Obi-Wan #1 Review

Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Art: Ario Anindito and Carlos Lopez
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramanga
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 4th, 2022

Obi-Wan Kenobi is back in action again in Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1, where pre-Episode IV Obi-Wan, living on Tatooine, reflects on his life through journals, and in this issue, we get a doozy of a tale featuring a young Obi-Wan at the very beginning of his Jedi training.

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The Story

As Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1 beings, an elder Obi-Wan Kenobi (around the time of Episode IV) heads back to his hut on Tatooine as a major sandstorm erupts. Inside, Obi-Wan reflects back on his childhood, and the bulk of the issue contains an adventure of Obi-Wan had as a child, when he was living in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

We’re introduced to his friend Gehren Rand, a fellow student at the Jedi Temple. She’s very much like Luke Skywalker, impulsive, fierce, and strong in the Force.

Having seen a vision of her father being tortured, she’s desperate to get off-world to go help him, which leads to her and Obi-Wan getting entangled with a group of smugglers so vile, that even Han Solo would want to take a few showers after dealing with them.

It’s a fun little one-and-done story, as Obi-Wan struggles to use his Force powers, at the very beginning of his training. It’s kind of strange seeing him struggle, when in so many films and shows, we’ve seen Obi-Wan at the top of his game. Gehren seems to be more powerful than him, but the two have a wonderful bond of friendship, so there’s no jealousy or animosity from young Obi-Wan. Even at this young age, Obi-Wan’s loyalty and courage shine through in a few great action scenes.

The leader of the smugglers, Nodrus Cay, looks like a female version of Darth Maul. She’s not given much more to do here, other than the usual evil “mustache-twirling” stuff. I enjoy one-and-done issues, but unfortunately, it leaves little room for character development. Another fixture of the Jedi Temple makes a brief appearance in the story, and it’s a character that’s always fun to see.

The Art

Ario Anindito’s art on Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1 is very detailed, especially in the rendition of the characters. Elderly Obi-Wan is the spitting image of Alec Guinness, and the various smugglers and other aliens that occupy the issue are an interesting mix of designs, right down to their weaponry. The action scenes are kinetic and you can practically hear the “oomph” as Force powers are used to slam bodies together.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars: Obi-Wan #1 is a fun start to a series that promises to show some great moments in Obi-Wan’s life and give more insight into his character.