Going back to the beginning.
Note: this issue is officially scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 6, but it's available for purchase now digitally and in certain comic shops.
Marvel's first year of new Star Wars comics was pretty great, but it's hard to ignore the fact that these new series focused almost exclusively on the Original Trilogy era. A little more variety is always welcome, and that's where Obi-Wan & Anakin comes in. This new mini-series is the first Marvel comic to take place during the Prequel era. Even better, it's fleshing out the years between Episode I and II, a period that was always a little murky even in the old Expanded Universe. But best of all, it teams up two veteran Star Wars creators to explore what is arguably the most important friendship in the entire Star Wars saga. Despite a fairly slow start in issue #1, this series looks like it'll deliver the goods.
Obi-Wan & Anakin picks up a few years after the events of The Phantom Menace, with Obi-Wan doing his best to guide his increasingly powerful and increasingly headstrong pupil. The two are dispatched to a remote planet on a peacekeeping mission that quickly and predictably goes wrong. Honestly, the plot is the least notable element of this book. Because of the fairly nonlinear approach to the script and the heavy emphasis on flashbacks, this issue does little more than get the ball rolling before it reaches its cliffhanger.
But this is a book where characterization matters more than plot. We know where the two title characters will eventually end up. What matters is exploring their relationship in this little-known period and tracing the genesis of Darth Vader. In that sense, this issue is far more successful. Soule captures the voices of the two main characters well. He makes it clear just how frustrated and confined Anakin felt even as a teenager, suggesting that perhaps the Chosen One was doomed from the start. This issue offers more insight into life at the Jedi Temple and how the "bond" between Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine began to take shape. The character work is more than enjoyable enough to make up for the barebones plot.
As is the art. Checchetto is a natural fit for the Star Wars universe. He instantly captures the look and feel of a galaxy far, far away while also bringing his own voice and flavor to the table. He injects his characters with ample levels of emotion, giving further weight to Soule's scenes of emotional conflict, Checchetto's art even manages a balance between the grimy quality of the original films and the sleeker sensibilities of the Prequels, which is no simple feat. Assuming this series doesn't turn out like Shattered Empire and Checchetto is able to illustrate every issue himself, it could easily rank among Marvel's most visually stunning Star Wars comics.
The Verdict
Marvel's latest Star Wars project is off to a good start. While Obi-Wan & Anakin lacks a compelling plot in its first issue, the strong characterization and stunning visuals are more than enough to make up for that. Based on this issue, the new series looks like it'll add plenty to what is currently a murky point in the Star Wars timeline.
Editors' Choice
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