Age of Republic comic: Anakin Skywalker: "The Sacrifice" by Jody Houser
Age of Republic: Anakin Skywalker: "The Sacrifice" written by Jody Houser, illustrated by Cory Smith and Wilton Santos
I really enjoyed this issue! I have to say it's my favorite "Age of Republic" so far...but then...Anakin is my favorite character in all of Star Wars so I might be a bit biased. There's so much heart and deep thought in this issue that we are graced with an introspective and caring side of Anakin that is the most visible in The Phantom Menace and sort of ends up backseat in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith as he grows older. But this comic clearly shows that he still has a loving heart and wants to protect everyone he can. ...I mean, yes, he did kill an entire tribe of Tusken Raiders before this issue takes place, but that was in reaction to them kidnapping and torturing his mother. They weren't innocents by any stretch of the imagination...well, maybe the children were...I digress. Let me explain a little about what is going on:
First off, this issue takes place before The Clone Wars TV show (not sure how long before) and Anakin is already a general partnered with Admiral Yularen on the Resolute (information courtesy of Matt Martin in the Story Group). The two men haven't worked with each other long and so don't quite understand each other's approaches to the bigger picture just yet. They nearly come to blows in this issue over saving or destroying lives. Admiral Yularen in particular looks very angry when confronted with Anakin's dissenting ideas (see below). Granted, Yularen does make some good points about them being lucky the army they are fighting is made of droids and not people...
Republic Intelligence has received intel that a new droid foundry has started production on the third moon of Kudo, or Kudo III, in the Corvair Sector and that the local population of sheep-like Kudon (who had been considered a neutral people) have been drafted into working the factory. Yularen suggests Anakin's forces attack the foundry without concern for the Kudon lives lost (presumably since they have now sided with the Separatists). As Yularen puts it, "Either way, people will die. It's our job to make sure it isn't our people." Anakin will have none of it and wants to protect the Kudon at all costs. Later when speaking to Obi-Wan he says, "Isn't that the whole reason the Jedi are a part of this war? To help save lives?"
I absolutely love this introspection about the Jedi's place in the war. It takes a different tack than the questions I'm used to seeing pop up about their involvement. Usually the discussion is around greed and power but this is a very Rose Tico focus on saving lives. And I can definitely picture Anakin being the one to bring up this particular side of the issue! Reminds me of the backup "Tales From Wild Space" comic in Star Wars Adventures called "Podracer's Rescue" in which Anakin finds the perfect part for his podracer but gives it away when the local medcenter's generator goes out because he knows the part can fix the generator and he wants to help people. It's his love and devotion to others that leads to his ultimate downfall. First, there's his mother who he can't stand the thought of any harm coming to. So he loses his composure and his mind a bit when saving her. This puts him on the dark side path. Then there's his romantic love, Padme. His attempt to save her life and blindered view on everything else is the last straw to him becoming a Sith. If he hadn't loved so much, he never would have turned evil. Instead, he would've remained a detached, albeit still probably whiney (hey, everyone has their faults), emotionless Jedi. But he loved hard and although it led to his fall, it also led to his redemption.
SPOILERS in following paragraph!
Well, Anakin gets his way and it turns out the Kudon were enslaved by the Separatists to work in the foundry with no choice at all in the matter. The intel was leaked on purpose by the Separatists as a trap to get the Republic to kill an innocent neutral people so they could then play off the Republic as the bad guys!! So good on Anakin for not giving in to the whims of Admiral Yularen. Yes, Yularen was trying to protect his troops as best he knew possible, but Anakin knew that there was more to the story than they were being told. And his perseverance in following the path he knew to be right was rewarded!
There were a few interesting shots of a Republic Y-wing that looks a bit different from the Y-wing we all know and love. I found this fascinating. See it pictured below:
And below, find the sheep-like Kudon people!! Reminds me a bit of the goat-like people from that Star Wars long-run comic series issue from several arcs back. But these guys definitely look more like rams than goats:
Finally, a picture of Anakin activating his lightsaber with some lovely lettering running up the side of the blade! Such a fabulous image!!
So, essentially...I loved it! It really got me thinking about Anakin and his disposition and why he does what he does. I love it when a comic has me going off into theoretical character development land! This was truly an intellectually rewarding experience. Thank you Jody Houser!
First off, this issue takes place before The Clone Wars TV show (not sure how long before) and Anakin is already a general partnered with Admiral Yularen on the Resolute (information courtesy of Matt Martin in the Story Group). The two men haven't worked with each other long and so don't quite understand each other's approaches to the bigger picture just yet. They nearly come to blows in this issue over saving or destroying lives. Admiral Yularen in particular looks very angry when confronted with Anakin's dissenting ideas (see below). Granted, Yularen does make some good points about them being lucky the army they are fighting is made of droids and not people...
I absolutely love this introspection about the Jedi's place in the war. It takes a different tack than the questions I'm used to seeing pop up about their involvement. Usually the discussion is around greed and power but this is a very Rose Tico focus on saving lives. And I can definitely picture Anakin being the one to bring up this particular side of the issue! Reminds me of the backup "Tales From Wild Space" comic in Star Wars Adventures called "Podracer's Rescue" in which Anakin finds the perfect part for his podracer but gives it away when the local medcenter's generator goes out because he knows the part can fix the generator and he wants to help people. It's his love and devotion to others that leads to his ultimate downfall. First, there's his mother who he can't stand the thought of any harm coming to. So he loses his composure and his mind a bit when saving her. This puts him on the dark side path. Then there's his romantic love, Padme. His attempt to save her life and blindered view on everything else is the last straw to him becoming a Sith. If he hadn't loved so much, he never would have turned evil. Instead, he would've remained a detached, albeit still probably whiney (hey, everyone has their faults), emotionless Jedi. But he loved hard and although it led to his fall, it also led to his redemption.
SPOILERS in following paragraph!
Well, Anakin gets his way and it turns out the Kudon were enslaved by the Separatists to work in the foundry with no choice at all in the matter. The intel was leaked on purpose by the Separatists as a trap to get the Republic to kill an innocent neutral people so they could then play off the Republic as the bad guys!! So good on Anakin for not giving in to the whims of Admiral Yularen. Yes, Yularen was trying to protect his troops as best he knew possible, but Anakin knew that there was more to the story than they were being told. And his perseverance in following the path he knew to be right was rewarded!
There were a few interesting shots of a Republic Y-wing that looks a bit different from the Y-wing we all know and love. I found this fascinating. See it pictured below:
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