10 Must-Read Star Wars Minis & Limited Series from Marvel’s Canon Era, Ranked

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Though the Star Wars franchise has a library full of superb Legends comics, Marvel‘s newer canon era spawned plenty of its own. These include the comic book publisher’s many miniseries and limited series released separately from its ongoing Star Wars titles. These comics are great reads on their own or with others, telling complete and fulfilling stories independent of or in service to grander story arcs.

The Star Wars universe has plenty of canonical room to depict unexplored concepts and lore. These can take place between the gaps of the Skywalker Saga and even centuries beforehand to tell supplemental stories. They can expand upon characters from spin-off movies like in Crimson Reign or even provide meaningful backstory to pivotal characters with comics like The Rise of Kylo Ren.

10

Yoda Follows the Life of Star Wars’ Standout Grand Master

This Marvel Star Wars Series Follows a String of Standalone Stories

Not many characters in the Star Wars franchise are as memorable—and for so long—as Yoda. The lovable and wise hero is among Star Wars‘ most prolific Jedi Masters in any medium, and the 2023 Yoda miniseries gives fans a focused look into his life through the years. The 10-issue series comprises three main arcs from alternating creative teams before closing with the Jedi in exile.

Yoda is among the more recent Star Wars miniseries from Marvel and is already among its most memorable. Segmenting the miniseries into story arcs makes for an exciting anthology with a diverse set of adventures, from his days during the High Republic centuries ago to his fighting alongside Anakin Skywalker. However, the miniseries creates a thematic throughline of the lessons and wisdom Yoda has picked up in his life to culminate in a poignant ending.

9

The Rise of Kylo Ren Gives Ben Solo More Backstory

Ben Solo’s Fall from Grace Gives More Weight to the Star Wars Sequels

Fans wishing the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy did more for its principal cast will enjoy The Rise of Kylo Ren. Written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Will Sliney, it follows how the conflicted Ben Solo falls to the Dark Side and becomes connected to the Knights of Ren. The story opens with the tragedy of Luke’s Jedi Temple being reduced to rubble and Ben embarking on his dark journey.

The Rise of Kylo Ren​​​​​​is a much-needed entry to the Star Wars comic book catalog for how it fleshes out the villain’s origins with purpose. Much like other supplemental materials that improve the Prequel Trilogy’s image, this 4-issue miniseries makes the most of its brief runtime to contextualize the Sequels and the tragedy of Ren’s character. It’s also a welcome expansion of the mythos, as the Knights of Ren finally feel like a vital piece of Star Wars history. Now, with the new ongoing Legacy of Vader series, The Rise of Kylo Ren​​​​​​is an even more timely read.

8

Obi-Wan & Anakin is an Exciting Standalone Story of the Pair’s Past

Anakin Skywalker Gets a Dedicted Star Wars Comic Exploring His Jedi Days

Charles Soule hasn’t let up being one of Marvel’s go-to Star Wars writers, and Obi-Wan & Anakin​​​​​​is one of his earlier miniseries. The 5-issue comic is set between the events of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Wonderfully illustrated by Marco Checchetto, this story follows the titular Jedi duo as they embark on an off-world mission to answer a distress call on the planet Carnelion IV. They’re forced to crash-land on the planet, and despite the call explicitly calling for Jedi, the natives don’t seem to know what a Jedi is.

Obi-Wan & Anakin is a must-read Star Wars comic for fans itching to see more adventures set during their days of brotherhood. The story itself is standalone, but it has plenty of action and intrigue in addition to adding welcome bits of context to their relationship, and Anakin’s eventual fall. Readers will see foreshadowing elements that mesh well with Palpatine’s corruption of young Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith.

7

War of the Bounty Hunters is a Thrilling Underworld Story

Star Wars Fans Get to See Boba Fett’s Bounty Hunting Skills Challenged

Marvel’s War of the Bounty Hunters story arc expanded into a full-blown Star Wars crossover, but the core comic still stands out. Soule teams up with talented artists Luke Ross, Steve McNiven, and David Messina to tell a Boba Fett-centric tale. Taking place just after The Empire Strikes Back, the main story focuses on Fett’s seemingly straightforward job transporting a frozen Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt go south.

Boba Fett is Star Wars’ fan-favorite bounty hunter, and War of the Bounty Hunters is the solo story that truly does the character justice. It also does well to shed light on the hierarchy and politics of the Star Wars universe’s seedier corners. These elements flesh out the power dynamics of the galactic underworld during the Original Trilogy and should please fans who were left disappointed with Fett’s TV solo series on Disney+.

6

Obi-Wan – A Jedi’s Purpose Chronicles the Republic Hero’s Life

The Anthological Star Wars Miniseries Feels Like a Melancholic Celebration

The Star Wars comics under Marvel have a good mix of stories exploring lesser-known and even new characters, but there’s plenty for fans of legacy icons. Christopher Cantwell and Ario Anindito’s Obi-Wan – A Jedi’s Purpose offers another look at the revered Jedi popularized by actors Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor. As he spends the latter days of his life on Tatooine, Obi-Wan Kenobi writes in his journal to recall some of the most important events in his life as a Jedi.

