Top Ten Star Wars Characters
Archive Note: We decided to include both Clone Wars Animated series and the Clone Wars Movie with the 6 main movies.

1.  Boba Fett
2.  Darth Vader
3.  Obi-Wan Kenobi
4.  Jango Fett
5.  Yoda
6.  The Emperor (Palpatine/Darth Sidious)
7.  Han Solo
8.  Anakin Skywalker
9.  Darth Maul
10. Luke Skywalker

Honorable Mentions

• Wedge Antilles
• Count Dooku
• Admiral Ackbar

1. Boba Fett
2. Yoda
3. Han Solo
4. R2-D2
5. Chewbacca
6. Ashoka Tano
7. Captain Rex
8. Wedge Antilles
9. Luke Skywalker
10. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Honorable Mentions

• Padme Amidala
• Leia Organa (Solo)
• Lando Calrissian
• Darth Maul

Top Ten Expanded Universe Characters
Archive Note: We at the Archive have decided to limit this category to characters introduced in the books, video games, and graphic novels.  However, we'd be foolish if we didn't mention the vast improvement within the expanded universe regarding certain characters.  For example, Luke Skywalker, now the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, is perhaps one of the coolest, if not the coolest, characters found within Star Wars literature.  And of course, Wedge Antilles, has quietly established himself as one of the more popular franchise characters. 

1. Quinlan Vos
2. Grand Admiral Thrawn
3. Cade Skywalker
4. Jacen Solo (Darth Caedus)
5. Jaina Solo
6. A'Sharad Hett (Darth Kayt)
7. Aurra Sing
8. Mara Jade Skywalker
9. Dash Rendar
10. Prince Xizor

Honorable Mentions

• Admiral Daala
• Asajj Ventress
• Kyp Durron
• Kir Kanos

1. Mara Jade Skywalker
2. Jaina Solo
3. Darman Skirata
4. Fi Skirata
5. Ordo Skirata
6. Jaing Skirata
7. Ben Skywalker
8. Cade Skywalker
9. Corran Horn
10. Saba Sebatyne

Honorable Mentions

• Anakin Solo
• Asajj Ventress
• Jacen Solo (Darth Caedus)
• Galen Marek (Starkiller)

1. Timothy Zahn
2. Kevin Anderson
3. Karen Traviss
4. Aaron Allston
5. Michael Stackpole

Honorable Mention

• Steve Perry

1. Timothy Zahn
2. Aaron Allston
3. Karen Traviss
4. Michael Stackpole
5. James Luceno

1. Legacy of the Force series (a bad dude named Skywalker?  NO WAY!!)
2. The Dark Empire I and II (The Emperor (Palpatine) is BACK?!)
3. The Clone Wars Volumes 1-9 (two words: Quinlan Vos!)
4. Crimson Empire I and II (don't sell those guardsmen in red short!)
5. Star Wars Tales Volumes 1-6 (the issue with Vader vs. Maul is awesome!)

Honorable Mentions

• Tales of the Sith (a must read is "The Golden Age of the Sith")
• Tales of the Jedi (Ulic Qel Droma, Nomi Sunrider, etc. very original stuff!)
• Star Wars: Chewbacca (short stories in memory of our favorite Wookie)
• Star Wars: Boba Fett (the guy won't even back down from Vader!)

Archive Note: Unfortunately, we can't see the early movies done with the same intensity and advancements available during the prequel era.  Thus, some early saga fight scenes may take a back seat to the prequel era in this category.

1.  Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader)
Wow!  This scene was an incredible way to close out the movie saga!  A confrontation of epic proportions that puts it all into perspective...a young man so full of hatred, blinded by his rage and hostility to the point that endangers his wife and soon to be children, in an effort to kill his former master.  The dialogue almost seems drawn out from a Shakespearean play, which was a very nice touch.  The final conversation between Obi-Wan and Anakin is the only scene in Star Wars history that has brought the Archive Crew to tears...'nuff said!

Archive Note: Anyone who says they hate the Star Wars series must be crazy if they think that after watching this scene.  This scene, in the Archives mind, should be placed in the top movie moments of all time (right up there with the ending of the original Planet of the Apes). 

