Beilert Valance

A former Imperial stormtrooper gravely wounded in battle, Beilert Valance was rebuilt as a cyborg bounty hunter. Resentful of droids yet partly mechanical himself, he carved out a violent career in the galaxy's criminal underworld, first appearing in Marvel's original Star Wars comic series.

Beilert Valance is a Bronze Age Marvel creation who stormed onto the Star Wars comics scene in 1978, conjured by the legendary team of Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson in Star Wars #16 — a debut that planted him firmly in one of comics' most beloved licensed universes from its earliest days. Across nearly five decades of publication, he's carved out a niche in the galaxy's shadowy corners, appearing alongside icons like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa while anchoring titles like Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. That kind of longevity — stretching from 1978 all the way to 2026 — speaks to a character who clearly resonates with writers and readers alike, refusing to fade into the background of a crowded universe. For collectors drawn to the grittier, morally complex edges of the Star Wars galaxy, Valance is absolutely worth tracking down.