Lit Most essential comics

I would like to start reading comics, and though I know it would be a hard question to ask which are the 'best comics', but what series do you recommend me to read?

 

For character-based ensemble, KOTOR.

For sheer plot ambition, Legacy.

For the best examination of how the dark side can affect the Jedi - the Quinlan Vos epic in Republic.

For nerve and compactness - Dark Empire.

Beyond this though, it really depends on what you are most interested in.

 

Dark Empire and anything labeled "Tales Of The Jedi".

 

Dark Empire is "essential" because it's one of the cornerstones of the post-ROTJ Expanded Universe. Now, whether it is "good" or not is up to debate. However, I concur when Sinrebirth says Republic is among the best. I'd also recommend reading the good old Tales of the Jedi comics.

 

Well, thank you very much to everybody and thank you Todd for the welcome. I'll search those comics you've told me!

 

I'd also suggest the X-Wing comics. They're a fantastic series, follow up directly on Return of the Jedi, and are neatly packaged in three omnibi.

And yes, I probably screwed that last bit up, but I have no idea whether "omnibus" would be a 2nd or 4th declension noun, so SHUT UP JELLO.

 

Tales of the Jedi
Knights of the Old Republic
Republic
Dark Times
Dark Empire
Crimson Empire
Legacy (a must read!)

Those would be must reads from me. I also recommend these:

Dawn of the Jedi - great comics thus far, and set in a completely unexplored timeline, they read as a great fantasy and/or sci-fi comics, not just as Star Wars.

Knight Errant

Agent of the Empire

Enjoy!

 

Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction--This comic shows Boba Fett when he was still Boba Fett. (The Bounty Hunters TPB)
X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Blood and Honor. (TPB)
Marvel's Star Wars #8, 9, 10, and 16--These issues feature the Saga's greatest EU character ever! (Star Wars Omnibus: A long time ago ... Vol. 1)

 

X-Wing Rouge Squadron is amazing if you're into Rebels and X-Wings.

 

Classic Star Wars(the Al Williamson/Archie Goodwin newspaper strips reprints)

Shadows of the Empire

Dark Empire

 

Top 10 (in my opinion)

Blood Ties (Awesome Fett stuff, Tom Taylor is one of the best SW comic writers with great characters and humor)
Republic/Dark Times (Ostrander is a superb writer, good art, well done story-lines, going into Dark Times with Stradley and Wheatley just oozes epicness)
X-wing Rogue Squadron (Classics, shaky start but the last few arcs are absolutely phenomenal)
Invasion (More Tom Taylor, makes this era cool because of him, good balance of original characters and Big 3/Solo kids)
Legacy (Most original SW series that still feels likes Star Wars, probably not a better team than Ostrander/Duursema)
Agent of the Empire (Ended too soon, classic Star Wars action with some James Bond thrown in)
Empire/Rebellion (Large variety of stories in a crowded era, introduces some interesting characters)
Darth Vader (First two series by Blackman are fantastic, especially Ghost Prison)
Crimson Empire (First one is classic, second one is okay, and third one is good to great, but all have great action)
Star Wars (Brian Wood's new series, I am really enjoying it, art is very detailed, characters feel like the ones we all know and love)

 

For one moment, I thought this was an announcement for a Essential Guide to Comics book.

 

Legacy is the dopest SW comic out there bar none, hands down, thumbs up, nuts deep, and some other stuff. Forget the rest.

On a side note, I know there are a lot of Dark Empire fans out there, but don't believe the hype. The artwork looked like it was done in crayon! If that's what you like, then my three year old just made one of the pimpest SW stories of all time. I can scan it for you, it's one page and smells like "doodie" and that Elmer's paste stuff. If Ostrander/Duusema had done DE it would have probably been awesome, but they didn't, and its not. To me the DE plot line always felt like a really long infinity or "what if" anyway...Legacy is the real deal. Far enough past ROTJ to be original, but with all the good and familiar stuff still in place to make it feel like SW. I know some worry about not wanting to get into Legacy because they are afraid they may be lost. I hadn't read (and still haven't) anything farther than a couple books deep into the NJO, and then picked up Legacy and didn't miss a beat.

Three words...It's Pimp-tastic!!

 

Please, tell me more about how Darth Talon is totally bangable.

 

Darth Xalfrea There are a couple books similar to what you're thinking of. There's the actual Comics Companion, but it's from several years back and from what I've read is fairly light on some relatively minor and uncollected stories. There are also the Panel to Panel books, but I'm not sure if those are as much a guide to the comics as they just a history of Dark Horse's contribution to the EU. Ultimately I would hope DR or DK would put out a complete guide to the EU similar to Wook's "Timeline of Media" page. I would buy that in a heartbeat.

 

Are you screaming at the wall again? How many times do you have to be told that this "Jello" exists only in your imagination?

Also, you could have just said 3 omnibus editions.

 

Isn't it obvious!? Although I'm afraid it's just a theorem right now as I'm not sure if there would be biochemical or anatomical restrictions. Let's say it maybe did come to fruition...and then like three or four days later you gotta "third lekku" if you know what I'm sayin. I'd have to say right now, until all the details are in, it's mostly just window shoppin...

 

In terms of continuity, probably the most important are (in no particular order):

• Dark Empire trilogy (yes, even Empire's End)
• Legacy
• Tales of the Jedi
• X-Wing Rogue Squadron
• Republic (#49-83)

 

Also Dawm of the Jedi.

 

If you like the post-ROTJ time period, you should start with Dark Empire.
If you like the pre-TPM time period, you should start with Tales of the Jedi.
If you like the PT time period, you should start with Republic.

I would advice you to read comic series such as Legacy later on because they include a lot of references to other comics.

 

From the Marvel comic book, I'd recommend #29 ("Dark Encounter") and the three-part story in issues 35 ("Dark Lord's Gambit"), 36 ("Red Queen Rising") and 37 ("In Mortal Combat"). Even with the restrictions Marvel had to deal with, these feature a top-notch, pre-TESB portrayal of Vader as a master plotter and a great villain.

 

Legacy! Best EU material out there.

 

Tales of the Jedi established the Old Republic era, so I'd say it's quite important.