I’m very sorry to hear that after more than 200 issues, Star Wars Insider, the official Star Wars print magazine, will end its current run in 2026.
Many editors and writers have brought their love for Star Wars to the pages of the magazine in its various incarnations, and deserve much thanks for their amazing work down the years, not just at Titan, the current publisher, but those who launched the original title, too, such as Dan Madsen, and others.
As with Star Trek, back in the 1990s, I played a small part in the title’s history, as launch editor of Titan’s UK-based Star Wars: The Official Magazine back in 1996, which was the starting point for the publisher’s long involvement in Star Wars periodical publishing. The magazine followed hot on the heels of the launch of Star Trek Magazine in 1995, later Star Trek Explorer, which I edited three times, which folded last year.
Both titles have, like other magazines, sadly fallen victim to declining print sales, rising costs, and increasing difficulties of distribution both here and in the United States.
Lucasfilm has announced that Star Wars Insider will wrap up its print run with issue #237, set to launch in early 2026. The magazine’s 235th issue, a celebration of The Force Awakens 10th anniversary, will be published next month.
The official Star Wars magazine first launched under the Insider moniker in 1994, part of an evolution that began with the Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine.
But the earliest incarnation of the idea began in 1978 with the start of the Official Star Wars Fan Club. A newsletter in the membership kit was renamed bantha Tracks after a contest in issue #2, and would mark its final edition in March of 1987 with issue #35 covering the new Star Tours ride.
The first glossy Lucasfilm Fan Club magazine debuted in the fall that same year, featuring C-3PO and R2-D2 on the cover with a cake decorated with 10 candles to mark the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope as well as Lucasfilm’s expansion into new stories beyond the galaxy far, far away.
Growing interest in Star Wars just seven short years later spurred the new name, Star Wars Insider, which debuted with the widely coveted “premier issue” #23 in 1994.
During its lifetime, the logo would be redesigned, the license would change hands, moving from publication by Hyperspace, the official Star Wars Fan Club, to Wizards of the Coast, Paizo Publishing, IDG Entertainment and, finally, Titan Magazines (now Titan Comics).
Titan launched its UK Star Wars: The Official Magazine in 1996, with Marcus Hearn – currently editor of Doctor Who Magazine Special Editions – quickly coming on board and proving instrumental in shaping its format and content in its early days, ensuring its lasting success.
(Marcus was also author of The Cinema of George Lucas, published in 2005, published by Abrams, and a contributor to The Official Star Wars Fact Files, published weekly by De Agostini).
The popular Magazine, which ran for 68 issues, utilised content from Star Wars Insider, as well as commissioning original content. In 2007, it was merged with Star Wars Insider after Titan gained the publishing rights for the title. In the UK, the numbering carried on from where The Official Magazine had left off.
Titan has also, of course published many other Star Wars tie-ins over the past thirty years, including Star Wars Comic UK, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Magazine (both edited by Jon Chapple), the short-lived Star Wars Magazine aimed at younger fans, and Star Wars Rebels Magazine.
Past editors at Titan also include Jonathan Wilkins and Will Salmon, with Christopher Cooper the title’s current editor.
Only Simpsons Comics now remains in the newsstand of the early titles that launched Titan’s once rich periodical publishing empire. Other licensed titles down the years, in healthier days for print, included Babylon 5 Magazine, The X-Files, Xena, and others.
Thank you to all those who helped shape so many amazing publications.
“It’s been an honour to explore the galaxy far, far away..”
“Insider has been a big part of my Star Wars experience for a very long time, both as a fan and professionally,” editor Christopher Cooper told StarWars.com. “It’s been an honour to explore the galaxy far, far away with our readers during my eight year tenure. But publishing has changed immeasurably since the Lucasfilm Fan Club magazine, and we live in an increasingly digital age, which sadly means that this chapter in Star Wars Insider‘s history is coming to an end.”
“I certainly share Christopher’s sentiments. Having served as editor-in-chief of Insider during the lead up to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in 2004 and 2005, and then to edit the magazine for the past nine years for Lucasfilm Publishing has been the greatest privilege of my life,” adds senior editor Brett Rector. “To say the magazine occupies a huge place in my heart is an understatement.”
Star Wars Insider issue #237 will be the magazine’s last with Titan. “As we fly off into the twin sunsets, Titan intends to go out in a blaze of glory,” Cooper adds.
Star Wars Insider #234, published last month, is still on sale in newsagents across the UK.
A Star Wars Insider Presents The Force Awakens 10 Year Anniversary Special is also available now (AmazonUK Affiliate Link): a deluxe, fully illustrated look at the making of the first chapter of the sequel trilogy, the 2015 blockbuster, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.
This hardcover volume features a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, from script development to concept art and costume designs, through to filming and eventual release. Lavishly illustrated with photography and imagery from the Lucasfilm Archives, this must-have collector’s edition also includes interviews with stars Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega.
Things Still to Come…
Following up on the paperback release of Star Wars Insider: The High Republic: Tales of Enlightenment, first published last year, Star Wars Insider: The High Republic: Starlight Stories, the latest collection of exclusive, illustrated Star Wars: The High Republic short stories, written by The New York Times’ best-selling authors Charles Soule, Justina Ireland, and Cavan Scott, will be published later this month. It includes concept art illustration and original art by Louie De Martinis.
Star Wars Insider #235, a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will be published on 9th December 2025, offered with three variant covers.
The issue offers an exclusive look at Industrial Light & Magic’s special effects, and an original fiction tie-in story, plus interviews with Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Skeleton Crew), Robert Emms (Andor), and Andor Season Two composer Brandon Roberts.
• Star Wars Insider Cover A from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)
• Star Wars Insider Cover B from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)
• Star Wars Insider Cover C from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)
There will also be printings of the hardcover and trade paperback collections of short fiction, Star Wars: The High Republic Volume 3, a slipcase set of all three High Republic short story volumes, and a special edition celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story next year.
The final two issues of Star Wars Insider will be released in early 2026.
• Star Wars Insider – Titan Comics Page
• Star Wars Insider Presents The Force Awakens 10 Year Anniversary Special is also available now (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Head downthetubes for…
• Starwars.com – Official Site
• Star Wars Fandom: Star Wars Insider Guide
• Star Wars Fandom: Star Wars: The Official Magazine Guide
With thanks to Frank Garcia for the heads up
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Film, Licensing, Magazines, Other Worlds, Star Wars
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