significant and terrible events in the entire Star Wars canon is the execution of Order 66, the Emperor’s command to hunt down and eliminate the Jedi Order. Though the sequence is depicted only briefly in Episode III, it left a lasting impression on viewers, particularly with its depiction of Darth Vader’s slaughter of the Jedi younglings.
Star Wars: Purge is one of the best Star Wars comics that continues the tale of Vader’s part in Order 66. Darth Vader’s ongoing descent into the Dark Side takes center stage as he hunts down his former Jedi comrades and murders them. It is, fittingly, a grim story, well-told and complimented by beautiful art. Seeing Darth Vader grow in his darkness as well as his force powers is an unnerving but wonderful journey.
14 The Dark Empire Trilogy
Written by:
Tom VeitchArtists:
Cam Kennedy and Jim BaikiePublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
December 1991
All of the Dark Empire comics are also great on their own, but the complete set of three stories from 2010 has since been compiled into a handy hardcover version for those who prefer to have the whole story under one title as a Star Wars graphic novel. A production from Dark Horse Comics, this story begins six years after the end of the original movie trilogy and features many of the same characters.
While the young Jedi Master fights his inner demons and dodges Imperial assassins, Princess Leia and Han Solo do the work of trying to hold the new and fragile Republic together. The lore in these stories was part of what Disney scrubbed when they took over the franchise, but viewers of the new movies and TV shows will recognize a few plot points and story ideas that sound familiar.
13 Star Wars: Infinities
Written by:
Chris WarnerArtist:
Drew JohnsonPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
February 6th, 2002
As the Star Wars franchise expanded, the original trilogy and the words of its creator were joined by other movies, games, books, graphic novels, and comics. As the wealth of fan fiction demonstrates, however, a story doesn’t have to be canonically true for it to be enjoyable.
Even at the time of their publication, the stories in Star Wars Infinities weren’t canon. Instead, they present hypothetical “what if” situations about the way that things could have gone in the Star Wars universe had a few small things been different. Many of these alternate universes are unsurprisingly dark, such as the one in which Luke fails to blow up the first Death Star.
12 Star Wars: Bounty Hunters
Written by:
Ethan SacksArtists:
Natacha Bustos, Alessandro Miracolo, Lan Medina, and othersPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
March 11, 2020
With not much said about Boba during the original trilogy, Bounty Hunters expands upon the story of the mysterious character. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Bounty Hunters also features lesser-known characters like Bossk and Beilert Valance.
Another important character is Dengar, who later saves Boba from being digested over a thousand years in Jabba’s Sarlacc Pit. For Star Wars fans who enjoy scum and villainy, Bounty Hunters is the best Star Wars comic.
11 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Written by:
John Jackson MillerArtists:
Brian Ching and Bong DazoPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
January 2006
Fans of the KotOR video games may already know a bit about the world behind this legendary Star Wars comic series. Set nearly 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin, KotOR follows the exploits of Zayne Carrick, a Jedi Padawan who is betrayed by his masters.
After sensing a disturbance in the Force, the Jedi Masters believe Zayne and his fellow Padawans may succumb to the Dark Side. Rather than take any chances, they decide to kill them all, but Zayne manages to escape.
With the help of a former enemy, a smuggler called Marn Hierogryph, Zayne travels the galaxy as a Jedi in exile. The young Jedi eventually builds up his crew on a starship of their own. With 50 issues released over 6 years, KotOR contains tons of great story arcs for Star Wars fans to enjoy.
10 Star Wars: Poe Dameron
Written by:
Charles SouleArtists:
Phil Noto and Angel UnzuetaPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
April 2016
Plenty of new faces have been added to the Star Wars universe, and not all of the fan favorites are legacy characters. Poe Dameron is part of the new generation of hotshot starfighter pilots and has appeared in several new franchise IPs, including a comic book series.
The stories of Poe Dameron take place after the events of The Force Awakens and during some of The Force Awakens. He’s sent on a mission by General Organa to find an explorer called Lor San Tekka who might have some information as to the location of her long-lost twin brother, Luke Skywalker. It’s one of the best Star Wars comics for a new era of the franchise.
9 Star Wars: Dark Times
Writer:
Mick HarrisonArtists:
Douglas Wheatley, Dave Ross, Lui Antonio, and othersPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
November 8, 2006
Set just after Emperor Palpatine triggers Order 66, Dark Times sees former Jedi Dass Jennir escape the Jedi Purge and hole up with a ragtag group of outlaws and refugees. Dark Times is a spiritual successor to the long-running Star Wars: Republic comic series, with some of its characters having been introduced in the previous series.
As the name might suggest, Dark Times contains some mature themes, with some grim things happening to its main characters. For fans who are looking for a grittier Star Wars experience, Dark Times is one of the best Star Wars comics to offer exactly that.
8 Tales Of The Jedi: The Golden Age Of The Sith
Writer:
Kevin J. AndersonArtists:
Dario Carrasco, Jr., Mark G. Heike, Bill Black, and othersPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
July 31, 1996
These were some of the earliest comics in the Dark Horse series of Star Wars-themed comic books that dominated the market in the late 1990s. They were released as conventional comics between 1996 and 1997 and then were compiled into a handy single hardcover graphic novel.
The story is set 5,000 years before the original movie trilogy, during a time when the galaxy was dominated by Empress Teta and the Unification Wars. In the present time, there’s also a planet in the Star Wars universe named after this historic figure.
