Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 7 (When they were Brothers).
February 18th 2008 21:46
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
“You were the chosen one. It was said you would destroy the Sith not join them. You were to bring balance to the force not leave it in darkness.”
Master Kenobi to Darth Vader on Mustafar, Revenge of the Sith.
“Once I was the learner now I am the master.”
“Only a master of evil Darth.”
Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi on the Death Star, Star Wars: A New Hope.
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics.
Production Team: Brian Ching – art, Haden Blackman – script, Miles Lane – script, Nicola Scott – art, Tomas Giorello – cover art, Michael David Thomas – lettering and Sno Cone Studios & Michael Atiyeh – colours.
Cost: $US 17.95.
Consisting of the story Obsession and an unnamed story this particular volume of Dark Horse’s Clone Wars series focuses on events that occur roughly five to four and a half months before the events depicted in Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Released in the same year as that movie the focus of the drama is naturally on the two primary protagonists of the prequel trilogy; Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi. It’s interesting to note that Brian Ching’s Anakin Skywalker has some distinct similarities with the Jedi Knight Zayne Carrick from Knights of the Old Republic, when I first read this graphic novel I wondered why their was something niggling me about the way Anakin was depicted and then it hit me he looked very much like Zayne. Whether or not this was a deliberate move on the part of the artist is anyone’s guess and your’s is as good as mine.
With Mr Ching as the artist for the bulk of the novels content we are treated to his ethereal and baroque style that gives the story the feeling of a period piece, emphasising the whole theme of a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. The colours are vibrant and give an extra oomph to the overall artwork portraying an energetic dynamic setting in which the action is about to unfold. Even in the landscape shots and background scenes there is a feeling of energy, of movement. In a way this is very similar to the whole perspective that George Lucas has had about the movies, the fact that he is interested in speed and thus made sure that each episode was a constant roller coaster ride of unfolding events. Brian Ching seems to have taken this to heart and applied it in his artwork for the first story in this volume.
Trigalis, a planet somewhere in the Outer Rim (noted for its singing tempura chefs), is where the action begins and it starts with a lone speeder biker zipping through the verdant swamplands towards the bustling metropolis that is New Coronet. The lone biker is hotly pursued by some rather unsavoury characters who are want the numerous possessions and goods carried by this individual, unfortunately for them they have picked the wrong target and this lone biker is more than up to the challenge of removing the pursuers. There is an old saying, never bite off more than you can chew and the pursuers have assuredly done that, rather than attempting to rob a simple traveller their target is none other than Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi who has arrived on Trigalis to rendezvous with fellow Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. Not wanting to get bogged down by thugs and thieves Obi Wan takes quick and rather dramatic action to improve circumstances. It seems the Jedi nicknamed the Negotiator has decided to take a more dynamic and proactive stance on affairs in this instance, so much so that when he does finely meet up with Aayla her first remark is “I thought you were going to slip into town quietly.”
Naturally Obi Wan is not on this remote backwater world for his health or to catch up with an old friend. No he is here seeking answers, seeking to find out if the dark Jedi and Separatist commander Asajj Ventress is actually still alive, contrary to Republic intelligence reports and Obi Wan’s gut feelings. It seems that tracking down Ventress has become something of an obsession with Obi Wan, almost as if the war has begun to slowly crack his normally cool and collected exterior. Certainly he is suffering from fatigue as rather than spending time taking a well earned break he has elected to use the reprieve from frontline command to track down Ventress, that’s dedication for you and just what you’d expect from Obi Wan.
Meanwhile on idyllic Naboo Anakin is using his spare time in a way most normal people would consider far more productively. He is spending time with Senator Padme Amidala in the beautiful lakeside villa where they both sojourned prior to the events on Geonosis and the start of the Clone Wars. Naturally the love between these two is something that they must keep hidden as best they can, the Order frowns on attachments and marriage to a senator is certainly a big attachment, still in spite of this two are able to make a life for themselves even if it is a transitory one due to the nature of their public lives and the war raging throughout the galaxy. Of course because he is on leave on Naboo this means he is the one person that Obi Wan can now turn to in order to help him in his quest, all the other Jedi are either on missions from the Council or actively engaged in campaigns against the Separatists, apart from Anakin there is no one else who can help.
Of course Anakin isn’t exactly overjoyed to see Obi Wan when he turns up at the lakeside villa in the starfighter he borrowed from Aayla. His response is only natural when he finds out what Obi Wan is after, especially when Anakin firmly believes that he killed Asajj Ventress in a duel on Coruscant. Still his old master manages to convince him to embark on his damn fool idealistic crusade regardless and thus the team of Skywalker and Kenobi blast off into the stars to try and track down the one lead Obi Wan uncovered whilst on Trigalis. Eventually after a confrontation with the bounty hunter Durge it becomes apparent that Obi Wan’s obsession with Ventress is not so misplaced after all.
The interesting angle is that in spite of what Asajj Ventress has done both as a dark Jedi and a commander of the Separatist forces Obi Wan feels that she can still be redeemed, that somehow he can turn her from the dark side and the corruption of Count Dooku. Anakin feels he’s pursuing a hopeless cause, that Ventress cannot be redeemed and that his master is mad to make the attempt. An interesting perspective considering how events later pan out, Obi Wan is determined to save a total and relative stranger from the dark side yet later on down the track he is unable to concede that there is anything redeemable in his former padawan once he has become the Sith Lord Darth Vader and the right hand of the Emperor. But then again that would be the case, as it is not Obi Wan’s fate to redeem Darth Vader, that role lies with another Jedi…
In the end When they were Brothers as a work serves to illustrate the bond that is shared between Anakin and Obi Wan, through the fires of conflict and the trials they have faced in serving the Jedi Order as initially master and learner then as equals. This also serves to further heighten the tragedy that swiftly follows the events of Order 66 and the Revenge of the Sith, Obi Wan naturally feels betrayed by Anakin’s actions and thus the two are seemingly irrevocably divided from that point onwards. Such divisions are always tragic, even if the individuals concerned are not blood relatives, and this graphic novel heightens that tragedy in showing how the two Jedi were in the days of hope and light when it seemed that the Republic could possibly win the conflict, before Darth Sidious’ seduction of young Skywalker and his eventual betrayal of the Jedi Order.
