Kanan: The Last Padawan #1
Marvel Comics
Written by: Greg Weisman
Art by: Pepe Larrazz
April 2015 brings the debut of maybe the least most anticipated of the initial in cannon Marvel Comics Star Wars wave: Kanan the Last Padawan. Finally the mysterious back story of Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars Rebel’s is revealed, but some mysteries are better left untold. Kanan #1 feels like the realization of my greatest fear with Star Wars content as we begin the natural saturation of the market leading up to The Force Awakens. Which is content for content’s sake! For the majority of this book I continued to ask myself: Did this story really need to be told?
Rather the question here isn’t wether this book should have been made, but rather how goods is the book? The best way to describe it would be generic! Weisman crafts a tale that would be a perfect for a one off Clone Wars episode, but not much more. Their is some decent back and forth between Clone Troopers as well as some eye catching lightsaber action nicely illustrated by Pepe Larrazz. However not enough for readers to take away, or keep them hooked in the vain previous Marvel Star Wars #1’s.
The strongest part of the book comes in the form of the relationship between Kanan and his Jedi Master: Kan Skottie YOUNGDepa Billaba. Previously only a background character in the Clone Wars and the prequel trilogy it is always good to see a member of the Jedi Council get a share of the limelight. The mentorship that Weisman cast between Depa and her Padawan is organic, and you can feel it come to life right off the pages.
Unfortunately based on the direction of the book that will have Kanan deal with the tragedy of Order 66, the strongest part of this book seems destined to be short-lived. While hopefully the Depa and Kanan dynamic will continue through flashbacks, it may be hard to return to this book if the Jedi to Padawan mentorship established here isn’t at least touched on in future issues. By the time Order 66 is given by Emperor Palpatine at the end of this issue the best way to describe Kanan’s Marvel Comic’s debut would be problematic.