Less than six months after the conclusion of the Qi’ra trilogy with Hidden Empire, another crossover event is taking place in the Star Wars Canon Universe! Once again written by Charles Soule, with art from Luke Ross, Star Wars: Dark Droids plunged the Star Wars Universe into chaos by revisiting a classic subject of science-fiction: the rogue A.I.!
From Terminator to Blade Runner, Westworld, Ex Machina, or 2001: Space Odyssey, you know that having your robot gaining sentience can lead to some violence! It seems the Star Wars Universe is no exception! As the official synopsis said, “Who or what is the Scourge — and why is no droid safe? As corruption spreads from one droid to the next, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire both face chaos! What role does Ajax Sigma play in all of this? And whose side is he on? Find out when horror comes to a galaxy far, far away!”
What to read before Star Wars: Dark Droids?
This event takes place during the Age of the Rebellion. Check out our Star Wars Comics Canon Reading Order to learn more about it.
- Star Wars: Revelations #1
This one-shot comic released during the Hidden Empire crossover and written by Marc Guggenheim introduced Ajax Sigma, a warrior-priest droid who has a role to play in this event. - Han Solo and Chewbacca #9-10
The flashbacks in those issues reveal a little bit more about Ajax Sigma.
Star Wars: Dark Droids Reading Guide
This Star Wars crossover event has been labeled as a “horror-fueled story” and ties in with all four of the current Star Wars comics set in this era: Star Wars, Darth Vader, Bounty Hunters, and Doctor Aphra, plus another tie-in miniseries featuring R2-D2 named D-Squad.
Dark Droids in Collected Editions
Following is a listing of the trade paperbacks announced collecting the issues from the Dark Droids crossover. All of them will be released in 2024!
- Star Wars: Dark Droids
Collects Star Wars: Dark Droids (2023) #1-5 - Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad
Collects Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad (2023) #1-4 - Star Wars Vol. 7: Dark Droids
Collects Star Wars (2020) #37-41 - Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 8: Dark Droids
Collects Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #37-41 - Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 7: Dark Droids
Collects Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #32-36 - Star Wars: Bounty Hunters Vol. 7: Dark Droids
Collects Star Wars: Bounty Hunters (2020) #35-41
Dark Droids, an Issue by Issue Reading Order
While Marvel Comics released a publication order at the end of the issues for the event, this Dark Droids Reading List has been rearranged in the hope of offering a nice reading experience. Don’t hesitate to make suggestions in the comments, we’ll update to make it the best order possible!
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #32-34
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #35-36
- Star Wars (2020) #36
“First, it comes for the metal…”
- Star Wars: Dark Droids #1
- Star Wars #37
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #35
- Star Wars: Darth Vader #37
- Star Wars: Dark Droids #2
- Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad #1
- Star Wars #38
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #36
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #37-38
- Star Wars: Darth Vader #38-39
- Star Wars: Dark Droids #3
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #39
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #37
- Star Wars #39
- Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad #2-4
- Star Wars: Dark Droids #4
- Star Wars: Darth Vader #40
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #40
- Star Wars: Darth Vader #41
- Star Wars: Dark Droids #5
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #38
- Star Wars #40-41
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #39
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #41
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #40 (final issue of the series)
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #42 (final issue of the series)
After Star Wars: Dark Droids
While the Bounty Hunters and Doctor Alpha series came to an end, the adventure continues for Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in The Sith and the Skywalker arc for the former and The Rise of the Schism Imperial for the latter! For more Star Wars comics, see our Canon Reading Order Guide!
