Top 10 Star Wars Characters From The Expanded Universe

Born Galen Marek , he was the son of two Jedi knights that fled during the Clone Wars and appeared in the “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” project, which includes 2 video games, a comic book and more. After Darth Vader killed his father, the Sith Lord adopted Galen as his apprentice unbeknownst to Emperor Palpatine and gave him the codename Starkiller. This Sith assassin was brutally ruthless towards his opponents and attempted to kill any surviving Jedi that crossed his path. At the urging of Vader, Starkiller founded the Rebel Alliance, which was revealed to be a means to uncover Imperial dissenters. After being betrayed by Vader – twice! – Starkiller finally turned on Vader, nearly killed the Emperor, and sacrificed his life to save the founders of the Alliance. He was certainly a force to be reckoned with!

Born Caleb Dume , Kanan Jarrus was a Jedi Padawan during the Clone Wars that narrowly survived Darth Sidious’ infamous Order 66. He went from using his lightsaber to adopting a blaster for combat and eventually became a freighter pilot. After teaming up with a fledgling group of Rebels to combat the Galactic Empire, Kanan came in contact with the young, Force sensitive orphan known as Ezra Bridger and took him under his wing to train. A compelling new character, Kanan is quickly becoming a fan favorite!

While Luke Skywalker had humble beginnings as a farm boy who took to being a Jedi after his aunt and uncle’s murders, his descendant Cade coped with grief quite differently, showing hints of Anakin’s self-destructive nature in the “Star Wars: Legacy” comic series. As a young Padawan, Cade witnessed the murder of his Jedi father at the hands of the Sith. He strayed from the Force, became a drug addict, and dabbled in smuggling and bounty hunting. Once messed with by the Sith, however, Cade got his act together and became an exceptional Jedi knight. He’s the classic self-help story!

If you thought Leia had it bad when she had to witness the destruction of her planet, just take a look at her daughter with Han Solo – she had it pretty rough too. Like her mother and uncle Luke, Jaina was Force sensitive and joined her uncle’s Jedi academy. She became an apprentice under her aunt Mara Jade , who trained her until Jedi knighthood. She was even forced to kill her twin brother Jacen after he became Darth Caedus. However, she eventually married Jagged Fel, who would become the Emperor of the revived Empire. Jaina’s life is, to put it simply, exceptional!

HK-47 is by far the most hilarious assassin droid in the “Star Wars” universe! Most notably appearing in the “Knights of the Old Republic” video games, Darth Revan created this technical monster to hunt Jedi. While his memory was eventually wiped, like his master’s, this spunky murderer finally ended up back in Revan’s company, after killing a few less-than-desirable masters along the way. He is a snarky jerk of a droid and is not afraid to tell people what he thinks of them – usually that they’re simply “meatbags.”

This former stormtrooper from the “Jedi Knight” video games defected to the Rebel Alliance and became a covert operative, helping to dismantle the Empire’s secret Dark Trooper Project. Though he didn’t know it at first, Kyle Katarn was always Force sensitive and ultimately taught himself to become a Jedi. Katarn faced off against Dark Jedi Jerec and defeated him while also overcoming his own dark side tendencies. He eventually became a member of the Jedi High Council under the New Jedi Order. Katarn is a true fan favorite!

First introduced in “The Thrawn Trilogy” of “Star Wars” novels, Mara Jade is the original badass of the expanded universe. She began as the Emperor’s Hand, a brutal assassin that eliminated Rebels and Imperial dissidents for Palpatine. After the Emperor’s death, she became a smuggler, eventually and reluctantly allied with Luke against Grand Admiral Thrawn, epically killed the Dark Jedi Joruus C’baoth , married Luke, became a Jedi Knight, fought off the Yuuzhan Vong , had a son with Luke named Ben, and was killed by her nephew Jacen Solo. If any character’s life is a rollercoaster, it’s hers.

Found in “The Clone Wars” animated film and TV series, Ahsoka Tano was appointed Anakin Skywalker's apprentice by Yoda. Though young, she is fiercely talented with her lightsaber and has dueled with some of the galaxy’s most notorious villains, including General Grievous, Cad Bane, and Asajj Ventress. Framed for a bombing of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and for several deaths, the High Jedi Council expelled her from the Jedi Order. Once proven innocent, the Council offered her readmission, but she bitterly refused. In short, Ahsoka is a convoluted character that narrowly broke away before Anakin’s complete submersion into the Dark Side.

Asajj Ventress is one of the coolest villains in Star Wars, first entering our worlds through the “Clone Wars” micro-series. This Nightsister was captured and enslaved at a young age and eventually became a Padawan to Jedi Knight Ky Narec. Enraged at her Master’s eventual murder, she became a Dark Jedi and a Dark Acolyte of Count Dooku, aspiring to become a Sith herself. She has squared off against both Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi and suffered greatly after being betrayed by Dooku. This tragic felon is an infamous villain; Asajj always leaves fans clamoring for more.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
- Corran Horn
“Rogue Squadron” (1996)
- Savage Opress
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (2008-14)
- Darth Revan
“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” (2003)
- Darth Sion
“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II” (2004)
- The Inquisitor
“Star Wars Rebels” (2014-)

After the Empire’s disastrous defeat at the end of “Return of the Jedi,” Thrawn stitched together its remnants and re-established it as a relevant fighting force in multiple novels, first appearing in the “Thrawn Trilogy”! While Emperor Palpatine preferred a cult-like control of power, Thrawn favored a less egotistical approach, respecting others’ opinions such as his second-in-command, Captain Gilad Pellaeon. A vicious military leader, Thrawn studied the artwork of the civilizations he fought in order to understand their cultural thought processes. Eventually killed by one of his own alien assassins, this Chiss’ dying words were, “But it was so artistically done.”

Do you agree with our list? What are your favorite Star Wars expanded universe characters? For more excellent Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.