Reading order & guide to Marvel’s Star Wars comics

The recent series of Marvel Star Wars comics is an exciting expansion of the Star Wars narrative. But if you are not sure where to start or whether the series is for you, check out our full guide below.

Our guest contributor Matthew Cookson walks us through the series, providing the full Star Wars comics reading order and all the information you need.

This post covers the series that was published from 2015 which tells the story of events between the films, A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. The post has been updated in January 2022 to include the latest additions to the series picking up the Star Wars narrative after The Empire Strikes Back.

Post updated January 2022.

This post may contain compensated links. Read my disclaimer here

At a glance – an overview list of Star Wars comics in order

Title	Writers and Artists	Cover	Availability and prices
Star Wars Volume 1: Skywalker Strikes	By Jason Aaron, John Cassaday and Laura Martin et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 2: Showdown on the Smugglers’ Moon	By Jason Aaron, Stuart Immonen and Simone Bianchi et al.		Check here
Star Wars: Vader Down	By Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen, Mike Deodato, Salvador Larroca et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 3: Rebel Jail	By Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen, Leinil Yu, Angel Unzueta and Mike Mayhew et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 4: Flight of the Harbinger	By Jason Aaron, Jorge Molina, Matt Milla, Mike Mayhew et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 5: Yoda’s Secret War	By Jason Aaron, Kelly Thompson, Salvador Larroca, Emilio Laiso, Edgar Delgado et al.		Check here
Star Wars: Screaming Citadel	By Kieron Gillen, Jason Aaron, Marco Checchetto, Salvador Larroca, Andrea Broccardo et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 6: Out Among the Stars	By Jason Aaron, Dash Aaron, Jason Latour, Salvador Larroca and Michael Walsh et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 7: The Ashes of Jedha	By Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca and GURU-eFX et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 8: Mutiny at Mon Cala	By Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca and GURU-eFX et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 9: Hope Dies	By Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca and GURU-eFX et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 10: The Escape	By Kieron Gillen, Andrea Broccardo, Angel Unzueta and GURU-eFX et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun	By Kieron Gillen, Andrea Broccardo, Angel Unzueta and GURU-eFX et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 12: Rebels and Rogues	By Greg Pak and Phil Noto et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 13: Rogues and Rebels	By Greg Pak and Phil Noto et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 1: The Destiny Path	By Charles Soule and Jesús Saiz et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 2: Operation Starlight	By Charles Soule, Ramon Rosanas and Jan Bazaldua et al.		Check here
Star Wars Volume 3: War of the Bounty Hunters	By Charles Soule, Ramon Rosanas and Rachelle Rosenberg et al.		Check here

Introduction: How the Star Wars comics from Marvel expand the backstory of Star Wars characters

Since 2015, the year of the release of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, Marvel’s comics of Star Wars have been exploring the story of Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo and their many friends, documenting the adventures of our heroes that took place in the years between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.

The writers and artists authentically capture the uniqueness and idiosyncrasies of the main characters and detail their emotions in more depth.

Leia’s drive to defeat the Empire to ensure the destruction of Alderaan was not in vain, and Luke’s desire to find out more about his Jedi heritage, and who he truly is, are aspects that are particularly well developed.

While the comics have been coming out for a number of years now, Marvel has collected the storylines into a series of graphic novels to ensure readers coming to the comics later don’t miss out.

There have also been a number of other spin off series, such as the ongoing Star Wars Darth Vader comic and Doctor Aphra comics, as well as some of our favourite characters, including Han Solo, Leia, Chewbacca and Lando, all receiving shorter run series.

However, in this spoiler-free Marvel Star Wars graphic novels reading order guide, I am focusing on the main comics series itself. I also include the two crossover events between the main series and the spin-offs there have been so far, to ensure you can read them in order within the Star Wars comics timeline.

Why these graphic novels are so appealing to Star Wars fans

Like many other children of the 1970s and 1980s I was captivated by the Star Wars saga at a young age, and remain so to this day; The moment ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far far away’ appears on the screen of a new movie I am transfixed and transported back to my younger self.

The sheer audacity and imagination of the rebellion against the evil, totalitarian Empire thrilled me as a child and kept me coming back to the original movies time after time again and wanting to delve more into the story. Being able to read Star Wars comics Marvel has published helps to feed that craving.

Marvel Star War graphic novels in order

Star Wars Volume 1: Skywalker Strikes

Kicking off our Marvel Star Wars comics list, following the events of A New Hope and the destruction of the Death Star, the newly confident Rebel Alliance launch a series of attacks on Imperial targets in an attempt to ultimately defeat the Empire.

In one of these offensives, Luke, Leia and Han attempt to destroy a weapons’ facility but their old foe Darth Vader appears to ruin their plan.

