Lucasfilm arguably dropped the ball in telling Anakin’s story between Episodes I and II, when he aged from 9 to 19. From 1999 through May 2002, only two adult novels (“Rogue Planet” and “The Approaching Storm”) told of his exploits, along with one junior novel, Jude Watson’s “Jedi Quest: Path to Truth” (2001), which was adapted by Ryder Windham and simultaneously released as a four-part comic series simply titled “Jedi Quest.”
To be fair, Watson spent most of that time period penning the “Jedi Apprentice” junior novels, which featured Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and she would go on to write 10 more “Jedi Quest” novels after “Episode II” came out. Also, 2006’s “Outbound Flight” gave Anakin some page-time, and three issues of “Republic” (“Honor and Duty,” Issues 46-48) also went back and told a pre-“Episode II” Anakin-and-Obi-Wan tale. But from 1999 through May 2002, only Windham’s “Jedi Quest” adaptation told a story of this iconic master-and-apprentice duo in comic form.
“Jedi Quest” – the only junior “Star Wars” novel to be adapted into a comic book – features threshold moments in Anakin’s hero’s journey while also tapping into his past as a slave more effectively than any story this side of “Slaves of the Republic.” It’s a brisk read, if a bit simplistic and shallow. For example, on their mission to stop a slave ring run by the villainous Krayn, Obi-Wan and Anakin run into a Jedi named Siri, who is working undercover to do the same thing. There’s no good reason why the Council shouldn’t have told Obi-Wan about the dual missions. When Obi-Wan questions the Council about this in Issue 3, we get a panel of Yoda giving him a blank stare.
In Issue 1, Obi-Wan takes Anakin to Illum to choose the crystal with which he’ll build his first lightsaber. It’s a more mystical journey than what Zatt, Gungi, Ganodi, Byph, Petro and Katooni go through in Season 5 of “The Clone Wars.” Reminiscent of Luke’s Dagobah cave experience, Anakin — who is 13 or 14 years old here — fights visions of Darth Maul and Krayn and constructs his lightsaber on the spot, although he doesn’t remember doing so. Issue 2 gives us a glimpse into Anakin’s pre-“Episode I” days as Krayn abducts Amee’s mom on a Mos Espa raid but spares Shmi. As if it’s not bad enough being a slave, you also have to worry about being stolen by even worse slavers!
In “Rogue Planet,” Anakin killed a bad guy kinda-sorta by accident, using the force of his will. “Jedi Quest” features another key moment as Anakin kills Krayt with a lightsaber. Because Anakin strikes in anger, Obi-Wan is disappointed in his apprentice, although the killing of the blatantly evil Krayt is a perfect example of a Jedi being a force for justice and liberty.
The art is a bit different for a “Star Wars” title, as Pop Mahn draws in a manga-esque style. The ancient glyphs in the Illum ice caverns are a nice touch and it’s too bad the “Clone Wars” trips to the planet (Luminara and Bariss’ journey in the animated shorts, and the aforementioned Season 5 visit) didn’t follow up on this. Colorist Dave Nestelle delivers a cool glowing red look for Krayt’s eyes.
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“Jedi Quest” is Dark Horse Comics’ definitive look at Anakin’s life between “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones,” but it earns that distinction by default. I shouldn’t be too hard on Lucasfilm storytellers, though, as this 10-year period was purposely portrayed as the calm before the storm for both Anakin and the Republic. Things will heat up soon enough.