Master Kenobi to Darth Vader on Mustafar, Revenge of the Sith.
“Once I was the learner now I am the master.”
“Only a master of evil Darth.”
Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi on the Death Star, Star Wars: A New Hope.
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics.
Production Team: Brian Ching – art, Haden Blackman – script, Miles Lane – script, Nicola Scott – art, Tomas Giorello – cover art, Michael David Thomas – lettering and Sno Cone Studios & Michael Atiyeh – colours.
Consisting of the story Obsession and an unnamed story this particular volume of Dark Horse’s Clone Wars series focuses on events that occur roughly five to four and a half months before the events depicted in Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Released in the same year as that movie the focus of the drama is naturally on the two primary protagonists of the prequel trilogy; Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi. It’s interesting to note that Brian Ching’s Anakin Skywalker has some distinct similarities with the Jedi Knight Zayne Carrick from Knights of the Old Republic, when I first read this graphic novel I wondered why their was something niggling me about the way Anakin was depicted and then it hit me he looked very much like Zayne. Whether or not this was a deliberate move on the part of the artist is anyone’s guess and your’s is as good as mine.
With Mr Ching as the artist for the bulk of the novels content we are treated to his ethereal and baroque style that gives the story the feeling of a period piece, emphasising the whole theme of a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. The colours are vibrant and give an extra oomph to the overall artwork portraying an energetic dynamic setting in which the action is about to unfold. Even in the landscape shots and background scenes there is a feeling of energy, of movement. In a way this is very similar to the whole perspective that George Lucas has had about the movies, the fact that he is interested in speed and thus made sure that each episode was a constant roller coaster ride of unfolding events. Brian Ching seems to have taken this to heart and applied it in his artwork for the first story in this volume.
Naturally Obi Wan is not on this remote backwater world for his health or to catch up with an old friend. No he is here seeking answers, seeking to find out if the dark Jedi and Separatist commander Asajj Ventress is actually still alive, contrary to Republic intelligence reports and Obi Wan’s gut feelings. It seems that tracking down Ventress has become something of an obsession with Obi Wan, almost as if the war has begun to slowly crack his normally cool and collected exterior. Certainly he is suffering from fatigue as rather than spending time taking a well earned break he has elected to use the reprieve from frontline command to track down Ventress, that’s dedication for you and just what you’d expect from Obi Wan.
Meanwhile on idyllic Naboo Anakin is using his spare time in a way most normal people would consider far more productively. He is spending time with Senator Padme Amidala in the beautiful lakeside villa where they both sojourned prior to the events on Geonosis and the start of the Clone Wars. Naturally the love between these two is something that they must keep hidden as best they can, the Order frowns on attachments and marriage to a senator is certainly a big attachment, still in spite of this two are able to make a life for themselves even if it is a transitory one due to the nature of their public lives and the war raging throughout the galaxy. Of course because he is on leave on Naboo this means he is the one person that Obi Wan can now turn to in order to help him in his quest, all the other Jedi are either on missions from the Council or actively engaged in campaigns against the Separatists, apart from Anakin there is no one else who can help.
Of course Anakin isn’t exactly overjoyed to see Obi Wan when he turns up at the lakeside villa in the starfighter he borrowed from Aayla. His response is only natural when he finds out what Obi Wan is after, especially when Anakin firmly believes that he killed Asajj Ventress in a duel on Coruscant. Still his old master manages to convince him to embark on his damn fool idealistic crusade regardless and thus the team of Skywalker and Kenobi blast off into the stars to try and track down the one lead Obi Wan uncovered whilst on Trigalis. Eventually after a confrontation with the bounty hunter Durge it becomes apparent that Obi Wan’s obsession with Ventress is not so misplaced after all.
The interesting angle is that in spite of what Asajj Ventress has done both as a dark Jedi and a commander of the Separatist forces Obi Wan feels that she can still be redeemed, that somehow he can turn her from the dark side and the corruption of Count Dooku. Anakin feels he’s pursuing a hopeless cause, that Ventress cannot be redeemed and that his master is mad to make the attempt. An interesting perspective considering how events later pan out, Obi Wan is determined to save a total and relative stranger from the dark side yet later on down the track he is unable to concede that there is anything redeemable in his former padawan once he has become the Sith Lord Darth Vader and the right hand of the Emperor. But then again that would be the case, as it is not Obi Wan’s fate to redeem Darth Vader, that role lies with another Jedi…
In the end When they were Brothers as a work serves to illustrate the bond that is shared between Anakin and Obi Wan, through the fires of conflict and the trials they have faced in serving the Jedi Order as initially master and learner then as equals. This also serves to further heighten the tragedy that swiftly follows the events of Order 66 and the Revenge of the Sith, Obi Wan naturally feels betrayed by Anakin’s actions and thus the two are seemingly irrevocably divided from that point onwards. Such divisions are always tragic, even if the individuals concerned are not blood relatives, and this graphic novel heightens that tragedy in showing how the two Jedi were in the days of hope and light when it seemed that the Republic could possibly win the conflict, before Darth Sidious’ seduction of young Skywalker and his eventual betrayal of the Jedi Order.
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