Published: September 14, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Adrinana Melo
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Colourist: Dono Sánchez-Almara
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Book Design: Adam Del Re
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The synopsis;
• Obi-Wan has closed his journals for now and looks ahead as night falls and the sandstorm that has sequestered him begins to clear.
• But he discovers something unexpected in the hazards of the Jundland Wastes…a squad of ambushed stormtroopers left to die.
• But one still has a fighting chance…and Obi-Wan may very well risk everything to save a single injured imperial stormtrooper that can’t help but remind Kenobi of the clones he served with so long ago.
The review;
Standing on the sands of Tatooine, lightsaber drawn against a stormtrooper on dewback, Noto’s direct cover really sums up the conflict that happens on the dusty planet, along with the challenges Obi-Wan has to continuously face. Meanwhile Yu’s variant is a stunning homage to the Jedi Master, capturing A New Hope era Ben Kenobi so perfectly, while the twin setting suns hint at how he’s coming to the dusk of his own life. Both are a beautiful way to end what has been a fascinating insight into this fan favourite character.
With my fellow Jedi News literature reviewer, Steve Galloway, off on a meditative Jedi retreat on Savareen, I’m picking up the eopie reins to finish our coverage of Obi-Wan by Christopher Cantwell. He’s a character I’ve always enjoyed in The Clone Wars and after watching Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+ I’ve definitely found a new respect for all Obi Wan’s endured. It’s this endurance of war, loss, and grief, that Cantwell has been exploring throughout this mini-series, and Obi-Wan #5 is an incredible culmination of this storyline.
While this series has been all about Obi-Wan reflecting upon his past, it is especially evident in this issue. It’s his past that drives him ever forward, and how he can never move on from the ways of the Jedi code. Now that the storm on Tatooine has passed, weathering away at everything and scouring the sand dunes. It’s also damaged Obi-Wan’s vaporator and he’s in need of more power cells. Saddling up his eopie he intends to hunt down the Jawas and trade for the parts he needs, just as we see him do with Teeka on-screen.
However, the wizened Jedi Master isn’t the only one on the hunt, as the Tusken Raiders have taken advantage of everyone being distracted by the storm. With the storm forcing the residents of Tatooine to take shelter, they’ve hit an Imperial base and stolen supplies. Rather than just request new supplies, the commanding officer forces his troops to go out and take them back by whatever means necessary. It’s never really explored during the films how small the Imperial force is on Tatooine, yet Cantwell suggests how it’s an undersupplied and understaffed area on the Outer Rim. It helps to explain why the stormtroopers have to use dewbacks along with the rough and ready feel of the troops stationed on Tatooine.
The story also touches on some of the facets of colonialism and the ignorance of the stormtroopers about the Tusken Raiders. Just because the Tuskens are different they are villainized by the troopers, who share horror stories about the natives that get ever more outlandish. All except one. JM-909. Humanising any trooper, whether that’s clone or stormtrooper, is something that Cantwell has focussed on during each comic, showing that there’s a person underneath the helmet. It helps the reader emphasise with these otherwise faceless characters and understand Obi-Wan’s actions later in the story.
Having underestimated the Tusken Raiders the stormtroopers are quickly outnumbered in an ambush, not knowing the terrain like the Tuskens, or just how effective gaffi sticks are against their armour. The Tuskens take the troopers weapons and leave the platoon for dead. Obi-Wan hears the commotion and decides to investigate, scavenging power cells and parts from the troopers in a move that feels very much like Rey. He’s not ashamed to scavenge, though he does feel sorrow for those that have been killed, reminding him of the troops he lost during The Clone Wars. However, JM-909 is alive, though badly injured.
And this is where the Force comes in, as Obi-Wan is reminded that a Jedi’s purpose is to protect life. With the aid of his eopie, he takes the injured trooper back to his home to heal, not caring that the man is an Imperial. It’s a selfless Jedi act that puts Obi-Wan at risk of exposure, but he does it anyway.
With a new issue comes a new artist and Melo’s work is absolute perfection. This is the worn and weathered Obi-Wan that fans know from Episode IV, and it’s impossible not to hear Alec Guinness’s voice when reading the story. Each stormtrooper is so detailed in the panels, and the action between them and the Tuskens is so dynamic. A standout page is when Obi-Wan discovers an injured JM-909 and the shadows are played up so much you can’t see Kenobi’s features at all, really harkening back to his introduction in A New Hope.
“But we honestly never know where our chosen path will take us.”
This is a very poignant quote from Obi-Wan #5 and it truly highlights how unexpected each of these stories has been, adding more to this beloved character, and still tying in with previous material. Cantwell has remained so true to Obi-Wan and the way he reflects upon his time on Tatooine in this issue is a beautiful way to go into Episode IV. Obi-Wan was never afraid of what was to come. no matter how dark or uncertain the times. Cantwell and everyone else who has worked so hard to bring these comics together really deserve the credit for the time and dedication they have put into this series. We may yet see more of Kenobi’s past explored, but until then, this is essential reading for all fans of the character!
Availability;
Obi-Wan is a 5-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all comic book stores.
