The Star Wars universe boasts an array of captivating characters embroiled in the eternal struggle between good and evil. Among them, the enigmatic bounty hunters, driven by lucrative rewards, occupy a pivotal position. From the iconic Mandalorian Boba Fett to the more obscure figures like Zuckuss and Aurra Sing, the franchise abounds with legendary bounty hunters.
One such distinctive and iconic bounty hunter from the Clone Wars era is the masked warrior known as Durge. With a rich history in the Star Wars lore, spanning across different timelines, Durge stands as one of the most formidable adversaries the Jedi have encountered. Here are some intriguing revelations about this menacing warrior.
6 Deep Animosity Towards Mandalorians
A Vendetta Fuels His Combat
In the non-Disney timeline, Durge's involvement in the Clone Wars is driven by his desire to eliminate the clones of Jango Fett, a Mandalorian. His profound disdain for Mandalorians stems from a long-standing history, originating from a period when he was trained by a Mandalorian named Jiang. The betrayal and subsequent tragedy inflicted upon him by a Mandalorian clan led to his vengeful vendetta against the race. His harrowing experiences, including the murder of the ruler of Mandalore and enduring captivity and torment, propelled him towards a path of relentless vengeance, compelling him to conceal himself for a century to regenerate and recuperate.
5 Belonging to the Gen'Dai Species
An Enigmatic Presence in the Star Wars Universe
Durge is a member of the Gen'Dai species, formerly a peaceful community whose homeworld faced annihilation, compelling them to wander the galaxy, often assuming roles as bounty hunters, with Durge being a prominent representative. Another figure from their species, Raylann, surfaces in the video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, engaging in conflicts with Cal Kestis.
Identified by their purple skin, orange eyes, and distinctive regenerative tentacles encased in their armor, the Gen'Dai exhibit a distributed nervous system throughout their bodies, endowing them with heightened reflexes. Despite their longevity, spanning millennia, they are susceptible to escalating mental instability over time.
4 Near-Invincibility
Surviving Perilous Encounters
Durge's regenerative capabilities as a Gen'Dai render him virtually indestructible, with decapitation and annihilation being the only viable means of termination. Augmented by formidable battle armor from the original Expanded Universe, now classified as Legends by Disney, he presents a daunting challenge in confrontations.
His survival in numerous clashes within the non-Disney chronicles, including encounters with Jedi and General Grievous, attests to his resilience. Even enduring torment at the hands of Mandalorians, it took Anakin Skywalker's intervention, propelling him into a star, to seemingly conclude his existence.
3 Confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi
An Epic Battle in the Clone Wars
Across diverse continuities, Durge has confronted numerous adversaries, including several Jedi, notably Obi-Wan Kenobi, not only within the comics but also in Genndy Tartakovsky’s 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars microseries, now categorized under Disney's Legends label.
In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Durge is dispatched by Dooku to defend a droid factory on the planet Muunilinst. This engagement showcased his seemingly supernatural resilience, as Kenobi's lightsaber pierces his abdomen, eliciting derisive mirth from Durge. Despite being bisected and dismembered, he reconstitutes himself, resurfacing sans armor, eventually engulfing Obi-Wan and meeting his demise from within.
2 Revival in the Doctor Aphra Series
A Resurgence in the New Continuity
In 2014, Lucasfilm introduced the Lucasfilm Story Group, delineating a fresh Star Wars continuity distinct from the existing lore. Durge remained absent from this new era until his reincarnation in Marvel’s Doctor Aphra #20.
In this narrative, he crosses paths with Aphra and smuggler Sanna Starros in pursuit of a bounty, necessitating an alliance to repel alien parasites aboard their vessel. Ultimately, Aphra jettisons both the parasites and Durge into space. Despite this ordeal, he emerges unscathed, assuming a pivotal role in the Marvel Comics storyline War of the Bounty Hunters.
1 Instrumental in the Creation of Cad Bane
A Catalyst for Another Bounty Hunter's Genesis
In the pre-Disney Expanded Universe, Durge emerged as a formidable force, posing a significant challenge for the Jedi. Although excluded from Dave Filoni’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he catalyzed the inception of another iconic bounty hunter: Cad Bane.
The plan to revamp Durge for a Season 1 narrative, portraying him as predominantly humanoid with diminished fantastical attributes, evolved into the creation of a new character drawing inspiration from World War II soldiers. Guided by Star Wars creator George Lucas's suggestion of a design reminiscent of spaghetti Westerns, Cad Bane, a gun-slinging member of the Duros species, ascended to become a fan favorite, even transitioning to live-action in The Book of Boba Fett.