Star Wars Introduces a Heartbreaking Version of Anakin Skywalker
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’s 25th anniversary comic shows readers the person Anakin Skywalker could have been.
The Star Wars Universe has just introduced a brand-new version of Anakin Skywalker. And this time he is exactly the Jedi he always dreamed he could be – literally.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Anniversary Special #1 drops readers into the middle of a dire scene in which a group of captive men and women are being rounded up and hounded as slaves on Tatooine. Among them is Shmi, who is certain that her son will save her despite the danger simply speaking up puts her in. When all hope seems lost, Shmi’s hopes prove true, as none other than Anakin Skywalker himself comes to her rescue wielding a blazing yellow lightsaber. Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a daydream had by the young Anakin fans know best, not to mention one far from where his story is set to take him.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Anniversary Special #1
Written by GREG PAK
Art by WILL SLINEY
Colorist GURU-eFX
Design by STACIE ZUCKER
Letterer VC’s JOE CARAMAGNA
Cover by PHIL NOTO
Variant Cover Artist CHRIS SPROUSE, KARL STORY & NEERAJ MENON, MATEUS MANHANINI, MIKE MCKONE & MORRY HOLLOWELL and PHIL NOTO
The young Anakin of 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was famously portrayed by Jake Lloyd, who starred alongside Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala, Liam Neeson as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. The film also featured Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker, whose story after letting Anakin take his leave to be trained by the Jedi is expanded upon in Marvel’s 25th anniversary special.
In February, LucasFilm announced that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace would return to the silver screen for a special theatrical release to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary. The new theatrical run began on May 3, almost 25 years after the original release date (May 19, 1999), which garnered over $924 million at the global box office. A 3-D theatrical rerelease in 2012 saw the film bring in another $102 million, officially pushing The Phantom Menace beyond the billion-dollar mark.
In March, Lloyd’s mother Lisa commented on his experience making the film, stating, “Jake loved filming Star Wars. He had so much fun.” Regarding a potential return to the franchise for Lloyd at some point in the future, Lisa explained, “I would love for him to get well enough to be able to do a little bit of something, and I’m sure he would maybe like to do that. He couldn’t at this point, but you never know how much he’s going to improve.”
