With all great stories, people want to know: What happened next?

Or first?

Or while this story was going on, what was going on elsewhere? What about somewhere else entirely? What did this (other major, minor, incredibly minor character) think about it?

One good thing about the sheer amount and breadth of the Star Wars universe is that you can find the answers to a lot of these questions if you know where to look. Beyond all the movies and the related TV shows, there are hundreds of books, short stories, comics and graphic novels to flesh things out. 

It’s arguable that some of the best things the franchise has been doing in recent years are on TV. I’d go a step further to see some of the best of the best have been in animation. Whether or not you agree with that assessment, here’s a look at some reading material you might enjoy if you’ve enjoyed the Star Wars franchise on television. 

(Note: Canon Star Wars material, for the most part, is that from the main movies/novelizations and the time after the Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. There are also levels of canon. Much of what was developed in the novels and stories before 2014 is now considered Legends material, which isn’t official.)

If you like “The Clone Wars,” read: “Star Wars: Wild Space” by Karen Miller or “Star Wars: Dark Disciple” by Christie Golden

“The Clone Wars” ranged from “meh” to “absolutely fantastic” (season seven, friends), and the characters and stories it initiated still resonate through the canon. “Wild Space” and its several sequels are Legends stories but deal with many of the same characters as depicted in the show. “Dark Disciple,” however, is a novel dealing with the characters Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress in a story that was originally supposed to be a season seven arc. It is canon. 

If you like “Star Wars: Rebels,” read: “Star Wars: A New Dawn” by John Jackson Miller 

Full disclosure: “Rebels” is this author’s favorite of the Star Wars TV shows by a longshot. “A New Dawn” tells the story of how former Jedi Kanan and pilot Hera met and set the stage for the found family they’ll accumulate in time. 

Honorable mention: “Kanan: The Last Padawan” and “Kanan: First Blood.” These graphic novels tell the story of how Jedi padawan Caleb Dume survived Order 66 and took his first steps toward becoming Rebel Kanan Jarras. 

If you like “The Mandalorian,” read: “The Mandalorian: The Manga,” Vol. 1-4 by Yusuke Osawa 

Given that “The Mandalorian” was in part inspired by a manga (the legendary and long-running “Lone Wolf and Cub”), it seems fitting that the story also be rendered in manga form. And if you’re not very familiar with manga, this is a good place to start.

If you like “The Bad Batch,” read: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Sanctuary” by Lamar Giles 

“Sanctuary” takes place between on-screen events in season two of “The Bad Batch,” before that season finale broke hearts. (Oh, just mine? Sigh.) If you love the rogue clone squadron of the show, this is a great additional story with some additional insights into the Batch.

Honorable mention: “Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch: Ghost Agents” (2025). Yeah, the title’s a mouthful. This graphic novel collects comics telling a story from before the events of the show, but if you like the characters, you’ll like this. 

If you like “Star Wars: Visions,” read: “Star Wars: Visions: The Manga Anthology” by Haruichi Furudate

Visions collects animated short films set in the Star Wars universe, with the first and third seasons focusing on Japanese anime and the second season featuring short films by studios throughout the world. This manga adapts four of the stories from that first season. 

If you like “Tales of the Jedi,” “Tales of the Empire” and “Tales of the Underworld,” read: “Star Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina,” “Tales from Jabba’s Palace,” “Tales of the Bounty Hunters”

Like the animated “Tales,” these books are anthologies: featuring short stories from a variety of authors all revolving around a particular bit of Star Wars lore. They’re a bit of a blast from the past at this point, and they’re all Legends material now (so non-canon) but they’re entertaining, and back before Star Wars lore was everywhere, they were a great additional look into the universe.

If you like “Andor,” read: “Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear” by Alexander Freed 

A prequel for the events of “Andor,” this novel focuses on three characters who will become the architects of the Rebellion — Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Gerrera – during that first year of the Empire. A sequel, “Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss” by Rebecca Roanhorse, will follow in September. 

If you like “Ahsoka,” read: “Star Wars: Ahsoka” by E.K. Johnston 

Of all the characters introduced in the Star Wars TV canon, there is none more prominent than Ahsoka Tano, once Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice. This YA novel gives a little more insight into what happened between Ahsoka’s departure from the Jedi Order and before she reappears in “Star Wars: Rebels.”

If you like “Maul: Shadow Lord,” read: “Star Wars: Shadow of Maul” by Benjamin Percy

The graphic novel collecting the five issues of the “Star Wars: Shadow of Maul” comic series won’t be released until December 1, but the story gives excellent background on Janix and Captain Brander Lawson that fans of the show will appreciate. The first three individual issues have been released, with the next two coming June 10 and July 8. Check your local comic store if you’re interested. 

About the writer

Jill Keppeler is a writer and editor from Buffalo, N.Y. She’s an avid reader who has really has far too much comic book and sci-fi lore taking up space in her brain.