A Look Inside the Underworld of the Star Wars Galaxy

In a galaxy frequently divided between the dark and the light, many people operate outside of such strict binaries. These characters and their respective groups may exist on the fringes of society but are no less integral to the lore of pretty much any Star Wars narrative.

The release of Star Wars Outlaws lets fans experience the seedy underbelly of the Star Wars universe like never before. However, that’s not where galactic crime began. The underworld has been a part of the Star Wars story since the beginning!

Organized Crime and Syndicates

It’s important to note that single individuals are just as integral to these shadowy operations as gangs are, no matter their numbers. Nevertheless, crime syndicates are the entities that keep vast sums of credits flowing. 

Below is a list of major groups that the average fan may encounter while exploring the Star Wars universe, but it's by no means comprehensive. It is more of a guide as we head into the deeper levels of the criminal underworld.

Black Sun 

Known ​​for sentient trafficking, Black Sun gained prominence during the Clone Wars and remained dangerous to the Outer Rim following Emperor Palpatine’s rise to power. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading the titles below:

• Dark Disciple (2015 novel)

• Last Shot (2018 novel)

• Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir (2014 comic series)

Crimson Dawn

Subtlety and style is the name of the game for some syndicates. Crimson Dawn is no exception with how their operations resemble a game of holochess. If you thought Crimson Dawn lived and died in Solo: A Star Wars Story, think again. Their talent for espionage, political machinations, and assassination spans dozens of stories. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Crimson Climb (2023 young adult novel)

• Crimson Reign (2021 comic series)

• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018 film)

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Hutt Clan 

For centuries, the powerful Hutt Family was a menace to the Outer Rim Territories. After winning their influence by fear and their fortune through smuggling, Jabba the Hutt’s demise marks the beginning of a period of decline. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading the titles below:

• Han Solo & Chewbacca (2022 comic series)

• The High Republic (2021 and 2023 comic series)

• Mace Windu (2024 comic series)

Pyke Syndicate 

The Pyke Syndicate is old money. Well-connected and one of the major players in the Spice Cartel, their reach spreads far and wide across the galaxy from the Kessel spice mines to Coruscant and beyond. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• The Book of Boba Fett (2021 television series)

• Darth Maul (2017 comic series)

• Mace Windu (2024 comic series)

Shadow Collective

The Shadow Collective was a massive criminal enterprise made up of several syndicates, all recruited by Darth Maul during the Clone Wars. It consisted of Black Sun, Crimson Dawn, Death Watch, Hutt Clan, Pyke Syndicate, and even Nightbrothers from Maul’s home planet, Dathomir. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Darth Maul - Son of Dathomir (2014 comic series)

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

Scoundrels, Smugglers, and Just Getting By

While smugglers and scoundrels often have a credit-guided consciousness and questionable records, a being has to make a living — and they have unique skill sets. For many reasons, independent smugglers serve several entities, from the Empire to the First Order and even the Rebels. An enterprising smuggler can move spice, sentients, and even entire ships across space.

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Much like the Force, there is balance in how certain archetypes, characters, and factions come in and out of these stories. Specific plotlines in film or print wouldn’t be possible without unsavory characters, anti-heroes, and go-betweens. Opportunities to make a name (or credit) for oneself may arise at any moment, and those bold enough to make the right moves can become icons.

Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian are some of the most well-known scoundrels in the galaxy, much to their own exasperation. But what would Star Wars be without them? Imagine, for a moment, what the narrative might look like if The Millenium Falcon wasn’t available for Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi to hitch a ride. Or if Lando hadn’t traded Han for Cloud City’s safety, the entire Jabba’s Palace sequence — iconic in its own right — would cease to exist. Jabba himself may not even have existed.

For all we know about Han, Chewie, and Lando, thousands of other scoundrels exist in the galaxy. They’re doing the Kessel run themselves, smuggling spice, hustling cards, fixing fathier races, and more. While a small list, these characters make quite an impact throughout the Star Wars universe.

