Hello again, fellow comic readers!
The pick this week sees a Star Wars fan-favorite killed on the first page – Dark Horse Comics’ “Star Wars Blood Ties: Boba Fett is Dead #1”.
The rest of the book answers the question “Who would want to kill Boba Fett?” Pretty much everyone, it turns out. As the preeminent bounty hunter of the Star Wars universe, Fett’s list of enemies is about as long as a Hoth winter. But there’s another mystery at the core of the book: Who would want to kill the men who killed Boba Fett?
Boba Fett first showed up as an animated short in the notorious “Star Wars Holiday Special” and quickly became a beloved character. He’s the enigmatic bounty hunter shrewd enough to outfox Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back,” then responsible for transporting Solo after he was frozen in carbonite.
Friend of Geek Out and all-around comic guy Daniel Dean from Titan Games and Comics in Smyrna, Georgia, put it best when he said his favorite comics are the ones where a character who isn’t the focus of the story still drives the story.
“Sometimes the best place to begin is with an ending,” Dean said. “Boba Fett’s dead; now what?”
We got a chance to talk to Tom Taylor, who wrote the script for “Boba Fett is Dead” #1.
He’s a husband, father of two, screenwriter, playwright, creator of the all-ages graphic novel “The Deep: Here Be Dragons” and writer of the “Star Wars: Invasion” series, “Star Wars: Blood Ties”, “Star Wars Adventures” and the upcoming “Darth Maul: Death Sentence.”
CNN Geek Out: Are you a Star Wars fan? If so how long you been one?
Taylor: There are people who aren’t Star Wars fans? Bring them to me! I will teach them the error of their ways. I’ve been a Star Wars fan for as long as everyone else my age has been, from about 30 seconds into the opening credits of “A New Hope.”
CNN Geek Out: What, in your mind, draws people to Boba Fett?
Taylor: The themes of the original Star Wars movies are deliberately very simple. Jedi and Sith, peace and war, light and dark. Then, this guy shows up in the movies who isn’t black or white … he’s green. His bad-ass helmet and suit of armor are covered in the scars of battle, and he’s wearing a jetpack! How can people not be drawn to that?
Boba Fett stays this mysterious, menacing bounty hunter. This makes him instantly intriguing. I think everyone wanted to know more about this one character who isn’t good or evil, he’s just on the darker side of ambiguous.
CNN Geek Out: What other Star Wars favorites, if any, will put in an appearance in this book and series?
Taylor: I can tell you that Darth Vader does make an appearance amidst a whole lot of fire and explosions. Artist Chris Scalf first came to comics prominence illustrating Vader, and it’s great to see him illustrating the Sith Lord again. There’s another smaller character, too, but I don’t want to spoil that one for the readers.
CNN Geek Out: Can you tell some newer readers a little about Fett that you think is important for folks that might not know from “Empire” or “Jedi?”
Taylor: Fett is the most infamous bounty hunter in an entire galaxy far, far away. He always gets his man, and he’ll stop at nothing to do so. He is a formidable fighter, a crack shot and he is never unarmed. Also, he’s played by my friend Daniel Logan in the prequel movie and in the “Clone Wars” series. He and I are having a little friendly war over Twitter about me killing him. I explained that it wasn’t me, that it was, in fact, a team of mercenaries in a comic book but Daniel is still pointing his Twitter finger at me. I think this proves that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I’m not sure it’s mightier than his rocket launcher. We’ll just have to see.
CNN Geek Out: Fans have seen Boba Fett “die” before. What makes this time different?
Taylor: I’m gonna go with the many smoking holes all over his body.
CNN Geek Out: How much of a hand did Lucasfilm have in this story?
Taylor: While I generated the idea, they go through everything with a fine-tooth-comb. The Star Wars universe exists across games, TV series, movies, comics, novels and far more obscure things and everything is canon. Lucasfilm needs to keep all of this in mind and help to make sure I’m not accidentally tripping over continuity. You can’t have a character go and visit Alderaan the day after the planet is blown up. Well, you can, but they’d be lonely.
