Boba Fett: An in-depth history of the original Mandalorian bounty hunter
By Jason Ivey
The man who wore Boba Fett’s armor
While Boba lay inside the Sarlacc being slowly digested, the galaxy went on. The Rebel’s, through some help from a primitive species of cuddly-but-dangerous Ewoks along with the unexpected redemption of Darth Vader, gained victory over the tyrannical Empire that had long oppressed them. Five years after the destruction of the second Death Star another bounty hunter wearing Mandalorian armor emerged on the scene.
This hunter, Din Djarin, wasn’t directly related to the Fetts. However — like Jango Fett — he was a foundling, tracing his Chain Code back to the Watch, an offshoot of the notorious Deathwatch. Djarin found himself honor-bound to reunite a mysterious Force-sensitive alien toddler to its people, the Jedi. In order to complete his mission, though, the Mandalorian bounty hunter required the help of one of his own.
Djarin’s search took him back to the planet Tatooine where word of mouth led him to a small remote outpost called Mos Pelgo. It was here that the bounty hunter was introduced to the town’s marshal, Cobb Vanth — who wore the distinct armor of Boba Fett. Vanth had himself acquired the armor through a trade with some Jawas that had saved him out in the Dune Sea.
The two men’s first encounter almost ended fatally after it was discovered by Djarin that the other wasn’t a Mandalorian. The reason so was because it was considered highly offensive for anyone that didn’t follow the Mandalorian creed to wear their armor. Djarin and Vanth’s standoff was cut short by the arrival of a Krayt Dragon that had been terrorizing the town and surrounding area. A deal was struck between the two men, wherein the sheriff would return the armor, in exchange for help in eradicating the leviathan.
Djarin convinced the Sand People to ally with him, Vanth, and the people of Mos Pelgo as they all shared a common adversary. Together, with combined forces and an unconventional tactic by Djarin, they were triumphant over the near-unstoppable sand dragon. In the aftermath, Vanth made good on his promise and returned the armor to the bounty hunter. But, unbeknownst to the Mandalorian, a mysterious figure observed him from afar as he traveled by with his reward.