In Review: Star Wars: Obi-Wan (2022-) #4 (of 5)

Synopsis: As the sandstorm overtakes his home, Obi-Wan has more time to reflect in – and on – the darkness. He looks back on a time when he and Anakin Skywalker were pulled off the front lines of the Clone Wars to confront a lost soul from Kenobi’s wartime past. Can the two Jedi bring a man back from the heart of darkness to which he has fallen?

The Story

With the storm starting to hit his home on Tatooine. Obi-Wan thinks back to another mission in which he was ordered to hunt down and kill Commander Mekedrox who had gone rogue. The veteran Jedi recounts how the event affected both himself and Anakin. He reflects on how so much death and war can take their toll on a person and tells of how he and Anakin tried to talk Mekedrox back from the ragged edge.

The Artwork

The cover art by Phil Noto depicts Obi-Wan and Anakin as they enter Mekedrox’s hideout. The interior art by Madibek Musabekov continues to be a highlight. There is one particular panel at the start of the book where we see the older Ben Kenobi in darkness. It’s eerily beautiful to look at and is a great bit of foreshadowing for what is to come. The final page, which hints strongly at what we will see in the next issue is a great image of old ben with a lightsaber in hand ready to strike at a Stormtrooper mounted on a dewback.

Overall

I really enjoyed this issue as it is the perfect sequel to the last issue, which introduced us to the more heroic figure of Mekedrox.  Christopher Cantwell does some really solid writing for this issue. I loved how Anakin objects to killing as it’s a great contrast to what his future holds. In fact, Mekedrox’s story in some ways mirrors Anakin’s story will be. Only without the Emperor manipulating things. I really enjoyed the philosophical conversation that Ben has with Mekedrox about names and sunsets. This issue is by far the best to date.