The Star Wars Timeline: A Complete Chronological Guide to the Current Canon

Welcome to the Star Wars timeline. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people really like Star Wars. Thing is, though, that Disney now owns all the entertainment in the world. When they bought Lucasarts in 2012, they binned 40-odd years of expanded Star Wars continuity with all the ceremony of Darth Vader detonating Alderaan.

What this means is that there’s a current continuity that incorporates bits of the old one and a bunch of new stuff overseen by the Lucasfilm Story Group. And then there’s the old canon, helpfully rebranded as “Legends”, which still exists in a weird pocket dimension and from which characters and events can be plucked and inserted into the current timeline. It’s really just a big mess.

Luckily, here I am. What follows is a moderately comprehensive timeline of Star Wars media that is currently considered canon. It’ll gradually populate with links as I work my way through it and review all the various films, comic books, television shows, and novels.

The High Republic: Light of the Jedi | Novel

A novel by Charles Soule set 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, in the era of the glorious High Republic.

The High Republic: A Test of Courage | Novel

A junior novel written by Justina Ireland and set in the High Republic era.

The High Republic: Into the Dark | Novel

A young adult novel set in the High Republic, written by Claudia Gray.

Master & Apprentice | Novel

This novel by Claudia Gray is set to explore the early, pre-Phantom Menace relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn.

Darth Maul | Comic

This comic book covers Darth Maul’s younger years before his first appearance in The Phantom Menace. It sees him training under Darth Sidious and not being particularly patient.

Here’s my review.

Episode I: The Phantom Menace | Film

I don’t think this requires any introduction. It’s the first of the prequel trilogy, and was perhaps the most anticipated film of all time – which makes it probably the most disappointing film of all time, logically. It follows the exploits of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, a young boy who can’t act, and a goggle-eyed bumbling CGI frogman.

Here’s my review.

Obi-Wan & Anakin | Comic

This is a comic series focusing on the early days of Anakin Skywalker’s training under Obi-Wan, set 3-ish years after the events of The Phantom Menace. It has them respond to a distress signal on a strange, ruined planet.

Here’s my review.

Queen’s Shadow | Novel

Set between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, this novel, by E. K. Johnston, explores Padmé’s reign as Queen of Naboo.

Episode II: Attack of the Clones | Film

This is the one about sand. It also kicks off the Clone Wars, which is kind of important.

Here’s my review.

Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel | Novel

This is a prequel to Rogue One, introducing readers to the Erso family, Orson Krennic, and the troubled history of the Empire’s Death Star. It jumps around the timeline a little bit, but it starts here, in the early days of the war.

Here’s my review.

Jedi of the Republic: Mace Windu | Comic

In the early days of the Clone Wars, baldy motherf*cker Mace Windu leads a small unit of Jedi into a comic book.

Here’s my review.

The Clone Wars | Film

This is the animated film that introduced the animated series that made the Clone Wars important and interesting. This isn’t very good, but it does introduce important characters like Ahsoka Tano, Anakin’s padawan, and serve as a starting point for a show that would eventually become awesome.

Here’s my review.

The Clone Wars | Series

The Clone Wars spans six seasons between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. It gives Anakin a proper arc and everything.

Here are my reviews:

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Kindred Spirits | Short Story

Written by Christie Golden, Kindred Spirits is a short story that leads into Dark Disciple, starring Asajj Ventress and a new character, Lassa Rhayme.

Here’s my review.

Dark Disciple | Novel

Based on unproduced scripts from The Clone Wars, this novel follows two popular characters from the show as they attempt to f*ck up Count Dooku.

Here’s my review.

Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir | Comic

Also based on unproduced scripts from The Clone Wars, this comic series continues to follow Darth Maul’s quest to become the finest interpretive dancer the galaxy has ever known.

Here’s my review.

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith | Film

Anakin has a bit of a paddy in this one.

Here’s my review.

Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith | Comic

This Vader-centric series picks up immediately after that awful “Nooooo!” moment from Episode III and chronicle’s Vader’s embracing of the Dark Side and cardiovascular workouts.

My reviews:

#1-6 – “The Chosen One”

#7-10 – “The Dying Light”

#11-12 – “The Rule of Five”

Adventures in Wild Space | Junior Novel Series

A 7-part series of junior novels following the characters Milo and Lina Graf after the kidnapping of their parents by the Galactic Empire.

Here’s my review.

Ahsoka | Novel

This book follows the exploits of Ahsoka Tano after her departure from the Jedi Order and the execution of Order 66.

Kanan: The Last Padawan | Comic

This six-issue series gives some insight into what Kanan Jarrus was doing before he turned up in Rebels.

Here are my reviews:

Vol. 1: “The Last Padawan”

Vol. 2: “First Blood”

Most Wanted | Novel

This young-adult novel, by Rae Carson, explores the relationship between a young Han Solo and Qi’ra as they grow up amid the seedy streets of their home planet.

Lords of the Sith | Novel

Here, we get a light-hearted buddy-cop adventure when the Emperor and Darth Vader are shot down on a hostile planet.

Here’s my review.

Tarkin | Novel

This novel fleshes out the backstory of notorious snakey weasel man Grand Moff Tarkin, who has been whispering in the Emperor’s shriveled ears since way back in Episode IV. Thankfully, we don’t see him composited in CGI.

Here’s my review.

Rebel Rising | Novel

Another written prequel to Rogue One, this one sees Jyn Erso falling into favor with Saw Gerrera, who teaches her the art of rebel shenanigans and has her questioning who she is and how far she’s willing to go for the cause.

Last Shot | Novel

This novel explores the lives of Han Solo and Lando Calrissian throughout different eras of Star Wars history, from before the events of Solo to after the events of Return of the Jedi.

Here’s my review.

Lando: Double or Nothing | Comic

Another 5-issue miniseries, this one featuring Lando Calrissian and his sidekick droid L3-37 in a period leading directly into Solo.

Imperial Cadet | Comic

A comic series that follows Han Solo through his brief career as an Imperial Cadet.

Thrawn | Novel

Yeah, Thrawn is canon again. No, I don’t know if the original Thrawn trilogy is canon again. It’s all a mystery. Either way, this novel explores the earlier days of everyone’s favorite blue-skinned, red-eyed aesthete as he rises through the Empire.

A New Dawn | Novel

This novel serves as a prequel to the Rebels series and was kind of the point where the new continuity really kicked off.

Lost Stars | Novel

A romance story that spans the entire galaxy and most of the continuity, as two old friends fall in love and have it tested by their opposing allegiances. Plus they can’t ever agree on who should wash up.

Solo: A Star Wars Story | Film

This film will explore the origins of the infamous smuggler Han Solo, including how he met Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian.

Here’s Tyler’s review.

Thrawn: Alliances | Novel

Timothy Zahn returns to his most iconic character in a new story which sees the brilliant military strategist team up with Darth Vader on a secret mission for the Empire.

Tales From Vader’s Castle | Comic

A horror-tinged Star Wars comic series that has various fan-favorite characters tell spooky tales of Darth Vader’s castle.

Rebels | Series

Another animated series, this one following Jedi Knight Kanan and his Scooby gang as they meddle with the Empire’s dealings and raise questioning eyebrows at exactly what is considered canon after each episode.

Here are my reviews:

Season 1

Season 2

Guardians of the Whills | Novel

I’m a bit fuzzy about where exactly this falls in the timeline, but either way it’s another book with ties to Rogue One that involves Saw Gerrera and Donnie Yen’s competitive martial arts background.

Leia: Princess of Alderaan | Novel

This story revolves around the famous princess as she turns 16, becomes interested in boys and cheerleading, and discovers her parents are involved in a plot to overthrow the Empire.

Rogue One: Cassian & K-2SO | Comic

Another Rogue One prequel, this one detailing the unlikely partnership between Cassian and K-2SO, who you’ll remember as the cool kids from that movie.

