Obi-Wan 5

Obi-Wan 5 is the fifth and final issue of the canon comic miniseries Star Wars: Obi-Wan. The issue was written by Christopher Cantwell, illustrated by Adriana Melo, Wayne Faucher, and Dono Sánchez-Almara, and published by Marvel Comics on September 14, 2022. The issue contains the story "Ben".
==Publisher's summary==
Obi-Wan has closed his journals for now and looks ahead as night falls and the sandstorm that has sequestered him begins to clear. But he discovers something unexpected in the hazards of the Jundland Wastes…a squad of ambushed stormtroopers left to die. But one still has a fighting chance…and Obi-Wan may very well risk everything to save a single injured imperial stormtrooper that can't help but remind Kenobi of the clones he served with so long ago.
==Plot summary==
On Tatooine in 1 BBY, Obi-Wan Kenobi re-emerges from his hut after the sandstorm has finally subsided and passed over. Meanwhile in Mos Eisley, several stormtroopers take notice of four missing ration containers and realize that the Tusken Raiders had made their move during the storm. When the commander informs their officer, he is ordered to take a full squad into the Jundland Wastes to retrieve the supplies and exterminate the Tusken clan in the process. The commander, JM-909, initially hesitates with these orders as it could invite retaliation from other groups in the area, but after being threatened with internment or hard labour, he corrects himself and states that he serves the Empire. Before departing, the officer instructs him to be efficient, just like when they put down spent Dewbacks - one bolt between dull and hollow eyes with very little brain to pass through. 
Out in the Dune Sea, Kenobi narrates how power is in limited supply, and so he has to trade with Jawas for power cells. He decides to travel at night in the coolness of the dark, but because there are still plenty of terrors about, he keeps his lightsaber close by as among those physical terrors also exist the malicious specters of fear and desperation. Elsewhere amidst the vast desert, JM-909 leads the squad of stormtroopers on foot and Dewback whilst discussing the Tusken Raiders. Some of them believe that they pray to the sand and eat their own, while others think that they’re already dead - condemned to walk the desert as ghosts. However, JM-909 states that the Tusken Raiders live just like them, by tooth and nail just trying to survive, and this is what makes them scary. Eventually, the group reaches the Tusken Raider camp and spots their stolen supplies while noting that there’s six raiders, one sentry, and two massiffs. Ready to take action, JM-909 gives out orders to his men, but as they set their plans into motion, they quickly discover that they’ve been tricked as decoys have been used and they are ambushed from behind. Before they can make any moves, the entire stormtrooper squad is taken out by Tusken Raider snipers or up close by Gaffi Sticks.
Meanwhile, Kenobi continues to wander the desert and hears the skirmish nearby, and comes to the conclusion that the Tuskens were victorious when he spots Imperial weapons in their hands. While Obi-Wan is a Jedi, this doesn’t put him above the necessity of scavenging, and so he makes his way to the aftermath of the battle and picks up whatever scraps he can. As he observes the site, he notes that the ration containers were empty as the Tuskens’ true target had been on the Imperials gear. As he walks past the many Imperial bodies lying dead on the ground, Kenobi is reminded of dead clone trooper comrades from his past. Just then, he spots JM-909 still alive and in vain, and when Kenobi removes the man’s helmet, he points out to himself the fact that he’s a conscript far removed from the likes of the clones. But, these conscripts were just as abused by the larger galactic controversy, and because his master had taught him to provide aid and protect and preserve life, Kenobi helps his enemy because this purpose supersedes all other ideologies and allegiances. While the two travel back through the desert on the back of Kenobi's Eopie Akkani, JM-909 regains consciousness and attempts to flee but soon collapses and spots the lightsaber that Kenobi is carrying, making him think that he’s a sorcerer and devil, and resulting in him passing out. 
Kenobi doesn’t give up on JM-909 and brings him the rest of the way to his hut, and after three days of recovery, the stormtrooper finally wakes once again. Kenobi is there to greet him and explains that he’s healing well, with his chest plate taking the brunt of the blast, and the greater concern being the blow he took to his head. He is asked how he’s feeling, and before he can answer fine, he observes the room and spots Kenobi’s lightsaber on display. He is asked for his real name, but when JM-909 only provides his number, Kenobi opts to call him Jim and provides his name of Ben. Suddenly, Jim snaps and bolts for Kenobi’s lightsaber which he activates and says that he isn’t Ben’s friend. However, Obi-Wan remains calm and only tells Jim that he can take the weapon if he’d like since the desert can be quite unkind to one without the proper tools. Panicking, Jim drops the lightsaber and flees outside where he takes off on Akkani. As Jim makes his way back to Mos Eisley, Obi-Wan narrates that everyone gropes in the dark, looking for the light to guide them and hoping that something will illuminate the correct path that they should take. However, no one ever knows where their chosen path will lead them. Once back in Mos Eisley, JM-909 returns to his officer but is only chastised for his failure and ordered to clean himself up. Back in his corridors, JM-909 mutters the name of Ben before suiting back up into his armor, ready to perform his next task for the Empire. 
Inside of his hut, Kenobi adds to his journal, noting that the storm has passed but another lies on the horizon, and he can feel that his time on Tatooine is coming to an end. Through these long years he may have seemed alone, but he never truly has been and never will be with the Force as his guide. As he finishes his thought by saying that no one is alone, even in their darkest hour, images of Luke Skywalker standing before Tatooine’s Twin Suns and Darth Vader standing over the robes of Kenobi after his death are shown.
==Media==
===Cover gallery===
File:Obiwan5-final-cover.jpg|Final cover by Phil Noto
File:ObiWan5-solicit-cover.jpg|Solicit cover by Phil Noto
File:ObiWan5-variant-Yu.jpg|Variant by Leinil Francis Yu
File:ObiWan5-variant-Sprouse.jpg|Choose your Destiny variant cover by Chris Sprouse
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: Obi-Wan — A Jedi's Purpose
==Sources==
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==Notes and references==
==External links==
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