CNN Geek Out: For folks new to Star Wars comics, what’s the one reason they should pick this book up?
Taylor: The one reason? Boba Fett is dead. And that’s page one. Don’t you want to know what happens on the next page? Don’t you want to make sure he doesn’t rise as a Zombie Fett and still come after his man? A zombie with a jet pack, there’s a scary thought. Make sure you read this to make sure there isn’t a zombie with a jet pack after you.
You can find Tom at @TomTaylorMade on twitter. Also on Facebook and his website.
So, until next week, go forth and read, my people. And the reading will be good!
Is there a comic out there that you really love? Let us know in the comments. We’re always looking for tips on good comics!
Here are some of the comics scheduled to hit the shelves on Wednesday. Your local retailer will probably have these and others, so make sure to check with them for more details.
ABE SAPIEN TP VOL 02 DEVIL DOES NOT JEST $17.99
ANGEL & FAITH #9 REBEKAH ISAACS VAR CVR $2.99
ANGEL & FAITH #9 STEVE MORRIS CVR $2.99
BPRD HELL ON EARTH PICKENS COUNTY HORROR #2 (OF 2) $3.50
CLASSIC MARVEL CHARACTERS FF #4 THE THING $49.95
GOON #39 $3.50
KING CONAN PHOENIX ON THE SWORD #4 (OF 4) $3.50
MASS EFFECT HOMEWORLDS #1 PALUMBO CVR $3.50
MASS EFFECT TP VOL 03 INVASION $16.99
STAR WARS BLOOD TIES BOBA FETT IS DEAD #1 (OF 4) SCALF CVR ( $3.50
STAR WARS CRIMSON EMPIRE III EMPIRE LOST #6 (OF 6) $3.50
STAR WARS DARK TIMES OUT O/T WILDERNESS #5 (OF 5) $2.99
STAR WARS INVASION TP VOL 03 REVELATIONS $18.99
TUROK SON OF STONE ARCHIVES HC VOL 10 $59.99
ALL STAR WESTERN #8 $3.99
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #26 (MR) $2.99
AQUAMAN #8 $2.99
BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #2 2ND PTG $3.99
BATMAN KNIGHTFALL TP NEW ED VOL 01 $29.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #4 2ND PTG $2.99
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #8 $2.99
BLACK ORCHID DELUXE EDITION HC (MR) $24.99
BLACKHAWKS #8 $2.99
FLASH #8 $2.99
FURY OF FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MEN #8 $2.99
GEARS OF WAR #23 $2.99
GEARS OF WAR TP BOOK 02 $14.99
GOTHAM CENTRAL TP BOOK 04 CORRIGAN $19.99
GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #8 $2.99
I VAMPIRE #8 $2.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #8 $2.99
MAD MAGAZINE #515 $5.99
NEW DEADWARDIANS #2 (OF 8) (MR) $2.99
SAVAGE HAWKMAN #8 $2.99
SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE SPECTRE TP VOL 01 $19.99
SPACEMAN #6 (OF 9) (MR) $2.99
STORMWATCH HC VOL 01 $29.99
SUPERMAN #8 $2.99
SUPERMAN SECRETS OF THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE TP $19.99
TEEN TITANS #8 $2.99
UNCHARTED #6 (OF 6) $2.99
VOODOO #8 $2.99
AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1 2ND PTG BACHALO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
ASTONISHING X-MEN #49 $3.99
ASTONISHING X-MEN EXALTED PREM HC $19.99
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 2ND PTG BAGLEY VAR WITH DIG CDE $3.99
AVENGERS ROLL CALL $4.99
AVX VS #1 (OF 6) $3.99
BATTLE SCARS #6 (OF 6) $2.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA #10 $3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND HAWKEYE #629 $2.99
DAKEN DARK WOLVERINE BIG BREAK TP $16.99
DAREDEVIL #11 OMEGA $2.99
DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER WAY STATION #5 (OF 5) $3.99
