Even if the movies have concluded for now, Star Wars has never been short of content for fans to consume. Though many fans might be disheartened to learn that the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is nearing its end, the good news is that many comics, published currently by both Marvel and IDW, are available to read and enjoy.
Numerous limited series and one-shots in the Star Wars universe have been published over the years, but there remain only a few currently ongoing series as of this writing. For the unacquainted, that means a lot of uncertainty -- but new readers looking to hop on board with a good Star Wars comic will not have much to worry about. These are the current ongoing Star Wars comics, ranked in order of quality.
5. Star Wars Adventures
The only ongoing Star Wars comic published by IDW rather than Marvel, Star Wars Adventures is an anthology comic presenting the numerous adventures of multiple characters outside the current continuity. Every era of Star Wars is taken into account, with stories highlighting small misadventures had by every character. Each issue contains multiple short stories set in the Star Wars universe, all of which are written with a slightly younger audience in mind.
Perhaps it's a cynical reason for ranking Star Wars Adventures so low, but very little of the comic feels like it matters. While there are reoccurring narratives in Star Wars Adventures -- such as the reoccurring Flight of the Falcon arc, which features stories highlighting the Millennium Falcon -- none of the stories feel of any consequence. They don't build to anything beyond the current story. On top of that, because the comic's target demographic skews younger, older audiences might not find enough challenging material to keep themselves occupied.
4. Star Wars
The ongoing Star Wars comic currently is set in the period between The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi, focusing on the ongoing conflicts between the Rebellion and the Empire. The series focuses on Leia and the Rebellion's ongoing battles and Luke's training, leading up to the events which precede the downfall of the Empire.
The epic narrative of Star Wars fleshes out the core narrative of the original trilogy. However, while it connects a lot of dots, the events of the narrative feel constrained by what readers already know: Luke and crew will get out unscathed. There are few surprises in this title. While it is probably the most accessible of the Star Wars comics with the most iconic characters, it also adds surprisingly little to the franchise.
3. Star Wars: Bounty Hunters
Taking place between The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Bounty Hunters focuses on the bounty hunting underworld of the Star Wars universe. A gang of bounty hunters seeks revenge against an old leader, Nakano Lash, who years ago betrayed them by murdering a client and triggering an underworld war. Now, years later, Lash's former crew -- Boba Fett, Bossk and several others -- are out to stop her after she resurfaces.
Unlike many of the other titles here, Star Wars: Bounty Hunters is not a relaunch of an older title, but rather an entirely original series. It explores elements of the franchise that are seldom explored, outside of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. While the series is off to a great start, full of violence and criminal underworld politics, Star Wars: Bounty Hunters sits firmly below the shadow of The Mandalorian, which managed to bring the world of scum and villainy to life in a far more effective manner, despite having access to less iconic characters.
2. Star Wars: Darth Vader
Continuing the solo adventures of Darth Vader, Star Wars: Darth Vader takes place immediately after Vader admitted to Luke that he is the boy's father. The series sees Vader grapple with the knowledge that his son refused to join him, as well as his continued dealings with both his job as the Emperor's enforcer and his past as Anakin Skywalker.
The relaunch of the Darth Vader title is pushing Vader in new territories, exploring some very complex questions surrounding the iconic villain. While it might not offer the large-scale fights of Star Wars or explore the entirely unexplored elements of the universe like Bounty Hunters, Star Wars: Darth Vader tackles the complex psychology of its central villain in new and fascinating ways. It's certainly written for fans who like seeing someone as powerful and in-control as Vader out of his element. Darth Vader, since the start of Marvel's license of the Star Wars property, has been one of their most consistently fascinating and enthralling titles. It's definitely worth a read.
1. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra
Returning to the misadventures of one of Star Wars's greatest rogues, the relaunch of Doctor Aphra will focus on the titular outlaw keeping a low profile in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Hoth. She's after treasure and riches, but with the Rebellion and Empire in high-octane warfare, she'll need to keep her head down to get away with a life of crime.
Doctor Aphra is undeniably one of the best original comics Marvel has put out so far. The relaunch of the title has been delayed thanks to COVID-19, but every comic centered around Aphra offers a few things no other Star Wars title can. There are no limitations on what can happen to Aphra. There is no destination the characters must reach. This results in a lot of freedom, which makes it possible for the comic to tell an entirely original story in the Star Wars universe where anything can happen. It also helps that Chelli Lona Aphra is just a unique character. She's a former archaeologist turned treasure hunter who has worked for the Empire while robbing them blind. Additionally, she's one of the few morally grey, LGBTQ characters in Star Wars, which automatically makes her stand apart from the rest.
Undeniably, any title with Aphra will offer Star Wars fans a story that can, at any moment, veer into unexpected territory. That makes for a compelling story. If there's an ongoing Doctor Aphra comic, it is a must-read for any Star Wars fan.