Boba Fett has recently received much more screen time than in his entire cinematic history thanks to Disney+. Taking the cool action figure who died like a doofus and presenting a serious and thoughtful take on what goes on inside the clone son of Jango has officially made the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter into an actual character and not just set dressing.
However, fans of the Expanded Universe have long known Boba to be more than just a rad outfit. Making his first appearance in The Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978 the masked Mandalorian has always had a close relationship with extemporaneous media. What follows is a list of the best stories for new fans to read if they want to experience the wild and wacky history of the ex-Tusken Raider.
10 Star Wars #81 "Jawas Of Doom" Need More Be Said?
While The Book of Boba Fett depicts the titular hero(?) clawing his way out from the depths of the Pit of Carkoon, his original Legends escape didn't go quite so well. As revealed in Star Wars #81 by Mary Jo Duffy with pencils by Ron Frenz, the acid-washed Kaminoan suffered amnesia following his dive into the deep end of the Sarlacc. After some silly shenanigans, he wound up regaining his memories of how much he hated Han Solo right as the Sandcrawler he was riding in crashed right back into the Pit.
9 Dark Empire Marked The Return of Boba
The Dark Horse comic which would surprisingly lay the groundwork for The Rise of Skywalker was also Fett's first true reintroduction following the semi-reboot of Legends continuity in the early 1990s.
Dark Empire, written by Tom Veitch with art by Cam Kennedy, presented the first major adventure for the crew of the Falcon following the event of Return of the Jedi. While on the planet Nar Shaddaa Han Solo and friends are met with an escaped Boba Fett with his faithful Legends friend and peer, Dengar. Fett's time is scant in the story, but it does showcase the short-lived "Slave II".
8 Star Wars #68 The Search Begins Didn't Actually Star Fett
Despite the iconic cover by Gene Day, 1982's Star Wars #68, by David Michelinie with art Gene Day, doesn't actually star the bounty hunter. Donning the armor is Fenn Shysa, who introduced Princess Leia as well as the readers at the time to the broader Mandalorian culture, establishing Fett as not just a man with incredible drip, but also as a member of the warrior race known as Mandalorians. Again, while Fett doesn't star, the comic has an incredible impact on his future stories.
7 Bounty on Bar-Kooda Was A Romantic Tragedy
Bounty on Bar-Kooda by John Wagner and Cam Kennedy (who if it isn't clear by now was one of the best and most prolific Boba Fett artists of the time) is a tale of love and sorrow in a galaxy far far away. Boba Fett must hunt down a galactic magician in a story complicated by the romantic endeavors of a slimy Hutt. This story was a great showcase for Fett in his element as once his bounty is revealed to have died the hunter must find new and interesting ways to collect his credits.
6 Twin Engines of Destruction Showcased Identity Theft
As told in Twin Engines of Destruction by Andy Mangels and John Nadeau, Fett was once the victim of identity theft from the overconfident Jodo Kast. Believing himself to be twice the bounty hunter Fett was, Kast bought and wore a set of identical armor to bolster his rep as an underworld enforcer. Little did he know that once Boba learned of his actions from the galaxy's best wingman, Dengar, Fett would quickly kill off the imposter and reestablish his supremacy.
5 Enemy of the Empire Was Pretty Wizard
The Star Wars Saga quite literally cemented toys and merchandise as "where the real money from the movie is made" (Yogurt, Spaceballs). With iconic characters like Darth Vader and Boba Fett, it's no wonder why toys flew off the shelves.
As a way of servicing the childhood love of bashing the two coolest-looking action figures against each other, 1999's Enemy of the Empire, by John Wagner with pencils by John Nadeau and Ian Gibson, saw Boba Fett battle the Dark Lord of the Sith in an epic brawl which made for many a desktop background.
4 Blood Ties Delved Into Boba's Family
A fact established yet never really delved into during Attack of the Clones is Boba's lineage. Not a natural-born Mandalorian, the young boy, then played by Daniel Logan, was actually the pure genetic clone "son" of famed bounty hunter Jango Fett. Readers of Blood Ties, by Tom Taylor with art by Chris Scalfwere, are shown in flashbacks Jango's less than ideal parenting methods while the current-day plot detailed Boba coming face to face with a "true" natural born son of a clone trooper Jango took pity on. It was easily the most emotional Fett story in comics.
3 War Of The Bounty Hunters Is The New Shadows Of The Empire
Coming just before Crimson Reign, War of the Bounty Hunters was a 2021 crossover event throughout Marvel Comics' Star Wars family of titles which depicted an effective retelling of the Shadows of the Empire comics from the mid-90s. Besieged on all sides as he attempts to deliver the frozen Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt, Fett has to save his skin and make his credits while also being played by the machinations of the Crimson Dawn and Qi'ra from Solo: A Star Wars Story.
2 The Hunter's Heart Is A Microcosm Of Fett
Age of Rebellion - Boba Fett #1 by Greg Pak, Marc Laming, Travis Lanham, and Neeraj Menon showcases the one-shot story called The Hunter's Heart in which readers follow Fett on a small and almost unremarkable mission to collect a bounty. While the plot itself is straightforward, it is the revealing tidbits of Fett's nature that enticed fans. Just when the comic makes one think Fett may have a heart of gold under his beskar exterior, Pak pulls the rug out from underneath and cements the Pre-Sarlacc Boba as a cold-blooded bounty hunter.
1 Shadows Of The Empire Still Can't Be Beat
Shadows of the Empire, by John Wagner with pencils by Kilian Plunkett, is arguably the most well-known and iconic piece of Expanded Universe media, as the 1990's project was developed into a cult classic Nintendo 64 title as well as a novel and soundtrack. With each piece detailing a different element of the same overall story, it was the Dark Horse comic that showcased Boba Fett in his original Legends attempt to bring Han Solo to Jabba's Palace. Whether by rose-tinted goggles or sheer quality, Shadows of the Empire remains beloved by fans and an iconic piece of Star Wars storytelling.