Thursday, July 7, 2022

Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2 Review!

Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2 takes the Jedi on a mission that is out of another genre and makes them helpless against the threat!  There are peeks of Jedi Obi-Wan at various points of his life before the Disney+ show!  The issue features a Phil Noto cover with Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and in the background looms a wolf-like creature with red eyes, this is like the Defel seen seen in the cantina lowering his drink and growling.  His species was idenfied in the role-playing game book, Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races (1989) by Troy Denning. “A Shadow Falls on the Padawan is by Christopher Cantwell and new artist for the series, Luke Ross, who previously worked on the Star Wars: Darth Maul 2017 limited series.  

It is some time after we left the older Obi-Wan at his hut with the sandstorm before it is at its strongest.  He is at a desk with the journal, a fusion lantern, and a chest.  He thinks about his final confrontation with Maul, from Star Wars: Rebels, “Twin Suns” (2017).  I like the looking back at the past, but I would still like to see him think back to Satine Kryze, she may not be in the live action series, but this relationship needs closure!  We see the clash of lightsabers, Nolan Woodard’s colors are brilliant!, the blue, night sky surrounding them, and Maul’s saber glaring red pushing back the night!  Obi-Wan had felt the shadows within Maul, the corruption of the Dark Side, but he also has hope that the light can have a chance.  



This is unlike what he thought at the end of Obi-Wan Kenobi.  His reflection has brought him understanding of the Force.  Then, a flashback at the “Codia System, Mid Rim”, the Codian Moon was mentioned in early material.  The event is during the time with Obi-Wan as Padawan to Qui-Gon.  The young readers series, Jedi Apprentice, follows the duo when they first met to apprenticeship.  The first book, was The Rising Force (1999) by Wolverton, Jude Watson wrote the rest of the series.  Highly recommended!  Master and apprentice are aboard a T-6 Jedi shuttle, a torpedo-shaped cockpit between half-disc wings, first seen in the Clone Wars episode, “Children of the Force” (2009). They discuss that Codian’s second moon is said to be completely dark.  


Qui-Gon tells his apprentice that they will discover why it is in darkness when they arrive. Instead, he tells Obi-Wan to focus on their rescue mission since the Republic had a distress message from the moon.  They land on the dark and grey moon, but have no communication.  They wear green night-vision goggles.  Obi-Wan senses that it is something blocking the light.  He is in wonder at this mystery, but Qui-Gon tells him to focus on their  mission.  They enter a building and both sense fear.  The eerie outpost exploration seems like something out of Aliens (1986).  Obi-Wan touches some blood from the wall.  Qui-Gon has them activate their lightsabers and Obi-Wan notes that the blades are dimmer.  Then, a scream is heard and they find a miner slumped against a wall, he mumbles something about madness.  


Obi-Wan reflects that the other forest moon has reeks, the bullish creature with a horn from Attack of the Clones (2002).  They deactivate their sabers and Qui-Gon notes that diamonds from the other moon are missing.  Obi-Wan checks on the wounded man, but he dies.  Qui-Gon takes note, but turns his attention to the survivors and wants to activate the outpost’s power core.  It has been damaged and Obi-Wan says that there are strange radiation levels.  They hear a roar and ignite their lightsabers which are weaker now.  The Jedi head down stairs, Obi-Wan collides with some running form, Qui-Gon has detected that the person had anger and confusion.  They hear a cry for help, Qui-Gon sends his apprentice to find the shadowy presence while he goes to help the miners.  



Obi-Wan hears growling and then sees with his night vision goggles in a splash page with insert panels, the Defel turned savage, the ripped shirt reminds me of the classic Universal monster movies!  I love the horror genre touches while still maintaining Star Wars in the story.  Obi-Wan gives a warning, but cannot find the wolfman in the darkness, but is slammed against the floor and slashed in the face!  He takes off his goggle and then concentrates, right out of Qui-Gon in his The Phantom Menace (1999) duel.  Then, Obi-Wan unleashes a kick that batters the Defel!  Obi-Wan runs up with an older man who he explains is a thief who sabotaged the power and tried to steal the diamonds.  The thief explains they used a “non-incendiary protonic charge” and Obi-Wan says a burst of it would cause the radiation from the power core.  


Qui-Gon then explains that this would cause the extinguish the “entire light spectrum” and Obi-Wan says this could affect the atmosphere and last for eons!  He also explains that he felt pain from the Defel.  Obi-Wan says they should not use lightsabers because the darkness might affect their kyber crystals!  I really like the Jedi without their usual weapons and powers, they have to be resourceful without them.  They find the thieves with diamonds are killed. The Jedi have to dodge out of the way of blasterfire.  Qui-Gon Force pulls the blaster and then they see the Gran miner, the goat-like alien with three eyes from Return of the Jedi (1983). He tells them that the thieves killed six of the miners and then they in turn were killed by claws!  Obi-Wan tells about his encounter, we get an expression in Gran from the miner, love it, and he says that Rosack Denahst was one of the miners and a Defel.  Some how they have to restore Rosack without their lightsabers and stop the radiation threat!  Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2 is filled with a horror movie setting, creature (kinda), and a standout Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan adventure! 


Five Lightsabers out of Five! 


#StarWars, #ObiWan, #QuiGon, #ChristopherCantwell, #LukeRoss, #CodianMoon, #Defel, #RosackDenahst  

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