I’ve loved Marvel‘s three Star Wars series that have launched so far. To me, they may be a beginning, but they’re exciting and there’s some freshness to them (that’s not to say what came before wasn’t solid as well). I known, as I’ve paid attention, that those three comic series are in the new Star Wars timeline/mythos. Also in the mix is Star Wars: Rebels, the new animated series that is in canon too, though it’s a show I don’t watch (but one I’ve been told I should). Spinning out of that, the animated series, Kanan: The Last Padawan.

Kanan Jarrus–in Star Wars: Rebels, he’s a cocky, sarcastic renegade fighting against the Galactic Empire alongside the rag-tag crew of the Ghost…but years before, at the height of the Clone Wars, he was known as Caleb Dume, Jedi Padawan under the instruction of Jedi Master Depa Billaba. Neither master nor apprentice ever suspected that the Clone Troopers they commanded would turn on them upon the issuing of Order 66—the order to execute all Jedi. How did Caleb Dume survive? How did he learn to survive on his own? And how did he become the man we know as Kanan Jarrus? Kanan: The Last Padawan is written by Greg Weisman who is joined on art by Pepe Larraz. The comic series bridges the gab between the Clone Wars animated series and Rebels.

The above, I’d have had no idea about any of that if I didn’t either read the description above, or the infamous text scroll that proceeds each Star Wars film, and this comic. Without reading that, The comic jumps in a way that’s a bit confusing with different names and a setting I wasn’t quite expecting. I know Rebels takes place on a ship, but this first issue starts in the past, during the Clone Wars, a bit of ignorance threw me for a bit as to what was going on.

But, the story is interesting. It takes us through the end of a battle to just before Order 66 is given. The battle itself seems a bit short and the end rushed, but it’s not the point of the story, it’s Order 66 and how Caleb Dume survived. That doesn’t come towards the end, so to be continued…. The only odd moments for me is this obsessions with positions and stances, during battle. It’s just odd to me.

The art is decent. I like the style and it feels appropriate for the likely audience that’ll be interested in the comic, those into Rebels. It seems like a nice transition from animated to the printed page. It didn’t blow me away at all, but it’s good, and also feels like it fits with the style present in the other three comics out too.

Kanan: The Last Padawan #1 is an ok start. It didn’t quite grab me like Marvel’s other three series, but that might be because I’m unfamiliar with the characters. I’m sure for those who watch the television series will have a different opinion, or will have noticed things I didn’t. You don’t need prior knowledge of the animated series, but knowing Star Wars mythos is helpful. The line of comics need a comic that’s geared more towards kids, and I think this one is it. Not quite my cup of tea, but definitely interesting enough to get me to keep reading and see where it all goes…. and see what I might have missed when it comes to the animated series.

Story: Greg Weisman Art: Pepe Larraz
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read