Another edition to the comic book reviews this week is the Age of Republic Obi Wan kenobi. This is going to cover my review on one of the best star wars canon comics of all time. For reference to my review I made on the 1st comic of the mini series on Qui Gon Jinn, do click here.
The synopsis of the comic talks about the early days of Obi Wan Kenobi where in he made a promise to honor his dying master Qui Gon Jinn’s wish of training Anakin.
There are two things which struck me the most about this comic is that firstly, we get to see how Obi Wan was like during his initial days of being a Jedi Knight and secondly, the relationship between him and Anakin. And personally, this is one of the best star wars canon comics that I have ever read.
This relationship to me was extremely important because it not just highlighted the course of their destinies but especially their weaknesses. But lets start with the comic review right away…I cant wait 🙂
Plot Summary
A) Meditation at the Jedi Temple
The comic starts with meditation at the Jedi Temple in Coruscant. Obi wan and Anakin have a conversation regarding his meditation skills, which have greatly improved. Despite that, Obi Wan experienced a great unease when he had a flashback during his training days with his old master. It then moved to one, where in he lost his master to the Sith.
In a nutshell, it made him question his ability of taking a Padowan so soon. He felt the training should have been done under “better circumstances”.
The comic strip then moves towards the Jedi Council assigning Obiwan his next mission . Anakin was clearly upset by that.
What I noticed about this part of the comic strip was that he was in a dilemma regarding his ability to train Anakin properly. At the same time, Anakin felt he was way better then his other counterparts. He wanted his master to push him further in his training.
B) A Conversation between Master Yoda & Obi Wan
The comic strip then shifts to a scene at the Jedi Temple Library, where in Obi Wan researches on the planet Dallenor and the Jedi who live there. Master Yoda interrupts him in between and inquires about details of the mission. Master Yoda felt that Anakin should go along with Obiwan for this mission.
What was prominent about this part is that Master Yoda could sense Obi Wans apprehension to further train Anakin. Yoda made it clear it was important for Anakin to have his master’s belief in him. At the same time, it also showed Obiwan’s self doubt in himself, as well as in his own apprentice.
C) A Conversation between Obi Wan and Anakin on the Ship
Obiwan finally agrees to take his apprentice for the mission. Anakin is clearly excited and in awe to be on his first quest. At the same time, his master pondered over the fact that Anakin shouldnt be sheltered around the Jedi Temple.
Consequently, he reminisced over his old master and realized he and Anakin had separate life journeys as Jedis. No other star wars canon comics so far has shown this.
Anakin then interrupts his master and they have a conversation regarding their early lives. Anakin felt depressed also over lack of faith of the Jedi council on him. He left the conversation at the end, because he felt Obiwan trained him as a liability.
What I particularly noticed were that Obiwan and Anakin had different backgrounds. I felt that Anakin was looking up to Obiwan constantly as a father figure. But on the other hand, Obiwan viewed Anakin more like a brother. I felt he really wanted to train Anakin, but it had to be under the right circumstances.
D) Obi Wan and Anakin’s Mission at Planet Dallenor
The novel then moves onto the mission at Planet Dallenor. In a nutshell, they come to understand why the Jedi Holocron is causing problems for the planet. It then moves towards Obiwan exploring the authenticity of the Holocron and him asking Anakin to keep a watch outside.
Suddenly, a shout from afar comes out from nowhere. It is from Anakin, who alerts his master and Clatriffe of local pirates. A fight breaks out and Obiwan then defends his apprentice. The swift strikes from his shiny blue Lightsaber and the power of the Force keep the pirates at bay.
Out of now where, Hudso Shaku help Anakin captive with a sword against his neck. Abruptly, a pile of rocks was hurled at the pirate’s head, who got knocked out. Anakin activated his force abilities at a split second and knocked the pirate out with the rocks. He and Obiwan then return back to the ship
E) Final Conversation with Anakin
The comic novel ends with a final talk between them on the ship. There are so many beautiful moments in this part of the comic strip. On one side, Anakin felt unmotivated because of what happened at the planet. On the other side, Obiwan was proud of Anakin and in fact, had a conversation with him about it.
Obi wan explained the reason he was hesitant to further Anakin’s training is because of what happened to his former master. If he couldnt save his own Jedi Master, how could he save a Padawan ?
It then ends with a resolution by Anakin that no matter what, they will protect each other and honor Qui Gon Jinn. This made Obiwan happy and he realized perhaps he himself has a lot to learn.
I do hope to see more star wars canon comics talking about their relationship further because this was awesome.
My Comic Review Feedback
A) What I liked about this Star Wars Canon Comic
1) It highlighted the early relationship between Obi Wan and Anakin
This was so crucial and important for me, considering I am a major Star Wars Fan. One thing to understand about this relationship between both of them is that it was a complete accident !
For the new readers, you all will get a better understanding of their relationship once you watch the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Original Trilogy and most recently, the Obi Wan Kenobi Show.
On one side, Anakin was desperately looking for a father figure to train him and take care of him. But on the other side, Obiwan was ill prepared to take on a new Padawan at such a early stage of his life. In fact, Obiwan considered Anakin more like a brother, and was often critical of him on the field
This led Anakin eventually down a path of negative emotions and fearing the loss of his loved ones around him. It further led him to seek a father figure who could advise and help him down the line. Unfortunately, he found it in Chancellor Palpatine , who led him to the Dark Side. Overall, one of the best star wars canon comics I have ever read and I would give this 8/10.
2) It highlighted Anakin’s growing abilities in the Force
Two important instances in this comic which showcase this was his moment of Meditation, as well as escaping from Captivity.
I strongly believe that Anakin was born from the Will of the force, because upon his birth, he had only a mother. There was no father. Being a product of the force gave him a high Midichlorian Count. That is precisely why he is able to excel faster in tasks compared to his counterparts
B) Areas of Improvement for the Star Wars Canon Comic
1) This Comic can fully be understood by only Star Wars Fans
This for me presented an area of challenge because if you are a new to Star Wars, I am definitely sure you wouldn’t have an understanding regarding the characters you just saw in this comic. This is precisely why just for reference, I am attaching the Star Wars Movies Timeline. This way, you will easily understand the Star Wars chronological order and better relate to the comic characters of Star Wars the next time.
2) This comic should have delved deeper into the Mythology of Jedi Holocrons
Even considering the fact that I am a Star Wars Fan, I felt a bit disappointed when they didn’t talk about Jedi Holocrons in detail.
“As per the official Star Wars website, Holocrons are ancient repositories of knowledge and wisdom that can only be accessed by those skilled in the Force. Jedi use them to record and preserve their teachings, creating a record for future generations seeking to understand the mysteries of the Force.“
In addition, they also prevent non-Force-sensitive individuals from opening them and accessing the secrets held within.
“If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine”
— Obi Wan Kenobi