For years, Star Wars fans have largely assumed that Obi-Wan Kenobi's greatest sorrow was his failure to save Anakin Skywalker from the dark side. The tragedy of Darth Vader has overshadowed much of Obi-Wan’s character, particularly during his exile on Tatooine, painting him as a man consumed by this singular, devastating loss.

However, the 2022 Marvel comic miniseries, Star Wars: Obi-Wan, written by Christopher Cantwell with art by Ario Anindito, provides a much more nuanced and heartbreaking portrayal of the Jedi Master’s inner turmoil.

As Obi-Wan reflects on different periods of his life while stranded on Tatooine, it becomes abundantly clear that his emotional landscape is far more complex than just Anakin. His regrets span decades, reaching back to his youth as a youngling, then Padawan and deeply impacting his experiences during the Clone Wars, particularly concerning his relationship with his Master and the initial handling of his death. This series masterfully unpacks a lifetime of burdens, revealing a Jedi burdened by far more than just one fallen apprentice.

A Young Padawan's Struggle With Self-Doubt And A Master's Expectations

Qui-Gon Jinn Was One Of The Most Pivotal Figures In Obi-Wan’s Life

Obi-Wan’s journey as a Padawan, under the unconventional tutelage of Qui-Gon Jinn, laid the groundwork for many of his later anxieties. Issue #2 of Star Wars: Obi-Wan delves into his early days, showcasing a young Obi-Wan grappling with a deep-seated fear of inadequacy and his own independent skills. He worried about living up to Qui-Gon’s expectations and even questioned whether or not he would make a proper Jedi Knight. This internal struggle wasn't merely youthful angst; it was a foundational insecurity that shaped his approach to every future challenge and relationship. The comic highlights his persistent desire to prove himself during his Padawan days, a drive that, while often leading to success, also contributed to his emotional isolation.

This early period also shows Obi-Wan’s struggle with the rigid doctrines of the Jedi Order. While he was a diligent student, Qui-Gon’s more maverick approach often put Obi-Wan in a difficult position, caught between his master’s unconventional wisdom and the Council’s expectations. This internal conflict is a recurring theme, suggesting an early dissatisfaction with the Jedi way that predated the fall of the Republic. His initial attempts to conform to a strict interpretation of the Jedi Code often clashed with the more pragmatic and empathetic lessons imparted by Qui-Gon, creating a subtle, yet persistent, internal tension.

The pressure to be a perfect Jedi, to always make the right choice, is a heavy burden for the young Obi-Wan. The comic illustrates how this pressure led to moments of self-doubt. He desired to be a good Padawan, but his path was not always clear. This struggle for validation, both from his master and from the Jedi Order, is a profound regret that continued to influence his decisions and self-perception long after he became a Knight.

The Moral Weight Of Taking Lives While Serving As A Peacekeeper

Obi-Wan Struggled To Marry The Ideas Of What The Jedi Stood For And Their Actions In The Clone Wars

Perhaps one of Obi-Wan’s most poignant regrets, and one often overshadowed by the Anakin saga, is Obi-Wan's profound internal conflict over the violence he inflicted during the Clone Wars. Issues #3 and #4 of Obi-Wan explore this deeply personal struggle, revealing the enduring pain of a Jedi forced to become a soldier. Obi-Wan’s internal monologue as he writes in his journal on Tatooine, reflects on the dissonance between his role as a monastic peacekeeper and the grim reality of wartime killing. The countless lives he took, even in the name of the Republic, clearly haunted him for decades.

Star Wars: Obi-Wan highlights the immense emotional toll of having to reconcile the Jedi’s peaceful tenets with the brutal necessities of war. While Obi-Wan always carried out his duty, the lingering question of "what if" regarding the violence he enacted is palpable. His memories of the war are not just of strategic victories, but of the moral compromises he was forced to make, a path untaken that represented an emotional sacrifice of his ideals. This regret is unique because it’s not about a failure of action, but a failure to fully maintain his moral com in a galaxy consumed by conflict. The war forced many difficult choices, but sacrificing his principles of non-violence was a particularly agonizing one for Obi-Wan, and it left a permanent emotional scar.

Furthermore, the sheer scale of the war, and the countless deaths he witnessed and contributed to, added layers of immense regret. Obi-Wan carried the burden of being part of a system that, in its attempt to preserve peace, often resorted to extreme violence. This loss of innocence, of the Jedi Order’s foundational role as peacekeepers, is a stark reminder of the limitations of his power and the devastating consequences of the war. Star Wars: Obi-Wan powerfully conveys how this personal tragedy deeply impacted his view of the Jedi Order and his place within it.

The Lingering Echoes Of A Master's Death And Unanswered Questions

The Death Of Qui-Gonn Marked The Point Of No Return For The Galaxy As A Whole

Qui-Gon Jinn’s death at the hands of Darth Maul is a foundational trauma for Obi-Wan, and issue #2 of Obi-Wan reveals that his regrets surrounding this event run far deeper than mere grief. Obi-Wan carries the burden of not only failing to save his master but also grappling with the profound fact that the moment he took Darth Maul's life made him a killer. He reflects on his initial struggle to fully grasp Qui-Gon's unique understanding of the Force and his own sense of being unprepared for such a profound loss.

The comic emphasizes Obi-Wan’s profound personal impact from witnessing his master's demise. The sight of Qui-Gon falling directly fueled Obi-Wan's subsequent actions against Maul. He did not hesitate, launching a ferocious and uncharacteristically aggressive assault that culminated in Maul’s seemingly definitive defeat. This intense reaction, born of grief and fury, represents a deviation from the calm, collected Jedi ideal, a moment where his personal pain overrode his training.

Obi-Wan’s regret also stems from the very act of killing Maul in such a charged state. While necessary, the manner in which he dispatched Maul, driven by raw emotion rather than detached Jedi discipline, reveals a personal struggle with the path he was forced to take. The comic beautifully portrays his internal conflict over his violent impulse, highlighting the immediate and lasting impact of his master's death on his own conduct and adherence to Jedi principles.

Star Wars: Obi-Wan enriches the understanding of this iconic character by demonstrating that his pain extends far beyond Anakin Skywalker. The comic series reveals a man burdened by a lifetime of complex regrets, from the self-doubt of his youth to the heartbreaking sacrifices of the Clone Wars. By exploring his past through a series of poignant flashbacks, the series provides a more complete and deeply empathetic portrait of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Master who, even in exile, carried the weight of a thousand untold sorrows. His story is not just about one loss, but a tapestry of profound personal sacrifices and unresolved emotional conflicts.