Review: War Leaves Scars You Can’t Always See in Marvel’s Obi-Wan #4
With each issue, Christopher Cantwell delivers an even more powerful story. Obi-Wan #4, titled The Sun Sets and It Rises, builds on top of issue 3 in a heart-churning way. The tone turned even more somber in this one as you can feel Obi-Wan wrestling with finding hope in this dark time. The Jedi Master rests in the light and will do what he must, but he continues to be plagued by the shroud of the dark side that looms over the galaxy. Like the vaporator he must continually repair above the homestead, he must constantly seek renewal of both his mind and spirit during these dark times.
Anakin plays a lead role next to Obi-Wan in this issue and it shows the two’s relationship at its strongest point. Brothers in every way but blood, caring for one another, and cultivating a relationship both thought to be unbreakable. Seeing an older “Ben” Kenobi reflecting back on his time with Anakin with love and reverence was soul-stirring. Despite Anakin’s fall, Obi-Wan continues to love the brother he once knew. Holding onto a hope that one day this storm shall pass.
Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of the issue.
The story begins with Obi-Wan waiting out the sandstorm on his homestead. These brief moments of seeing Ben Kenobi documenting lessons learned and stories from his past continue to be some of my favorite Star Wars comic content.
He continues to reflect back on the Clone Wars, but this time on a mission he undertook with Anakin. He points out how their relationship had never been stronger up to this point. When I read these comics, I can hear Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor’s voices through the pages. It’s beautifully written. The two share long moments of silent solidarity; reliving the battles they have fought, haunted by the lives they have taken, and the long days the war still has in store. The shroud of the dark side has engulfed the galaxy and seeing Obi-Wan share how difficult his fight to overcome it was couldn’t help but fill me with sadness at the thought of Anakin’s own personal struggle. The two’s brotherhood bleeds through the pages in this one.
The two Jedi have been called back from the front lines for a mission of absolute urgency and of the utmost secrecy. Even they do not know what this mission entails. When they arrived for their debrief, Admiral Yularen delivered the heartbreaking news. Commander Mekedrix, whom Obi-Wan served with at the battle of Abrion Bridge, has gone rogue. Forming his own group called the Death Wind, he and his band of terrorists have been killing indiscriminately. The group has left death, destruction, and ruin with no care for life several times and must be stopped.
After hearing this news and being told how it seems the chaos of war has left his mind damaged “Irreparably”, Anakin is astounded at how a hero of the Republic could have fallen in this way. Obi-Wan, while admiring Anakin in this moment, remembers the look in Mekedrix’s eyes on the field of battle. The wounds of war are not always physical and this issue reminds us of that.
When learning from Yularen that their mission is to eliminate Mekedrix on sight, Anakin is outraged. Obi-Wan agrees, but in a quieter contempt. The Jedi are peacekeepers turned war generals. Must they also be turned into assassins? The dialogue between Anakin and Obi-Wan after learning of their mission is brilliant. It felt pure Clone Wars but dives a bit deeper than we might get in a typical show. One of my favorite images from the issue, however, is this one of Yularen. The dark shadow covers his face as he tells them about the true nature of their mission.
The two begin to make their way to where Mekedrix is holding camp. Along the way, Obi-Wan quietly contemplates death and his uncomfortable familiarity with it. He had hoped for Anakin to never become so familiar with it’s cold grip. Unfortunately, he would become all too familiar and another bout with death was about to take place as they see clone trooper armor guiding their path…As the two approach the stronghold, Obi-Wan takes note it has been around for at least a millennium. It was a fortress for the dark side in the Sith vs Jedi civil war. The two reluctantly hand their lightsabers over to Mekedrix’s guards. There is destruction engulfing the landscape as the wreckage of war is imprinted upon the land. The image of Mekedrix on the throne as the two approach felt right out of a scene of Game of Thrones. Leaning forward on his sword made from the bones of a slain clone, Mekedrix maliciously eyes the Jedi. Chills ran down my spine as I simply stared at this page for a minute.
What happens next cannot be described as anything other than a purely special Obi-Wan moment. He attempts to reach Mekedrix at his darkest point. The fog of war has rendered the former Commander into a place where he sees all life as meaningless. Nothing more than an obstacle in a way of death. Obi-Wan, in his attempt to save him, poses the question “What purpose does death have for a sunrise?”. If you recall the sunrise Obi-Wan takes in during the final pages of the third issue, you will know how significant this is. When he was rendered hopeless and too weary to carry on, he felt the warmth of the sun and took in the beauty of the world around him. Life and its desire to be beautiful sustained him. The Force sustained him. He tries so desperately to get Mekedrix to see that same light now.
In a flash, Mekedrix lashes out at Obi-Wan with his sword in what seemed to be an attempt to take his life. Anakin instantly reacts and force grabs his saber and stabs him before he can strike the killing blow. In what serves as a sorrowful last moment. Mekedrix asks Anakin not to take it personally because he felt it seemed the quickest way for him to see the sunrise again. The final moments see the two brothers in arms crouching over the fallen figure.
Issue after issue, the creators behind this series have done nothing but provide incredible story after incredible story. The sneak peek at the next one gets me excited for another Obi-Wan journey.
Rating: 10/10
Finding ways to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into 8th grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning tradition is sending the latest number in the countdown for different Star Wars projects and loves engaging in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you are passionate about Star Wars you can follow him on Twitter at TyBrad5.