Doctor Aphra

Unpredictable, resourceful, rogue; each a descriptor befitting a scoundrel. Combine it with the tenacity needed to hunt for treasure, and we’ve got archaeologist Doctor Aphra. Enlisted by Darth Vader at one point, serving under another crime syndicate at another, and even working alongside the Rebellion for a time, Aphra’s morals or choices have seemingly little effect on her ability to get out of tough situations. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or listening to the titles below:

• Darth Vader (2015 comic series)

• Doctor Aphra (2016 and 2020 comic series)

• Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original (2020 audio drama)

Marvel Comics

Maz Kanata

At over one thousand years old, it's no wonder Maz Kanata has connections. She is Force-sensitive but subscribes to her own belief system. From her castle on Takodana, she runs her business with a tiny iron fist and helps future scoundrels make their way in the criminal underworld. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• The High Republic Adventures (2022 comic series)

• Han Solo & Chewbacca (2022 comic series)

• The Force Awakens (2015 film)

Hondo Ohnaka 

Spanning a decades-long career, Hondo Ohnaka was an infamous pirate known throughout the galaxy as a self-serving outlaw. Yet, he also aided the Galactic Republic and Resistance during their respective wars. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

• Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018 television series)

• Pirate’s Price (2019 junior novel)

Bounty Hunters, Marauders, and Mercenaries

In terms of morally compromising career choices, bounty hunting isn’t the worst thing someone can do; after all, you can turn bounties in alive. Mercenaries, however, lean past gun-for-hire into shoot-to-kill-for-hire pretty quickly.

What’s most notable about the role of bounty hunters and mercenaries is how fundamental they are in the grand scheme of galactic crime. These groups can be hired by syndicates, politicians, and even well-to-do smugglers to hunt down those very same groups or individuals. All it takes is a transfer of credits. 

Jango Fett

Once considered the most prolific bounty hunter in the galaxy before the fall of the Galactic Republic, Jango Fett is the genetic base for the clone troopers. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Attack of the Clones (2002 film)

• Star Wars: Jango Fett (2024 comic series)

Boba Fett

Following in his father’s footsteps, Boba Fett donned Mandalorian armor and became a revered and feared bounty hunter in his own right. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

• Star Wars (2015 comic series)

• The Book of Boba Fett (2021 television series)

• Star Wars: Bounty Hunters (2020 comic series)

Lucasfilm

Cad Bane 

Considered a bounty hunter and mercenary, Cad Bane embodied the Wild West as much as possible in such a large galaxy. He’s cold, calculating, and no stranger to combat tools, as his arsenal includes dual blaster pistols, rocket boots, a grappling hook, knockout gas, and more. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

• Darth Maul (2017 comic series)‍

• The Book of Boba Fett (2021 television series)

Fennec Shand

A cunning, capable master assassin, Shand worked with the top syndicates during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Shand went on the run after its demise but maintained her training. She was particularly adept with sniper rifles. If you’d like to learn more, consider watching the titles below:

• The Mandalorian (2019 television series‍

• The Book of Boba Fett (2021 television series)‍

• Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021 television series)

Aurra Sing 

Though Aurra Sing was Force-sensitive, she decided to leave the Jedi Order to become a bounty hunter. During The Clone Wars, she and Boba Fett worked together in an attempt to kill Mace Windu. While they did not succeed, Aurra Sing did attempt to mentor Boba Fett in the art of bounty hunting. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: Jango Fett (2024 comic series)‍

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

Asajj Ventress

Apprentice to Count Dooku and a major antagonist in Star Wars The Clone Wars. Assassin, bounty hunter, Dark Jedi. Ventress held many titles, but none so deadly as that of Dark Jedi with her dual-wield, red lightsabers, and background in Nightsister magick. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

• Dooku: Jedi Lost (2019 audio drama)

• Dark Disciple (2015 novel)

The Nihil

During the High Republic Era, the Nihil wreaked havoc across the Outer Rim Territories, traveling mysterious hyperspace routes to appear by surprise. They organized the Great Hyperspace Disaster and often inhaled the drug smash before raids. If you’d like to learn more, visit our High Republic headquarters.

