The Star Wars comic book landscape underwent a major revision in 2015 when Marvel Comics took over the property license from Dark Horse Comics. Suddenly, 25 years of Dark Horse comic book canon was reconfigured to align with an all-new start from Marvel Comics with the launch of Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s Star Wars #1.
It’s not everyday that a massive comic book universe sees such a dramatic overhaul, but for anyone unfamiliar with the lengthy Dark Horse era, the Marvel reboot offers a prime entry point. Naturally, there are still plenty of excellent pre-Marvel Star Wars comics that I’d recommend – Knights of the Old Republic and Dark Empire immediately come to mind – but the important point for our purposes is that these old tales no longer fit within official Star Wars comics canon.
For the most part, Marvel’s initial Star Wars comic book lineup focuses on the time period between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. As the line has expanded, Marvel has tapped into everything from The Clone Wars to after The Force Awakens, making both a timeline and guide to what’s in canon a necessity.
If you’re more interested in all of the Star Wars comics available, I’d recommend Comic Book Herald’s complete guide to Star Wars.
For everyone else, below you’ll find a complete guide to the Marvel Star Wars books in canon, according to chronological order.
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THE CLONE WARS
Collects: Darth Maul #1 to #5
Star Wars: Jedi of the Republic – Mace Windu
Collects: Jedi of the Republic – Mace Windu #1 to #5
Collects: Obi-Wan and Anakin #1 to #5
Collects: Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #1 to #4
Son of Dathomir is the strangest series to fall into Marvel canon, as it’s the only book that Marvel didn’t actually publish themselves as part of the 2015 relaunch. Instead, Son of Dathomir was one of the final Star Wars books from Dark Horse, detailing the return of Darth Maul.
Given that the ongoing Darth Maul series wouldn’t launch for another two years in real time, Son of Dathomir has served as one of the earliest glimpses into “canon” Sith lords with epic spiky heads.
Star Wars: Age of Republic – Heroes
Collects: Star Wars: Age of Republic – Anakin Skywalker (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Republic – Obi-Wan Kenobi (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Republic – Padme Amidala (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Republic – Qui-Gon Jin (2018) #1
Star Wars: Age of Republic – Villains
Collects: Star Wars: Age of Republic – Villains
BETWEEN REVENGE OF THE SITH AND A NEW HOPE
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 1: Imperial Machine
Collects: Darth Vader #1 to #6
Note that this second series of Darth Vader from Charles Soule and Jim Cheung was published after Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca’s Darth Vader spanned 25 issues and an annual. These issues are placed higher in the order because they occur earlier in the Star Wars chronology, shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith.
Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 2: Legacy’s End
Collects: Darth Vader #7 to #12
Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 3: The Burning Seas
Collects: Darth Vader (2017) #13-18, Darth Vader Annual #2
Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 4: Fortress Vader
Collects: Darth Vader (2017) #19-25
Collects: Kanan The Last Padawan #1 to #12
Kanan is a limited selection of comic book creations added to the Marvel Comics universe, launching his own solo series without any move history.
Collects: Lando #1 to #5
Lando’s first solo ongoing series was created by writer Charles Soule and artist Alex Maleev, and is one of the better five issue miniseries in Star Wars comics. If you’re familiar with Maleev’s art from his work with Brian Michael Bendis on Daredevil you’re likely prepared for the grit and style Maleev can bring to a book.
Star Wars: Lando – Double or Nothing
Collects: Star Wars: Lando – Double or Nothing (2018) #1-5
What Lando and L3 were up to just prior to their appearance in the Solo movie.
Star Wars: Han Solo – Imperial Cadet
Collects: Star Wars: Han Solo- Imperial Cadet (2018) #1-5, Star Wars: Beckett (2018) #1
The secret lost chapter of Han Solo’s time in Imperial flight school.
Solo: A Star Wars Story Adaptation
Collects: Solo: A Star Wars Story Adaptation (2018) #1-7
The entirety of Han Solo- Imperial Cadet actually takes place between pages in the middle of the first installment of this movie adaptation.
Collects: Star Wars: Thrawn (2018) #1-6
Star Wars: Rogue One Graphic Novel Adaptation
Star Wars: Cassian and K2SO Annual #1
Rogue One’s spinoffs into the Marvel Comics canon are very tightly managed by Marvel to date. This graphic novel adaptation of the movie, and a Cassian and K2SO Annual (without an ongoing series) are the first toes dipped in the water.
AFTER A NEW HOPE
Collects: Princess Leia #1 to #5
Although Princess Leia launched alongside Star Wars and Darth Vader as Marvel’s earliest books in the franchise, Leia’s title was unfortunately short-lived.
Collects: Chewbacca #1 to #5
Collects: Han Solo #1 to #5
Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes
Collects: Star Wars #1 to #6
Star Wars is Marvel’s flagship title, with initial stories told by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday. Star Wars has all the major players, but casts Luke Skywalker as its main character.
Collects: Darth Vader #1 to #6
For the dedicated continuity focused readers, you can break down the first volumes of Star Wars and Darth Vader as follows:
Star Wars #1 to #3
Darth Vader #1 to #3
Star Wars #4 to #5
Darth Vader #4 to #6
Star Wars #6
Star Wars Vol. 2: Showdown on the Smuggler’s Moon
Collects: Star Wars #7 to #12
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 2: Shadows and Secrets
Collects: Darth Vader Annual #1, Darth Vader #7 to #12
VADER DOWN CROSSOVER
Vader Down is Marvel’s first attempt at a Star Wars crossover event. Marvel wisely kept the crossover to a limited six issues between two titles and one one-shot. As a result, the story of Vader’s crash-landing in hostile rebel territory is a very entertaining read, and one of the best Darth Vader moments in recent Star Wars history.
