Bounty Hunters 42

THE SAGA REACHES ITS EXPLOSIVE CONCLUSION! VALANCE THE BOUNTY HUNTER faces a final mission…one that could very well be his LAST! Can he and his comrades overcome BOBA FETT…and JABBA's SECRET WEAPON? This is the GRAND FINALE of a series four years in the making!

During the development of the comic, writer Ethan Sacks presented specific requests to Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm. His primary request was for a longer issue, necessitating the involvement of two artists. Jethro Morales was the first artist, and the second was the returning Paolo Villanelli, whose return was also his second request. Villanelli eagerly accepted the opportunity to contribute to the series' conclusion, having been involved since its inception. Villanelli's contributions included illustrating the comic's ending. Sacks also expressed a desire to write a comic centered on the bounty hunter Jango Fett, which he voiced when asked about his future projects. This request was promptly approved, leading to the creation of the 2024 comic miniseries Star Wars: Jango Fett by Sacks, featuring artwork by Luke Ross. Sacks attributed the series' longevity, reaching forty-two issues, to the dedication of Bounty Hunters readers.

At New York Comic Con in 2023, the announcement was made that issue 42 would be the series' final installment. Sacks hinted that it would showcase Beilert Valance's "last adventure." In a Tweet on October 20, 2023, Sacks jokingly claimed that he had initially planned happy endings for the issue but abandoned them upon Villanelli's return, opting instead for what he dubbed "Plan B." However, following the comic's release and the generally positive outcomes for most characters, Sacks clarified that the Villanelli portion of the Tweet was a jest, and the happy endings aspect had been the "true story" all along. In fact, Valance's ending had been Sacks's intention from the outset, with the only uncertainty being who Valance would ultimately connect with. Initially, Sacks was certain that it would not be his former love Yuralla Vega, as she had moved on from their relationship. Sacks explained that the ending depicts Valance finally recognizing his own worth and evolving into the person Nakano Lash always believed him to be.

Through his Twitter account on June 28, 2023, Sacks first publicly alluded to issue 42, suggesting that the comic might address the fates of Dengar and Manaroo. This would potentially explain Dengar's continued involvement in bounty hunting during the New Republic Era, despite his previous intentions to retire, as well as Manaroo's absence in The Aftermath Trilogy. The final issue portrays Manaroo as having grown weary of Dengar's behavior and decisions. When a fan inquired whether the issue hinted at Manaroo soon ending her relationship with Dengar, Sacks responded that "a lot of seeds [had been] planted for some bitter fruit for the lug!" Issue 42 also includes a reference to Droopy McCool as a gift for Tommy Stella, Sacks's, in Stella's words, "Droopy muse."

On the day of the comic's release, Villanelli shared line art from the issue and expressed his desire to draw the Bounty Hunters cast again in the future. In a Quote Tweet and Twitter thread, Sacks expressed his gratitude to Villanelli for his contributions to the story. He also extended his thanks to numerous other individuals who had assisted him in writing the series, including all the artists who had worked on the series' interiors and covers, colorist Arif Prianto, letterer Travis Lanham, and his editors. Above all, Sacks expressed his appreciation for the fans of Bounty Hunters. Sacks also remained ambiguous regarding Valance's fate.