The Sith were at the peak of their power during this period, with looming figures like Naga Sadow training warriors in the Dark Side. The story ends with Sadow mustering his forces for a massive assault on the Galactic Republic.
7 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra
Writer:
Alyssa WongArtists:
Marika Cresta, Ray-Anthony Height, Robert Gill, and othersPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
May 27, 2020
First introduced as a side character in Marvel’s 2015 Darth Vader comic series, Aphra is a space archaeologist with a penchant for mayhem. More diabolical than Han Solo or Lando Calrissian, Aphra quickly became popular enough to warrant her own comic book series.
Doctor Aphra has so far run for 50 issues and is still going strong. It’s the best Star Wars comic for those looking to explore a different viewpoint of the galaxy that includes blue-collar criminals and non-force users, and the story is still unfolding.
6 Star Wars: Republic
Written by:
Jan Strnad, Timothy Truman, John Ostrander, and othersArtists:
Anthony Winn, Tom Raney, Rod Pereira, and othersPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
December 1998
Following no specific cast of characters for too long, Republic is set during the days of Lucas’ prequel trilogy. Republic features familiar characters like Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Obi-Wan, Anakin, General Grievous, and Asajj Ventress, in addition to new faces like Jedi Master Quinlan Vos.
In a time before the now-popular Clone Wars TV show, Republic offered fans a glimpse into an expanded Clone Wars, revealing never-before-seen planets, species, and battles. First released in 1998 and only concluding after 83 issues in 2006, Republic was one of Dark Horse’s longest-running Star Wars series, adding countless amounts of lore to an already lively galaxy.
5 Classic Star Wars
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Written by:
Archie GoodwinArtist:
Al WilliamsonPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
August 1992
As early as 1979, Star Wars got its own comic strips in daily newspapers like the Los Angeles Times. In the mid-90s, Star Wars publisher Dark Horse released an anthology collection of those original comic strips, collected together into multiple lengthy volumes under the name Classic Star Wars.
Classic Star Wars is a fascinating look back at the comic industry’s most early adaptations of the now-legendary film. Empire Strikes Back had just come out in 1980, and there was very little established lore for writers and artists to work from, resulting in some of the best but non-canonical imaginings of the Star Wars universe.
4 Star Wars: Rebellion
Written by:
Rob WilliamsArtist:
Michel LacombePublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
April 12th, 2006
The stories in Star Wars: Rebellion take place almost a year after the Battle of Yavin and tie up several plot lines that were started or dropped in other parts of the movies or lore. The whole saga is divided into two parts, My Brother, My Enemy, and The Ahakista Gambit told throughout ten volumes.
Several of the characters, such as Princess Leia, Darth Vadar, and Admiral Ackbar, appear as major players in the plot. The story ends with a neutral resolution that doesn’t conflict with any of the past or present canon, a nice change in modern Star Wars comics.
3 Vader: Dark Visions
Written by:
Dennis “Hopeless” HallumArtists:
Paolo Villanelli, Brian Level, David López and othersPublisher:
Marvel ComicsPublication Date:
March 6, 2019
A limited series of 5 issues, Vader: Dark Visions is an anthology series published by Marvel in 2019. While there are many Darth Vader comic series out there, this one tells separate stories of the notorious Sith Lord from different perspectives. This is Vader as fans have never seen him before.
Whether the narrator is a local caught up in a battle between the Empire and the Rebels or Vader’s nurse who’s fallen head over heels in love with the fallen Jedi, Dark Visions is bound to show readers a side of this Sith Lord that has until now gone unseen. It’s one of the best examples of single-character study in the Star Wars comic library.
2 Star Wars: Mara Jade – By The Emperor’s Hand
Written by:
Timothy Zahn and Michael A. StackpoleArtist:
Carlos EzquerraPublisher:
Dark HorsePublication Date:
July 26, 1998
There are a few comic books and graphic novels in the Star Wars library that include Mara Jade as a character, but no other series focuses on her early life and training as much as Mara Jade, By The Emporer’s Hand. As the title implies, this is the story of Mara’s early life as the Hand of the Emperor, which means she was one of his most trusted and ruthless assassins.
Dark Horse published six volumes in this series between July 1998 and February 1999, and it begins after the original trilogy ended. After the death of her Master the Emperor, Jade vows to pursue and destroy his killer, Luke Skywalker. The story that follows is one of realization and redemption as the protagonist not only turns to the Light Side but also becomes one of its strongest Jedi Masters.
1 Star Wars: Legacy
Written by:
John OstranderArtist:
Jan Duursema, Travel Foreman, Adam DeKraker and othersPublisher:
Dark Horse ComicsPublication Date:
June 7, 2006
Legacy has it all, including space pirates, renegade Jedi, feuding political dynasties, and of course epic fleet battles. This comic series follows the story of Luke’s grandson Cade Skywalker after he is left for dead following the re-emergence of the Sith under Dark Krayt and their sacking of the new Jedi Temple.
Following the events of the Yuuzhan Vong War, a new, slightly more benevolent emperor named Roan Fel sits on the galactic throne. With his own Knights of the Empire, and Force-wielders loyal to the Emperor, Fel was once powerful but is taken by surprise following a lightning-fast coup by Darth Krayt. Krayt, who has broken the Rule of Two, maintains his own cohort of Sith-trained underlings who help him conquer a war-weary galaxy.
Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Trend