Here’s my review.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Film

The first “anthology” film in the Star Wars continuity, this one told the story of how the Rebel Alliance acquired the plans to the Empire’s Death Star that allowed them to blow the f*ck out of it in Episode IV.

Here’s my review.

Episode IV: A New Hope | Film

A good old-fashioned fairytale about a local boy done good, laser swords and exploding planets. Here we meet Luke Skywalker, who’s a bit of a whiny little baby in this but is nonetheless good at stuff. I think that’s called being “strong with the Force.”

The Storms of Crait | Comic

Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, Luke, Leia, and Han must find a new base for the Rebel Alliance with the Empire hot on their heels. This comic shows more of the Rebels’ history with the planet Crait, seen in The Last Jedi.

Here’s my review.

From a Certain Point of View | Novel

To celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Star Wars, this anthology book collected 40 stories from 40 authors exploring the various oddities of a galaxy far, far away.

Battlefront: Twilight Company | Novel

This novel follows a group of Rebel soldiers known as Twilight Company as they fight on the frontlines against the Empire.

Battlefront II: Inferno Squad | Novel

Another one of these following another squad, Inferno, only this time they’re Imperial troops dealing with the immediate fallout of the Death Star’s destruction.

Princess Leia | Comic

This series catches up with Leia immediately following the destruction of both her home planet and the Death Star.

Here’s my review.

Darth Vader | Comic

Another comic series, this one checking out what Vader was up to between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. This might be a spoiler, but I bet he was properly pissed off.

Annual 2 review.

Heir to the Jedi | Novel

Leia and Vader got a comic – Luke got a novel. Go figure. This one sees him working for the Rebel Alliance while grappling with his newfound talents as a wielder of laser swords and a player of space chess.

Marvel’s Star Wars | Comic

This huge series follows all the major Original Trilogy characters as they get up to mischief between the events of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. And maybe beyond that.

Chewbacca | Comic

This 5-part series chronicles a mission for the Rebel Alliance which required Chewie to use his considerable skills as an orator to escape a planet and defeat Imperials.

Here’s my review.

Vader Down | Comic

More Vader comics? Christ. This one intersects with the other one and also Marvel’s Star Wars run, which makes it interesting but also kind of obnoxious. As though this continuity wasn’t convoluted enough.

Lando | Comic

Have you ever wondered what Lando Calrissian was up to before The Empire Strikes Back? Yes, of course, you have. Now you can find out!

Here’s my review.

Doctor Aphra | Comic

This spins off from the Darth Vader series and is about a shady archaeologist who has pissed off the Dark Lord himself.

The Screaming Citadel | Comic

Getting a bit complicated now – this story intersects with Marvel’s Star Wars and Doctor Aphra as Luke Skywalker involves himself in a bit of business with the good doctor. Man, comics are weird.

Weapon of a Jedi | Junior Novel

A junior novel is a fancy way of saying “shorter novel for younger readers”, but don’t worry about that. Some of them are really good and pretty heavy on plot. This one is about Luke Skywalker saving a young girl on a strange planet at the behest of the Rebel Alliance.

Smuggler’s Run | Junior Novel

Another junior novel about a secret Rebel Alliance mission, this one to be carried out by Han Solo and Chewie.

Han Solo | Comic

This comic series focuses on everyone’s favorite d*ck-slinging smuggler as he goes on secret missions and slings galaxy-wide d*ck.

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back | Film

No introduction is necessary. No piece of Star Wars media ever has or ever will surpass The Empire Strikes Back. Jedi training, love, loss, betrayal, and questionable parenting. This film has it all.

Moving Target | Junior Novel

Another junior novel. This one’s about Leia.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi | Film

It was a long time coming, but in Return of the Jedi we finally got to see the Empire get f*cked up. There’s partial redemption, some dodgy CGI ghosts, and Leia in a weird metal bikini that dorks throughout the world have masturbated to more times than any of us could possibly count.

