A surprising number of the most important Star Wars stories featuring Princess Leia have been told outside the movies. Played by the late Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia is one of the greatest heroes of Star Wars. Her introduction is iconic, with Leia immediately presented as no mere damsel in distress; although she was technically rescued from the Death Star by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, it didn't take Leia long to take charge of the rescue attempt. Over the course of George Lucas' original trilogy, Leia showed her strength of character time and again. In Return of the Jedi, it was Leia who killed Jabba the Hutt - earning herself the in-universe title "Huttslayer."
Star Wars has always been a transmedia franchise, though, which means many of Leia's most important stories have been told off-screen. That's particularly the case in the Disney canon, which has large time-umps filled by tie-in novels and comics. Here are all Leia's essential canon Star Wars stories - outside the movies.
9 Obi-Wan Kenobi Introduced The Young Princess Leia
The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV shows introduced Vivien Lyra Blair as the young Leia Organa, and told the never-before-seen story of her first encounter with Obi-Wan himself. One of Darth Vader's Inquisitors kidnapped Leia to try to draw Obi-Wan out of hiding, and the Jedi Master did indeed come to her rescue. Blair's portrayal of the young Leia delighted viewers with her precociousness, with the Princess of Alderaan proving a true force to be reckoned with. The series is packed with beautiful moments, most notably one in which Obi-Wan tells Leia a little about her parents.
8 Leia: Princess of Alderaan Is A Beautiful Tribute To Carrie Fisher
Written by Claudia Gray, one of Lucasfilm Publishing's most talented authors, Leia: Princess of Alderaan is a beautiful homage to the character of Leia Organa and a touching tribute to Carrie Fisher. The story of Leia: Princess of Alderaan is something of an origin for Leia, explaining how she first became involved with the Rebel Alliance. Gray effortlessly weaves in some of the ideas from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, fleshing out Amilyn Holdo as one of Leia's oldest friends and taking readers to the planet Crait.
7 Star Wars Adventures #25 Sees Leia Explore Coruscant
The friendship between Leia and Holdo is further explored in Star Wars Adventures #25, in a short story by Delilah S. Dawson and Margaux Saltel. The two travel to the forbidden lower levels of Coruscant, showing their rebellious streak, in a story that's notable for being one of the few hints of Coruscant's dark side secrets. Readers will also note some hints of the Force, suggesting Leia always used the Force unconsciously - long before she ever learned her true history and heritage.
6 Princess Leia Meets The Heroes Of Star Wars Rebels
Leia became heavily involved in the Rebel Alliance, of course, and she found creative ways to use her role in the Senate to the rebellion's advantage. This can be seen in Star Wars Rebels season 2, episode 12, in which Leia traveled to Lothal to help the cell there. She met all the main Rebels heroes, bonding with them immediately. The Leia of Star Wars Rebels is voiced by Julie Dolan, who presents her own powerful tribute to Carrie Fisher. Leia would cross paths with the Lothal rebel cell many times over the years, building up a particularly strong friendship with Hera Syndulla - who became a general, and even participated in the Battle of Endor.
5 The Pain Of Alderaan's Destruction In Explored In A Princess Leia Miniseries
The Death Star destroyed Alderaan in George Lucas' first Star Wars movie, but Leia - princess of Alderaan and senator for the historic Core World - didn't have time to mourn. Published in 2015, Mark Waid and Terry Dodson's tremendous Princess Leia five-issue miniseries is set shortly after Alderaan's destruction and shows Leia struggling with grief in her own inimitable fashion. It also underscores the evils of the Empire, with Palpatine ordering the execution of every Alderaanian across the galaxy, seeking to make a point by committing a complete act of genocide. Leia, of course, chooses to get in the way of this order.
4 Leia Faces Tarkin's Protégé in Star Wars #7-8
Charles Soule, Ramon Rosanas, and Rachelle Rosenberg's Star Wars #7-8 sees Leia face an enemy who is almost too much for her - Commander Zahra, Grand Moff Tarkin's protégé, who is seeking revenge for his death when forces Leia commanded blew up the first Death Star. This story is unique in Star Wars canon, in that Zahra figures out how to get under Leia's skin, rightly realizing that undermining Leia will do serious damage to the Rebel Alliance. The Empire almost breaks Leia, leaving her shaken and filled with self-doubt for one of the few times in her life.
3 Leia's Rivaly With Zahra Ends In Star Wars #24
The rivalry between Leia and Zahra builds through Soule's Star Wars run, finally coming to a climax in Star Wars #24 in which he teams up with artists Ramon Rosanas and Madibek Musabekov. The issue demonstrates Leia's resolve, as she chooses to enter what is clearly a trap to finally end Zahra, who has caused a great deal of trouble for the Rebel Alliance by this point. The story is full of twists, but comes to a satisfying conclusion, one in which Leia acknowledges the blood on her hands but concludes it was worth it to overthrow the Empire.
2 The Princess & The Scoundrel Explores Han & Leia's Marriage - And Honeymoon
Written by Beth Revis, The Princess and the Scoundrel is an excellent novel set shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi. Originally announced as a promotional tie-in for the launch of the (now-failed) Galactic Starcruiser hotel, The Princess and the Scoundrel is nonetheless a tremendous character-rich novel. It focuses on the relationship between Han Solo and Leia Organa, telling the story of their marriage and honeymoon. Naturally, their idea of a quiet romantic getaway doesn't exactly work out.
1 Bloodline Sets Up Leia's Sequel Trilogy Story
Another fantastic novel by Claudia Gray, Bloodline is essential setup for the Star Wars sequel trilogy. It is set shortly before the First Order emerged as a galactic power, with Leia sensing forces moving in the shadows - and struggling to figure out how to fight them. This is a character-rich book in which Leia faces her true parentage, with the secrets of Darth Vader finally revealed to the galaxy. Not only is it a vital chapter in Leia's story, it is also one of the most enjoyable Star Wars books of the Disney era.
