Sowing the seeds of doubt.
Creative Staff:
Story: Charles Soule
Art: Marco Checchetto
Colors: Andres Mossa
What They Say:
Obi-wan and Anakin are trapped on opposite sides of a war…and if they’re not careful, they’re going to get caught in the crossfire! Plus…why does Anakin want to leave the order?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Obi-Wan & Anakin miniseries is one that I find really interesting overall. While I start off each issue feeling a little apprehensive about it since it doesn’t quite stick with me between books, I end each issue wanting more. There’s something old school in its approach to science fiction here, especially thanks to the artwork from Checchetto and Mossa, that really clicks well. I can visualize so many of these scenes coming from 70’s science fiction novel covers of plates of artwork from artists and it just appeals, having grown up in that era. The story itself is what keeps me from being wholly invested in it because it’s moving at a slower (but natural) pace without a strong enough hook to really define it. It’s the artwork that really holds sway here.
With the two arcs running through the book each of them offers a good bit. In the present, we get the separation of our Jedi and the continued stance from Obi-wan that Anakin will be fine by himself as he has faith (for the most part) in his partner in all of this. Anakin’s story is smaller this time around as he’s just being used, but Obi-wan’s works well as he makes it to the signal with Grecker, learns of the deceit on his part, and discovers the bigger story going on here with the mystery of the signal. It’s far more of an info dump than it should be in some ways but it factors into that uncertainty I have with the story. The concept of this world is intriguing, especially as we see the pair work their way through the ruins, but I feel like I’m still missing a significant and important part of it all here to really connect with it.
More interesting to me to some degree is watching the material set in the recent past on Coruscant. With Anakin having seen what Palpatine wanted him to see with the other senators in the bar, he was able to further paint how terrible the government is and how incapable Palpatine himself is in actually dealing with the problem. It’s simple but effective manipulation on his part to achieve his goal in molding this unknowing pupil and we know the end results of it – even if it does take another thirty or so years before he disbands the senate. Watching as Anakin goes through this and begins to make his choice to leave the Order for a while at least in order to see what’s calling to him in the galaxy works very well. When it’s put into context of how he ended up where he is, it makes a lot more sense than one might think.
In Summary:
The parts of this series work very well but I’m still uncertain of it as a whole. I’m wondering just how much better this will read in a complete form as opposed to monthly while also just wanting to see a whole series designed around Palpatine’s manipulations of Anakin as it’s simply delightful knowing the dynamic and end intentions. Soule’s script hits plenty of good moments and the time with Obi-Wan and Grecker works well for me. The big draw continues to be the artwork with what Checchetto and Mossa are producing here and I find myself eager to pore over each page more and more when all is said and done as the pair are doing some phenomenal work.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: April 20th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
