Star Wars has been through a lot of changes since the Disney acquisition and one of the biggest was the de-canonization of Legends. The old EU was made up of beloved stories, ones that Disney’s new canon has completely invalidated. However, to some people, Legends is the true legacy of Star Wars, full of amazing heroes and terrible villains, the likes of which won’t be seen again.
Legends introduced many amazing characters to Star Wars, ones that had a huge impact on the galaxy and the heroes of the Original Trilogy. While these characters are gone, they aren’t forgotten and still have legions of fans.
10 Nom Anor Blazed The Path For The Yuuzhan Vong
The New Jedi Order was a nineteen book series dealing with invasion of galaxy by the alien Yuuzhan Vong. However, the invasion has started years before, when Yuuzhan Vong spies infiltrated the galaxy and began sowing the seeds of discord. The most successful of these was Nom Anor and he would go on to become one of the most important characters in the series.
Anor was the classic cowardly villain, always surviving to fight again. Eventually, he ended up fighting against his own people and while he didn’t die a hero, he did die a better death than anyone expected. The New Jedi Order was a huge change of pace for Star Wars and Nom Anor was a big part of that.
9 Borsk Fey’lya Was The Epitome Of The Slimy Politician
Borsk Fey’lya showed that even those on the side of good weren’t the best people. A member of the Bothan race, Fey’lya was one of the most powerful politicians in the early days of the New Republic but he wasn’t exactly the best person. He played politics like a game, one where the main goal was power and prestige.
He was often a thorn in the side of Leia and the others, but he still fought against the remnants of the Empire in his way. The leader of the New Republic during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, his political gamesmanship cost billions of lives but he did die well- setting off a proton bomb that killed him and twenty-five thousand Yuuzhan Vong soldiers during their invasion of Coruscant.
8 Corran Horn Was One Of The Greatest Jedi Of Luke’s Order
Corran Horn was created by Micheal J. Stackpole for his X-Wing: Rogue Squadron novels, joining pilots from both the Original Trilogy and brand new ones in the Rebellion’s most illustrious fighter squadron. Eventually learning he was the descendant of a legendary Corellian Jedi, he would train with Luke Skywalker and become one of the most formidable of his Jedi Knights.
He proved to be a skilled and powerful Jedi, using his experience as a cop on Corellia and his time in the military to his advantage. Eventually joining the Jedi Council, he was one of the Order’s most trusted members.
7 Kal Skirata Proved That Clones Were More Than Just Cannon Fodder
The Republic’s clone army was trained by the best of the best, Mandalorians hand chosen by Jango Fett and Kal Skirata was one of the best. Kal was all about the Mandalorian way of life and he taught all of the clones he trained the ways of their people, including the Nulls, “defective” clones he saved from the Kaminoans.
Skirata’s clone squads were some of the best special forces clones of them all. They embraced the Mandalorian ways of their “father” and Kal loved them like they were his flesh and blood. The Republic Commando novels where he and his sons debuted, written by Karen Traviss, are some of the best of Legends and he makes them that much better.
6 Darth Revan Is One Of The Most Popular EU Characters
Debuting in BioWare’s seminal Knights of the Old Republic, Darth Revan is one of the most beloved Star Wars characters in years. Beginning life as a Jedi, his time fighting the Mandalorians changed him, causing him to go on a search for more power, one that would lead him down the dark path of the Sith.
Revan’s story was compelling and fans loved him. The twist of KOTOR is one of the most well-remembered of its console generation. While many fans want him brought back into canon, others are happy with him only existing in Legends, so their fond memories of him aren’t tarnished.
5 Darth Bane Is One Of The Most Important Sith Ever
The Rule of Two is the foundation of the modern Sith and its originator was Darth Bane. Debuting in The Phantom Menace novelization, he would be further fleshed out in the Jedi Vs Sith comic, written by Darko Macan and artist Ramon F. Bachs, and the Darth Bane Trilogy by writer Drew Karpshyn, Bane laid the foundation for the eventual Sith conquest of the galaxy.
Bane’s path to creating the Rule of Two was built on the bodies of thousands of Jedi and Sith, pruning away the deadwood. His teachings would survive long after his death and spur on the Sith for a millennia.
4 Jaina Solo Was The Sword Of The Jedi
In Legends, Han and Leia had three children, two of whom were twins. One of them was Jaina Solo, created by Timothy Zahn, who would go on to become one of the most formidable Jedi of her time. Her path was a long and hard one, though, taking her through the Yuuzhan Vong War, the battles against the Killik, and the crucible of having to battle her own brother, Jacen, when he turned to the Sith.
Branded the Sword of the Jedi by a Force vision from her uncle Luke, Jaina was always on the forefront of every battle. She would eventually find happiness with Imperial Chief of State Jag Fel but even then, she never knew peace. She wouldn’t have it any other way, though.
3 As Darth Caedus, Jacen Solo Almost Destroyed The Jedi
Jacen Solo, much like his sister, was forged in the crucible of the Yuuzhan Vong War but unlike his sister, he went down a darker path. Created by author Timothy Zahn, the chaos of his life affected him profoundly and with the guidance of his uncle’s old enemy Lumiya, he started down the path of the Sith, becoming Darth Caedus.
Manipulating his way to the top of the Galactic Alliance, Caedus almost succeeded where the Emperor failed. Caedus’s life was a profound tragedy- he was once the hero who ended the Yuuzhan Vong War but the pain of the war transformed into a broken man trying to prevent chaos through bloodshed.
2 Grand Admiral Thrawn Is The EU’s Foundational Villain
While Thrawn was brought into canon by his creator, Timothy Zahn, he first appeared in the EU. As the villain of what would eventually be called the Thrawn Trilogy, Thrawn was an antagonist never before seen in Star Wars- a brilliant, erudite Imperial who respected the soldiers under him, Thrawn almost succeeded in bringing the Empire back to power.
Thrawn’s popularity has stayed steady in the thirty years of his existence. He was integral to the success of the trilogy he starred in, which brought Star Wars back to prominence and led to a resurgence in popularity that would lead to the Prequels and beyond.
1 Mara Jade Was Luke Skywalker’s Wife And Partner
Mara Jade is the most popular Legends character of them all. Created by Timothy Zahn, Mara was the breakout character of the Thrawn Trilogy. The character would change and grow over the years, gaining more fans and importance. Eventually marrying Luke Skywalker, Mara would become a massive part of Star Wars going forward.
A formidable combatant and just a great character in general, she may have been married to Luke but she never played second fiddle to him. She was his equal in all things and she saved his life many times, giving him a son. She would die at the hands of Jacen Solo, dying like she lived- as a fighter.
About The Author
