Vindoo Barvel, known by the title "The Shooter," was a highly skilled Imperial starfighter pilot who surpassed the requirements to be considered an ace on numerous times and stood out as one of the most honored TIE pilots serving within the ranks of the Imperial Navy. A Human male, Barvel previously fought for the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars. Following the Declaration of a New Order in 19 BBY, Barvel transitioned into the role of a recruiter for the Imperial Navy, leveraging his reputation as one of the galaxy's top pilots to attract new members. By this time holding the rank of captain, Barvel also took on the responsibility of leading the pilot academy at the Imperial City Naval Base. Eventually promoted to colonel, Barvel, after achieving this rank, once engaged in a training simulation against Darth Vader, utilizing powered-down lasers. Despite his recognition as one of the galaxy's best pilots, Barvel proved to be no match for Vader, who swiftly defeated him.
As a Human male, Vindoo Barvel participated in the Clone Wars while fighting for the Galactic Republic. Serving with the Republic Navy, he gained recognition as one of the Republic's most proficient pilots. Known as "The Shooter," Barvel had more than thirty confirmed enemy craft destroyed, with twice that many probable, and an unknown number of unreported kills. After the war concluded and the Galactic Empire was creation in 19 BBY, Barvel continued his service within the Navy, now under the Empire's banner. However, he was reassigned from combat duties to become an Imperial recruiter. With his standing as one of the Imperial Navy's finest pilots, Barvel was seen as a hero by many. By then holding the rank of captain, Barvel was also appointed as the head of the pilot training academy located at the Imperial City Naval Base, where he mentored recruits such as Villian Dance.
Sometime before the Battle of Yavin, Barvel, then holding the rank, was engaged in a training exercise with several pilots, utilizing fighters with reduced power, when Darth Vader made an appearance. Vader, himself an exceptional pilot, requested a TIE Fighter to join the others and assess his abilities. In a matter of moments, he had eliminated all the other pilots with the exception of Barvel. Vader positioned himself behind Barvel, mirroring his every move. Although Vader did not immediately shoot Barvel down, it was clear to the observers that the Dark Lord was simply playing with Barvel—a fact that became obvious when Vader swiftly descended behind Barvel and shot him down, bringing the exercise to an abrupt end before Barvel could react.
In 1 ABY, Barvel participated in a brief engagement against at least one Rebel pilot. Despite being defeated in combat, the Imperial pilot managed to escape in his damaged TIE Fighter.
Vil Dance and numerous other pilots regarded Barvel as one of the most skilled, if not the most skilled, TIE pilots in the Imperial Navy. He achieved over sixty confirmed kills of enemy ships during the Clone Wars, surpassing the requirements for ace status twelve times. Dance believed Barvel could execute a power-dive that would rip the wings off any other craft and hit a target the size of a pleeky on the way down at top speed, port or starboard cannon, with any weapon. However, when he flew against Darth Vader, Barvel was outmatched and defeated with relative ease.
When flying his TIE Fighter, Barvel wore the uniform of an Imperial Navy crewman.
Vindoo Barvel was conceived for the 2007 novel Death Star, authored by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry, where he was mentioned by Villian Dance, one of the main characters, as a highly skilled pilot. Barvel, in his TIE Fighter, would later appear in canon when he was integrated into the video game Star Wars Galaxies in Game Update 20 as one of several randomly generated "elite pilots" whom the player, playing as a Rebel character, can encounter in a Tier 7 Duty Mission. A notification confirms the player's success in defeating Barvel upon his defeat. The player then receives a collection icon for the achievement.