From the beginning, Star Wars has always had a foothold in every form of media, and comic books are no exception. The first Star Wars comic book was published just two and a half weeks after the original film burst into theaters. Since that time, Marvel, Dark Horse, and various other comics companies have published nearly two and a half thousand Star Wars comic books.
Many characters introduced through this medium have achieved high levels of popularity, and from legions of dedicated fans have helped some of these characters make the coveted jump to live action. Still, there are plenty of characters fans would like to see do the same, and the ever-expanding world of the Disney+ Star Wars series could make it so for many of them.
5 Star Wars Characters Who Made The Jump To Live Action
Aayla Secura
Aayla Secura is the quintessential comics-to-live-action jumper. The character debuted in a 2000 issue of Dark Horse's Star Wars ongoing series and was created by Jan Duursema and John Ostrander. She was first conceived as having a fish-like head, but the creators instead decided she should be a blue Twi'lek, a species that was created for Return of the Jedi.
According to one of the most recognizable Jedis of them all.
Tag & Bink
After making several short humorous comics for Dark Horse's Star Wars Tales, Kevin Rubio was commissioned to make a miniseries called Tag and Bink Are Dead. The name is a play on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a play that depicts the events of Hamlet from the perspective of two minor characters.
Similarly, Tag and Bink would find themselves in different scenes from the Star Wars films, often assuming the role of helmeted or unseen characters. Their hilarious antics were shown to be behind many of the vital events of the films. They appear in a deleted scene for Solo and all of their official and unofficial scenes have been compiled by YouTuber The InvictusSamaritan.
Black Krrsantan
Black Krrsantan was introduced in the first issue of Marvel's 2015 Darth Vader series. Unlike Chewbacca this Wookie was a fierce and brutal bounty hunter. The long lifespan of Wookie's allowed the character to appear in stories spanning both the Galactic Empire and the New Republic Eras.
The immensely popular character made his live action debut in 2022's The Book of Boba Fett by use of a terrific practical costume. Krrsantan features in a very brief fight with Boba Fett and his underlings but later comes to ally himself with Fett, fighting along side him in the show's climactic battle.
Palpatine Clone
In the early 90's, Dark Horse comics published a series by writer Tom Veitch called Dark Empire. It revealed that Emperor Palpatine had created a legion of clones of himself and had learned how to transfer his spirit to them after his death. The iconic series is currently being adapted in animated form by YouTuber WilkinsAnimation.
While the series has been given "Legends" status by Disney, the idea of cloning Emperor Palpatine resurfaced in Rise of Skywalker where Ian McDiarmid reprised the role. But unlike the well thought-out backstory of Dark Empire, the extend of the film's explanation was "somehow Palpatine returned" which has become an internet meme.
Quinlan Vos
The Jedi master to Aayla Secura has a similarly fascinating journey behind the scenes. John Ostrander and Jan Duursema were developing a new Jedi character for the "Emissaries to Malastare" and "Twilight" arcs of Dark Horse's Star Wars series. Duursema spotted a background character in The Phantom Menace for the look and Quinlan Vos was born.
Although he has not appeared in live action since his creation, The background character from Episode 1 is now retroactively considered to be Quinlan Vos according to survive Order 66 so fans may see him again one day.
5 Star Wars Characters Who Should Made The Jump To Live Action
Soontir Fel
Soontir Fel was one of the Empire's best pilots and considered one of the best in the Galaxy. Fel debuted in Dark Horse's X-Wing Rogue Squadron ongoing series as a significant villain for the rebels. Creator Michael Stackpole was inspired by The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen and Fel in fact came to be known as the Baron of the Empire.
Soontir Fel had an incredible story; rising through the Imperial ranks, switching allegiances, and later ing Thrawn's Empire of the Hand. He was popular enough to have his own action figures and be included in the X-Wings miniature game. With Grand iral Thrawn soon on the way, now would be a great time for Soontir Fel to the live-action fold.
Doctor Aphra
The most popular and intriguing Star Wars characters introduced by Marvel comics, Darth Vader #3 as lackey to the Sith Lord. As an archeologist who steals artifacts she has often been compared with Indiana Jones, though she tends to lean more towards the darker side of morality.
Aphra is the only comic-originated character to have her own ongoing series under marvel. Her latest find, The Spark Eternal, has rocked the Star Wars galaxy by granting dark side powers to non force sensitive. Aphra is perfectly aged to appear in the time frame of The Mandalorian and it seems only a matter of time before will get to see her on screen.
Darth Krayt & Darth Wyyrlok
Darth Krayt was born A'Sharad Hett and was a Jedi Master during the Clone Wars where he was a friend of Anakin Skywalker. With a life span of nearly 200 years he encountered numerous descendants of Anakin and eventually turned to the dark side as Darth Krayt. After deposing a descendant of Soontir Fel he established a new Galactic Empire with himself as Emperor.
Darth Wyyrlok was Krayt's most trusted servant and served as Stewart of his Empire at times. After years of loyalty, Wyyrlok eventually betrayed and killed him master. However, Krayt was resurrected and killed Wyyrlok in turn. The two characters both have a terrific design and fans would love to see them in live action one day.
Doctor Cylo
Cylo was a cybernetically enhanced humanoid introduced in the 2015 Darth Vader comic series. Although still waiting to be seen on screen, he was retroactively credited with saving Vader's life after the Mustafar battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge of the Sith.
Like the Palpatine of Dark Empire, Cylo achieved a form of immortality though through technology rather than the Force. Cylo was able to create clones of himself and transfer his consciousness upon a body's death. However, Vader destroyed all versions of Cylo around the time of the Original Trilogy, though Cylo could show up in an earlier timeframe such as the Kenobi or Andor shows.
Darth Talon
Another creation of Ostrander and Duursema, Darth Talon is arguably the most popular Star Wars character from the comics. She was created for Dark Horse's Legacy ongoing series as an underling of Darth Krayt. A red Twi'lek with tattoos all over her body and appendages, Talon cosplayers are a regular sight at conventions and many Talon action figures have been made.
In George Lucas's plans for the sequel trilogy, Darth Maul and Darth Talon were originally to be the main villains. While Talon is associated with the distant future era of Darth Krayt's reign, it's not inconceivable that she could appear in a different time frame for a Disney production. Fans long for the day when they will get to see Darth Talon in the flesh.
