Exploring the gap between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones has always been a priority for the Star Wars expanded universe. While the movies skip a decade of character growth, the 2016 Marvel miniseries Obi-Wan and Anakin, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Marco Checchetto, provides the most nuanced look at the fragile early years of the galaxy's most famous duo. Set roughly three years after the Battle of Naboo, this five-issue run isn't just a side adventure; it is a foundational text for understanding why Anakin Skywalker ultimately felt more at home with a Sith Lord than with the Jedi Order.

The Desolate Setting of Carnelion IV

The narrative primarily unfolds on Carnelion IV, a planet ruined by perpetual warfare between two factions: the Open and the Closed. When Obi-Wan Kenobi and a twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker respond to a mysterious Jedi distress signal, they find a world choked by toxic clouds and populated by survivors who have forgotten why they are even fighting.

This setting serves as more than a backdrop for action. It functions as a grim mirror for the Republic's own looming decay. The technology on Carnelion IV is primitive yet lethal, consisting of massive airships and steampunk-inspired mechs. As Obi-Wan and Anakin navigate this wasteland, the comic establishes a sense of atmospheric dread. The choice of a "dead" world highlights the isolation Anakin feels within the Jedi Temple. On Coruscant, he is a celebrity or a curiosity; on Carnelion IV, he is just a boy with a talent for fixing things, forced to confront the raw ugliness of human nature without the sanitization of the Jedi Council’s oversight.

Anakin Skywalker’s Crisis of Faith

Perhaps the most shocking revelation in this comic is that at age twelve, Anakin Skywalker was ready to quit the Jedi Order. He felt like an outsider, a "slave to a different master." The series begins with Anakin handing his lightsaber back to Obi-Wan, an act of defiance that carries immense weight given what we know of his future.

Anakin’s struggle isn't portrayed as typical teenage rebellion. Instead, Soule writes him as a hyper-intelligent child who sees the contradictions in the Jedi Code. He remembers his mother’s slavery and cannot reconcile the Jedi’s "peacekeeping" role with their refusal to intervene in systemic injustice. On Carnelion IV, when he is kidnapped by Mother Pran of the Open faction, we see his mechanical genius on full display. He isn't just the "Chosen One" of prophecy; he is a kid who enjoys the logic of machines because, unlike the Force or the Senate, machines can be fixed when they break. This characterization adds layers of tragedy to his eventual transformation into Darth Vader—a man who is more machine than human.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Master in Progress

In this era, Obi-Wan is not yet the calm, collected General we see in the Clone Wars. He is a relatively new Master, still grieving Qui-Gon Jinn and burdened by a promise he isn't entirely sure he can keep. The comic highlights his insecurity. He worries that he is failing Anakin, not because of a lack of skill, but because of a lack of connection.

One of the most pivotal moments in the series occurs during a conversation with Master Yoda. Obi-Wan admits that if Anakin chooses to leave the Order, Obi-Wan will leave as well to continue his training. This is a staggering admission of "heresy" against the Jedi tenets of non-attachment. It proves that Obi-Wan’s loyalty was first to his promise and to the boy, rather than the institution. This subtle detail recontextualizes their duel on Mustafar years later; Obi-Wan didn't just lose a student; he lost the person for whom he was willing to sacrifice his entire identity as a Jedi.

The Sinister Influence of Palpatine

While the events on Carnelion IV provide the physical stakes, the flashbacks to Coruscant provide the psychological stakes. Every issue features a memory of Anakin’s time at the Jedi Temple, specifically his growing relationship with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.

These scenes are masterclasses in manipulation. Palpatine takes the young boy to the lower levels of Coruscant—the "Gutter"—to show him the corruption the Jedi ignore. In one instance, they visit a high-stakes gambling den where Palpatine uses the Force (subtly) and Anakin’s sense of justice to ruin a corrupt Senator.

Palpatine treats Anakin as an equal, a confidant, and a friend, whereas the Jedi Council treats him as a dangerous variable to be monitored. The comic makes it clear that Palpatine didn't just corrupt Anakin; he filled a void of mentorship and emotional validation that the Jedi Order, in its rigid adherence to tradition, refused to provide. By the time the mission on Carnelion IV concludes, the seeds of distrust toward the Jedi are not just planted; they are beginning to sprout.

