10 Best Star Wars Characters Introduced in the Comics

The Star Wars franchise is a massive success, encompassing films, television series, books, video games, and comics. For many years, Dark Horse and Marvel published the majority of Star Wars comics. These comics have greatly expanded the Star Wars universe, exploring stories and characters thousands of years before and after the events of the films. While iconic characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader first appeared in the movies, the comics have introduced a wealth of compelling new Jedi, Sith, bounty hunters, droids, and other figures. Several of these comic characters have even become popular enough to appear in the films and TV shows themselves.

The world of Star Wars comics is generally divided into two timelines: Legends and Canon. Legends includes everything created before Disney acquired Star Wars in April 2014. These stories aren’t considered official anymore, except for characters and events that were already established in the films. Canon refers to everything released after Disney’s purchase and the start of the sequel trilogy. Regardless of whether a story is Legends or Canon, the Star Wars comics have created some truly memorable characters.

10) Baron Soontir Fel

Baron Soontir Fel first appeared in the 1997 Dark Horse comic series X-Wing Rogue Squadron. Initially, he was a formidable enemy of the Rebellion, renowned as one of the galaxy’s most skilled TIE fighter pilots and a dedicated hero of the Galactic Empire, fighting in many battles for them. However, following Darth Sidious’s death in Return of the Jedi, Soontir became disheartened by the Empire’s increasing corruption and switched sides to join the Rebellion. This transformation from a staunch Imperialist to a respected member of the Rebellion created a complex and fascinating character journey.

9) Keeve Trennis

Two hundred years before the events of A New Hope, the Jedi Order flourished during a time known as the High Republic. The first Star Wars: The High Republic comic series, released by Marvel in 2021, introduced Keeve Trennis as its main character. Keeve was a compassionate young Jedi Knight who developed into a highly skilled warrior. She fought against major threats of the era, like the Nihil and the Drengir, using two lightsabers that could merge into one. Eventually, Keeve realized the Jedi had become soldiers rather than peacemakers, leading her to leave the Order. A courageous and unselfish hero, Keeve remains a memorable Jedi of the High Republic, and her story continues to be told centuries later.

8) Black Krrsantan

Krrsantan is a dangerous Wookiee bounty hunter known for working with powerful criminals like Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader. He originally appeared in a 2015 Marvel comic book series featuring Darth Vader and later made his first live-action appearance in The Book of Boba Fett. Originally from the planet Kashyyyk, Krrsantan became a gladiator before turning to bounty hunting. He received a scar over his eye in a fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi, who he tried to kill. Krrsantan has a long-standing and bitter rivalry with Chewbacca, and they’ve clashed in many battles. A skilled and ruthless fighter, Krrsantan is motivated by money and will betray even former friends to complete a job.

7) Darth Krayt

As a huge Star Wars fan, I always wondered what happened after Return of the Jedi. It’s amazing to me that even after Sidious and Vader were gone, the Sith didn’t just disappear! A new threat arose with Darth Krayt, and his story is really compelling. I first learned about him in the Star Wars: Republic comics from Dark Horse back in 2001. What’s fascinating is that he wasn’t always a Sith Lord. He started as A’Sharad Hett, raised by Tusken Raiders, and actually was a Jedi fighting in the Clone Wars! After Order 66, he went into hiding, but his anger and need for revenge ultimately led him down a dark path. It’s wild to think that over a hundred years after the original trilogy, he built a whole new Sith Empire and took over the galaxy. He’s seriously one of the most powerful and terrifying Sith Lords ever!

6) BT-1 and 0-0-0

Everyone loves the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 in Star Wars, but BT-1 and 0-0-0 are their sinister counterparts. This darkly humorous pair is particularly unsettling: BT-1 is a deadly assassin droid, and 0-0-0 is a protocol droid reprogrammed for torture. First appearing in the 2015 Darth Vader comic series, they were initially activated by archaeologist Doctor Aphra and served Darth Vader. When Aphra pretended to die and went on the run from the Empire, their programming forced them to follow her, even though they constantly want to eliminate her. Aphra always manages to outsmart them and get them to help her with her schemes. As twisted versions of the iconic C-3PO and R2-D2, BT-1 and 0-0-0 quickly became popular with fans.

5) Ulic Qel-Droma

Ulic Qel-Droma was a Jedi who lived long before the events of the Star Wars movies. He first appeared in the 1997 Tales of the Jedi comics and had a tragic fall to the Dark Side. After his master died, Ulic let his anger control him and was manipulated by the Sith Lord Exar Kun. As a Sith, he committed terrible acts, including conquering the Mandalorians and attacking Coruscant. He even accidentally killed his own brother, Cay, which deeply horrified him. Seeking to make amends, Ulic helped the Jedi defeat Exar Kun and then went into exile. Similar to Darth Vader’s story, Ulic ultimately overcame his anger and found redemption, becoming a hero once more.

4) Cade Skywalker

Cade Skywalker, the central figure in Dark Horse’s 2006 Star Wars: Legacy comic series, is a far cry from his famous grandfather, Luke Skywalker. Set over a century after the original Star Wars trilogy, the story follows Cade, a Jedi who lost faith in the Order after his father’s death in combat. He turned his back on the Jedi and became a well-known pirate and bounty hunter. Cade possesses a rare Force ability: he can bring people back to life and prolong their lifespans. Like other Skywalkers, he struggled with the pull of the dark side, briefly giving in to its power. Despite never officially rejoining the Jedi, Cade ultimately returned to the light side and fought against the rising Sith Empire.

3) Doctor Aphra

Doctor Cheilli Lona Aphra is one of the most beloved new characters in the Star Wars universe. Often compared to Indiana Jones, this archaeologist and adventurer quickly became a fan favorite when she first appeared in Marvel’s 2015 Darth Vader comic. Her popularity led to her own ongoing comic series. During the time of the Empire, her skills in archaeology and droid programming caught the attention of Darth Vader, who compelled her to work for him. After completing several missions, Aphra pretended to die to escape Vader’s control. Since then, she’s had numerous exciting adventures throughout the galaxy, searching for lost treasures and evading the authorities.

2) Aayla Secura

Aayla Secura is a beloved Jedi character in the Star Wars universe. While many fans recognize her from Episodes II and III, and the Clone Wars TV show, she actually first appeared in the 2000 Dark Horse comic Star Wars: Republic. Aayla is a highly skilled and agile fighter who rose to become a respected general during the Clone Wars. Known for her intelligence and compassion, she always put the safety of innocent people first. Tragically, Aayla was one of the many Jedi killed during Order 66 in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, betrayed by the clone troopers she had fought with for years.

1) Quinlan Vos

While not as well-known from the movies as Aayla Secura, Quinlan Vos did appear briefly in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, making him officially part of the Star Wars story. First introduced in the 2000 Star Wars: Republic comic series, Quinlan is a unique Jedi who often operates in the gray areas between good and evil. This made him exceptionally suited for the Republic’s dangerous undercover and intelligence work during the Clone Wars. He’s famous for his relationship with Asajj Ventress, a Dark Side assassin, and his efforts ultimately helped lead to her turning away from darkness. He also created a secret route, known as the Hidden Path, to help Jedi escape the devastating Order 66. With a complex moral compass and a compelling backstory, Quinlan Vos is considered one of the most skilled and effective Jedi the Order ever saw.

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2025-11-14 18:17