The best Star Wars comics helped expand the franchise from the very start and kept fans interested long after the original trilogy left theaters. Comics were one of the primary means for continuing the stories of Luke, Leia, Han, and others, bringing readers from one end of the galaxy to the other. New Star Wars comics are still being created today, but we find ourselves leading toward the Legends continuity when we choose our favorites.
Best Star Wars comics as of 2025
The first Star Wars comic actually predates the film by around a month. In a stroke of luck, Marvel landed the rights to produce comics for the franchise, and its unexpected popularity helped keep the company from going bankrupt. Several publishers would end up creating Star Wars comics, with Dark Horse being a fan favorite. Many are no longer canon due to the Legends schism, but they’re still as good a read today as they were on release.
The Star Wars
The first draft script for Star Wars was almost entirely different outside of the main story beats. The protagonist is named Annikin Starkiller, and his mentor character is named Luke Skywalker (no Obi-Wan Kenobi here). They still seek to protect Princess Leia, but the path to their goal only slightly parallels the finished product. Dark Horse Comics published Jonathan Rinzler and Mike Mayhew’s interpretation of the script, and it’s a fascinating read for anyone curious about what could have been.
Star Wars (1977)
The first Star Wars comic launched in April 1977 before the first movie was released in theaters! You’re introduced to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, and the evil Darth Vader. These initial six issues were a direct adaptation of A New Hope, written by Roy Thomas with art by Howard Chaykin. Issue #1 became one of the best-selling comics of the 1970s and helped save Marvel from potential bankruptcy!
These Marvel comics were many fans’ first exposure to expanded Star Wars content beyond the films. They helped establish the template for Star Wars comics. They also proved there was a substantial market for Star Wars storytelling in other media.
Dark Empire & Dark Empire 2
Dark Empire and Dark Empire II are influential Star Wars comic series published by Dark Horse Comics in the early 1990s, set in the Expanded Universe (now called Legends).
This six-issue series, written by Tom Veitch with art by Cam Kennedy, and takes place about six years after Return of the Jedi. The story centers on Emperor Palpatine’s return from the dead through cloning technology. He’s rebuilt the Empire with a new fleet of massive Super Star Destroyers and World Devastators. The plot follows Luke as he attempts to destroy the Dark side from within. Leia and Han Solo try to keep Luke from following his father’s fate, though one last Palpatine clone escapes.
Dark Empire II is a continuation of the series, where Luke is trying to rebuild the Jedi. Palpatinis reborn once again, and this time he seeks to possess the body of Anakin Solo, Leia’s newborn son. The story explores the ongoing war between the New Republic and Imperial forces, while Luke continues to grapple with the dark side’s influence.
The comics were controversial among some fans for bringing Palpatine back from the dead. However, they’re considered classics of Star Wars comics and were quite popular during their original run. They are credited with bringing a resurgence in popularity back to the series.
Star Wars Infinities
Have you ever wondered what would’ve happened if Luke hadn’t blown up the Death Star? Star Wars Infinities is a four-part series published by Dark Horse Comics that tells an alternate version of the original trilogy. It is considered non-canonical, and each comic imagines a different outcome if key events happened differently. There is a four-part comic book series for each one of the originals, Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope, Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi. Each story is unrelated and set within the original timelines of the films. The title of the series references the infinite galaxy, and thus the infinite possibilities. If you can’t get enough of the Star Wars universe, and the idea of different outcomes is appealing to you, then put Star Wars Infinities on your list.
Star Wars Legacy
Star Wars Legacy brings us 100 years further into the Star Wars timeline. In this series, we follow Cade Skywalker, a descendant of Luke Skywalker. Released in 2006 by Dark Horse Comics, many fans were doubtful about being thrust so far into the future. Nonetheless, Star Wars Legacy ended up being one of the bestselling comic series released by Dark Horse. Cade Skywalker rejects his Jedi heritage and becomes a bounty hunter set against a galaxy in a civil war and a Sith lord on the Imperial throne.
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015)
How did Darth Vader feel when he discovered he had a son? The Star Wars: Darth Vader (2015) comic series was a 25-issue run written by Kieron Gillen with art primarily by Salvador Larroca. The series was published by Marvel Comics from February 2015 to October 2016. Set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, it focuses on Darth Vader and pivotal moments not told in the original trilogy.
The series follows Vader in the aftermath of the Death Star’s destruction, where he finds himself in a precarious position with the Emperor. Vader secretly begins building his own power base, operating outside normal Imperial channels. The series creator wanted to keep Darth Vader enigmatic and “monolithic,” but wanted us to go on an emotional journey with the infamous villain. Everything in these comics is canon, so you can trust that the series stays true to the original lore.
How we chose the best Star Wars comics
The best Star Wars comics succeed at what the medium does uniquely well. That is, intimate character exploration that films can’t always provide. We looked for series that deepen our understanding of well-known characters, like the Darth Vader series. We also looked for series that introduce compelling new characters, like Cade Skywalker (Star Wars Legacy). Strong Star Wars comics either fit easily into established canon or create their own unique stories. The best ones expand the universe meaningfully, whether they’re filling gaps or exploring entirely new possibilities.
Most importantly, great comics should work both for longtime fans and newcomers! They either provide clear starting points or are self-contained enough that you don’t need encyclopedic knowledge to enjoy them. What do you think makes the best Star Wars comics?