The Factions: Open vs. Closed

The conflict between the Open and the Closed on Carnelion IV acts as a micro-study of polarized societies. The two groups have fought for so long that they have lost the ability to communicate. They live in the clouds because the surface of their planet is uninhabitable.

When the Jedi arrive, the factions' first instinct is to weaponize them. This reflects the broader Star Wars theme of how the Jedi are often used as tools by political entities rather than being allowed to act as moral guides. A third party, a woman named Sera who collects art and history, represents the lost soul of the planet. She tries to preserve what made their culture great before the war consumed everything. The tragic irony is that both the Open and the Closed eventually turn their sights on her, proving that in a state of total war, the first casualty is always culture and history. For Anakin, seeing this senseless destruction reinforces his belief that the galaxy needs a firm hand to maintain order—another step toward his future as an enforcer of the Empire.

Marco Checchetto’s Visual Mastery

The impact of this comic is inseparable from Marco Checchetto’s art. His character designs for the younger Anakin and the slightly younger Obi-Wan are perfect, capturing their likenesses while allowing for the expressive range required by a comic.

The world-building in the art is particularly noteworthy. Carnelion IV feels lived-in and decayed. The use of "kites"—massive, ornate gliders used by the factions—adds a unique visual flair that separates this story from the clean, sterile aesthetic of the Prequel-era Republic. The color palette, handled by Andres Mossa, shifts effectively between the cold, blue-grey wasteland of the present and the warm, golden, yet deceptively dangerous hues of Palpatine’s Coruscant. This visual dichotomy reinforces the narrative's themes of shifting perspectives and the lure of the Dark Side.

The Climax and the Scavenger’s Beacon

The resolution of the mission involves the discovery of who sent the distress signal. It wasn't a Jedi, but Sera, the scavenger. She used an old Jedi beacon she found among the ruins, hoping the legends of the "peacekeepers" were true.

This revelation forces both Obi-Wan and Anakin to reckon with the weight of their own legend. For Anakin, it is a moment of clarity. He sees that even on a forgotten world at the edge of the galaxy, the idea of the Jedi represents hope. While he still harbors doubts about the Council and their rules, he realizes that the galaxy needs people who are willing to step into the middle of a war to stop the bleeding. It is this realization that convinces him to take back his lightsaber and remain Obi-Wan’s Padawan—at least for a time.

Why This Comic Remains Relevant in 2026

Even a decade after its initial release, Obi-Wan and Anakin remains a top-tier recommendation for several reasons. First, it addresses the most common criticism of the Prequels: the lack of on-screen development of the brotherhood between the two leads. In these five issues, we see them bond through shared trauma and difficult ethical choices.

Second, the comic provides essential context for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and the later Darth Vader comics. It establishes the "why" behind their mutual obsession. For Obi-Wan, Anakin isn't just a fallen student; he is the boy he almost left the Order for. For Anakin, Obi-Wan is the man who promised to guide him but ultimately couldn't protect him from the harsh realities of the galaxy or the machinations of the Chancellor.

Third, the socio-political themes of Carnelion IV feel increasingly prescient. The depiction of a society so divided that it destroys its own history is a poignant commentary that resonates in any era. The comic doesn't offer easy answers; it doesn't end with the planet being saved or the factions making peace. It ends with a temporary cease-fire and the Jedi leaving, knowing that the real work of rebuilding is something the people of Carnelion IV must do themselves.

Final Thoughts for the Reader

If you are looking for a story that bridges the gap between the adventurous Anakin of Episode I and the conflicted, brooding Padawan of Episode II, this comic is the definitive source. It balances high-stakes action with deep psychological insight, all while being anchored by some of the best art in modern Star Wars comics.

Charles Soule’s writing respects the characters' history while adding new dimensions to their relationship. It shows that the path to the Dark Side wasn't a single event on Mustafar, but a thousand small cuts—many of which happened when Anakin was still just a child looking for a father figure in a galaxy that only saw him as a weapon or a savior. For those who want to understand the true tragedy of the Skywalker saga, the Obi-Wan and Anakin 2016 series is an indispensable read.