Age Of Republic: Anakin Skywalker (Comic Review)
This week saw the release of my most anticipated issue of Age of Republic. The Hero Without Fear himself: Anakin Skywalker, and it doesn't disapoint.
Age of Republic - Anakin Skywalker: “The Sacrifice”
The issue picks up with Anakin earlier into the Clone Wars (as Ashoka is no where to be seen) engaged in a space battle where he is, as per usual cleaning up shop as one of the most skilled pilots in the Grand Army of the Republic. He's next seen discussing the plan of attack on a Droid Foundry with Admiral Yularen. They come upon an upsetting revalation that the factory isn't being run by droids by actual people. Yularen says that a strike that would quickly decimate the factory is the best plan of attack to limit Republic losses. Anakin has qualms with this strategy as he feels that killing all of those people wether or not they are soliders is the wrong call and he and Yularen part ways frustrated with each other.
Obi-Wan catches up with Anakin in the mess hall aboard Resolute and they have a similar heart to heart. Obi-Wan has a similar heart to heart with Anakin with Kenobi echoing what Yularen said, that “people are going to die either way, they need to make sure it isn't their people”. In typical Anakin fashion, the young Jedi goes rogue to the foundry by himself.
Upon Anakin's arrival at the foundry he senses suffering and pain. He gets to the main factory floor and sees that the “workers” are slaves Anakin snaps and jumps into action and proceedes to cut down all of the battle droids in room. Upon liberating the slaves they take up the fallen droids weapons and help Anakin take the foundry.
Anakin returns to The Resolute and Yularen and Obi-Wan commend Anakin for his bravery and intuition. They realize that the foundry was left deliberately poorly defended so that the Republic would attempt an attack like Yularen suggested. The end result of such a mass casualty event of civilians would have made the world they were on (whom was still neutral in the War) would have swayed them to the CIS. In the end, Anakin's compassion ended up being the best strategic and moral call.
This comic in a very fascinating way delves into the giant bag of contriditctions that is Anakin Skywalker. We see his light-hearted compassion on display when he refuses to allow the assault on the foundry. We see his hot headedness and self reliance when he goes rogue one Obi-Wan and Yularen. Then we see his uncontrollable rage come unchained when he sees others living the traumatic life of servitude that he once did. This comic shows the way that all of these contridcitary traits of Anakin's meld into the legendary warrior that he is. This very fun and subtle character study of Anakin has made for one of my favorite entries in Age Of Republic. I give “Anakin Skywalker: The Sacrifice” a 4.5 out of 5.