The Top 10 Coolest Star Wars Characters of ALL TIME!!

Star Wars is the coolest Science Fiction epic out there; better than Star Trek, Stargate, Starcraft, and even (gasp!) Halo. The Star Wars Universe is so real that you could almost, almost, reach out and touch it. Well, in any event, here are, in my opinion, the top ten coolest characters in that universe. Note that you will not find Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, or even Han Solo in this list. Why? Because I'm not into picking the people that everyone already knows and likes. Besides, I can't stand Mark Hamill (although he does make a pretty cool Joker voice). Well, here goes...

10) Dash Rendar

I remember when I first played Shadows of the Empire for the Nintendo 64. That game was amazing. Dash, with his "devil-may-care" attitude, coupled with the coolest looking light freighter in the galaxy, made Han Solo look like a pansy. His ship, the Outrider, is a YT-2400 Correllian light freighter, and it makes the Millennium Falcon look like the hunk of junk that it really is. His motto is "look out for number one". He fought with the Rebel Alliance at the Battle of Hoth, taking down an AT-AT. Afterwards, he helped the Rebels track down Han Solo, then tried to rescue him from the clutches of Boba Fett. This led to Dash fighting against IG-88D (now there's a cool story; look up why IG-88 has a "D" after its name), and even Boba Fett himself. Supposedly, Dash Rendar died while fighting against Prince Xixor's criminal syndicate, Black Sun, in a space battle over Coruscant, but in reality he escaped at the last moment, deciding that his career as a Rebel was over.

9) Darth Bane

I used to think that Darth Bane was one of the "nice" Sith. Boy, was I wrong. This guy had a tough childhood. He grew up in a mining colony, with an abusive father. Dessel(his real name) grew up with no mother, who died while giving birth to him. His father would often blame him for her death, often referring to Dessel as his "bane" while drunk. Desseleventually kills his father using the Force (not on purpose, nor to his knowledge; he later realizes that he was responsible for his father's death). Eventually, Desseljoins the brotherhood of Darkness, as a foot soldier. Once his Force-Sensitivity is realized by the Brotherhood, however, he is shipped off to Korriban for Sith training. From there he learns the history of the Sith, and grows immensely powerful, changing his name to "Bane". He is at first afraid of the Dark Side, not wanting to embrace his rage, but circumstances change, making him one of the most ruthless Sith in history (For example: once, while on the brink of death due to being poisoned by a fellow Sith, Darth Bane kills a family, drawing on their pain and anguish to give him strength, relishing in it.). There is much more to his story, but it would be better for you to read the books and comics on him. He's also got some of the coolest armor ever (Hint: it's a biological parasite.).

8) Jacen Solo/Darth Caedus

I used to hate Jacen Solo. Seriously, he was a peacenik pansy who loved collecting animals and acting superior to everyone else. What was there not to hate? I especially hated him throughout the New Jedi Order series; the Force is for one of two things: pushing things and electrocuting things. Get over it, Jacen. Happily, Jacen becomes a bit less hippie-like and much more pragmatic later on, especially in the Legacy of the Force series (this is, in part, due to the death of the coolest Solo child, Anakin Solo). In this series, however, Jacen also gets seduced by the Dark Side, and slowly becomes a Sith lord. This transformation is so amazing that I refuse to tell how it happens, or what becomes of the Galaxy (which, by the way, is in another civil war at this time; when it rains, it pours); you have to read it for yourself. Seriously though, I would have him much higher in this list were it not for my past hatred for him (I especially hated how he treated Anakin.). Read the Legacy of the Force; it will blow your mind away.

7) Grand Admiral Pellaeon

I've watched Pellaeon grow and mature throughout the years. I've seen him start off as Grand Admiral Thrawn's apprentice in the Thrawn Trilogy (I was 12-13 at that time.), learning battle tactics and critical thinking skills that would make Admiral Ackbar's brain tie itself up in knots. I've seen him slowly evolve into the leader of the Imperial Remnant over the years, wisely negotiating peace with the New Republic during the Hand of Thrawn Dualogy. I've seen him, as an old man, help form the Galactic Alliance in the wake of the fall of Coruscant to the Yuuzhan Vong. This guy is one of the most important politicians in the Star Wars Universe (I love Star Wars politics!). What I love is, in the book Vector Prime, you get to catch a glimpse of his political views: he is passing through a greenhouse, talking to Han and Leia Solo. While talking he cups a flower in his hand, explaining how in this greenhouse the plants get exactly the amount of soil, room, and nutrients that they need, nothing more (Can someone say "communism"?). Han, with his quick wit, quips, "Yeah, but it all seems so...artificial." Nonetheless, Grand Admiral Pellaeon is an awesome character.

6) Admiral Ackbar

Admiral Ackar is the first (and he's only one of two: I am sooo "speciest") alien in this Top Ten list. I don't know why; I didn't really plan it out that way. What I love about Admiral Ackbar is, first off, his capital starship: the Home One. That thing is friggin' awesome. I also love his battle tactics and strategies. He is one of the brightest tacticians in the New Republic's arsenal, able to go toe-to-toe with Grand Admiral Pellaeon, and even Grand Admiral Thrawn himself. Ackbar is a Mon Calamarian (Mon Cal for short); an amphibious alien with hammerhead shark-like eyes and webbed hand and feet. He doesn't care much for politics, which is a point or so against him, but not enough to kick him off the list. He is most famous commanding the Rebel fleet in the Battle of Endor, where the Rebels destroyed the Second Death Star, killing Vader and the Emperor with one swipe. One line that everyone seems to remember from him: "It's a trap!" Why? I don't know; I guess it's because he says it kind of funny. Oh well; he know he's cool.

