Jango Fett Returns Star Wars to Its Roots as a Pure 'Space Western'

Summary Jango Fett's return brings back the classic 'bounty hunter gunslinger' vibe to Star Wars, reminiscent of classic westerns.

The presence of Jango Fett in Star Wars comics signals a return to the franchise's 'space western' roots.

The scene in Star Wars: Jango Fett #3 presents a high-noon standoff, showcasing a pure representation of classic western storytelling.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Jango Fett #3! Even before Jango Fett’s debut, Star Wars has had the reputation of being a ‘space western’, which was established practically single-handedly by Han Solo in A New Hope with his shootout with Greedo in the Mos Eisley Cantina. However, Star Wars has moved pretty far from the ‘space western’ days of its earliest films, as the franchise has put a greater focus on the harder Sci-Fi elements of the Empire, and fantasy aspects of the Jedi. However, Star Wars just got back to its western roots with the return of one of the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunters, Jango Fett.

In a preview for Star Wars: Jango Fett #3 by Ethan Sacks and Luke Ross, Jango Fett has been hired by the Republic itself to locate an artifact stolen from a world on the brink of civil war, as well as the thief who stole it. This artifact is of immense cultural significance to the planet it's from, and without it, reaching a peace treaty between the two species that live there is impossible. That’s why the Republic reached out to Jango Fett, and how Fett finds himself in the situation fans see him in this preview.

Close

After gathering enough intel to lead him to a planet where the thief is allegedly hiding out, Jango Fett travels to the mining colony of Roxuli. He walks into a desert ghost town only to be greeted by a gang of escaped prisoners, who think Fett is there for them. Fett assures them that they’re not his target, though these criminals aren’t inclined to trust him. So, standing on the dusty streets of this vacant town, Jango Fett and the gang of outlaws find themselves in a classic gunslinger standoff, both waiting for the perfect time to draw their weapons.

Related Star Wars Makes Palpatine's True Beliefs Even More Sinister with Major Difference Between Empire & Sith Star Wars highlights the fundamental differences between the Sith & the Empire, calling into question the nature of Emperor Palpatine's true beliefs.

Jango Fett is the Classic Western Bounty Hunter Gunslinger Star Wars Has Been Missing

The scene in this Star Wars preview is one that’s seemingly pulled straight from a classic Clint Eastwood western, as a lone bounty hunter stands against a gang of outlaws, with the only outcome being a kill-or-be-killed scenario. Jango Fett perfectly embodies that classic ‘bounty hunter gunslinger’ character that has long-been a mainstay in the western genre, making this scene a refreshing addition to Star Wars canon.

While the scene itself is not too overly important in terms of the wider Star Wars lore, it’s still exactly what the franchise has been missing. Jango Fett’s ‘high-noon’ standoff effectively allows the series to claim the ‘space western’ title once again, after so long of deviating into other genres like Sci-Fi and fantasy.

Jango Fett Succeeds Where The Mandalorian Falls Short

The Mandalorian Started Off as a Western, but Like Star Wars as a Whole, Quickly Deviated

While it’s true that The Mandalorian is also a great representation of Star Wars as a ‘space western’, it’s also the greatest example of how the entire franchise has slowly drifted from the western genre. The first season of The Mandalorian was a classic western, but as it delved into the more fantasy aspects of the Jedi and Mandalorian lore, as well as the harder Sci-Fi elements of the shadowy Imperial remnant, even that series can no longer claim to be a true western.

With the return of Jango Fett, Star Wars has firmly returned to its western roots in a way that’s never been more pure than the depiction of a classic gunslinger standoff featured in this preview. Even Han Solo’s bar tavern shootout with Greedo can’t compare to what fans saw from Jango Fett in this Star Wars comic, making this scene more than an example of the franchise’s return to form, but the total revitalization of its ‘space western’ reputation.

Star Wars: Jango Fett #3 by Marvel Comics is available May 29, 2024.