Creepy guy named Sheev leering at boys? What possible harm?
Introduction
Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin collects the five issue mini-series of the same name written by Charles “Soul Man” Soule with art by Marco “Ch-Ch-Changes” Checchetto.
Synopsis
Skywalker family motto: Why try something else when you can just kill?
Several years after the Battle of Naboo, Anakin Skywalker is still under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, Anakin is seriously considering leaving the order, feeling that he has much to learn from the galaxy at large. Privately, Kenobi confides to Yoda that if the boy does leave, he will leave the Order to go with him so that he might continue to keep his promise to his late master. Tasked with what could be their final mission as Jedi, the two journey to Carnelion IV, a supposedly dead planet. Untold years before, a war raged on the planet that left the surface inhospitable and covered in a toxic green cloud. In the mountains above live two warring factions, the Open and the Closed. Kenobi and Skywalker are drawn into their conflict as soon as they arrive. These people have never even heard of the Jedi and claim to have no idea who could have sent a signal specifically requesting Jedi aid. Members of both factions form an uneasy truce to journey with the pair to the source of the transmission in one of their Zeppelin-like airships, but danger and treachery abound as Anakin is abducted by the Open so that his mechanical abilities might give them an advantage over their enemy. Obi-Wan forges ahead to find the person who sent the call, a woman named Sera who lives on the surface, salvaging what remains of the old world and keeping it as hope for the future. She wants the Jedi to force peace on the warring people. Both groups, however, have long suspected someone of trying to interfere in their conflict; hence their eagerness to follow the Jedi to the call’s source. A battle erupts, with the Open and Closed fighting each other and both trying to destroy Sera and Obi-Wan. Anakin, having convinced the Open young to free him, swoops in to save the day; Obi-Wan has him repair a transmitter and call in a Republic fleet. The planet, that before no one in the Republic cared about, is now a hotbed of activity; mostly because Obi-Wan told them that the atmosphere was full of tibanna gas. He’s really good at lying. Anakin sees the value in being part of something larger than himself. He decides to remain in the Jedi Order and everyone lives happily ever after until they don’t. Interspersed throughout are scenes from a “B story”, a flashback from just before the mission at hand where we see Palpatine begin to take young Skywalker under his wing and sink his claws into him.
Review
Anakin has a hard time hanging on to his lightsaber.
This is one of those stories where the idea of it appeals to me more than the execution. I don’t think this is a bad story by any means; but if you told me you were doing an Obi-Wan/Anakin story set before the Clone Wars where Anakin struggles with leaving the Jedi Order, this is not exactly how I would have pictured it or preferred for it to play out. What I like about this story is that it features two of my favorite characters, with supporting appearances from other favorites like Palpatine, Mace Windu, and Yoda; it is set during a time of great interest to me that I feel is very ripe for exploration; and the plot point that Anakin is considering leaving the Order and that Obi-Wan will follow is very appealing. Of course, we all know that Anakin won’t leave, so the success of this device lies in how well his motivations for staying or going are explored. They are explored, but not as fully as I would have liked. That’s really my main problem with this book: premises are set up and then not really given the exposition that I think they could use. The war between the Open and the Closed, which seems to have been going on for longer than they can remember, is explained to be the result of each group blaming the other for the war that devastated the planet. I’m not even sure why they are called Open and Closed; when I first read the story I somehow came under the impression that it was because the former were advocating for making contact with the galaxy at large and the latter were against it. You know what? That’s actually not anywhere in the story. Then there’s both groups' desire to kill Sera because she is trying to seduce their youth onto the path of peace and restore the glory of the old world. It works to move the plot, but it just seems a little weak. Finally, as for complaints, the whole story resolves itself way too quickly and conveniently in the end. The Republic fleet seems to arrive within seconds of the call going out. I mean, you know, sometimes people are in the bathroom when the phone rings.
This thing kind of reminds me of ED-209
Something that I have no complaint about is the art. It is exquisite. I don’t know what else to say. When I read this story the first time I was put off by the “steampunk” look of the Open and Closed and their airships. However, upon re-reading it occured to me how they fit in with the visual theme of the series. When we see the uninhabited city of the old world, it looks like a modern metropolis with skyscrapers of glass and steel. Then we have the Open/Closed in their quasi-Victorian airships; and when Anakin is taken to their home in one of the mountains we see a city seemingly made of wooden buildings, the whole thing lit by an eerie orange glow. It’s like something out of a stereotypical picture of a 19th century city. You really see how the population has regressed from the planet’s pre-war technological age. I can see how it might be a bit much for some, especially when the Open get their flying mech suits working, but it worked for me.
Notes
Sera has some rather unorthodox ideas about the Jedi.
This series is set 3 years after The Phantom Menace.
At one point it is remarked that there are 10,000 Jedi in the galaxy. It is not specified if this includes padawans and younglings or just knights and above.
Because of the great art, the fact that we get a glimpse into the “when they were brothers” era for Obi-Wan and Anakin, and the scenes with Palpatine; I’m going to give this one 3 Skulls..