5) Mara Jade Skywalker

This is another character that I grew up reading about. When I first met her, she couldn't have been much older than in the mid-twenties. At this time, she was trying desperately to kill Luke Skywalker. Mara Jade was trained by Emperor Palpatine himself in the ways of the Force. She was known as "The Emperor's Hand", Palpatine's personal bodyguard and assassin. She eventually falls in love with her "target", and they end up marrying some years later (Like, fifteen to twenty years later; about a year or two before the events in the New Jedi Order series). A red-head (that was a plus for her on this list), she is a woman of action; none of this waiting around, hoping everything will be alright. No, just do what you need to to help the ones you love. Mara and Luke end up having a kid, who they name Ben (after Obi-Wan's nickname). He ends up inheriting Mara's red hair. Mara Jade Skywalker ends up dying during the Second Galactic Civil War, killed by...oh kriff, I'm out of space! Onto the next one!

4) Cal Omas

This guy is the coolest Star Wars politician in the history of ever. First off, he's got an awesome name. Second, he's been the leader of two governments: the New Republic and the Galactic Alliance (The latter which he helped create.). This guy is pro-Jedi, pro-defense, for negotiating peace...he sounds like an awesome politician! Sadly, he dies (Why do all the good ones die?), a prisoner of Jacen Solo and Cha Niathal when they took over the Galactic Alliance. He had one daughter, Elya Omas.

3) Grand Admiral Thrawn

This is the second and final alien in this list. Thrawn is a Chiss, a humanoid species with blue skin and piercing red eyes from the Unknown Regions. And Thrawn totally rules. What makes Thrawn so cool is his intelligence. This guy studies the art of different cultures, learning their way of thinking, which helps him predict their battle tactics in war. He turned the remnants of the Imperial fleet into a force that almost destroyed the New Republic, all within a few short years. Sadly, Thrawn dies; killed by his own bodyguard. His last words, said to his apprentice Pellaeon, was, "But... it was so artistically done." This guy almost comes back to life, as a clone, ten years later, but his clone body is destroyed when the lab he is in gets flooded (Oddly enough, Luke and Mara face a moral dilemma when they reach him. Do they kill the "unborn" Thrawn, who hasn't done anything wrong yet, or let him live? Hmmm... do conservatives write these books or what? I like it!). Thrawn is also a pioneer: he was the first and only alien Grand Admiral under Palpatine (Even that speciest scumbag couldn't ignore the intelligence of Thrawn.). Read up more about him in Outbound Flight and Survivor's Quest, besides the two series named after him. He really is one of the coolest characters in all of sci-fi literature, not just Star Wars.

2) Anakin Solo

I almost cried when I found out that Anakin Solo died. I refused to read the book (Star by Star), and for a while even refused to believe that he did died. I could take the death of Chewbacca, but not Anakin Solo.Anakin was the coolest Solo child by far; I hated Jacen, and Jaina was not that cool either. I mean, she loved flying, which was a plus, but still, she's not that cool. Anakin Solo was just plain awesomeness; he actually used the Force to, um, fight bad guys. Anakin saw the Force for what it is: a tool to use for good or evil, not some stupid self-discovery New Age journey where one can be "enlightened" into being an arrogant, whiny hippie-peacenik (cough, Jacen Solo, cough). Better still, he didn't let his power get to him like his older brother later does. Anakin was my favorite character during the Jedi Knight and Junior Jedi Knight series (yes, I read those as a kid.), and he was definitely my favorite Jedi in the New Jedi Order series. Sigh... may the Force be with you, Anakin Solo...

1) Boba Fett

Boba Fett is the coolest, the greatest, character in Star Wars, no debate. This guys is virtually indestructible. From his Mandalorian armor to his jet pack to his apathetic attitude, this guy is the epitome of coolness. I would argue that Fett is more brilliant than Pelleaon, Ackbar, and Thrawn; and I know that I'm not alone in that argument. What's more, he's also a highly moral (and at some times pseudo-moral) character. He's against sex before marriage (no joke), killing for fun, and is very honorable. This guys destroyed three IG-88 machines that were trying to steal the frozen Han Solo from him. He's faced up against (or worked for) the worst of the worst in the Galaxy: Imperial, Hutt, Black Sun, Yuuzhan Vong, the list goes on and on. There is no bounty hunter who could even hope to be as good as him: not Bossk, Dengar, IG-88, 4-LOM, or even Samus Aran (not Star Wars, in case you were wondering). Although, I would love to see a fight between Samus and Fett. That one would be fun to watch. Oh, and in case any of you Star Wars n00bs were wondering; Boba Fett did not die in Return of the Jedi. He managed to survive the SarlaccPit, and even killed it. You rock, Fett!! W00t!

So, there you have it. Let me name some honorable mentions that did not quite cut it for the list, but are awesome nonetheless: Kyp Duron, Bossk, Wedge Antilles (He would most likely be the 11^th.), Boshek, Yoda, Darth Revan, Darth Malak, Bastilla, Ulic and Cay Qel Droma, Arca Jeth, Exar Kun, Kyle Katarn, IG-88A, Nom Anor, Ben Skywalker, Fey'lya, and Tarkin. Wow, there's a lot of very cool Star Wars characters!

Alright, so leave a comment on this article, then come back in a few days and see if I responded to it (I most likely will.). Until then, may the Force be with you!