Solo Outing
Boba Fett toplines Star Wars comic book crossover War Of The Bounty Hunters – and manages to lose Han!
CHRONICLING WHAT HAPPENS to Boba Fett and the captive Han Solo during their journey from Cloud City to Tatooine between The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, new comic War Of The Bounty Hunters was initially conceived by Charles Soule when he began writing Marvel’s flagship Star Wars title in 2018.
“It came out of a larger brainstorm session I had about how the main characters needed to change and evolve between Empire and Jedi, and this story was right there as part of that,” says Soule, who is thrilled to be writing a series starring the armoured freebooter.
“Getting to play with every toy in the Star Wars toybox during this time period while telling a story with cool twists and surprises, starring Boba Fett, is definitely hard to beat!” he enthuses. “Anyone who grew up as a Star Wars fan prior to the prequel era was probably a big Boba Fett fan, and I know I was. All the elements everyone likes drew me in – the mystery to him, the fact that Darth Vader singles him out with that ‘No disintegrations’ line in Empire, and the implication that he’s one of the baddest dudes around. Even his backstory, as set up in the prequels and
Clone Wars as well as the new stuff in The Mandalorian, is all really cool. Boba Fett is a great character, and I loved adding a chapter to his story.”
Beginning with May’s Steve Mcniven-drawn Alpha special, War Of The Bounty Hunters continues in June’s five-issue mini-series – for which Luke Ross assumes the art chores – and also crosses over into the pages of Doctor Aphra, Darth Vader and the main Star Wars title. “All of the titles will be setting up War Of The Bounty Hunters in their own way, which is part of the fun,” explains Soule. “The story of Boba Fett losing Han Solo and having to face off with the galaxy’s heaviest hitters to get him back is huge, and there’s plenty of room for every series to get its piece.
“There’s also a huge component to this story that’s been kept under wraps so far, and I can’t wait for fans to discover the story we’re really telling here.”
Described by Soule as “just a valuable piece of carbonite” it’s fair to say Han Solo doesn’t play an active role after being frozen in the substance by Boba Fett for transport back to Tatooine and into the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. “We don’t really know what Han is thinking in there – hopefully nothing!” laughs Soule. “The story is really about the relationship between Han and the rest of the series’ cast, including Leia, Luke, Jabba, Lando, Chewie, Valance and Aphra, and the reasons they all have to love or hate him.”
Soule also confirms the involvement of several other bounty hunters. “You’ll see the old favourites from the films, as well as a number of newer characters, and some interesting cameos too,” he says. “It’s a huge story, with a ton going on.” SJ
Star Wars: War Of The Bounty Hunters Alpha #1 is out on 5 May.