If you did not know by now, Jango Fett is by far my most favorite character in the Star Wars universe. And while his sleek armor is one of the primary elements that sway me, it is his labyrinthine, paradoxical persona that I find the most compelling of all. Thus it is my intention to dispel what I believe is an egregious misconception about this ultra-cool bounty hunter.

The following blog addition is based on the most popular thread I ever authored on StarWars.com. It serves as my contention that Jango Fett is a far more redeeming and complex character than the one-dimensional baddy he is typically perceived to be.

Black and white. Good and evil. As with most dramatic mythos, this archetypal concept of dualism is the most central theme in Star Wars. Whereas the likes of Luke Skywalker and Yoda are the embodiment of all that is righteous, Darth Vader and The Emperor are the corrupted symbols of perfect wickedness. Is there room somewhere in this simple, polar morality play for a grayer, more nuanced philosophy? I think so. And I think it can be found in the character of Jango Fett.

To understand Jango Fett the man, one most first know his history, and that requires exploring a territory I am not usually fond of: The Expanded Universe.

The following excerpt is culled from the Star Wars: Bounty Hunter video game instruction manual:

As a boy, Jango was orphaned when his family was caught in the cross fire between the terrifying Mandalorian Warriors and their rivals, the Death Watch, on the planet Concord Dawn. A sympathetic Mandalorian commander named Jaster Mereel took pity on Jango and made him a cadet. Soon he was traveling with the nomadic army-for-hire as they toured the galaxy looking for conflict, always in the service of the highest bidder. Over time, Jango rose through the ranks. When Jaster Mereel was killed in battle, Jango was named commander, the youngest in the long history of the notorious mercenary army.

If the following account is to be considered canon, it is obvious that Jango was forced early on to learn just how cruel and hostile the Universe is. His relationship with Jaster Mereel and subsequent service in the Mandalorian mercenary corps would serve to further foster his established hard-boiled attitude towards life. Consider that he not only lost his parents, but his beloved mentor as well, and it is no surprise why Jango took the path he did.

By the time Jango had established himself as an accomplished bounty hunter, corruption was gushing through the Galaxy like sludge through a Coruscant sewer. Jango understood the climate of the time, and was not blinded by political dogma. Truth and justice - these turgid idealist's conceits held no weight for Jango. It was a Galaxy in which the law of "survival of the fittest" trumped any other contrived law; it was nexu-eat-nexu, and Jango was going to make sure to be the nexu with the full stomach. The art of bounty hunting was his tool. If he employed methods that some would deem barbaric and immoral, for the hardened Jango, it was simply a necessary means for his own survival.

But even at this brutal juncture in Jango's life, he was not entirely without sentiment. He developed a tacitly affectionate relationship with his oft-employer, the Toydarian space outpost owner Rozatta. However, during Jango's hunt for the rogue Sith Komari Vosa, Rozatta would be killed by Jango's long-time rival - and former fellow Mandalorian Warrior - Montross. Once again, Jango would lose the only one he truly cared about - another layer on his ever-growing emotional callus. It was this hunt, however, that may have marked the most pivotal point in his life.

After successfully eliminating Vosa, Jango was offered a most unique reward by his employer Darth Tyranus (AKA Count Dooku). Because he proved his unmatched mettle by defeating a Sith lord, Tyranus gave him the chance to serve as the template for a future clone army. Jango agreed, on the condition that one of the clones remain genetically unmodified. That clone would be Boba Fett, who Jango reared as his own son.

This decision is the most inscrutable of any Jango made, but if understood, may say more about the man behind the armor than anything else. Why the desire to have a perfect clone made of himself? Was it a narcissistic indulgence? Did he he want to have someone to mentor as he was mentored by Jaster Mereel? Or did he feel that by creating a facsimile of himself, he could somehow atone for trespasses in his current life? Whatever the reason, there is no denying the bond that developed between both father and son. For what would be the last time in his life, Jango had someone he truly loved.

Ironically, it was probably Jango's love for Boba that cemented his ruthlessness as a bounty hunter. As a wise Jedi once said, "The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side." Prescient words, as Jango came into the full service of the secret Sith, Lord Tyranus. The fact is, Jango would be willing to do anything to protect and preserve his clone son, and that included the attempted assassination of Senator Padme Amidala.

The full measure of Jango's callousness would be revealed when he cooly assassinated his long-time partner Zam Wessell to prevent her from divulging information. Soon after, Jango would meet his own demise at the hands of Mace Windu.

Now that you know the history of this most enigmatic bounty hunter, I would hope that you would, at least to a point, agree with me in that Jango Fett was not a "bad guy" in the traditional sense. In my opinion, he is an antihero; not a cold-blooded cutthroat, but the practical product of a treacherous milieu. He was also a profoundly complex personality, with a sentient side that belied his indurate exterior. True, he did kill for profit, but most of his victims were vile dregs who didn't deserve to live in the first place. With the exception of the attempted assassination of Padme Amidala, there is nothing viable to suggest that Jango ever targeted an innocent. And in his mind, Padme was probably just another "corrupt politician". While he served as an enforcer and bodyguard for Darth Tyranus, he had no allegiance to the Dark Side. The truth is, his only allegiance was to himself and his son. His "loyalty" was nothing but a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. This was the only way he knew. In the end, I think Jango Fett best describes himself, when he elegantly professes, "I'm just a simple man, trying to make my way in the universe."