Boba Fett: explain his popularity please

[Danpascooch]

I never understood it either because he's kind of a wuss. He got shot by a blind guy, fell into a hole, and died.

(and if there is some expanded universe bull-shit that says he survived and does cool stuff afterwords, I don't care. It didn't happen in the movies and anything that takes place after the movies isn't worth my time).

Honestly, Jango Fett was cooler, despite being in the crappier film.

Wait, there's official canon saying he survived?

Ah Lucas, somebody needs to just put him down.

"No Pa, he's my director, I'll do it" *BAM!*........*BAM BAM BAM BAM THWAK BAM BAM*.....*KICK*

 

[Therumancer]

I think it can be said that Boba Fett captured people's imaginations. It should be noted that he always had a decent amount of backstory when you look at the original "Star Wars" novels which explained some of the concepts. Simply put Jedi are presented as Super Human and almost unstoppable, however Boba Fett was a relatively normal human who with weapons and training could fight them on fairly equal terms.

As a result you find that in Star Wars people tend to either want to be a Jedi, or a character who for whatever reason is equal to one, and the Boba Fett/Bounty Hunter thing is what opened that door within the Canon. Graned Boba Fett *DID* sort of get robbed in the movies, but in part because it was meant to be a quick thing, and the movies missed some of the subtext of pointing out things like how Luke Skywalker only survived fighting him because of what amounted to dumb luck. The rope he used was a "Smartrope" and was proof against being cut by Lightsabers, being a weapon designed for use on Jedi, however one of the idiot thugs fired allowing Luke to free himself with a deflected blaster bolt.

I think Boba Fett started out as a cult character for those who knew what he was about, but as the universe became more expanded for the mainstream more people gained an appreciation for him.

I also tend to think part of the appeal is his existance as a sort of neutral party. He really has no motivations revolving around absolute good or evil, he hunts down people other people are willing to pay for. He's a "villain" in the storyline, but really he's not a bad guy and probably spends most of his time hunting people far worse than he is.

One of the things that always kind of irked me about most games based around Star Wars, whether they be PnP games or Video games, is that when Bounty Hunters show up they are automatically defined as being evil because Darth Vader hired them in the movies/books, when actually they shouldn't, being more neutral, or even good since while Boba Fett did do some work for the underworld (hunting criminals for other criminals) many probably just go after whomever the goverment puts a bounty on.

Interestingly I find it somewhat lulzworthy that such material tends to mark Smugglers as good guys, because Han Solo was one. Oddly Smugglers (including Han) are basically runners of drugs and slaves. Han got into trouble because he ONLY ran drugs/spice and refused to run slaves and freed a cargo full he picked up from Jabba when he figured out what it was. Strictly speaking Boba Fett and Han Solo representing exceptions to the general "alignment" of their profession if there ever was one. This being one of the things that kind of irks me about the upcoming "Old Republic Online" in fact.

At any rate, enough rambling. The point is that Boba Fett is cool, he was conveyed well through attitude (which got attention) and had a neat costume for the movies.

 

[SniperWolf427]

I think it can be said that Boba Fett captured people's imaginations. It should be noted that he always had a decent amount of backstory when you look at the original "Star Wars" novels which explained some of the concepts. Simply put Jedi are presented as Super Human and almost unstoppable, however Boba Fett was a relatively normal human who with weapons and training could fight them on fairly equal terms.

As a result you find that in Star Wars people tend to either want to be a Jedi, or a character who for whatever reason is equal to one, and the Boba Fett/Bounty Hunter thing is what opened that door within the Canon. Graned Boba Fett *DID* sort of get robbed in the movies, but in part because it was meant to be a quick thing, and the movies missed some of the subtext of pointing out things like how Luke Skywalker only survived fighting him because of what amounted to dumb luck. The rope he used was a "Smartrope" and was proof against being cut by Lightsabers, being a weapon designed for use on Jedi, however one of the idiot thugs fired allowing Luke to free himself with a deflected blaster bolt.

I think Boba Fett started out as a cult character for those who knew what he was about, but as the universe became more expanded for the mainstream more people gained an appreciation for him.

I also tend to think part of the appeal is his existance as a sort of neutral party. He really has no motivations revolving around absolute good or evil, he hunts down people other people are willing to pay for. He's a "villain" in the storyline, but really he's not a bad guy and probably spends most of his time hunting people far worse than he is.

One of the things that always kind of irked me about most games based around Star Wars, whether they be PnP games or Video games, is that when Bounty Hunters show up they are automatically defined as being evil because Darth Vader hired them in the movies/books, when actually they shouldn't, being more neutral, or even good since while Boba Fett did do some work for the underworld (hunting criminals for other criminals) many probably just go after whomever the goverment puts a bounty on.

