As I've explained in the introduction, I decided to not include any of the novels considered Canon after the Disney's revolution. Since one of the main goal of this guide is to give you all the necessary material in the shortest amount of time possible, the comic books are more suitable for a quick read and, more importantly, you can skip a few issues from now and then (and in a novel you really can't).
Since I have selected only a few titles and, within those titles, only a subset of issues, sometimes you will feel there is a small hole in the plot. You can either decide to read the full set of comic books or trust me when I say that what you will miss following my selection is negligible.
At the end of the post you will find the list of Marvel's titles (since other comic books are not Canon anymore).
If you want to read the first two layers again, here the first one about the movies and here the second one about the animated series.
If you are not really into reading the motivations of my selection, here is a final post with everything I have selected for this guide.
The Third Layer: the Comic Books
Most of the titles have a limited amount of issues (five or less). Therefore, reading them is not going to take you more than an hour or so for the full volume. These short stories are meant to give you small details about some of the characters and I can understand that not everyone can be interested in them. However, since you got this far, you deserve a comprehensive view.
The first story, chronologically, is about a young Anakin and Obi-Wan #1-5. It takes place a few years before the events of Episode II and tells the story of the two Jedi answering to a distress call on a mysterious planet. My interest in this story is that it provides a nice look at the psychology of Anakin Skywalker and its relation to Chancellor Palpatine since the very early stages of its training.
If you saw the amazing episode The Lawless (s05e16 of The Clone War) you also noticed that our beloved Darth Maul was not killed by the Emperor. Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir will show you in 4 issues what happened to him, filling the gap between that episode and his next appearance during the second season of Rebels.
A slightly longer comic book (12 issues in 2 volumes) is about Kanan, the protagonist of Rebels. The story is a long flashback to its training and, most importantly, to the execution of the order 66. A good moment to read the two volumes is right after the first episode of the first season of Rebels since the story will provide you a deeper view on a new character. Moreover, in the first few issues, it is also explored again another important theme: how naive were the Jedi during the Clone War.
Before going forward I have to mention that I am leaving out three stories: Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. They take place after the battle of Yavin and give a deeper view of those characters and they settle some major issues for the fans (for example it is shown that Chewie actually got a medal for defeating the Empire, like the others: he just doesn't wear it). However, I have to take them out of the guide because they are not really necessary for the big picture. I repeat myself again: you have to find your own path, this is just a guide.
The core of this last layer of knowledge are surely the comic books named Star Wars (29 issues, still running) and Star Wars: Darth Vader (25 issues and concluded). The two stories take place simultaneously right after the battle of Yavin (thus after A New Hope) and cross each other in the comic book named Vader Down. I have selected the issues containing information about the rebellion, struggling to find another base and keep attacking the Empire, Luke's training, finding out how far he is from being a Jedi, and Vader, gaining back the trust of the Emperor with powerful actions (and amazing moments like the one in the picture) after the great defeat at Yavin 4.
It is here that Vader comes to know the identity of the pilot that destroyed the Death Star (with the help of Boba Fett) and makes the decision of bringing him to the Dark Side, thus shaping what will happen in Episode V. Moreover, it looks awesome.
At last, in Star Wars there are several issues dedicated to the Obi-Wan's journal. Such issues are included solely to give you pieces of information on what happened to Obi-Wan and Luke between the Episodes III and IV.
This comic book is currently running, the next few issues are about Yoda and his adventures. I can't say if it is a story worth reading just yet but I am one of those that took these issues as the hint that a stand-alone movie about our little green friend is coming.
Finally, I've inserted another running story: Poe Dameron. Now, it is not my favorite one. However, it is the only comic book that contains pieces of relevant information about the period between the fall of the Empire and the events of Episode VII. Therefore, you will follow the adventures of the greatest pilot in the Galaxy while the First Order is growing in power and hostility towards the New Republic, you will see what happened on Jakku (Rey's planet in Ep. VII) in the last days of the Empire, and you will grow some interest in Poe. The potential downside is that those topics will be probably faced inside the upcoming movies, thus taking out part of the surprise.
