In the finale issue of Star Wars' War of the Bounty Hunters, Boba Fett explains why it makes total sense for Han Solo to have shot first in A New Hope
Warning! Spoilers ahead for War of the Bounty Hunters #5
In the final issue of Star Wars' latest event War of the Bounty Hunters, Boba Fett helps explain why Han Solo had to have shot first in A New Hope. The galaxy far, far away is full of dangerous characters, especially when the most deadly and powerful players were all invited to an auction to get to Solo for themselves after Empire Strikes Back. As a result, truces and alliances were formed just as quickly as they were broken during this event, proving that one has to be willing to strike first before anyone else does to survive, a fact the legendary Boba Fett proves quite well with the cyborg Beilert Valance.
As War of the Bounty Hunters has gone on from writer Charles Soule and artist Luke Ross, Crimson Dawn has brought together several interested parties and players seeking Han Solo including the Hutt Clans, the Rebellion, and even the Empire. However, the best bounty hunters in the galaxy have also come looking for Solo so they can collect Jabba's the Hutt's bounty. Unlike the others though, the cyborg hunter Beilert Valance owes Solo a debt for saving his life when they were both cadets in the Empire. While Valance was working with Dengar to get close to Solo so the cyborg could rescue the infamous smuggler, Valance betrayed Dengar almost instantly once the opportunity arose to work with Boba Fett which would get him even closer.
Now, War of the Bounty Hunters #5 sees Fett and Valance working together despite their long and tense history (such as Fett recently killing Valance's mentor). That being said, they both see each other's value beyond their opposing reasons for wanting to get their hands on Solo. While Fett wants his bounty back to deliver to Jabba after Crimson Dawn stole Solo, Valance is looking to rescue Han to pay back the debt he owes. As a result, they both know that they'll eventually be at odds. However, that time comes sooner than Valance thinks, seeing as how Fett made his move and blew Valance up with an explosive (immediately after Valance saved Fett's life from an Imperial security droid). Likewise, it's the perfect explanation for why Solo had to have shot Greedo first in the original cut of A New Hope despite the edits that were made to have Greedo shoot first instead.
Seeing as how Han was a rogue before joining the Rebellion, it makes sense that he would have learned that survival was all about shooting first. Apparently, it's still a lesson that Valance needs to learn, seeing as how he should have either let the Imperial droid take Fett out or should have taken Fett down himself much sooner. Instead, Fett came out the victor simply because he was the first one to strike.
In any case, Fett taking out Valance before he could do the same to him is just another example of Solo vs. Greedo in New Hope. It would have made perfect sense for Han to have shot first as he originally did, as it fits for his character at that point in the Star Wars timeline given his status as a smuggler trying to survive. In any case, Boba Fett ends up backing up the reasoning for Han Solo's original actions quite well in this final issue of War of the Bounty Hunters.
