Star Wars Finally Reveals Cad Bane’s Tragic Origin Story After 16 Years

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heads-up: This article discloses SPOILERS for Tales of the Underworld episodes 4 to 6 regarding Cad Bane’s (Corey Burton) backstory; a tale that has been long-awaited since his debut in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Over the years, the enigmatic figure of Cad Bane has captivated Star Wars fans as one of its best bounty hunters, shrouded in mystery. Although tidbits about his past, like his training under Jango Fett and working for Darth Maul prior to the Star Wars films, were unveiled, Bane continued to be a character steeped in intrigue. Now, 16 years following his creation, Cad Bane’s backstory has been unfolded, finally providing answers about his origins.

In the Star Wars Legends universe, the backstory of Cad Bane remained somewhat enigmatic. While there were hints that he had been trained by Jango Fett and a short comic revealing one of his old friends from Duro, details about his life prior to becoming a bounty hunter were scarce. However, the series Tales of the Underworld turned this around entirely, providing insights into Cad Bane’s childhood and even his first murder. As a result, the mysterious gunslinger was transformed into a tragic figure marked by greed and vengeance.

Cad Bane Grew Up On The Streets

Bane Was Originally Named Colby & Was A Street Urchin On Duro

In the series Tales of the Underworld, it’s shown that Cad Bane’s beginnings were quite ordinary. Born on the rough streets of Duro, he struggled to get by, fighting tooth and nail for every bite he ate. However, what the tales didn’t initially reveal was that his real name is Colby, and he had a close companion named Niro, another Duros. Together, they would rummage through trash bins, irritate local merchants, and even deceive unsuspecting droids into giving up their supplies. Life for Colby was challenging yet entertaining.

It wasn’t until Lazlo appeared that things took a turn for Colby and Niro. Observing their work, Lazlo propositioned them with an “investment” in their criminal activities. Later, Lazlo asked them to create a diversion so he could take out one of his rivals. Unfortunately, the police captured Niro. At this point, Lazlo announced that Colby was now part of his inner circle, a decision that forever altered Colby’s path. It is assumed that Colby stayed with Lazlo’s gang from then on and later became known as Cad Bane.

Cad Rose Through The Ranks To Become A Crime Boss

Bane Commanded Some Of Lazlo’s Crew Even After Years In Prison

Over time, Cad Bane gained significance and influence within Lazlo’s gang. He climbed the ranks until he became Lazlo’s successor as leader in episode 5 of Tales of the Underworld when Lazlo was shot down by a marshal. Later, Bane returned to his hometown on Duro and confronted the marshal responsible for Lazlo’s death. Unfortunately, his childhood friend Niro apprehended him for that murder. In a surprising turn of events, Arin, Bane’s girlfriend, took his blaster to prevent him from dying in a shootout, leading to Bane’s imprisonment.

Through the adventures depicted in Tales of the Underworld, it was revealed that many of Lazlo’s distinctive features, such as his leather jacket, metal-plated hat, and toothpick-chewing habit, were nurtured under Cad Bane’s tutelage. It appears that Bane aimed to mold Lazlo in the image of his mentor, even adopting Lazlo’s hat as his signature accessory, which he wore during the Clone Wars and up until his demise in The Book of Boba Fett.

Vengeance Became The Focus Of Cad Bane’s Life

Bane Wanted Revenge For Lazlo & Arin & It Consumed Him Completely

Following many years in captivity orchestrated by Niro, Cad Bane found himself driven by a relentless desire for retribution. Specifically, in the sixth episode of Tales of the Underworld, he devised a plan to confront Niro on Duro and seek vengeance for what he believed was their betrayal. However, unbeknownst to him, Niro had formed a romantic bond with someone else during his imprisonment – Arin, who unfortunately passed away before Bane’s release due to a technicality in the legal proceedings. Despite this revelation, Bane’s thirst for revenge persisted, ultimately leading him to take Niro’s life.

In his dying moments, Niro disclosed a crucial detail that Cad Bane had failed to learn during his imprisonment: Arin was pregnant at the time of Cad’s arrest, giving birth to a son named Isaac. Since then, Niro had been raising Isaac as his own child. The moment Cad took Niro’s life, he lost not only his love but also his best friend and his biological son. In pursuit of revenge, Bane inadvertently forfeited everything: his love, his friend, and his son. With the death of Niro, Bane was left with nothing but his career as a renowned bounty hunter.

Does Cad Bane’s New Origin Story Work?

Cad Bane’s Origin Story In Tales Of The Underworld Is Better Than I Could Have Expected

As I pen this article, I occasionally glance at my treasured collection of three Cad Bane action figures adorning my desk. This enigmatic character from the modern Star Wars universe is one I can’t help but be utterly captivated by. To say I’m a fan would be an understatement. Upon learning about Tales of the Underworld, I was thrilled at the prospect of more Cad Bane content, but soon felt apprehensive that Lucasfilm and Disney might tarnish his enigmatic charm. However, it is with immense satisfaction that I can share with you my relief – Star Wars not only preserved Cad Bane’s allure, but exceeded my wildest expectations in crafting his origin story.

In the Tales of the Underworld, Cad Bane’s narrative left me utterly captivated. His transformation into a ruthless, avaricious bounty hunter seems genuine and justified. The way he exacted revenge on Niro and his shocking revelation about Isaac perfectly explains his pursuit of ever-increasing rewards, even if it meant taking jobs that targeted children. This three-episode saga evoked the spirit of classic Western films I admire; it was impossible not to think of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. To put it another way, Cad Bane embodies the essence of a classic Western antagonist, and Tales of the Underworld provided him with a fitting Western backstory that complements his character.

Previously, Cad Bane’s backstory was vague at best, with him primarily known as a coldly calculating bounty hunter driven by greed. However, this portrayal made him an intriguing and enigmatic character, but also one-dimensional. The series Tales of the Underworld transformed that image dramatically. Now, Cad Bane is not simply a gun for hire motivated by money; he’s a multifaceted individual with a heartrending past and valid reasons to prioritize credits over people.

In my opinion, Cad Bane, the enigmatic character reminiscent of Lee Van Cleef in Star Wars, holds great significance for me. However, the origin story presented in Tales of the Underworld seems to contradict his enigmatic nature as it delves into Bane’s tragic past, where he lost everything due to greed and revenge. This narrative aligns well with Bane’s character arc across various shows, as well as the broader Star Wars conflict between good and evil. Frankly, I can’t help but express my admiration for Tales of the Underworld repeatedly.

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2025-05-05 00:31