12 Star Wars Graphic Novels You Must Read Before You Die

Make like a Padawan learner and check out these iconic Star Wars comics.

Star Wars Darth Vader Comic
Marvel Comics

There's a vast swathe of Star Wars history that have been covered by the comics, exploring everything from 5,000 years in the past to 100 years in the future. The heroes and villains you know, plus thousands you don't, have been taking to the stars, seeking fame, fortune, revenge, and victory for decades now. It all started with a farm boy, a princess, a smuggler, two droids, and an old wizard, but it has spiralled outward into an impossibly rich tapestry of stories.

It may have all happened a long, long time ago in a galaxy far away, but it's all still out there, waiting to be discovered (and rediscovered).

Yes, much of the Expanded Universe has been relegated to the Legends archives since Disney rebooted the comics, but that doesn't mean the highlights and best moments are lost forever.

But with literally thousands of issues out there, dozens of story arcs, and an uncountable number of characters vying for your attention, where do you even start?

Whether you're looking for comedy or adventure, epic storytelling or shocking moments, resolutions or more questions, Star Wars' EU - legend or otherwise - has it all.

12. The Star Wars

No, this isn't your aunt's garbled synopsis of the films. A graphic novel based on the original rough draft of "The Star Wars" by George Lucas, this reimagined universe is very different from the one we know.

The trio of Deak, Annikin, and Kane Starkiller are attacked by Imperial forces, and after a tragic loss, they rendezvous with famed general Luke Skywalker, who is trying to convince the Aquilaean royals to prepare for war with the Empire.

I don't know who first envisioned drawing new art to Lucas's original draft of Star Wars, but the end result is a pretty fascinating What If. The love story is just as stilted as Anakin and Padme's in the prequels, but there are some neat, unexpected characterizations here all the same.

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Author, puzzle guy, and lifelong consumer of pop culture. I'm a nerd for wrestling, Star Wars, literature, trivia, and all sorts of other things. Feel free to mock and/or praise me and my scribblings at @glennmandirect on Twitter.