In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Star Wars comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Star Wars. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

There is a multitude of Star Wars material in print, as Marvel is producing compilations of the Dark Horse material as well as their own material from the New Canon and the classic (70's and 80's) eras.

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Star Wars, if it's within your budget. Of only trivial interest perhaps, the first issue of STAR WARS [1977] was published on 12 Apr 1977, over a month prior to the 25 May 1977 movie debut.

• STAR WARS [1977] #1  (1st appearance of Star Wars; 1st appearance of Darth Vader)

• STAR WARS [1977] #1-6   
• MARVEL SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING STAR WARS [1977-TREA] #1-2   (treasury-sized reprint of STAR WARS [1977] #1-6 in 2 issues)
• MARVEL SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING STAR WARS [1977-TREA] #3   (treasury-sized reprint of STAR WARS [1977] #1-6 in 1 issue)
• MARVEL MOVIE SHOWCASE FEATURING STAR WARS [1982] #1-2   (reprints STAR WARS [1977] #1-6 in 2 issues)
• DROIDS [1986] #6-8   (retells Episode IV from the viewpoint of the droids)
• CLASSIC STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE [1994] #1-2   (reprints STAR WARS [1977] #1-6 in 2 issues)
• STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE--THE SPECIAL EDITION [1997] #1-4   (all-new adaptation in 4 issues)

Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Star Wars comic books. Star Wars has had over 100 different series since 1977. While most of these have been mini-series from Dark Horse, exploring a multitude of eras and characters, there have been several flagship ongoing series from both Marvel and Dark Horse.

• STAR WARS [1977] #1-107   (classic Marvel series; ANH and ESB are adapted within the run as #1-6 and #39-44 respectively)
• STAR WARS [1998] #1-45   (Dark Horse's 1st ongoing series takes place around TPM and beyond; numbering continues in STAR WARS: REBUBLIC [2002])
• STAR WARS: REPUBLIC [2002] #46-83   (numbering and time period continued from STAR WARS [1998])
• STAR WARS: EMPIRE [2002] #1-40   (ongoing series takes place right around ANH; continued in STAR WARS: REBELLION [2006])
• STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC [2006] #0-50   (set thousands of years before the original trilogy)
• STAR WARS: REBELLION [2006] #1-16   (time period and numbering (in indicia) continued from STAR WARS: EMPIRE [2002])
• STAR WARS: LEGACY [2006] #0-50   (set ~137 years after the Battle of Yavin focused on a Skywalker descendant; continued in STAR WARS: LEGACY [2013])
• STAR WARS [2013] #1-20   (Dark Horse's 2nd ongoing series takes place between ANH and ESB)
• STAR WARS: LEGACY [2013] #1-18   (continued from STAR WARS: LEGACY [2006])
• STAR WARS [2015] #1-75   (flagship title New Canon relaunch; set between ANH and ESB)
• STAR WARS [2019] #108   (one-shot continuation of the original 1977 series)
• STAR WARS: EMPIRE ASCENDANT [2020] #1   (one-shot wraps up multiple series storylines before a major relaunch in early 2020)
• STAR WARS SAGA [2020] #1   (recap of the 2015 75-issue series)
• STAR WARS [2020] #1-   (flagship title relaunch; set between ESB and ROTJ)

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Star Wars, any one of which can be a good place to get started.

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Star Wars, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.

    *As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure

• STAR WARS [1977] #1   (1st appearance of Star Wars; 1st appearance of Darth Vader)
• STAR WARS [1977] #1   VAR NEWSSTAND ED (35 CENT) (the 'holy grail' of Star Wars comic book collecting, the 35 cent price variation of the newsstand edition; ~1500 copies)
• MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL [1978-MAG] #16   (ESB adaptation)
• STAR WARS [1977] #42   (1st appearance of Boba Fett in comics (in ESB adaptation))
• STAR WARS [1977] #68   (appearance of Boba Fett (in flashback))
• MARVEL SUPER SPECIAL [1978-MAG] #27   (ROTJ adaptation)
• MARVEL AGE [1983] #10   (Star Wars cover)
• STAR WARS [1977] #81   (appearance of Boba Fett, 1st since the events in ROTJ)
• STAR WARS [1977] #107   (final issue in series, low distribution)
• STAR WARS GALAXY MAGAZINE [1994-MAG] #1   (1st issue of this series)
• CLASSIC STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI [1994] #1   (popular cover)