DARK TOWER TP BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL $19.99
DARKHAWK CLASSIC TP VOL 01 $24.99
ESSENTIAL DAREDEVIL TP VOL 01 NEW ED $19.99
ESSENTIAL HULK TP VOL 04 NEW ED $19.99
FEAR ITSELF WOLVERINE NEW MUTANTS PREM HC $24.99
FF #17 $2.99
INCREDIBLE HULK PARDONED TP $39.99
MARVEL UNIVERSE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 $2.99
MIGHTY THOR #13 $3.99
MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 03 $24.99
MMW DAREDEVIL TP VOL 03 DM VAR ED 41 $24.99
MOON KNIGHT #12 $3.99
NEW AVENGERS #25 AVX $3.99
SCARLET SPIDER #3 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
SECRET AVENGERS #21.1 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
SECRET AVENGERS #22 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #23 2ND PTG ADAMS VAR (PP #1016) $3.99
SECRET AVENGERS #26 AVX $3.99
SPIDER-MAN FLYING BLIND PREM HC $19.99
SUPERCROOKS #2 (OF 4) (MR) $2.99
TWELVE #12 (OF 12) $2.99
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #9 WITH DIG CDE $3.99
ULTIMATE COMICS X ORIGINS TP $19.99
UNCANNY X-MEN #11 AVX $3.99
WINTER SOLDIER #1 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
WINTER SOLDIER #2 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
WINTER SOLDIER #3 2ND PTG BERMEJO VAR (PP #1016) $2.99
WOLVERINE #305 $3.99
WOLVERINE WOLVERINE’S REVENGE TP $16.99
X-FORCE TOY SOLDIERS PREM HC $29.99
X-FORCE TOY SOLDIERS PREMIERE HC DM VAR ED 88 $29.99
X-MEN LEGACY #265 $2.99
X-MEN WAR MACHINES PREM HC $19.99
ART OF AMANDA CONNER HC $29.99
DANGER GIRL REVOLVER #4 (OF 4) $3.99
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS HC VOL 03 DOWN $21.99
FRAZETTA FUNNY STUFF HC $49.99
GI JOE 2 RETALIATION MOVIE PREQUEL #4 $3.99
POPEYE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
SNAKE EYES ONGOING (IDW) #12 $3.99
STEPHEN KING JOE HILL ROAD RAGE #3 (OF 4) $3.99
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ARCHIE 100 PG SPECTACULAR $7.99
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ONGOING #9 $3.99
TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ONGOING #4 $3.99
TRUE BLOOD HC VOL 03 THE FRENCH QUARTER $24.99
ACTIVITY #5 $3.50
BLOODSTRIKE #27 $2.99
CHEW TP VOL 05 MAJOR LEAGUE CHEW (MR) $12.99
DARKNESS #102 (MR) $2.99
LIL DEPRESSED BOY #10 $2.99
NETHERWORLD #5 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99
REBEL BLOOD #1 (OF 4) VAR CVR 2ND PTG (MR) $3.50
REBEL BLOOD #2 (OF 4) (MR) $3.50
ARMY OF DARKNESS #3 (MARAT MYCHAELS VARIANT COVER) AR
ARMY OF DARKNESS #3 (TIM SEELEY REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GARTH ENNIS’ JENNIFER BLOOD #12 (ALE GARZA VARIANT COVER) AR
GARTH ENNIS’ JENNIFER BLOOD #12 (TIM BRADSTREET REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GARTH ENNIS’ JENNIFER BLOOD #12 (TIM BRADSTREET SKETCH VARIANT COVER) AR
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES #7 (MICHAEL KOMARCK REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES #7 (MICHAEL KOMARCK VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES #7 (MIKE MILLER BLACK & WHITE VARIANT COVER) AR
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES #7 (MIKE MILLER RED VARIANT COVER) AR
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S A GAME OF THRONES #7 (MIKE MILLER REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GREEN HORNET #24 (BRIAN DENHAM REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GREEN HORNET #24 (JONATHAN LAU REGULAR COVER) $3.99
