Warning: contains spoilers for Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters: Boussh #1!
Many of Star Wars’ bounty hunters wear iconic armor, but not every outfit is created equal – for example, while Mandalorian armor is bound up in honor and warrior culture, Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters: Boussh #1 reveals that Ubese armor is quite the opposite.
Boussh is first “seen” in Return of the Jedi when he is impersonated by Princess Leia, who wears his armor during her attempt to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt’s palace. At this time, he was already dead, though since this wasn’t widely known, he became the perfect disguise for Leia. But with Disney’s Star Wars acquisition comes a new canon, and a new chance to give Boussh a history and backstory that lends the character more relevance in the galaxy, starting with the armor fans know so well.
Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters: Boussh #1 from Marvel Comics has the creative team of Alyssa Wong, David Baldeón, Israel Silva and Ariana Maher. The titular bounty hunter has a crew made up of Ubese operatives, hailing from the planet Uba IV. This issue reveals that they are all exiles from the planet, unable to return to their homeworld because of their actions there. They are no longer welcome and their identities (and all records of their existence) have been destroyed. That is one price they pay for whatever crime each is guilty of, but the other is wearing their armor.
Due to their exile, these Ubese bounty hunters wear their armor as a symbol of shame. It marks them for what they are: people without a home to go back to. They’re drifters in the galaxy trying to make ends meet however they can. They all long for home, but have no means of getting back there. Or so they think, until Domina Tagge claims she can get them home as a bribe for flipping sides after they’re sent to kill her.
Armor is an iconic part of Star Wars. From stormtroopers and clone troopers to Mandalorians, unique armor acts as one of the most enduring prompts for how fans perceive a character. For troopers, it clearly marks their affiliation. For Mandalorians, armor is part of their way of life. In The Mandalorian, Din Djarin is seen having his armor repaired and new pieces mended after completing jobs. Getting a signet is an important rite of passage and in certain Mandalorian groups, it’s forbidden to remove the armor and expose one’s face. Mandalorian armor is a distinct, cultural aspect of a proud civilization. The same is true for Ubese armor, but it’s handed out as a punishment, not a tribute.
Boussh’s armor is not merely for protection and there is no honor to it. It protects him after his own identity could not be protected. It is an outward display of dishonor, and yet one Boussh clings to, since it’s a last connection to his home planet, and something which bonds him to his fellow crewmates. Boussh, Ilini, Hareck, Brene, and Tans are all joined by their shared exile. Each was banished at a different time, for a different reason, but collectively, they are the only home left to one another. This is their family and they all share the burden of their loss. Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters: Boussh #1 is a second chance to make Boussh significant to Star Wars fans, and it knocks it out of the park, turning the costume Leia eventually steals into something as meaningful as Mandalorian armor.
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