In the decades following the original Star Wars film trilogies release, the franchise has had numerous comics and novels published. Dark Horse Comics and Del Rey books were responsible for the majority of the expanded material that created new characters and worlds. Sadly, much of this material has since been relegated as "Legends" following Star Wars' acquisition by Disney back in October of 2012. Still, Star Wars has been a comic book-adaptable franchise since the original series that Marvel produced. So with this in mind, we present to you some of Star Wars' best novels that Marvel should adapt as comic books/graphic novels.
10 DEATH TROOPERS (Legends)
This "Legends" book by Joe Schreiber is set before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The story centers around a broken down Imperial prison barge called Purge that comes upon an abandoned Star Destroyer called Vector. The crew of the Purge go onto the derelict ship looking to scavenge supplies but are unexpectedly attacked by the latter's infected inhabitants. Making matters worse the same virus that contaminated the Vector is carried back to the Purge leaving the few uninfected survivors (including Han Solo and Chewbacca) to fend against an army of the undead. So, it's simple math really. Star Wars + Walking Dead = 'Nuff Said. Okay, just in case you need another reason, who wouldn't want to see Han and Chewie fighting undead Stormtroopers and Wookies? Really, need we say more?
9 MAUL LOCKDOWN (Legends)
Maul Lockdown is another book by Joe Schreiber this time featuring fan-favorite Darth Maul who is sent on a mission to retrieve a weapon capable of obliterating the Jedi. To accomplish this though Maul must rely on his skills outside of those with his double-bladed lightsaber, as he battles his way through a prison colony that is run like a gladiatorial arena. Add to this two Sith Masters with their own nefarious plans, Jabba the Hutt, plus a monster that could make a Swokes Swokes shudder and you've got yourself a perfect action-horror comic.
8 DARTH BANE SERIES (Legends)
Darth Bane was the originator of the Rule of Two among the Sith: One to embody the power, and another to crave it. Path of Destruction and the subsequent novels by Drew Karpyshyn revealed the origin of this character and how he helped his Order survive to bring forth the fall of the Republic. Even with Disney's new canon, Darth Bane still remains the same character. So, if any "Legends" story were to be reintegrated into the current canon, it should be this one. Plus, unlike Dark Horse, Marvel hasn't explored the Old Republic era much. Adapting this novel would be a great introduction to that time period and create the framework for a larger Sith saga.
7 DARTH PLAGUEIS (Legends)
Darth Plagueis the Wise was first mentioned in a story told to Anakin Skywalker by Chancellor Palpatine in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In the novel Darth Plagueis by James Luceno, we not only get to learn more about this character but also the origin story of Emperor Palpatine. It also shows how the Sith manipulated the Force to bring forth Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. If this were adapted along with the Darth Bane series previously mentioned then it could create a Dark Side saga that would run parallel with the Skywalker Saga. "Legend" or not, this story is worthy of seeing visualized.
6 LORDS OF THE SITH (Canon)
Set around five years after the rise of the Empire, Lords of the Sith by author Paul S. Kemp revolves around Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine seeking to quell a rebellion led by Cham Syndulla on the Twi'lek planet Ryloth. Their mission goes awry though after their shuttle is shot down, leaving them stranded in the middle of enemy territory. There are growing tensions that occur between the two Sith themselves. This is a worthy addition to this list because it's the equivalent to Marvel's Team-Up comics—but with Sith instead of superheroes. Also, it reveals why Darth Vader's betrayal in Return of the Jedi was decades in the making, just as Palpatine's desire to replace Vader with the latter's son was too.
5 YODA: DARK RENDEZVOUS (Legends)
Set during the Clone Wars the novel Yoda: Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart focuses on Count Dooku reaching out to his former master Yoda for a truce. However, the Jedi's suspicions about this being a trap are confirmed following an assassination attempt by Asajj Ventress. Yoda uses his "death" to his advantage and infiltrates 'Dooku's family estate where the two delve into their shared history, as well as their philosophical differences. The question that lies at the heart of this novel is: Are some people worth saving, or are they beyond redemption? Their story parallels the path of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, and for this reason alone it is worth adapting into a comic book. Also, besides his story in the Star Wars ongoing series, Yoda hasn't had his own comic book series yet, so it would be nice to see Marvel do one. Finally, there is the added bonus of seeing a rematch between these two former allies.
4 DARK DISCIPLE (Canon)
Having grown weary of the countless innocent lives destroyed by the Clone Wars, the Jedi Council makes the reluctant decision to send one of their own, the Kiffar Jedi Quinlan Vos, on a deadly mission to assassinate Count Dooku. Quinlan seeks the help of the fallen Jedi's former accomplice-turned-bounty hunter, Asajj Ventress. The mission takes a dark turn when Vos is captured and tortured into becoming 'Dooku's new assassin. Now Ventress must save the corrupted Jedi and—hopefully in the process—perhaps herself too. Dark Disciple by Christie Golden was itself an adaptation of an unaired episode of the Clone Wars television series that got canceled before it could be made. What makes this story particularly unique is that readers get to see Ventress in a way that we haven't seen her before: in love. Although the romance is more akin to Romeo and Juliet than Han and Leia's, it makes this novel a worthy addition to this list.
3 A NEW DAWN (Canon)
Star Wars A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller is the origin story of how former Padawan, Caleb Dume/Kanan Jarrus, and his partner-in-rebellion, Hera Syndulla, met prior to their appearances on the Star Wars Rebels series. Set during the rise of the Galactic Empire and the Battle of Yavin, this novel was the first official story created as part of Star Wars new canon following Disney's acquisition. Despite the series popularity, not many stories have been told about the Ghost crew beyond Marvel's Kanan: The Last Padawan series that it did back in 2015.
2 AHSOKA (Canon)
E.K. Johnston's novel follows the titular character in the years after her departure from the Jedi Order. Despite wishing to live a quiet life in seclusion, the atrocities that Ahsoka witnesses by the Galactic Empire ignite a spark of rebellion within the former Padawan that she can't ignore. Over the course of the novel, she goes from being a recluse, to a vigilante, to her penultimate role as the Rebel Alliance's Fulcrum. Since fans were introduced to Anakin Skywalker's Padawan in the Clone Wars movie (2008) Ahsoka Tano has become one of the greatest new additions to the Star Wars mythology. Despite her popularity, Marvel hasn't published an Ahsoka comic book series up to this date. This novel would be a perfect way to rectify this omission. Ahsoka's battle with Darth Maul in its opening sequence is among the top visual-candy scenes worth adapting from the novel. Fun fact: This fight actually predates the encounter that Ahsoka and Maul had on Star Wars Rebels.
1 KENOBI (Legends)
Kenobi by John Jackson Miller follows the titular character after the destruction of the Jedi Order at the hands of his former Padawan-turned-Sith Lord and his new master, the self-appointed Galactic Emperor. This novel is similar to Ahsoka Tano's in that Obi-Wan Kenobi is in exile trying to find his new role during the perilous times of the Galactic Empire, while maintaining his code as a Jedi. Although this novel is now considered "Legends", with the announcement of Disney's +'s new Kenobi series, there is hope that this story might see inclusion once again. If you consider the Journals of Ben Kenobi featured in the Star Wars ongoing series, then there is still hope that it could be incorporated as canon either in comics or live-action.