SWNN Review: Marvel’s Star Wars #15
Review by Cantina staff member Lady Musashi.
After the Vader Down crossover, we are back to the regularly scheduled program with Star Wars #15, which is another excerpt from Kenobi’s journal.
FROM THE JOURNALS OF OBI-WAN KENOBI
• Another tale of Obi-Wan’s exile on Tatooine!
• Owen Lars took Luke in…but he refused to let Ben be part of his life. Why?
• What trouble could have been stirred up by Ben protecting Luke?
It happens two years after the events described in Star Wars #7. Jabba the Hutt is still searching for the person who fought off his “water tax collectors”. Luke is on the verge of adolescence, horsing around with his friends and trying to conquer Beggar’s Canyon while Obi-Wan watches him from afar. Let’s just say things didn’t end in a rousing success like Luke’s statement from A New Hope might make you believe. At least, not this time.
Uncle Owen forbids Luke to fly, but his distant protector has other plans. Obi-Wan comes out of hiding to provide Luke with what he needs. And he does it the only way he knows how.
However, Obi-Wan’s help isn’t appreciated by Owen, although he knows that Obi-Wan keeps protecting his household: they are the only ones never attacked by Sand People or Jabba’s thugs. He doesn’t want Luke to learn how to fly, because he doesn’t want him to ever leave. This was a very difficult scene to read, because we are in the know – we know what really happened and the sacrifices Obi-Wan had to make. And, while you understand Owen, at the same time you actively dislike him.
In the meantime, Jabba the Hutt brings a new mercenary into the fold hoping to catch the mysterious man who defeated his thugs two years earlier. He has to prove his worth by wiping the floor with Jabba’s men. The mercenary is someone we know – Black Krssantan.
It is clear from this issue that Obi-Wan holds a lot of hope in Luke, hope that his Force abilities will manifest themselves into something special and that he will be able to succeed where Anakin failed. At the same time, he fears the similarities with Anakin he observes in the boy (and you will too). He constantly talks to Qui-Gon Jinn, yet it is unclear if he is truly in contact with him and learning from his old master or if he does it because he has no one to take advice from and because he is lonely. This is not the broken Obi-Wan we saw in the previous issue. This Obi-Wan is still a Jedi. He has accepted his fate and is determined to protect the boy at all costs. He has even regained the sense of humor we all love him for. Snake for dinner? Tasty!
It’s also interesting how Marvel and Lucasfilm continue to fill in Luke’s back story. In one of the previous issues, we saw how he learned to fight with a lightsaber. Here, we see him actually fly – something that was only mentioned in A New Hope (“It will be just like Beggar’s Canyon back home.”).
Mike Mayhew’s art is gorgeous. He excels at facial expressions and movement. The coloring was also excellent and shows a more vivid side of Tatooine. I liked Simone Bianchi’s take on Obi-Wan in Star Wars #7, but I really hope Mayhew returns for the next Kenobi issue.
I both love and hate these Kenobi issues. I love them not only because Obi-Wan is one of my favorite characters, but because I, like all of us, have always wanted to know what he was doing all those years in exile. I hate them, because they are so short. Just when the story starts, it’s over. And we will have to wait for another story arc to end before we can read what happens between Ben and Black Krssantan.
If you are following Marvel’s Star Wars, this is a worthy addition to your collection. If not, I wholeheartedly recommend you to get it anyway – for the gorgeous art, a peek at a very young Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
I agree about loving these Obi-wan stories, and hating them for being so short. Really I’d be ok with them doing a full on obi-wan series set in that time. It is interesting how they tie it in to his journal that Luke found at his house though…
Another great issue, I do hope it won’t be too long before another tale of obi-wan comes along.
I passed on the comics initially because I really didn’t care for the way thing were lining up. I’ve really dig the Obi and Vader stuff I’ve read though.
damn, Lars accused him of murdering Anakin!? that’s awfully twisted, talk about a a certain point of view…
I really hope obi wan makes some kind of appearance in rogue one or episode 8
or both
“Rey, these are your first steps.” – Obi-wan, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Uncle Owen looks like a fat Keifer Sutherland. Owen=retired Jack Bauer. I’m sold.
See this is the correct way to add to the SW mythos with out actively contradicting the movies (cough cough Rebels). Adds a lot of rich backstory and understanding to these characters. These comics (outside of when Han, Leia, and Chewbacca wield lightsabers) are doing a great job expanding on the characters we know and love.
