Star Wars #7 Review

So this week seems to be filled with awesome Star Wars news already I figured let’s review an awesome Star Wars comics. This week I am going to talk about Marvel’s Star Wars issue 7, “From the Journals of Old Ben Kenobi, the Last of His Breed” by Jason Aaron with art by Simone Bianchi.

I want to start by saying that if you haven’t read anything by Jason Aaron yet, you really are doing yourself a disservice. He is an A class writer and a master of the comic book script. His work on Scalped was phenomenal, go read the entire series right now! His post – Scalped days have been full of work for Marvel, most of which has been amazing. His runs on Thor: God of Thunder, Star Wars and Wolverine and the X – Men were all amazing, his current Thor stuff has been awesome too, helming the much talked about female Thor book. I am also really looking forward to his upcoming take on Dr. Strange which starts up after Secret Wars ends.

Also if you haven’t been reading any of the current Star Wars books (Princess Leia, Star Wars, Darth Vader or Lando) you also need to seriously pick them up. I love Star Wars to death, but never really got into the Darkhorse series of books, so I was hesitant about these. The fact that Marvel got two of my current favorite writers (Jason Aaron and Charles Soule) to write most of them really intrigued me and I have yet to really be let down. These stories are really serving to build on the mythology of the series in the most positive ways and I really can’t wait for future books, such as the upcoming Chewbacca mini which I am sure will rock my socks off. I can’t get enough of Chewie.

Now to talk about this issue, which introduces us to a familiar old friend and what he was up to all those years on Tattooine while Luke grew up. The story takes place several years after Revenge of the Sith and shows a depressed and alone Ben Kenobi fighting to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer a Jedi Master. Tattooine is struck by a drought and Jabba, being the ruthless Hutt he is, is forcing moisture farmers to give him their water, and while Obi – Wan Kenobi wants to step in, Ben Kenobi can’t. He watches helplessly while people suffer. Only taking action when a young (looks like 5 – 7 years old) Luke stands up and tries to fight back. He of course protects the boy he is ever watching but ultimately realizes he must go deeper into the desert and deeper into seclusion. There is a moment in this issue where he collapses to the floor of his hut and says, to I am assuming Qui Gon Jinn his old master, that he is lost not being able to help the people or to train Luke. It’ an epically sad moment that shows a strong character at a weaker point then I have ever seen before.

The art in this issue was great. It was not amazing but it was a fine rendering of the world with nothing really standing out. I also already talked about how strongly I feel for Jason Aaron’s writing. This issue easily gets 5 out of 5 and everyone should be reading it.