List of selected issues
Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin #1-5
Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #1-4
Star Wars: Kanan #1-12
Star Wars #1-3
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Star Wars #4-6
Star Wars #7 (The Journal of Obi-Wan)
Star Wars: Vader Down #1-6 (Crossover)
Star Wars #15, #20 (The Journal of Obi-Wan)
Star Wars: Darth Vader Annual 1
Star Wars: Darth Vader #16-25
Star Wars #26
(Still Running)
Star Wars: Poe Dameron #1-9
(Still Running)
The Third Layer: the Comic Books
Most of the titles have a limited amount of issues (five or less). Therefore, reading them is not going to take you more than an hour or so for the full volume. These short stories are meant to give you small details about some of the characters and I can understand that not everyone can be interested in them. However, since you got this far, you deserve a comprehensive view.
 |
| Darth Vader #25 |
The first story, chronologically, is about a young Anakin and Obi-Wan #1-5. It takes place a few years before the events of Episode II and tells the story of the two Jedi answering to a distress call on a mysterious planet. My interest in this story is that it provides a nice look at the psychology of Anakin Skywalker and its relation to Chancellor Palpatine since the very early stages of its training.
If you saw the amazing episode The Lawless (s05e16 of The Clone War) you also noticed that our beloved Darth Maul was not killed by the Emperor. Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir will show you in 4 issues what happened to him, filling the gap between that episode and his next appearance during the second season of Rebels.
A slightly longer comic book (12 issues in 2 volumes) is about Kanan, the protagonist of Rebels. The story is a long flashback to its training and, most importantly, to the execution of the order 66. A good moment to read the two volumes is right after the first episode of the first season of Rebels since the story will provide you a deeper view on a new character. Moreover, in the first few issues, it is also explored again another important theme: how naive were the Jedi during the Clone War.
Before going forward I have to mention that I am leaving out three stories: Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. They take place after the battle of Yavin and give a deeper view of those characters and they settle some major issues for the fans (for example it is shown that Chewie actually got a medal for defeating the Empire, like the others: he just doesn't wear it). However, I have to take them out of the guide because they are not really necessary for the big picture. I repeat myself again: you have to find your own path, this is just a guide.
The core of this last layer of knowledge are surely the comic books named Star Wars (29 issues, still running) and Star Wars: Darth Vader (25 issues and concluded). The two stories take place simultaneously right after the battle of Yavin (thus after A New Hope) and cross each other in the comic book named Vader Down. I have selected the issues containing information about the rebellion, struggling to find another base and keep attacking the Empire, Luke's training, finding out how far he is from being a Jedi, and Vader, gaining back the trust of the Emperor with powerful actions (and amazing moments like the one in the picture) after the great defeat at Yavin 4.
 |
| Vader Down #1 - "All I am surrounded by is fear and dead men" |
It is here that Vader comes to know the identity of the pilot that destroyed the Death Star (with the help of Boba Fett) and makes the decision of bringing him to the Dark Side, thus shaping what will happen in Episode V. Moreover, it looks awesome.
 |
| Darth Vader #1 - "Skywalker" |
At last, in Star Wars there are several issues dedicated to the Obi-Wan's journal. Such issues are included solely to give you pieces of information on what happened to Obi-Wan and Luke between the Episodes III and IV.
This comic book is currently running, the next few issues are about Yoda and his adventures. I can't say if it is a story worth reading just yet but I am one of those that took these issues as the hint that a stand-alone movie about our little green friend is coming.
Finally, I've inserted another running story: Poe Dameron. Now, it is not my favorite one. However, it is the only comic book that contains pieces of relevant information about the period between the fall of the Empire and the events of Episode VII. Therefore, you will follow the adventures of the greatest pilot in the Galaxy while the First Order is growing in power and hostility towards the New Republic, you will see what happened on Jakku (Rey's planet in Ep. VII) in the last days of the Empire, and you will grow some interest in Poe. The potential downside is that those topics will be probably faced inside the upcoming movies, thus taking out part of the surprise.
List of selected issues
Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin #1-5
Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #1-4
Star Wars: Kanan #1-12
Star Wars #1-3
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1
Star Wars #4-6
Star Wars #7 (The Journal of Obi-Wan)
Star Wars: Vader Down #1-6 (Crossover)
Star Wars #15, #20 (The Journal of Obi-Wan)
Star Wars: Darth Vader Annual 1
Star Wars: Darth Vader #16-25
Star Wars #26
(Still Running)
Star Wars: Poe Dameron #1-9
(Still Running)
 |
| Star Wars #26 |
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