Vader Down #1
Darth Vader #13
Star Wars #13
Darth Vader #14
Star Wars #14
Darth Vader #15
Collects: Star Wars Annual #1, Star Wars #15 to #19
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 3: The Shu-Torun War
Collects: Darth Vader #16 to #19
Note that this volume of Gillen and Larroca’s Darth Vader actually collects the annual issue. I list it ahead of Darth Vader #7 because that’s where I place it in my complete Darth Vader reading order.
Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 4: End of Games
Collects: Darth Vader #20 to #25
The Gillen and Larroca Darth Vader is the first long-running Star Wars title to come to a conclusion, and finishes as one of Marvel’s best comics from 2015 to 2017.
THE SCREAMING CITADEL CROSSOVER
Star Wars Vol. 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger
Collects: Star Wars #20 to #25
Star Wars Vol. 5: Yoda’s Secret War
Collects: Star Wars #26 to #30
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 1
Collects: Doctor Aphra #1 to #6
Following her creation by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larrocca in Darth Vader, and her near-death experiences throughout that series, Doctor Aphra joins Kanan as one of the few non-Movie characters to launch her own Star Wars comic book title.
Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel
Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1
Star Wars #31
Doctor Aphra #7
Star Wars #32
Doctor Aphra #8
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and the Enormous Profit
Collects: Doctor Aphra #9 to #14, Doctor Aphra Annual #1
Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among the Stars
Collects: Star Wars #33 to #37
Star Wars: Vader – Dark Visions
Collects: Star Wars: Vader – Dark Visions (2019) #1-5
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Heroes
Collects: Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Han Solo (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Lando Calrissian (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Princess Leia (2019) #1
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Villains
Collects: Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Boba Fett (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Darth Vader (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Jabba The Hutt (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Wilhuff Tarkin (2019) #1, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Special (2019) #1
Kieron Gillen Era Writing Star Wars
Star Wars Vol. 7: The Ghosts of Jedha
Collects: Star Wars #38 to #43
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms of Crait (2017) #1
Collects: Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Storms of Crait (2017) #1
One-shot “prequel” detailing Luke and Leia’s first venture to the red salty planet in search of establishing a base for the Rebellion. Instead they tangle with Sgt. Kreel’s Scar Squadron
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 3
Collects: Doctor Aphra #15 to #19
Collects: Star Wars #44 to #49
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con
Collects: Doctor Aphra #20-25
Collects: Star Wars #50-55, Star Wars Annual #4
Collects: Star Wars #56-61
Sana Starros appears in this story after her appearances in Doctor Aphra Vol. 4.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 5: Worst Among Equals
Collects: Doctor Aphra #26-31
Star Wars Vol. 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun
Collects: Star Wars #62-67
FROM RETURN OF THE JEDI TO FORCE AWAKENS
Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire
Collects: Shattered Empire #1 to #4
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Adaptation
Collects: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Adaptation (2016) #1-6
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 1: Black Squadron
Collects: Poe Dameron #1 to #5
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 2: The Gathering Storm
Collects: Poe Dameron #6 to #12
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 3: Legends Lost
Collects: Poe Dameron #14 to #19
Collects: Poe Dameron #20 to #25, Annual #1
FROM FORCE AWAKENS TO THE LAST JEDI
Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma
Collects: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma #1 to #4
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Adaptation
Collects: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Adaptation (2018) #1-6
Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 5: The Spark and The Fire
Collects: Poe Dameron #26-31, Annual #2
Please update 🥺
Don’t think this will be updated anymore will it? Very sad this is a great timeline/reading guide.
For those wondering about the end of the SW and Aphra series, I would put the following after Star Wars Vol. 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun:
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra 32-36
Star Wars 68 – 75
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra 37-40
This finishes these two series. There isn’t much crossover between them at the end, except for the ideas of the rebels relocating to Hoth, and even that is a minor thread.
Update: Additionally, I would place the first 4 Star Wars: Poe Dameron volumes (issues 1-25 and Annual 1) just BEFORE the Force Awakens adaptation. These volumes conclude with the search for Lor San Tekka, which cuminates in Force Awakens.
can you please update it with the new comics??
I noticed how this hasn’t been updated for a while and I was wondering if anyone could put Star Wars 68-72 on here somewhere. Same for Star Wars: Age Of Resistance, Target Vader 1-6, and some Doctor Aphra as well.
BTW I absolutely love this timeline! I have been using REALLY often! Thanks a lot!
What about Star Wars: Tie Fighter (2019)? Where does it land?
Also Doctor Aphra available up to #33.
Where does the next vader part set? (The burning seas)
what about the Thrawn series?
I was just curious why this reading order by chronology was so different?
https://comicbookreadingorders.com/other/star-wars-marvel-reading-order/
They have Star Wars Vol. 2 #26 – 32 BBY
Star Wars Vol. 2 #27
Star Wars Vol. 2 #28
Star Wars Vol. 2 #29
Star Wars Vol. 2 #30
as the first thing on the list, but you have it much further down. Seems like a lot of stuff is in different orders. Just wondering how exactly I should read this, and what would cause them to be different
I’m a bit frustrated because it seems that Marvel is abandoning the oversized hardcovers for their SW books. Not even Rogue One is getting a hardcover like the other movie adaptations.
Not to be picky, but Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 2: The Gathering Storm actually collects #6-13.
Sorry. I was just curious what happened to #13 – did they leave it out like some buildings do or what?
According to my copies of the Poe Dameron TPBs:
Vol. 1: Black Squadron collects #1-6.
Vol. 2: The Gathering Storm collects #8-13.
Vol. 3: Legend Lost collects #7, 14-19.
Vol. 4: Legend Found collects #20-25, Annual #1.
Vol. 5: The Spark And The Fire collects #26-31, Annual #2.