Luke’s quest for his true identity is paralleled by Vader’s search for the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, and unbeknownst to the other both return to the place it began for them, Tatooine, as part of their individual investigations. An exciting start to the series, this graphic novel collects Marvel Star Wars 1-6.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars Volume 2: Showdown on the Smugglers’ Moon

Collecting issues 7-12, this storyline delves deeper into Luke’s attempts to discover what it means to be a Jedi. His naivety leads to him being captured and forced to fight for entertainment in a Jedi-obsessed Hutt’s arena.

Leia, Han and Chewbacca alongside Sana Starros, an original character who claims to be Han’s wife, must attempt a rescue. One of the issues is an intriguing excerpt from Obi Wan Kenobi’s Tatooine journal, which is now in Luke’s possession, detailing his time on the desert planet watching over the young Skywalker.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars: Vader Down 

The first Marvel Star Wars crossover brings together the Marvel Darth Vader and Star Wars titles as Vader’s pursuit of Luke, who he is now aware is his son, intensifies. The Sith lord and his new ally, the amoral archaeologist Doctor Aphra, track Luke to the ruined temple on the planet Vrogas Vas and attempt to capture him.

However, Vader flies into rebel manoeuvres and is shot down, giving the rebels an opportunity to end one of the Empire’s most dangerous weapons for good. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, Vader’s powers mean that he soon becomes the predator rather than the prey. Collects Vader Down issue 1, Star Wars 13 and 14, and Darth Vader 13 – 15.
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Star Wars Volume 3: Rebel Jail

This graphic novel contains Star Wars annual 1, which is the story of Eneb Ray, the Alliance’s undercover spy on Coruscant and a desperate mission to end the Galactic War.

The main storyline is Rebel Jail, which focuses on Leia and Sana’s attempt to imprison Doctor Aprha in the Alliance’s secret prison.

However, someone from Leia’s past has knowledge of the jail’s location, meaning things, as ever, don’t go to the Princess’s plans. Collecting issues 15-19, including another extract from Obi Wan’s journals.
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Star Wars Volume 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger

In an attempt to break the Empire’s siege of a sympathetic planet, Han, Luke and Leia hijack an Imperial star destroyer. Darth Vader and his elite group of Storm Troopers known as Scar Squadron are continuing their hunt for Luke, meaning that complications soon emerge for the rebels.

One of the issues unusually explores the motivations of Scar Squadron’s leader Commander Kreel and his devotion to the Empire. The collection brings together Star Wars issues 20-25, with another excerpt from Obi Wan Kenobi’s journal.
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Star Wars Volume 5: Yoda’s Secret War

Three parallel Jedi narratives converge in this collection of Star Wars 26-30 as Luke continues reading Obi Wan’s journal, which describes Yoda’s visit, before the rise of the Empire and the fall of the Jedi, to a secret planet where children rule after the Jedi master feels the force calling him.

The children of the planet have a mysterious power that seems to be connected to the blue crystals of a mountain that dominates the region. Yoda must humble himself to stop the world’s destruction as must Luke and Obi Wan as their separate stories come together.

This collection also includes Star Wars annual 2, in which an ambivalent protagonist is forced to choose sides in the Galactic War after coming across a wounded Princess Leia.
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Star Wars: Screaming Citadel

The second crossover event in the Marvel Star Wars world sees Luke team up with the untrustworthy former Vader ally Doctor Aphra to visit the Screaming Citadel where a mysterious and powerful queen holds court once a year. They wish for her to help unlock a Jedi artefact, but she seems much more interested in the powers that Luke possesses.

As always, our hero’s friends have to fly in to make a daring rescue attempt. This volume comprises Screaming Citadel 1, Star Wars 31 and 32 and the Doctor Aphra comics 7 and 8.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars Volume 6: Out Among the Stars

In a departure from previous collections Out Among the Stars (bringing together Star Wars 33-37) is a series of one off stories – which are related to the wider story arc – focusing on one or two characters, slowing the pace down and revealing new depths to each individual: Luke and Leia are stranded on a remote planet giving them time to reflect on their lives and goals.

Sana seeks out Lando to help her perform a heist. Han and Chewie escort the dangerous Grakkus Hutt to an alliance prison. R2-D2 attempts a heroic rescue mission to free C-3PO from Imperial clutches. Scar Squadron track down a rebel base.

There is also another extract from Obi Wan Kenobi’s diaries, which looks at the lives of the Sand People of Tatooine in a sympathetic way. Also included in the collection is Star Wars annual 3 in which Han’s past catches up with him.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars Volume 7: The Ashes of Jedha

The echoes of the Rogue One movie are heard as the Empire return to the ruined planet of Jedha, which was devastated by the Death Star, to resume mining Khyber crystals for an unknown purpose.

In an effort to hamper Imperial forces, the rebel triumvirate of Luke, Leia and Han attempt to make contact with the remnants of Saw Gerrera’s guerrillas, including his second-in-command Benthic.

