The Mandalorian combines science fiction with Western themes to produce a glorious TV show beloved by many. Everyone loves Baby Yoda, but the Mandalorian himself has earned a place in our hearts. He is stoic and heroic and quite honorable for a bounty hunter. He and his comrades have become our friends.
Now that The Mandalorian season one is over, you're probably itching for more. There aren't a whole lot of space Westerns out there on TV or in movie form, but there sure are plenty of comic books to tide you over until season two. Here's what you need to read if you loved The Mandalorian.
10 Y: The Last Man
Yorick Brown is the last man on Earth. He is the sole survivor of a plague that caused the death of all men on Earth and many women. The rest of life on the planet is in danger of being extinguished and chaos reigns. Yorick and his pet monkey wander the world trying to find the answer to why this happened.
The Mandalorian isn't post-apocalyptic, but the circles the Mando runs in often feel like they're operating on a set of rules ungoverned by any central power. The wilderness of the series is similar to the chaos seen in Y: The Last Man. If you're looking for a story of a lone man on a quest, search no more.
9 The Incal
When the Mando finds the Child, he opens a whole world of trouble. Much is the same for John Difool when he discovers the artifact known as "the Incal." Difool suddenly becomes a player in a cosmic game of powers. The Incal was inspired by the work its creator, Alejandro Jodorowsky, produced for his version of Dune that was never brought to the screen.
The Incal goes above and beyond the scope of The Mandalorian—at least, as we've seen so far. Beyond the lore of the Mandalorians, there are not many mystical elements to the story. The Incal, on the other hand, has many. Given that surprise in the season finale, The Incal may be required reading for season two!
8 East of West
Another science fiction Western, East of West presents a dystopian America where the Civil War never ended and only grew to have seven sides. Our heroes are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. They set about signaling the end of the world, but Death might not be as committed to the apocalypse as the rest of them.
East of West brings the Wild West into the 20th century. The world seems as desolate as many of the planets the Mando visits. It's a bleak perspective, but nevertheless there's still hope to be found among all the dust.
7 Saga
The Mandalorian isn't the only one being chased across the galaxy because of a baby. Alana and Marko are also being hunted down because their daughter is the first baby born between two species who've been at war for centuries. Both sides believe that knowledge of the baby might destabilize their soldiers' morale and bring an end to the war.
Alana and Marko do as much planet-hopping as the Mandalorian and the Child. They visit many different worlds on their quest for safety. You'll meet different species and different cultures and get as invested in Alana and Marko's journey as you are in the Mandalorian's.
6 Pretty Deadly
This horror-Western-supernatural comic book will remind readers of the more mystical corners of the Star Wars universe. The book tells the story of how a young girl becomes Death. It's lyrical and artistic. There are far more questions than answers, much like there was for the better part of the Mandalorian.
There are cowboy hats and tumbleweeds, and, while the story is far more magical than that of The Mandalorian, the imagery ties the two together nicely. The barren landscapes are reminiscent of the desert planets the Mando visits on his travels.
5 Valérian
An early influence on Star Wars itself, Valérian is a comic book series that ran for over 40 years. Valérian and his partner Laureline are Spatio-temporal agents tasked with protecting the Terran Empire against temporal paradoxes created by uncertified time travelers. Valérian is loyal and obedient while Laureline is headstrong and wily.
The Mandalorian stays away from time travel, but it shares one of its central themes with Valérian, that being if one should follow orders one disagrees with. This is a point of contention between Valérian and Laureline. The Mando confronts this issue as well when he decides to rescue the Child.
4 Serenity
Firefly is the most on-the-nose space Western there is. The comics continue the journeys of Captain Mal and his crew. Most of them fought on the losing side of a civil war and now make their living doing odd jobs on the pioneer fringes of society. The comics continue their story past the television show and the movie, Serenity.
The comics make many Western themes literal. Mal and crew dress much like cowboys and strut about with a gunslinging attitude. The setting and vibe of the Serenity 'verse will remind you of The Mandalorian.
3 Doctor Aphra
This list would be incomplete without some Star Wars comics. Doctor Aphra is a danger-loving archaeologist. She travels the galaxy scooping up precious artifacts to sell on the black market and getting into trouble.
Doctor Aphra lives by her own rules. She's not really on the bad side, but she's not exactly on the good side either. She's just trying to live her life. This is much the same as the Mando who lives by his own code, that of the Mandalorians. He wasn't part of the Rebel Alliance, but he's certainly no Imperial supporter either. Doctor Aphra shares these shades of gray.
2 Han Solo
Han Solo is running the dangerous Dragon Void Run as a cover for a Rebel mission. As the race progresses, he starts to get tempted by victory and wonders if this mission, this Rebellion, is really worth it. Han prides himself on his independence, but, after meeting Loo Re Anno, who is literally the last of her species, he starts to realize the importance of community.
The Mando prides himself on his independence, as well. It is the way, after all. But, over the course of season one, figures enter his life that he begins to care about. Maybe "The Way" doesn't have to be the only way.
1 Poe Dameron
Poe Dameron is one of the best recent Star Wars comics. It follows Poe on his missions as part of the Resistance and provides valuable insight into the organization. Poe is a talented pilot and a trusted member of the Resistance, but he is also known to fly by the seat of his pants.
The Mando isn't quite as messy or as charismatic as Poe, but he also has a tendency to figure things out at the last minute. He's great at fighting his way out of trouble and saving the day. Poe and the Mando might be polar opposites in personality, but they're quite similar in their talents.