Marvel's Star Wars comics crossover event War of the Bounty Hunters is quickly reaching a conclusion, and promises to change everything in a galaxy far, far away. The crossover ties together several ongoing Star Wars titles, as multiple players vie for Han Solo's frozen carbonite body - ranging from Boba Fett to Darth Vader. If the solicitations are to be believed, the conclusion will point many of the ongoing Star Wars books in an unexpected new direction.

Set shortly after Empire Strikes Back, War of the Bounty Hunters sees bounty hunter Boba Fett struggling to find his lost quarry after the frozen Han Solo is stolen on Nar Shaddaa. This revelation draws multiple competing factions onto a collision course - including the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn, the Hutts and even the Empire. While all of this is happening, other players within Marvel's ongoing Star Wars universe, such as fan-favorite Doctor Aphra, are also drawn into the ongoing conflict.

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The conclusion of War of the Bounty Hunters #5, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Luke Ross, indicates a a major status quo shift after its unexpected ending. The odds are certainly stacked against legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett, who is racing against time to reclaim Solo while evading his own pursuers. Likewise, the immediate consequences of the ending will also be felt in books like Star Wars #18 - also written by Soule - as well as Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #17 and Star Wars: Darth Vader #17. Check out the cover and solicit information for War of the Bounty Hunters #5 below:

STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS #5 (OF 5)

  • CHARLES SOULE (W)
  • LUKE ROSS (A)
  • Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
  • Variant Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
  • Action Figure Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
  • Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant by RON FRENZ
  • Trading Card Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
  • Carbonite Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
  • Boba Always Gets His Bounty Variant Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN

THE ULTIMATE FINALE! THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR CHANGES THE FACE OF THE GALAXY!

  • Everything and everyone in the galaxy is against bounty hunter BOBA FETT, from Sith Lords to Hutt rulers to the mysterious CRIMSON DAWN.
  • He can’t succeed. There’s no way he can regain HAN SOLO, escape the bounties on his head, and survive to get his prize to JABBA THE HUTT and get paid. But HAN SOLO belongs to him, and no one will take him away.
  • With a shocker of an ending that sets up a revolutionary new status quo for STAR WARS COMICS!

The entire crossover shares some surface similarities with the popular '90s multimedia tie-in Shadows of the Empire, which showcased Luke Skywalker and his friends' effort to rescue Han Solo in the then-unexplored gap between Episode IV and V. Unfortunately, much of Shadows of the Empire has been relegated to non-canonical status after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm. It also should be noted War of the Bounty Hunters doesn't follow the exact same beats as the beloved tie-in, as it instead focuses on the seedy underbelly of the galaxy, and the various players looking to profit from the missing Han Solo. Not only does it provide a strong outing for beloved characters like Boba Fett, but the storyline also provides an ideal environment for morally ambiguous characters like Aphra to shine.

It's difficult to know exactly how War of the Bounty Hunters will live up to its promises. The most difficult part about this storyline is that so much of its conclusions have already been written. Obviously, Luke Skywalker and company will rescue Han Solo in Return of the Jedi, with Boba Fett himself primed for upcoming Disney+ series exploring his post-trilogy activities. Still, one shouldn't count out the creative team behind War of the Bounty Hunters just yet, as its more than possible Soule and Ross have an ace up their sleeve that will turn the current Star Wars comics on their head.

War of the Bounty Hunters #5 goes on sale in October.

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