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Hey there, Rebelscum fans! This week on the site, we’re taking a look at the bounty hunters who participate in the hunt for Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. Stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, insights, videos, and information on the best merchandising content that you will want to add to your collection!
Boba Fett is clearly the standout of The Empire Strikes Back, and Lucasfilm had been hyping up his first cinematic appearance well before the film hit theaters in May 1980. Fett was first unveiled in a Lucasfilm promotional parade event held in 1978.
However, most fans remember him from the animated short The Story of the Faithful Wookiee, which debuted as part of The Star Wars Holiday Special in November of the same year. The seven-minute animated segment is remembered as the best part of the special; although the much-derided holiday special has never been officially released, The Story of the Faithful Wookiee has been added to Disney+.
Fett of course gets the top billing in The Empire Strikes Back, but Lucas and Irven Kershner were keen to explore the wider world of galactic mercenaries. One of the major aspects that Kershner added to the sequel was a sense of moral grayness. A New Hope was a fairly straightforward story of good vs. evil, inspired by mythology and classic adventure serials, but The Empire Strikes Back was a darker, deeper, and more thought-provoking look at the galaxy far, far away.
Among the other bounty hunters recruited by Vader are memorable characters, who all went on to have exciting adventures in the Expanded Universe. These now-iconic characters have been fleshed out by the vast amount of comics, books, games, and other content in both the Legends and New Canon timelines.
Bossk: The Trandoshan prize hunter was raised by his father, Cradossk. Cradossk was the head of the Bounty Hunter’s Guild. The Trandoshan species are raised as mercenaries in a culture that promotes the profession. Trandoshans have a longstanding rivalry with Wookiees. Bossk isn’t just seeking the Millennium Falcon to earn Vader’s reward for capturing Han Solo, he would love to be the Trandoshan who finally gets his hands on Chewbacca.
Dengar: Dengar is wrapped in facial bandages to cover his facial scars, which he’s earned from a lengthy career. In The Clone Wars, Dengar appears alongside Bossk as part of Boba Fett’s first crew. Dengar comes from Han Solo’s home planet of Corellia.
IG-88: The IG-88 line of droids are frequently featured in Star Wars storytelling. IG-88B was part of a team of identical droids. Although he nearly steals Solo from Fett, the Mandalorian nearly destroys him in a battle on Tatooine.
Zuckuss and 4-LOM: Zuckuss is a member of the bug-like Gand species. He is partnered with the reprogrammed protocol droid, 4-LOM.
What do you think, Rebelscum fans? Which one of these bounty hunters is your favorite? Do you have any favorite merchandising items? Let us know in the forums, and as always, may the Force be with you!
