'Star Wars' Comic Will Reveal Untold Yoda History
By Lucas Siegel, ComicBook.com
Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series continues to build the world of the new canon established when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, bringing a story this fall that many fans have clamored for and most never thought they’d get: Yoda’s past. While we won’t be delving into the wise old Jedi Master’s origin or early years, we will see him in an all-new time period, as Yoda the Jedi goes on an adventure in the time before the Clone Wars, exploring a new world in the Star Wars galaxy.
The story, from writer Jason Aaron and artist Salvador Larroca, appears in Star Wars No. 26, as the latest edition in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s journal. These interlude issues feature Luke Skywalker reading stories written by Kenobi during his exile on Tatooine.
Unfinished preview cover art for ‘Star Wars’ No. 26 (Marvel/Lucasfilm/StarWars.com)
“I was always trying to figure out a way for us to use Yoda,” Aaron told StarWars.com about the issue. “We’re a bit hamstrung in terms of the time period of our main story, because Yoda’s chilling on Dagobah. So this was the only way we could kill all those birds with one stone – to do one story that connects Luke, Yoda, and Obi-Wan all at the same time, while still taking place in three different time periods.”
Unfinished preview art for ‘Star Wars’ No. 26 (Marvel/Lucasfilm/StarWars.com)
Telling a story with Yoda as “just the Jedi” was intriguing to Aaron, but also posed a difficult challenge.
“The other big challenge with Yoda, of course, is finding something that’s a challenge for him, right? Who can pose a threat to Yoda? I think we came up with an interesting answer to that question,” Aaron said. “That’s part of the mystery of this story. There’s a very specific reason that this is going to be quite the challenge for Yoda. It’s not a matter of just him being the more powerful Jedi. It’s a bit trickier than that.”
Unfinished preview art for ‘Star Wars’ No. 26 (Marvel/Lucasfilm/StarWars.com)
While Aaron wouldn’t pinpoint exactly when the story takes place, it is “before Phantom Menace,” and a young Obi-Wan, accompanied by his master Qui-Gon, appear in the story, so their ages will be a little bit better indicator of when it takes place in the timeline. Yoda’s personality will be a bit different as well, because this is before the rise of the Sith and the Clone Wars taking their toll on his wisened demeanor. Don’t expect him to be spry and young though, he’s still in his 800s in this story (and walking with a cane as seen in some of the early art).
Aaron praised the recent use of Yoda on Star Wars Rebels, where he communicated with the young Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger via a bit of Force meditation, and said he hopes to find a way to use the character in teh present-day story, as well as revisiting his past. Other stories featuring Obi-Wan and possibly other Jedi from his journal are planned as they continue to do these interludes.
Star Wars No. 26, featuring a young(er) Yoda, hits store shelves December 2016.