Seedy Politics

Was it lost on anyone that there was a bit of corruption in the Galactic Republic before it became the Galactic Empire? As she transitioned from Queen to Senator, Padmé Amidala had to learn to play a different political game. Despite learning, she still faced the threat of underhanded deeds from the likes of the Trade Federation. 

Leading up to the rise of the Empire and throughout its reign, money, favors, people, planets ... anything and everything could and did trade hands. Even in the time of the New Republic, Princess Leia and Ransolm Casterfo were victims of vicious, politically charged assassination attempts.

To further illustrate the political machinations and criminal operations working in tandem, consider the Czerka Corporation's role in Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice. The weapons manufacturer gets away with abhorrent criminal acts on the planet Pijal, and a treaty supported by the Republic promises to give them even more power over the planet. Truly a wild encapsulation of capitalism, little oversight, and a lot of keeping quiet somewhere along the line.

The Trade Federation

The operations of The Trade Federation are arguably a textbook example of shady political upheaval. Their power play, including the Naboo invasion, which Darth Sidious ordered, heavily involved Count Dooku’s Separatists. Later, they tried to assassinate Senator Amidala. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• The Phantom Menace (1999 film)

• Queen's Peril (2019 novel)

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Luthen Rael 

Andor is an incredible addition to the Star Wars universe, and the political machinations feature prominently. Luthen Rael is both an antiques dealer catering to the upper echelons of the Coruscant political scene and a Rebel agent. His shop serves as a front for his covert operations. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty by meeting contacts and going on field missions. 

Jabba’s Criminal Empire 

Within the Hutt Family's criminal enterprise, Jabba built an empire of his own. Operating from the throne room of his palace on Tatooine, Jabba’s network employed smugglers and enslavers across the galaxy. Even Emperor Sheev Palpatine made a deal with Jabba: the Imperial military got raw materials for critical projects, and Jabba could continue expanding his criminal enterprises. If you’d like to learn more, consider reading or watching the titles below:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 television series)

• Star Wars (2015 comic series)

• Han Solo & Chewbacca (2022 comic series)

• Return of the Jedi (1983 film)

Lawless Lands

We know the galaxy is massive. We know that crime exists in every corner of it. But if you’re looking to dig even deeper, here’s a quick list of prime hotbeds for criminal activity.

The Coruscant Underworld 

Layers and layers beneath the surface, the lower levels of Coruscant are rampant with criminal activity in an underworld all their own. Merely seedy levels, such as 1313, are relatively high. The lower you go, however, the more vile places get – even affecting the evolution of those living there. I'm not entirely sure if Vitamin D exists in Star Wars, but if it does, folks who can’t escape the lower levels are certainly lacking it.

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Corellia

Corellia is the home of Han Solo, Q’ira, several petty street gangs, and an important location for Crimson Dawn. The planet has a reputation as a rough, industrial world where even the most honest of professions comes with a price.

The Outer Rim & Wild Space

On the rough Outer Rim planet of Tatooine, fans immediately find out how crime functions in the galaxy. Upon entering Mos Eisley Cantina, a fight breaks out, someone loses an arm, and the bounty hunter, Greedo, is shot. It's a great example of what exists on the galaxy's fringes because, in just a few short scenes, viewers glimpse the stakes Ben, Luke, and Han face just in the Outer Rim alone. And Wild Space? It’s just the name for an even more lawless, wild, wild West region of the galaxy.

It’s interesting to note how integral these shadowy players are in storylines in a universe so often focused on the light and the dark. Clear heroes and villains often have an important role to play in stories. At the same time, shades of gray can fill in narratives, round out stories, and provide some of our favorite characters.