Boba Fett is one of the best and deadliest bounty hunters. While these two characters are usually allied, (so long as Vader has the credits to pay Fett) Dark Horse's Star Wars Tales comic series imagines a situation in which they were opposed before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope. Both of them are after the same prey, and Vader is determined to eliminate Fett and get him out of his path. However, Boba Fett is never one to go out without a fight. Always prepared, Fett defends himself in a way Vader doesn't expect - with a lightsaber of his own.
While all Star Wars novels and comics before Disney purchased the franchise is now classified as "Legends" and non-canonical, Dark Horse's Star Wars Tales were primarily non-canonical even during their time of release. Vader and Fett's duel is told in the series' eleventh issue, and it all happens because of Han Solo.
While most Star Wars fans know that Vader hired Fett to capture Solo in Empire Strikes Back, this desire to capture Solo happened before New Hope after Solo committed treason against the Empire. Grand Moff Tarkin hired Fett to go after Solo, as he came highly recommended as a bounty hunter of great reputation. However, Vader is not enthused, believing imperial issues should be handled internally by imperials. Tarkin replies with a suggestion: if Vader has such a problem with Fett, perhaps he should just go after Solo himself and capture him before Fett can? Vader agrees. As a result, Fett and Vader manage to reach Solo on Tatooine around the same time. When Fett refuses to call off his hunt, Vader attacks him. While Vader initially gets the upper hand and is about to deliver the killing blow with his lightsaber, Fett reveals his own green lightsaber to block the strike. This angers Vader even more than Fett already has.
Vader and Fett's duel creates a swath of destruction all across the cantina. Fortunately for Solo, Vader and Fett are so distracted fighting each other that it provides him with enough time to make an escape. As he flies up into the planet's orbit, Vader and Fett hesitantly end their fight and part ways, the duel having lost its purpose. Despite a Star Destroyer monitoring all activity over Tatooine, they are unable to locate Solo, as Solo uses the same "floating-away-with-the-refuse-trick" he uses in Episode V.
This small Star Wars history, fans should still enjoy seeing two of its biggest and baddest characters throwing down in a pretty cool way.
