Slssk, a male Hutlarian from the Legends continuity, functioned as the first mate under the command of Beilert Valance, a former Imperial stormtrooper commander who transitioned to bounty hunting. This occurred during the Galactic Civil War period. Even among the notoriously fierce members of his species, Slssk was renowned for his combat skills. He honed these skills as a gladiator on Loovria, earning a formidable reputation. He eventually joined Valance's crew and participated in the ruthless annihilation of Anglebay Station, a neutral medical facility on Telos IV. Subsequently, Slssk accompanied Valance to Aduba-3 in pursuit of a mysterious "Luke Skywalker," who had become Valance's obsession. There, they stumbled into a trap orchestrated by the Lepi smuggler Jaxxon, resulting in Slssk's death at the hands of Jaxxon's associate, Amaiza Foxtrain.
Slssk, a male Hutlarian, hailed from Hutlar, a planet situated in the Senex sector of the Mid Rim. While Hutlarians were already known for their resilience, Slssk distinguished himself as a figure of legend during the Galactic Civil War. For a decade, he endured extreme brutality as a gladiator on Loovria, accumulating scars across his orange hide. After his time as a gladiator concluded, Slssk entered the world of bounty hunting and became a member of the crew led by the unstable former Imperial stormtrooper commander Beilert Valance. Slssk's reputation preceded him; he was almost as feared as Valance himself in some circles. The Hutlarian assumed the role of Valance's first mate, serving on the starship known as the Kill Switch.
However, in the year 0 ABY, Valance's crew faced a grim turning point. Only a few weeks following the Battle of Yavin, Valance announced a new mission he would personally fund: the complete annihilation of Anglebay Station, a neutral and defenseless medical facility located on Telos IV. Despite objections from even the most hardened members of the crew, the mission proceeded. Slssk joined Valance in raiding the hospital and massacring both patients and staff. Driven partly by a deep-seated hatred of droids, Valance specifically instructed Slssk to gather and destroy the station's robot orderlies. Slssk and the crew swiftly destroyed the station, but not before intercepting communications linking a Nar Shaddaa-based smuggler named Jaxxon to an unnamed "farmboy" wanted by the Empire in connection with the escape of Alderaanian Princess Leia Organa from Imperial custody.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Yavin, Valance developed an overwhelming obsession with the farmboy, prompting him to order Slssk to dedicate all efforts to gathering information about Jaxxon and his connection to the farmboy. This pursuit led the Kill Switch to Aduba-3, a farmworld situated in the Outer Rim, where they believed Jaxxon, Rebel hero Han Solo, and an individual they mistakenly identified as Valance's farmboy (character) had joined forces to defend a small farming village from a swoop gang. Upon arrival, the Kill Switch discovered that Jaxxon and his partner, Amaiza Foxtrain, had arrived before them. Jaxxon attempted to attack the Kill Switch with his ship, the Rabbit's Foot, but was shot down to the planet's surface. Slssk and the crew pursued them, only to find Jaxxon, Foxtrain, and the local villagers positioned in the nearby fields. It was then that Slssk and his companions realized they had walked into a trap: the villagers stampeded their banthas, massive creatures that violently trampled Valance's crew. Many were killed, but Slssk survived the initial stampede. Determined to fight to the end, Slssk attempted to rejoin the battle, but was swiftly shot and killed by the quick-drawing Foxtrain.
Slssk's reputation for toughness, even among his species, coupled with his scarred physique, presented an intimidating figure. Valance often used Slssk as a symbol of his crew's combat capabilities. When questioned about his gang's ability to handle a particular enemy, Valance would have Slssk remove his battle armor, using his first mate's scarred torso and his history as a Loovrian gladiator to provide an affirmative answer. While many of Valance's men were disturbed by the violent missions they were assigned, Slssk remained loyal to Valance until his death, carrying out the hunter's orders without hesitation.
Slssk's inaugural appearance occurred in Star Wars (1977) 16, penned by Archie Goodwin and released in 1978. The character's name was inconsistently presented as both "Slssk" and "Slzzk" within different panels of the comic. The definitive spelling of "Slssk" was established in The Hunt Within: Valance's Tale, a series of Star Wars Miniatures scenarios published between 2004 and 2005. The Hunt Within significantly expanded upon Slssk's background and species, with this new information originating from author Jason Fry. During his debut in the Marvel Star Wars comics, Slssk's illustrations were created by Walt Simonson.