Interestingly I find it somewhat lulzworthy that such material tends to mark Smugglers as good guys, because Han Solo was one. Oddly Smugglers (including Han) are basically runners of drugs and slaves. Han got into trouble because he ONLY ran drugs/spice and refused to run slaves and freed a cargo full he picked up from Jabba when he figured out what it was. Strictly speaking Boba Fett and Han Solo representing exceptions to the general "alignment" of their profession if there ever was one. This being one of the things that kind of irks me about the upcoming "Old Republic Online" in fact.

At any rate, enough rambling. The point is that Boba Fett is cool, he was conveyed well through attitude (which got attention) and had a neat costume for the movies.

Bioware stated in an interview that the only reason that they made the Bounty Hunter an "evil" class was because they didn't want to have a neutral faction in the game. And, given the timeline, it would seem that siding with the Sith would be much more profitable to the Bounty Hunters regardless, so it makes sense in the long run.

However, I do agree with you. People just don't seem to get it. Hence why I like the Republic Commando novels where they delved into Mandalorian culture, as well as the Legacy Of The Force series, in which Mr. Fett plays a major role as a neutral party. Very enjoyable indeed.

 

[Durxom]

He escaped the giant spiky vagina thing.

So that's pretty cool.

Boba Fett 1 Spikey Vagina 0.

No he didn't he got eaten by it, in fact the jet pack people have been going about, that's what killed him. Someone bumped it with their elbow and sent him smashing into the side of that speeder thing and got eaten.

There's this whole book in the EU about how he escaped with a grenade...

Lucas himself has stated he has no problem whatsoever with Fett's ressurection. It's pretty much cannon.

Actually it's kind of Boba Fett 2 Spikey Vagina 0...he ended up falling into it again later on in the Expanded Universe..and got out again.

 

[Tsunimo]

in the defense of the others

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU-aCvFbWSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Megwh5D_CMA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w__MzrpakC4&feature=related

Note to all:
Boba fett = Vette
Zuckuss = Prius
Dengar = Dumptruck IG-88 = '57 Chevy
Edit: i would have uploaded the videos directly instead of the links but i don't know how...

 

[Silva]

I think much of Fett's popularity is due in part to the Star Wars extended universe books, which created a much bigger legend from his original minor character syndrome in the movies.

It's also his cool costume design, but everyone's mentioned that already.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

but he didn't do anything, he had like three lines, never used any of his weapons, and the only thing he actually did was take Han Solo to Jabba's place, and then he got eaten.

HE ESCAPED! HE NEVER DIED! That nets him major cajones points for being the only person to survive the Sarlacc. Unfortunately not many people are aware of this. And I also personally love it when Vader tells him "No disintegration". Is he really so big a fan of utterly destroying his enemies that Vader thinks Fett will disobey the right hand man of the Emperor himself? Obviously Vader does, because Boba Fett just does not give a fuck and does what he wants.

This. He actually gets out of that sand pit monster and is not digested for 1000 years or whatever. That right there garners him so many damn points.

 

[Mr. Gency]

I may or may not have something to do with this...

Spoiler

 

[dmase]

Well isn't every clone trooper based off him and that was part of the original books, even though you hate the new movies. So everyone saw him as more of a character in the books and what role he played and where really interested to how he would actually look, just a guess.

 

[Nouw]

Jetpack+Cool Helemt+Badass Outfit+Talking back to Darth Vader=AWESOME!

Math

He's a space marine, and the first one we ever saw. That's pretty much it.

I beg to differ. Storm Troopers can be called Space Marines.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I never understood his popularity either. I mean all he did during Empire Strikes Back was stand around scowling (well I assume he was scowling under the helmet), and then in Return of the Jedi when he actually DID something he got himself plunged into a sarlac(sp?) pit, hardly badass.

 

[rayskyrift]

I think he's awesome because in an era of galactic unrest and civil war, he has the flair to pull off a good pair of cargo pants.

 

[EnzoHonda]

I'm going to ruin Boba Fett for everybody.

Spoiler

But as everyone knows, it's the helmet. He could lose almost any other part of his character, but the helmet has to stay. The mystery is important too. It's a shame the new trilogy took some of that mystery away.

 

[RootbeerJello]

Honestly, I'm pretty sure it's that he's just badass looking. It runs about that deep for most fans.

 

[GruntOwner]

Because his action figure was the rarest. That and he probably knew how to use the search bar.

 

[Queen Michael]

It's because while he may not do a huge amount of bad@$$ things, he does nothing that is not bad@$$, either. But you do see him talking to Darth Vader, so he's clearly competent at what he does. That's why we like him; a silent guy with a cool helmet, a cool gun, and who dies in a gunfight. (Except he doesn't according to the expanded universe.)

 

[neilsaccount]

firstly he looks badass and secondly he has a jetpack and thirdly he has a grappling hook and junk. besides hans solo (who everyone also adores as a badass in the star wars franchise)he is the most relatable to a normal person unlike luke and vader who use the force and shit. Thats why everyone likes fett

 

[duchaked]

because he's cool, that's why

(haha and by canon he survived the sarlaac)

 

[StrangerQ]

Jetback,flamethrower, cape, being bounty hunter, FTW armor

I leave my case to jury for decision