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Obi-Wan 3

Obi-Wan 3 is the third issue of the canon comic miniseries Star Wars: Obi-Wan. The issue was written by Christopher Cantwell, illustrated by Alessandro Miracolo and Frank William, and published by Marvel Comics on July 27, 2022. The issue contains the story "Darkest Before the Dawn".

Publisher's summary

THE BATTLE OF ABRION BRIDGE! While continuing to wait out a nasty sandstorm on Tatooine, Obi-Wan reflects on one of his most grueling experiences in the Clone Wars…It's a memory full of pain and bloodshed, and one that has lasting consequences. The battle also reminds Obi-Wan of an age-old question he has long wrestled with throughout his life: what is a Jedi's true purpose in war?

Plot summary

"Darkest Before the Dawn" 
As he awaits an inevitable storm in the remote deserts of Tatooine, Obi-Wan
takes time to reflect on–and record–key moments of a heroic life long-lived….

In 1 BBY on Tatooine, Obi-Wan Kenobi writes in his journal about the current sandstorm that has most likely reached the Lars homestead where Owen Lars shelters Luke Skywalker who is of great importance. Luke will soon be called upon and civil war will be inevitable, so Kenobi’s time on Tatooine is drawing to a close. He then questions what the purpose of a Jedi is in war, and this is something that he’s wrestled with before as the Clone Wars tested his resolve repeatedly and was tempered by the experience. In the end, Palpatine’s treachery proved that it was all a folly as the whole war was a sinister orchestration of a Sith plot that was spotted far too late. Obi-Wan recalls the growth of the Clone Army in the early days of the Clone Wars, but they weren’t faceless as each man forged his own personality and one in particular - Commander Cody - had become a close friend of Kenobi’s. While Jedi had already learned to fight from an early age and many like Obi-Wan had already seen their share of combat, the Clone Wars were different and taught them that dominion presides over all, and to seek any kind of dominance is to misunderstand the very nature of the Force. Flashing through many of the early battles in the Clone Wars such as Geonosis, Christophsis, and Dantooine, Obi-Wan mentions how they were all costly victories and slaughter later came at the hands of General Grievous. A new wave of fear brought panic and chaos across the galaxy, and the war was expanding rapidly which gave the Jedi new titles of “General”.

Flashing back to these times, Obi-Wan is briefed by Admiral Yularen in the Jedi Temple communications center about Abrion Bridge. Before the destruction of Rishi Station, intel was recovered regarding a Separatists weapons factory on the world Abrion Major, and a granary complex atop an archipelago has been converted by the CIS to build a new mega-ion cannon under the direction of Grievous and Count Dooku. Yularen explains that the factory sits on a center island of an archipelago that has reinforced sea cliffs and antiaircraft defenses, meaning that the only access point is a sole supply bridge connecting the north and south islands in the chain. A divided battalion will capture both ends of the bridge to converge on the factory, and when Obi-Wan volunteers the 212th Attack Battalion to lead the assault, he questions why the Jedi always dwell in so much violence and death. Later, Kenobi is met by Commander Mekedrix and Lieutenant Oron who have just transferred from the Roon System’s military defense forces and will be joining him in the battle to expand their forces.

That night, Obi-Wan deeply meditated and thought about the clones who were untested, and the next morning quickly came in the blink of an eye. Republic gunships descend through the smoke filled atmosphere of Abrion Major and are soon fired upon by the antiaircraft defenses which take out half of the landing party. In order to rally his men, Kenobi tells them to see Abrion Bridge as a bridge to the war’s end that will end bloodshed, protect Republic worlds, and lead to light away from the darkside. As the gunships make their way through and touch down, Obi-Wan in the present questions the purpose of a Jedi in war, and where lies the vector toward peace. As Obi-Wan leads the way for the Republic forces who are quickly torn apart by blaster fire, he tries his best not to remember how many lives were lost that day, or else he may lose himself to the pain of it. Amidst the fighting, Obi-Wan eventually reached the bridge and saw the breathtaking rising sun on Abrion Major, and in that moment he realized the deep truth that he did not want to be there.

Chaos continues to ensue around them, and a disoriented Obi-Wan is thrown to the ground by Commander Cody who saves his life. Obi-Wan begins to wonder if he’s a coward, and while Commander Mekedrix and his forces make progress forward, Obi-Wan is met by the clone trooper Airo who is carrying a large red flag to mark their advancements. When Kenobi spots that he has no weapon, Airo explains that he is honored to carry the banner and had only chosen his name the night prior. Vowing to cut a path through the enemy for Airo, Obi-Wan orders Airo to follow him as his goal is to protect and preserve life as it is the Jedi way. As Obi-Wan and his forces fight valiantly against the Separatist defenses, he comes to the harsh conclusion that life must be taken in order to protect it and witnesses the death of Lieutenant Oron nearby. Feeling each death and motivated by the extreme loss of life, Obi-Wan and his forces are able to make their way into the weapons factory and steal the plans for the ion cannon.

Just as the south bridge is secured and Obi-Wan starts to think that the mission was a success, the Republic forces are ambushed by the Intergalactic Banking Clan’s lethal armaments which include hailfire droids, IG units, and rogue-class fighters. Because the enemy had patiently held back their strongest units, the Republic forces soon find themselves trapped and only have one option left which is to escape via airlift. Obi-Wan attempts to save as many lives as he can, but Airo is shot and dies in Obi-Wan’s arms as he pleads for him to go on before wishing that the Force be with him. Regrouping with Mekedrix, Obi-Wan and the few remaining Republic forces are airlifted off the battlefield, and Republic bombers destroy the bridge to cover their escape, which was unfortunately still filled with their own troops. After the battle concludes, Obi-Wan realizes that they’d escaped with their lives only to fight again and again, and so he sits on a cliffside and watches the sunrise so that he can remember and believe that light can and will prevail.

Continuity

Ahsoka Tano is erroneously shown as having two lightsabers during the Battle of Christophsis.

Media

Cover gallery

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Miscellanea

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Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) #3 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  2. ↑ The frame story from Obi-Wan occurs during c. 1 BBY per the reasoning here
  3. ↑ The flashbacks seen in Obi-Wan 3 occurred shortly after the Defense of Rishi Station, which appears in Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Rookies". As Star Wars: Timelines dates the episode to 22 BBY, the flashbacks must also take place around 22 BBY.

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