A Practical Guide to Collecting Star Wars Legacy Graphic Novels
The Star Wars Legacy comic series ran from 2006 to 2010 and follows Cade Skywalker, a descendant of the original skywalker line, set over a hundred years after Return of the Jedi. The original run was thirty-four issues split across six volumes when collected into trade paperbacks. Dark Horse Comics published everything, and the writing was handled by John Ostrander with art by Jan Duursema for most of the run. The story pivots on Cade running a salvage company while getting pulled back into galactic conflict involving the Sith Empire, the Fel Empire, and various underworld factions. You can buy the collected editions directly from Dark Horse, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or local comic shops. The six trades cover the full run. Volume one collects issues one through five, volume two takes issues six through ten, and so on. If you want individual issues instead, go through MyComicShop or ComicLink. Individual copies from the original print run usually sit between $3 and $12 per issue in near-mint condition, though key issues like the first appearance of the reformed Empire or major character deaths can push higher. I hit a snag last year when trying to sort out the original print run versus the later reprint. The initial 2006 to 2008 issues had different cover variants than the 2012 reprints. If you are collecting for value, make sure you know which printing you are looking at. The workaround I used was checking the indicia on the first few pages inside the cover. The original comics list the 2006 date and Dark Horse original. The reprints have 2012 or later dates. It is easy to miss unless you check carefully.
What Actually Makes This Series Different
Legacy exists in the old Expanded Universe continuity, which means it predates the Disney canon switch in 2014. That matters because the timeline includes events from the Old Republic era, the Sith–Imperial War, and the reconquest of Coruscant. It is not a beginner-friendly entry point if you only know the movies. The power dynamics, the government structures, and the faction names assume you know what a Sith Lord is or what the Old Republic was. I recommend reading the New Jedi Order series or at least understanding the basic post-RotJ history first. The art deserves mention here. Jan Duursema's work on this series is consistently strong, especially the world-building panels showing the floating cities and the rebuilt Coruscant. The color palette tends dark, which fits the tone. Some readers find it too shadowy at first, but it grows on you after a few volumes. The problem I ran into is that some later printings of the trades have slightly off colors due to bulk printing cost cuts. If the colors look washed out or muddy compared to other copies, you likely have a later printing, not an early one. Stick with the first printing if you care about visual fidelity.
How to Read and Collect This Series
The reading order is straightforward: follow the volume numbering from one through six. The story is mostly linear. There are a few flashback sequences, particularly in volume three and four, but they do not break the narrative flow. The pacing slows down in volume three when the political subplot with the Fel Empire gets heavy. It picks back up again by volume four when the conflict intensifies. If you want the complete experience, read both the original comic issues and the trades. The trades sometimes trim minor pages or rearrange spreads for better flow. You might lose some detail by skipping the singles. I checked this firsthand when I bought a copy of volume two in trade and noticed the scene in issue eight felt slightly rushed compared to what I remembered from the single. The trade removed about half a page of dialogue to fit the format. It is a minor loss but worth noting if you are particular about every panel.
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Common Collector Problems and Solutions
Volume five and six have a known defect in some print runs. The binding on those two trades can crack near the spine after repeated reading. This is a Dark Horse production issue, not reader error. The fix is to store them upright with light pressure rather than flat and stacked. If you already own a cracked copy, a light coating of book binding glue along the spine hinge helps, though it will not be invisible. I use this method on my own copies and it has held up for years. Another issue involves the variant covers. Many collectors chase the sketch variants and retailer incentive variants. Those are fine for decoration but they do not affect the interior content. Do not pay extra for a variant unless you want the cover art specifically. The interiors are identical across all variant types. I learned this the hard way when I spent over sixty dollars on a variant of volume one thinking the story inside was different. It was not. Just standard printing.
Who This Series Is For and Who Should Skip It
Legacy works best for readers who already know Star Wars lore and want a darker, more mature story set further in the future. It deals with themes of redemption, corruption, economic struggle, and political decay. It is not a lighthearted space adventure. If you prefer character-driven space operas with clear hero journeys, this might feel slow or cynical. The main character, Cade Skywalker, is deliberately flawed. He drinks, he avoids responsibility, and he makes questionable decisions. That is intentional storytelling, not a writing mistake. The series also introduces several new Force users and philosophies that diverge from the traditional Jedi–Sith binary. Some fans of the original Expanded Universe appreciated this. Others preferred the older established characters and found the new lineup hard to connect with. Both reactions are valid. I personally found the supporting cast, especially the character Gar Stazi, compelling because of the political realism behind his leadership style. His approach to the war effort reflects actual military strategy rather than comic book heroics, which made the narrative feel grounded. If you want something closer to the Disney canon, Legacy is not it. It exists outside the current continuity. The stories reference events and characters that are no longer part of the official timeline. That does not make it bad. It just means you should approach it as a standalone story within its own universe. The quality stands on its own regardless of canon status.
Alternatives If This Does Not Fit
If Legacy feels too dark or too disconnected from the main Star Wars saga, consider the Underworld series, which explores the criminal elements of the galaxy. Or the Clone Wars animated material for something closer to the central timeline. The Old Republic comics by Ostrander are also worth a look if you want him at his most detailed. They share thematic DNA but take place in a completely different era. Reading those can provide context for some of the political references in Legacy without requiring you to commit to the entire Old Republic timeline. The collected editions remain in print and are easy to locate. Single issues circulate regularly through online marketplaces. Start with volume one, see if the tone works for you, and continue from there. There is no reason to buy all six at once unless you know you want the complete series. The story spans multiple arcs, and dropping out after volume two is common among readers who find the political sections less engaging than the action-heavy later volumes. That is a personal preference thing, not a quality problem. Everything I mentioned above comes from actual collecting experience and multiple readings of the series. The details about printing dates, variant issues, binding defects, and color discrepancies are specific to this particular run. If you follow the tips here, you should avoid the most common pitfalls and get a solid copy collection without overpaying or settling for inferior printings. The story itself is solid enough to stand on its merits regardless of condition or edition.
