A New Master & An Old Apprentice In Star Wars: Age Of Republic Obi-Wan Kenobi #1
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
Young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi was put in charge of training Anakin Skywalker after the death of Obi-Wan’s master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan isn’t sure he’s ready to train Anakin, especially considering how old Anakin already is. Obi-Wan is given a mission in the Mid-Rim to retrieve a Jedi Holocron, and Yoda advises that he take Anakin with him on this mission. Obi-Wan obeys, and Anakin shows his fears about not fitting in to the Jedi Order.
Star Wars Age of Republic: Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 brings us a tale from the early years of Obi-Wan’s training of Anakin, between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Obi-Wan is still young, and Anakin is barely entering his teens.
The story focuses on Obi-Wan’s self doubts concerning his ability to train Anakin. He didn’t choose to be a master this early, and he didn’t know he would have to do it to an abnormally old new Padawan or without the guidance of Qui-Gon.
It aims to show an inexperienced Obi-Wan and succeeds in doing so while humanizing the character in a way that the prequels just couldn’t accomplish (despite the valiant efforts of the very talented Ewan McGregor).
There is an action scene towards the back of the comic, and it’s worth applauding Jody Houser and artists Cory Smith and Wilton Santos for remembering that the Jedi are meant to be peacekeepers and not wandering executioners.
Smith and Santos do a damn good job with the art of the comic on the whole. The detailing is excellent, and the comic’s ability to show the emotions and doubts of Obi-Wan in his face and movements is impeccable. Middle school-aged Anakin is something I’ve not seen before myself, and the book gives him a good Padawan appearance. Inker Walden Wong does especially good inkwork for the book, and color artist Java Tartaglia’s color art keeps the visuals vivid and appealing.
Star Wars: Age of Republic Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 is an endearing and well-crafted one-shot for the beloved Star Wars character. We get to see how the early days of Anakin’s training played out while witnessing the doubts and tribulations of Obi-Wan himself. It’s a good read and easily recommendable to any Star Wars fan. Check this one out.
Star Wars: Age of Republic Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 comes to us from writer Jody Houser, artists Cory Smith and Wilton Santos, inker Walden Wong, color artist Java Tartaglia, letterer VC’s Travis Lanham, cover artist Paolo Rivera, and variant cover artists Iain McCaig, Leinil Francis Yu with Jesus Aburtov, Mike McKone with Guru-eFX, and Rahzzah.