2.  Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jinn vs. Darth Maul
How can you not put this scene near the top?  This scene alone was worth the price of admission!  The music combined with the drama of seeing a young Obi-Wan finding himself separated from his master and eventually seeing Qui Gon brutally gored with the dual blade was amazing.  What a dramatic conclusion seeing Obi-Wan "man up" and chop the bad dude in half!

3.  Yoda vs. The Emperor (Palpatine/Darth Sidious)
This classic Jedi vs. Sith battle featured more than simply lightsabers. Yoda, who fully grasped the light side of the Force, and Sidious, who totally embraced the dark side of the Force is more than any fan could ask in a Star Wars face off!  Even the anticipation leading up to this fight scene in the moments prior to the actual throwdown was simply amazing.  I'd say the only thing that might compare (if it could be visually put on the big screen) would be Jacen Solo squaring off against Luke Skywalker as it occured in The Legacy of the Force series. 

4.  Yoda vs. Count Dooku (aka Darth Tyrannus)
Another battle between a former master and his old student.  The old, feeble Jedi Master that fans had seen in previous films was replaced by an old, feeble Jedi Master who could "open the proverbial can" (if you know what I'm saying!).  When the Archive first saw this scene in theaters, we remember hearing the fans cheer as Yoda came to his fellow Jedi's rescue.  Finally seeing what Yoda was truly capable of made one's hair stand on end! 

Archive Note: While we're on this subject, may we at the Archive add that we love the way Lucas tied this all together.  For example, Yoda was Count Dooku's master, Dooku was Qui Gon Jinn's master, Qui Gon was Obi-Wan Kenobi's master, and of course; Obi-Wan was Anakin Skywalker's master. 

5.  Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Jango Fett
The only non-Force user to make the list.  When you watch this scene, you quickly understand why!  We here at the Archive felt bad at how easily Jango seemed to meet his demise given the fact that his son, Boba Fett, seems near invincible in the expanded universe.  However, we thoroughly appreciated the fact that Lucas made it clear that Jango Fett was no mere pushover; even when it came to squaring off against a Jedi as capable as Obi-Wan.  One could even argue that in a different environment, perhaps like the one in this scene, Jango would have "schooled" Mace Windu in a similar fashion.  One could also argue that if Jango had not escaped, then Obi-Wan would have eventually emerged victorious...Stars Wars fans may never know.

Archive Note: If you don't already realize, we here at the Archive are huge Mandalorian fans!  Perhaps one day, we will see our dream of a Jedi or a Sith in full Mandalorian armor kicking butt and taking names all over the Star Wars universe!  Hey, a fan can dream can't he? Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur 

1. Kar Vastor (Shatterpoint)

Please (if you haven't already) read the Star Wars novel, Shatterpoint.  This isn't necessarily the Archive's all-time favorite novel, but it certainly contains some of our favorite fight scenes in Star Wars literature.  The battles take place in the jungles of Mace Windu's home planet of Haruun Cal.  Vastor was a Korunnai (a group of force sensitive jungle dwellers) shaman and perhaps the fiercest warrior Mace Windu, or any Jedi for that matter, had ever encountered.  Early in the book, Vastor thorougly bests Windu in a devastatingly brutal battle!  However, Windu is later able to outsmart and capture Vastor.  The Archive was hoping the Emperor might choose to transform this guy into the ultimate Sith Lord, but it simply wasn't meant to be...

1. Galen Marek (The Force Unleashed)

If you have not had a chance to play The Force Unleased, the Archive Crew highly recommends it. It is hard to top the fun of walking into a hanger full of stormtroopers and taking them on by yourself. Galen's story bounces around to several world as he goes about his missions. The story starts out with Vader killing his father and finding him as a child strong in the force. It picks up with Galen having been trained by Vader setting off to kill a Jedi who survived Order 66. He is eventually betrayed by Vader, but manages to return and saves his friends though he dies at The Emperor's hand doing so.

Archive Note: You can also read Galen's story in the novel or graphic novel that are also called The Force Unleashed, though we suggest playing the game anyway, the scene where he pulls down the star destroyer while one of the more impressive feats in the game is far from the only one worth seeing.