It will contradict any potential film spin-off though.
How can it contradict something that hasn’t come out yet? They are clearly aware of the story that has already been told so they would potentially work around that. I read the comic and I don’t think there is anything earth shattering in there that would need to be set up in a future potential spin off film.
Because if they were making prequels or sequels to upcoming films then we would have gotten something about Rigue One or a Han Solo solo comic by now.
Please tell me how Rebels has contradicted anything.
The sheer abundant amount of Force Users around in the galaxy where in the OT it is made to believe that there aren’t any and hasn’t been in a long time, despite the fact that main characters from the OT are interacting with the Rebels cast. Kanan taking down an AT-AT leg with a lightsaber, do I need to continue?
I’m willing to bet that nasty facial scar is something we are going to see happen, likely caused by Kenobi.
He got the scar from the wampa in ESB
He’s talking about Black Krrsantan, the Wookiee. Jeff makes a very good observation as his scar is absent in this issue. Nice. I bet you’re right.
Ow Sorry
I’m not kidding:
Those goggles on the cover, I got them in Amazon. They are damn cheap. Clearly the artist took them for refference LoL http://www.amazon.fr/Welding-goggles-Lunettes-Soudage-Steampunk/dp/B00J9TZZG2/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1453396902&sr=8-19&keywords=goggles
Apparently Obi Wan went through a phase in exile when he looked like Sean Penn.
Man, I have to read this. I love stories of Kenobi’s exile on Tatooine, I’m glad to see Marvel is doing these. (also I’m still depressed that JJM’s KENOBI novel is a noncanon Legends tale)
Loved this issue, particularly the artwork. The character design was brilliant; just look at Owen, he really looks like Joel Edgerton aging into Phil Brown.
I so need to know where this story is heading. It’s sort of like The Black Freighter, in a way. Very exciting stuff.
Guess this means we won’t get an Obi-Wan film if this is cannon? Why does he look like Liam on the cover too?
Don’t count it out yet. This story takes place 2 years after the last Obi Wan journal entry, so there is plenty of time for an on-screen adventure (or three!!!) in there!
But it locks them in much like all the post-Jedi EU stuff did and the whole reason they started over was to have complete story freedom.
I’m not sure that it locks him down too much. I mean, we already know that he’s going to spend most of his time hiding in the desert, and that he’ll watch over Luke from afar until they meet. By leaving long gaps in the story, they are keeping plenty of room open for further adventures. He could have had any number of major life events just in the two years separating this from the previous comic tale.
Although, obviously any Obi-Wan movie will suffer from the same problem of any sort of prequel story—we know how the story ends, so much of the dramatic tension is lost (by no means is this limited to Star Wars).
It seem likes all these comic series are to make up for them not doing any spinoffs of them. Pretty safe to say we aren’t getting a Chewie, Leia, Vader, Lando, Kanan, Obi-Wan, Poe, or Anakin film
Which is why we have yet to get any Rogue or Han comics,
You could definitely be right. I figure it could go either way.
I hate when I’m right about stuff like this since McGregor was one of the few highlights of the PT and a film about him becoming Guinness could work, Especially if Rogue One does well. He seems to get better at playing Obi-Wan each time he plays him too.
Dude, no it doesn’t! TFA takes place within the span of a few weeks probably! 2 years is plenty of time for a movie, and we have more than 2 years! These Kenobi journals are like little one-shot stories about him watching Luke, which is great, because I would rather NOT see a movie of Kenobi watching Luke. I would rather see a movie of Kenobi kicking ass. Roger roger?
But if they are canon then they have to strictly adhere to them which limits directorial freedom. I think the stupid everythng is canon idea will get thrown out soon anyway.
Luke is absolutely terrifying in those panels.
I was blown away by how great the artwork is for young Luke, Obi-Wan, and even Owen Lars.
This is another great addition to Obi-Wan’s Tatooine exile. I love the direction, tone, and style of these Journal of Obi-Wan comics. If we do end up getting a rumored Obi-Wan trilogy of movies starring Ewan McGregor, I think this is a perfect way to visualize what those movies could depict.
Good review
I said a few tings on this issue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FIaHoqtSEc&feature=youtu.be