Alphabet Squadron | Novel

A novel by Alexander Freed chronicling the exploits of five former Rebel pilots trying to wipe out the last remnants of the Empire.

Battlefront 2 | Video Game

The single-player portion of the game follows Inferno Squad (remember those guys) as they attempt to avenge the Emperor’s death in a story that spans 30-odd years. There are also loot boxes.

Shattered Empire | Comic

In this comic series, our favorite Original Trilogy heroes begin to realize that the battle is far from won, and that on the horizon are many more movies that need an Empire to pluck antagonists from. Things are getting meta.

Aftermath | Novel

In this novel, the Imperials try to regroup after getting smashed about in Return of the Jedi and attempt to come up with a new way of thwarting “The New Republic”, as the Rebel Alliance have taken to calling themselves.

Aftermath: Life Debt | Novel

As you can probably guess from the title, this novel involves Wookies – including Chewbacca.

Aftermath: Empire’s End | Novel

In the conclusion of the Aftermath trilogy, the Empire finally ends. I sure hope they’re not supplanted by a very similar galactic dictatorship in time for the next major movie in the cycle. That’d be weird, wouldn’t it?

Uprising | Video Game

This is a mobile game that has since had its servers shut down, so f*ck knows what I’m going to do here.

The Mandalorian | TV Series

Set after the fall of the Empire, this live-action TV series will follow a lone Mandalorian gunslinger far from the reach of the New Republic.

Bloodline | Novel

This novel sees Leia as a senator attempting to defend the New Republic Senate while the truth about her frankly questionable parentage leads to some complications.

Phasma | Novel

Given the events of The Last Jedi this novel, which explores the backstory of First Order Captain Phasma, seems a bit pointless. Still, continuity and all that.

Resistance | TV Series

Set prior to The Force Awakens, this animated series created by Dave Filoni follows a Resistance team investigating the First Order in its earliest days.

C-3PO | Comic

A single-issue story explaining the origins of the protocol droid’s red arm, which we first saw in The Force Awakens.

Here’s my review.

Poe Dameron | Comic

This on-going comic series digs into the backstory of Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, including his relationship with that suspiciously cute and merchandisable droid, BB-8.

Before the Awakening | Junior Novel

Another junior novel, this one focusing on the lives of Finn, Poe, and Rey before they all met and became the best of chums in The Force Awakens.

The Perfect Weapon | Short Story

A short story by Delilah S. Dawson, featuring a mercenary named Bazine Netal who appears very briefly in The Force Awakens.

Episode VII: The Force Awakens | Film

Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens introduces us to the ruthless First Order, the emotional Kylo Ren, and a new trio of heroes as they all search for the missing Luke Skywalker, who’s sulking in the furthest reaches of the galaxy.

Here’s my review.

Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens – Volume 1 | Anthology

This anthology collects six stories about random aliens we glimpsed in The Force Awakens.

Captain Phasma | Comic

This series lets us in on what happened to Captain Phasma, aka Brienne of Tarth, immediately following the destruction of Starkiller Base.

Here’s my review.

The Legends of Luke Skywalker | Junior Novel

This junior novel follows a group of passengers aboard a cargo ship on the way to Canto Bight who all swap stories about Luke Skywalker. Truth? Fiction? Who knows, but they’re really trying to make us love Canto Bight, aren’t they?

Canto Bight | Novella

Yep, really trying to make us love it. This novella collects some stories from the decadent casino’s clientele.

Cobalt Squadron | Junior Novel

This junior novel introduces new characters from the Resistance, including Rose Tico, who everyone hated in The Last Jedi.

DJ: Most Wanted | Comic

This one-shot comic explores the backstory of Benicio Del Toro’s DJ, the mysterious conman encountered by Finn and Rose in The Last Jedi.

Here’s my review.

Episode VIII: The Last Jedi | Film

One of the saga’s finest films, and I’ll physically fight anyone who suggests otherwise.

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