An added complication is the fact that the destruction of the Jedi temple on the planet has created a rift in the Force, which has a strong effect on Luke. Collects issues 38-43 together.
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Star Wars Volume 8: Mutiny at Mon Cala

In her drive to create a more efficient and purposeful Rebellion, Leia plans to liberate Mon Cala, Admiral Ackbar’s homeworld, from the Empire’s dominance as this will give the Rebel Alliance the fleet it so desperately needs.

However, the regent of the planet does not want to risk open rebellion, meaning that Leia plans to rescue the captive but defiant king, though first she needs to discover where the Empire are keeping him. Collects issues 44-49.
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Star Wars Volume 9: Hope Dies

With the Rebels boosted by the Mon Cala uprising, and advanced Shu-Torun engineering, the Alliance seems to be on the verge of a major breakthrough.

But as they are about to launch their new fleet in a dramatic ceremony, betrayal leaves the Alliance caught in Darth Vader’s trap with no way to communicate with one another.

Desperate efforts to escape must be made or the Rebellion is doomed and the hope that they have sparked in the galaxy will be extinguished.

Alongside issues 50-55, this graphic novel also includes Star Wars annual 4, which sees Luke and Sana caught up in parallel adventures due to the discovery of ancient Sith lightsabers.
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Star Wars Volume 10: The Escape

After their dramatic flight from the clutches of the Empire, Han, Luke and Leia are left stranded on the remote moon of Hubin. There they meet the isolationist Makona clan whose past is shrouded in secrecy.

Tensions develop as an impatient Luke desperately plots to find a way off the planet to get back to fighting the Empire while Leia holes up planning a future offensive. This collection is made up of issues 56-61 of Star Wars.
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Star Wars Volume 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun

Collecting Star Wars 62-67, this graphic novel sees Leia’s plot to wreak revenge those who have betrayed her, and damage the Empire’s production, come to violent fruition.
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Star Wars Volume 12: Rebels and Rogues

This five-issue collection, bringing together issues 68 to 72, sees the original Star Wars heroes undertaking separate missions in different parts of the galaxy in a desperate attempt to get the Empire off the Rebellion’s heels.

Han and Leia go undercover to try to take down a collaborating crime boss; Luke aims to save a Rebel cell; Chewbacca and C3PO team up to lure Imperial forces into a trap. Each group runs into a few difficulties in their entertaining tales.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars Volume 13: Rogues and Rebels

The series of Star Wars comic books concluded in 2020. This run of some of the best Marvel Star Wars comics closed with Volume 13, released in March 2020.

This edition brings to a close both the story began in the previous volume and the run of Marvel comics set before The Empire Strikes Back. Collecting issues 73 to 75, writer Greg Pak brings together the three connected plots. Luke, Han and Leia, and Chewbacca and C3PO attempt to hamper the Empire, focusing on their growing connection and togetherness.

The collection also includes Empire Ascendant, a series of prologues setting up the next wave of Marvel Star Wars comics, including the renewed main title, which picks up from where The Empire Strikes Back ended, following our heroes after the devastating events of the film.
Buy now from:

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Star Wars (2020) Volume 1: The Destiny Path 

This new series begins immediately after the conclusion of Empire Strikes Back, as Luke, Leia, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca flee Cloud City and the Empire.

Luke feels betrayed by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda after Darth Vader’s shocking revelations. He now needs to forge his own relationship with the Force to be able to meet his destiny.

Leia must attempt to lead the Rebels out of a trap laid by Imperial Commander Zahra, while Lando aims to win the trust of the Princess by helping to find the captured Han Solo. This collection brings together issues 1 to 6 of the new series.
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Star Wars (2020) Volume 2: Operation Starlight

Star Wars (2020) Volume 3: War of the Bounty Hunters

While searching for Boba Fett, Luke, Leia and Chewbacca discover that the bounty hunter has lost control of the carbonite frozen body of Han Solo. With Lando and Lobot in tow they set off to save their friend.

However, others are after this prized possession, including most bounty hunters in the galaxy, crime syndicates and Darth Vader himself. Collecting issues 12 to 18 of the Star Wars comic, the narrative also explores the Rebel Alliance’s desperate attempts to come back together after being scattered around the galaxy following the Battle of Hoth.

Part of a crossover series of all the Marvel Star Wars titles, this volume should be read in conjunction with the War of the Bounty Hunters graphic novel, Doctor Aphra Volume 3, Darth Vader Volume 3 and Bounty Hunters Volume 3.
Buy now from:
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If you enjoyed this…

If you liked our Star Wars Marvel comics reading order, you might also like to check out Matthew’s guide to The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Also have a look at our Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novel reading order.

Check out our guide to Funko figures and books for great gift ideas for Star Wars fans and more fandoms. Or browse our suggestions for epic reads for grown-ups, young adults and children.  

– Find lots more great reads here at readinginspiration.com –

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