When pitching story ideas to Dark Horse, we wanted to give them some options, hopefully with the intention that after saying “no” to one or two ideas, we would have worn them down to a “yes” by the third. This is not a good strategy.
Probably the weakest story of the three we pitched, this story follows Anakin Skywalker and a young Boba Fett as they realize their similarities and what sets them apart. We always liked how Darth Vader hires Boba Fett in Empire, but in the prequels they never touched on their similar pasts. Wouldn’t it be cool to see them interact before they turn into an intergalactic badasses?
Above are Chris’ awesome character designs for some of the characters in this story, and below is the one-page synopsis (really it’s two pages) from Shane. This story was intended to be 72 comic pages long, and the final pitch for this story was nine pages of detailed plot outlines.
Plot: Following Boba Fett’s failed murder of Jedi master Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker mentors young Fett in an attempt to rehabilitate his ruthless, hate-filled ways.
Story: Anakin realizes he and Boba have many traits in common (both had only one parent who was murdered) and struggles with the decision to act upon revenge like Boba Fett, or stay on the path of the noble Jedi.
Theme: Revenge does not heal pain. Inner torment is overcome through forgiveness, humility, and kindness.
Short Synopsis:
(Getting up to Speed: Boba Fett’s father, Jango Fett, was killed by Mace Windu in the Clone Wars. After a failed assassination attempt on Windu, young Boba was captured and placed in prison.)
Our Story Begins: Months later, Jedi master Mace Windu decides it is not healthy for the young Boba Fett to be locked up in prison for his whole life. Mace sends Anakin Skywalker to Tatooine to rehabilitate Boba Fett and help him to grow up like a normal boy.
Anakin and Boba bond over a mutual love of podracing, but when they encounter a group of Tuskin Raiders, Boba witnesses the potential hatred and rage that lays hidden in Anakin.
Anakin and Boba coincidentally each had one parent (Anakin was immaculately conceived and Boba is a clone of his father) who was murdered. A very unique situation, the two grow closer.
Boba sneaks out at night and visits Jabba the Hutt. Jabba assigns a bounty to Boba and promises him a Jedi lightsaber if Boba completes the task.
The next day, Boba takes Anakin to the bounty target: a murderer. Boba reasons that people like the bounty target create orphans like Anakin and him. Anakin agrees to apprehend the man, but Boba takes it a step further and kills him.
That night, Boba proposes that he will kill every Tuskin Raider on Tatooine, something a Jedi Knight’s reputation would never allow, if Anakin secretly kills Mace Windu for him. Anakin is appalled at the planned genocide and murder of an upright Jedi and plans to return Boba to prison the next day.
In the night, Boba escapes from Anakin in disguise and steals a Jawa sandcrawler. He uses the giant vehicle to crush the house they were staying in, successfully staging his own death.
Boba then collects his lightsaber from Jabba the Hutt. Boba murders an entire tribe of Tuskin Raiders with the Jedi weapon and frames Anakin.
Word gets back to Mace Windu that Boba is dead and Anakin is on a killing rampage. Since Mace never trusted the reckless Jedi, Mace travels to Tatooine with Commander Rex to apprehend Anakin.
Boba surprises Anakin in a crowded city and offers to clear his name if Anakin would only kill Mace Windu for him. When Anakin declines, the two battle in the busy city. Pedestrians chase after Anakin for attacking again. Anakin steals a speeder and races to the deserted desert canyons.
In the wilderness, Anakin finds more Tuskin Raiders and is about to release his frustration on them when he realizes he would simply be more like the evil Boba Fett than a Jedi if he follows the path of hatred and revenge. Anakin spares the Tuskin Raiders.
Anakin contacts Commander Rex and informs him that he will turn himself in if Rex would first do him a favor. Created as an obedient clone, Rex obliges.
The next day Anakin meets Mace Windu and tells him Boba Fett is alive and waiting for his chance to kill Mace. Mace is skeptical of Anakin when he finds the body of a dead Tuskin Raider (planted by Boba Fett) and attacks Anakin when he does not agree to cooperate.
Suddenly, Commander Rex shows up dressed as Jango Fett and breaks up the fight. Boba Fett watches from the hills and when he sees his “father” he reveals his position.
Mace realizes Anakin was telling the truth, but when Boba finds out this Jango Fett is not his father, he vows to kill every single Jedi.
Boba Fett detonates explosives he planted along the canyon bringing walls of rock down upon the Jedi. Anakin, Mace and Rex narrowly avoid being crushed.
Anakin disables Boba’s jet pack with a blaster shot. The boy charges Mace Windu in one last desperate attempt to kill him, but is easily overpowered and returned to prison.
THE END (except for the 7 other pages with a longer and more fleshed out synopsis)