Obi-Wan – A Jedi’s Purpose is another excellent miniseries and excels in ways similar to the later Yoda comic. By beginning late in his life during the Original Trilogy years and using his journal entries as a framing device, this Star Wars comic explores a collection of meaningful short stories that work as well individually as they do together. These tales work beautifully as a soulful character study and become introspective about what it means to be a Jedi.

5

Crimson Reign Puts Qi’ra & Her Crime Syndicate Center Stage

Soule & Co.’s Crimson Reign is the Second in a Star Wars Comic Trilogy

Charles Soule follows up on the aftermath of War of the Bounty Hunters to put the Crimson Dawn syndicate at the center of the action. After succeeding former Sith Lord Maul as the faction’s leader, Crimson Reign involves Lady Qi’ra uncovering one of the Empire’s deepest secrets and taking her criminal outfit to war against them. It’s a bold power play in an attempt to upend the galaxy’s status quo during the Age of Rebellion.

Crimson Reign is the highlight of Soule’s Star Wars comic trilogy, letting Solo: A Star Wars Story‘s most compelling character​​​​​​headline a well-deserved story. The Empire’s fate in the canon is admittedly a foregone conclusion due to the Original Trilogy being common knowledge by this point. Nonetheless, this story remains thrilling—courtesy of art from Steven Cummings—thanks to Qi’ra being well-written as an intelligent strategist and involving even more of the Star Wars world’s more rogueish figures.

4

Darth Maul is a Gritty Origin Story for the Prequel-Era Villain

Darth Maul’s Miniseries Provides Backstory Before His Phantom Menace Debut

Some were apprehensive when Dave Filoni’s The Clone Wars animated series retconned Darth Maul’s apparent death from The Phantom Menace. He thankfully developed into one of the Prequel era’s best characters, concluding Maul’s arc in the Rebels animated series. However, writer Cullen Bunn and artists Luke Ross and Nolan Woodard’s Darth Maul comic miniseries has more to say about the character by exploring his origins.

Darth Maul is set before his live-action debut in The Phantom Menace​​​​​​and revolves around Darth Sidious sending him on a mission to satiate his bloodthirsty nature. While it’s limited to the five issues of a miniseries, Bunn makes the most of this page count to make the violent, arrogant, and grungy Darth Maul an exciting headliner. The Sith goes to underhanded lengths to hunt down a Jedi while on his mission, which paves the way for plenty of action fitting of the overzealous Star Wars villain.

3

Thrawn is Marvel’s Comic Adaptation of the Terrific Novel

Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Main Canon Version is Worthy of His Legends Original

When it comes to Star Wars villains introduced outside George Lucas’ main stories, few can compare to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Author Timothy Zahn created the character for his acclaimed Heir to the Empire​​​​​​novel trilogy in an era when the franchise needed a jolt. The author returned for the villain’s first main canon novel, Thrawn, and Jody Houser and Luke Ross masterfully visualized this story in comic book format.

Houser adapts Zahn’s original story to explore the origins of how the Chiss grew to become one of the Empire’s most cunning, fearsome war strategists and tacticians. Ross has flexed his talents across several of Marvel’s Star Wars comics, and how he depicts Thrawn’s origins here is one of his highlights in the galaxy far, far away. The visuals give the story a more cinematic feel, and while fans can enjoy his role in the animated Rebels, this adaptation of Zahn’s work is another worthy introduction for the villain’s main canon version.

2

The Battle of Jakku is an Epic-Scale Event

Battle of Jakku Also Paves the Way for Marvel’s Next Star Wars Age

A recent entry in Marvel’s Star Wars comics catalog, the Battle of Jakku story arc is unique in that it’s a series comprised of limited series. Collecting Insurgency Rising, Republic Under Siege, and Last Stand, this overarching comic happens between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens​​​. Rebel heroes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia find themselves facing an ambitious new threat attempting to restore Imperial influence.

The Battle of Jakku has been well-received as a meaningful gap-filler of the post-Return of the Jedi and pre-Force Awakens timeframe, finally pushing the broader Star Wars line of Marvel comics into this period. Writer Alex Segura spearheads this grand storyline as a seamless transition into his 2025 relaunch of the flagship Star Wars​​​​​​comic. Connective brand tissue aside, it’s also simply exciting to see a major event so quickly after the Battle of Endor to show off Luke and co.’s heroics in this age.

1

Darth Vader – Black, White & Red Tells Short Stories of the Sith Lord

An Assortment of Comic Creators Interpret Star Wars’ Dark Side Icon

Much like Luke Skywalker for the Light, Darth Vader is the Star Wars poster boy for the Dark Side of the Force. That status translates to plenty of representation in Marvel’s Star Wars comics, including in the anthology format of Darth Vader – Black, White & Red. The miniseries features a rotating team of creatives, including returning writer Jason Aaron (currently writing Absolute Superman), Peach Momoko, and Leonard Kirk.

The series’ aesthetic is one of the best appeals of Darth Vader – Black, White & Red​​. It’s a striking way to set the mood for what are mainly anthological Star Wars comics for each creator to tell unique shorts starring the villain. The short stories feel distinct from each team, with Aaron and Kirk’s following an arc across the four issues. Yet they still stay true to the universal truth of Vader being a one-man apocalypse.

“}]] While there are a number of long-running series for Marvel Star Wars fans to enjoy, there are also several limited series and minis that stand out.  Read More