Though I have no particular fondness for the prequels of Star Wars, I've found some affection for the era and some of the characters, due almost entirely to the work being done on the Star Wars: Republic comics at Dark Horse. Star Wars: Obsession is a bridge between the events depicted in those comics and the upcoming Episode III, and whatever my opinion of that movie (I'm expecting disappointment), I have to admit that this first issue of the bridge is pretty interesting. Blackman and Ching deliver some fantastic action, as promised on the cover, and show the Jedi working in the shadows instead of in a crowded council chamber, which is key to making them cool in my mind. The characters starring in the mini aren't my favorites in the Star Wars universe, but Obsession is off to a promising start.
My favorite characters in the Star Wars: Republic universe are not the ones who tend to get a lot of screen time. Background players like the Jedi Council's Aayla Secura or Mace Windu, not to mention original characters like Quinlan Vos, have captured my attention, while Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker remain mostly un-engaging. However, if I had to choose between one of those two to focus on, the smarter, less whiny Obi Wan would be my choice, and so I'm pleased that this issue focuses on Obi Wan and his hunt for Asajj Ventress, one of the cooler bad guys developed for the Republic era. Anakin lurks in the background, playing up a romance that nobody has convinced me to believe in, but for this first issue, he's on the outskirts, and so doesn't really annoy me much.
Obi Wan, however, really gets to shine in this issue. The opening sequence, featuring a speeder bike race, shows off how dangerous and effective the Jedi can be, and Obi Wan's single-minded pursuit of Asajj, complete with a showdown with a crime boss, really gets across that he's a capable action hero. Given that Lucas managed to turn the Jedi into a bunch of mealy-mouthed bureaucrats in the prequel films, I'm always pleased when the comics or cartoon shorts can restore the Jedi to the position that we all thought they should have had all along, and Obsession definitely does that.
The artwork on the Star Wars: Republic stories has likewise been pretty good as a general rule, and Brian Ching and Sno Cone Studios are more of a mixed bag than Republic's Jan Duursema, but still remain pretty solid. The lush swamp backdrops of the opening sequence and the moonlit nights on Naboo look fantastic, and the action on the opening sequence is impressive and fast-paced. Ching's actual anatomy and characters is a bit on the weak side, looking rough and bulky and reminding me of nothing more than a polished version of '90s Extreme Studios vets, but the strong colors and generally solid staging makes up for a weak art style.
I'm honestly not all that interested in the story of Obi Wan and Anakin, especially given that the real meat of their tale is given over to the movies. My interests lie much more in the secondary characters or new characters who can really be explored in the comics. That said, Star Wars: Obsession provides everything it promises, an action-packed lead in to the Revenge of the Sith film, and should whet the appetites of the remaining fans of the films as well as helping to sucker in those of us who should know better but who are going to fork over ticket money in the summer of 2005 anyway. 7/10
