Beilert Valance is a bounty hunter in the Star Wars franchise who was introduced in Star Wars #16 (October 1978). He was created by Archie Goodwin, Walt Simonson, and Bob Wiacek in one of the first original Star Wars stories outside of the movie franchise. His introduction predates more famous Star Wars bounty hunters like Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88, Dengar, and 4-LOM.

Valance started out as a mysterious figure known as “the hunter” who wanted to erase any knowledge of his past. Before becoming a bounty hunter, Valance was an Imperial soldier who hated all droids and destroyed them indiscriminately. But Valance has a secret. After a mission left him in severely injured, he was treated at a medical station where half of his body was fixed or replaced with cybernetic parts. His shame at essentially becoming the thing he hates has made Valance a violent, bitter man.

A few issues later, Valance returned to hunt for Luke Skywalker – though not for a bounty. Valance was so revolted by Luke’s appreciation and respect of R2-D2 and C-3PO that he wanted to kill the young hero. When he found Luke, Threepio stood between the two men, making it clear that he would sacrifice himself to save Luke. Valance was temporarily surprised by the act of compassion, uncharacteristic of a droid, and chose to let them go.

In his next appearance, Valance met Darth Vader. They were both looking for Tyler Lucian, a former Rebel who abandoned his post and fled Yavin 4 when the Death Star descended upon them. Vader wanted to find Lucian because he believed that the deserter knew the identity of the pilot that blew up the Death Star. Valance knew that that pilot was Luke Skywalker, but did not want the Sith Lord to learn that information. When they both found Lucian’s location, Valance and Vader fought a brutal battle that ended with Valance falling into a corrosive lake.

It was far from Valance’s last appearance. Marvel released a special issue titled Star Wars #108 (July 2019) that was meant to continue the original series that ended at issue 107. The story told the tale of how he survived after seemingly being killed by Vader and put him on a mission to find jewels that could heal his body. Along the way, he encountered Luke Skywalker, saved Princess Leia, and helped save the galaxy.

Valance has also appeared in Han Solo: Imperial Cadet as a talented pilot in the same cadet class as young Han Solo. In Target Vader, Valance and fellow bounty hunter Dengar were hired by a crime syndicate to find Darth Vader. He’s a starring character in Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, leading a team that hunt his former mentor, Nakano Lash, who betrayed them.