Boba Fett

How fans promoted Boba Fett to main character status

In the first act of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, bounty hunter Boba Fett rolls awkwardly down a sand dune before disappearing into the immense mouth of the Sarlacc. Probably no other villain in the galaxy far, far away has met a more humiliating death. Boba is nothing more than a small appetiser for a snarling intergalactic aberration. Comic relief in its purest form. George Lucas even makes the Sarlacc burp crudely after eating one of the galaxy's most skilled mercenaries. In case you hadn't already got the hint from the character's mere six and a half minutes of screen time and laughable absence of dialogue (a total of four lines), this scene makes it crystal clear: Boba Fett was never meant to play a major role in the Star Wars universe.

But fanhood, like power, sometimes works in mysterious ways. And so, both we and the bounty hunter got a separate series: The Book of Boba Fett. More than forty years after his appearance in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. How the hell did this happen?

The mystery of Boba Fett

There is no conclusive answer to this question. But one thing was clear from the beginning: Boba Fett is somehow different. His look was distinctive, making him stand out pleasantly from the myriad of other characters. Yes, he was and is something like an intergalactic version of the anonymous hero from a classic Clint Eastwood Western. We learn almost nothing about him (his name is not even mentioned in The Empire Strikes Back!), which only adds to the great mystery of Boba Fett.

But it is not just his appearance. From the first moment in Episode V, it is clear that Boba Fett is not some random wannabe. No, Darth Vader personally chose him to track down the Millennium Falcon. He pauses during his short speech in front of Boba and reminds him that the ship must not be destroyed. In the original English the scene is even more ominous because the phrase used is "no disintegrations". As viewers, there is no avoiding asking ourselves: What happened last time, please? What was that about disintegration? Even in later interactions, we always think that Vader and Boba are ... well, not on a par with each other. Nevertheless, they treat each other with respect, and Boba is definitely not afraid of the Sith Lord.

The real backstory

Yes, mystery is a crucial element in Boba Fett's appeal. But this is even more true in terms of the character of the character (sorry)! Let's explain why. Boba Fett made his first appearance back in 1978 in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, which we won't write about here. A year later, when Star Wars mania was at its peak, the Kenner toy company advertised an action figure of a new villain due to appear in The Empire Strikes Back. But the children — er, collectors — could only get this Boba Fett figure if they sent in proof of purchase of at least four other Star Wars figures. The fans were naturally intrigued as to who was behind this mysterious figure. What was his or her story? And so the hype around Boba Fett was built up even before his first real appearance. (Captain Phasma, anyone?)

It's worth noting that in the period between Return of the Jedi and The Book of Boba Fett, there were a number of books, comics and video games that featured Boba Fett. These helped fill the enormous gaps in the bounty hunter's biography. Suddenly the mystery of Boba Fett was no longer a bug, but a feature. Authors, programmers and other artists enjoyed enormous creative freedom, which also meant that Boba's presence never diminished over the years — quite the contrary. The author Elizabeth Hand once put it this way: "Boba has no romantic baggage, he doesn't have to care about anyone. He can wear cool clothes and carry weapons. Blow stuff up. And I could do whatever I wanted."

From merchandise phenomenon to ... merchandise phenomenon?

Today we can say: yes, it took a long time, but the meagre six and a half minutes of screen time was a beginning, not an end. Boba Fett has managed to go from a supporting character — who George Lucas got rid of in the most unceremonious manner — to a key protagonist. And he owes this above all to the fans who kept Boba Fett alive with their enthusiasm over all these years. Throughout it all, however, the bounty hunter has never forgotten his roots.

His life began as an action figure that was kept from collectors. But he conquered the merch world in no time at all and is now a true king when it comes to fan merchandise from the galaxy far, far away. We notice that at Elbenwald too, because Boba Fett merch is one of our most popular categories! Whether it's high-quality replicas like the Boba Fett helmet from Hasbro's Black Series, replicas like his iconic Slave I spaceship, Boba Fett Funko Pop figures, Boba Fett T-shirts or even, of course, Boba Fett action figures: you will find all the best Boba Fett merch here. (By the way, the same applies to the Mandalorians, but that's another story). And we can't imagine he will ever lose his current status. Because let's face it: "He's no good to us dead."