GREEN HORNET #24 (PHIL HESTER REGULAR COVER) $3.99
KIRBY GENESIS #7 (ALEX ROSS MARVEL-OUS ACETATE VARIANT COVER) AR
KIRBY GENESIS #7 (ALEX ROSS REGULAR COVER) $3.99
KIRBY GENESIS #7 (ALEX ROSS VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
KIRBY GENESIS #7 (RYAN SOOK BLACK & WHITE VARIANT COVER) AR
KIRBY GENESIS #7 (RYAN SOOK VARIANT COVER) AR
MERCILESS THE RISE OF MING #1 (ALEX ROSS NEGATIVE VARIANT COVER) AR
MERCILESS THE RISE OF MING #1 (ALEX ROSS REGULAR COVER) $3.99
MERCILESS THE RISE OF MING #1 (ALEX ROSS VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
NINJETTES #3 (ADMIRA WIJAYA REGULAR COVER) $3.99
NINJETTES #3 (ADMIRA WIJAYA SCHOOLGIRL RISQUE VARIANT COVER) AR
NINJETTES #3 (ADMIRA WIJAYA VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
VAMPIRELLA THE RED ROOM #1 (ALE GARZA REGULAR COVER) $3.99
VAMPIRELLA THE RED ROOM #1 (DAN BRERETON REGULAR COVER) $3.99
VAMPIRELLA THE RED ROOM #1 (DAN BRERETON VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
VAMPIRELLA THE RED ROOM #1 (FABIANO NEVES BLACK & WHITE VARIANT COVER) AR
VAMPIRELLA THE RED ROOM #1 (FABIANO NEVES REGULAR COVER) $3.99
WARLORD OF MARS #17 (JOE JUSKO REGULAR COVER) $3.99
WARLORD OF MARS #17 (JOE JUSKO VIRGIN VARIANT COVER) AR
WARLORD OF MARS #17 (LUCIO PARRILLO REGULAR COVER) $3.99
WARLORD OF MARS #17 (STEPHEN SADOWSKI MARTIAN RED VARIANT COVER) AR
WARLORD OF MARS #17 (STEPHEN SADOWSKI VARIANT COVER) AR
CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER #13 (COVER A TIM BRADSTREET) $3.99
CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER #13 (COVER B NICK PERCIVAL) $3.99
EXILE ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #2 (OF 4)(COVER A GABRIEL HARDMAN) $3.99
EXILE ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #2 (OF 4)(COVER B DECLAN SHALVEY) $3.99
EXILE ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #2 (OF 4)(COVER C GABRIEL HARDMAN) AR
RICH JOHNSTON’S CAPTAIN AMERICAN IDOL #1 (FRED HEMBECK VARIANT COVER) AR
RICH JOHNSTON’S CAPTAIN AMERICAN IDOL #1 (MARK STAFFORD REGULAR COVER) $3.99
RICH JOHNSTON’S SCIENTHORLOGY #1 (FRED HEMBECK VARIANT COVER) AR
RICH JOHNSTON’S SCIENTHORLOGY #1 (MARK STAFFORD REGULAR COVER) $3.99
ROGER LANGRIDGE’S SNARKED #7 $3.99
ARCHIE #632 $2.99
ARCHIE AND FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #15 $3.99
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #180 $3.99
SONIC SUPER SPECIAL MAGAZINE #3 $9.99
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SELECT VOLUME 5 TP $11.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland #5 (Cover A Stjepan Sejic) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Alice In Wonderland #5 (Cover B Sean Chen) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Jungle Book #2 (Cover A Mike DeBalfo) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Presents Jungle Book #2 (Cover B Ale Garza) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Myths And Legends #15 (Cover A Robert Atkins) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Myths And Legends #15 (Cover B Marat Mychaels) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales #72 (Cover A Mike Capprotti) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales #72 (Cover B Pasquale Qualano) $2.99
Grimm Fairy Tales Different Seasons Volume 2 TP $17.99