The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special 1

The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special 1 is a canon one-shot comic book celebrating the 25th anniversary of the film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The issue was written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Will Sliney and Guru-eFX, and published by Marvel Comics on May 1, 2024.

Publisher's summary

CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHANTOM MENACE WITH AN ALL-NEW STORY! Explore the earliest days and secret inner life of ANAKIN SKYWALKER with never-before-seen, revelatory stories set before, after and between the scenes of the classic movie! Featuring the dream of a JEDI, the gift of a TUSKEN RAIDER, the heart of a GUNGAN, the ache of a mother and the horror of a hero!

Opening crawl

PHANTOM MENACE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL 
A mother and son, enslaved on a desert planet…

…two Jedi and a Queen in need…

…a galaxy on the brink of chaos…

…and one boy about to discover his destiny…
…and all the sacrifice it will demand.

Plot summary

On the Outer Rim planet Tatooine, armed men line up chained slaves and try to force them on a ship to go to the Zygerrian work colonies. When Shmi Skywalker claims to Jira that her son is coming for her, one man tries to get her back in line and holds her at blaster point, but just then his weapon is sliced in half by a yellow lightsaber. To her surprise, Shmi's son Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, has come to her rescue. Alas, a young, enslaved Anakin Skywalker wakes up from his dream. He explains the events to his mother over breakfast, and she tells him that they do not have any Jedi in the Outer Rim. She thinks that the galaxy would be a better place if there were more people like Anakin, but when he claims that he is going to become a Jedi and free her, she warns him not to be so good it becomes his undoing. As the two sit down and eat, Watto's Otoga-222 maintenance droid enters the room to inform them that they are late for work, and with Watto having to run to Anchorhead to meet with some scroungers, Anakin has to go to the spaceport and pick up a shipment. As Anakin leaves, he is warned by the droid that the transmitter inside of him will explode if he tries anything funny.

At Mos Eisley spaceport, Anakin meets with the dealer and picks up a shipment which the dealer says is Watto's last delivery on credit. As he is leaving, Anakin spots a landspeeder arriving, carrying a bound Tusken Raider. As the men get out, they tell someone that they bought the Tusken off the Hutts for cheap and plan to get him tagged right away. As they explain how the transmitter chip works to the Tusken, Anakin secretly pulls some wires on the speeder, causing it to drive away. As they go after their runaway speeder, Anakin cuts the ties on the Tusken and allows them to flee. When the men come back, Anakin covers for the Tusken by pointing the men in the wrong direction, and he then heads home to rest for the night.

Another day, Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé Amidala, Jar Jar Binks, and R2-D2 arrive looking for repairs to their ship so that they can get to Coruscant. With the big race tomorrow on Boonta Eve, Anakin offers his podracer since the prize money would pay for the parts that they need. Anakin is able to convince his mother to let him race after using his line of "the biggest problem in the universe is that no one helps each other". Anakin does the impossible and wins the race, deeming him a hero for bringing hope to those that have none. Afterwards, Qui-Gon talks with Anakin about taking the next steps and becoming a Jedi, which will be a hard life requiring discipline and sacrifice. Anakin agrees to this as he wants to help people, and so he says goodbye to his mother and departs Tatooine in order to begin a new chapter in his young life.

Before the Jedi Council on Coruscant, Anakin is warned to be mindful of his feelings as his thoughts dwell on his mother, and he is taught by Yoda that fear leads to the dark side. Later with Jar Jar Binks, a saddened Anakin explains that the council is not going to let Qui-Gon train him, and he thinks that he will not ever become a Jedi. However, Jar Jar reassures the boy that everybody is scared and worried about themselves, family and friends, and that is the sign of a good heart, which is something that Anakin has. The next day as they prepare for their new mission to Naboo, Anakin overhears Obi-Wan telling Qui-Gon that Anakin is dangerous, but Qui-Gon believes that he is not dangerous since his fate is uncertain. On their travel to Naboo, Anakin asks Qui-Gon if he's dangerous, and is told that Jedi are held to higher standards than others, Anakin especially, due to his potential. After a prolonged series of events which include the battle between the Gungans and droid army, Qui-Gon's death and Obi-Wan defeating the Sith Darth Maul, and Anakin destroying the Lucrehulk, Naboo is saved.

After Anakin lands and meets with Obi-Wan, they talk of Qui-Gon's passing and Anakin becomes emotional because he knew that Qui-Gon was the only one to have faith in him and now fears for the future. However, Obi-Wan reveals that his master's last wish was for Obi-Wan to train Anakin, and he's going to keep that promise. Later, Naboo's liberation from the Trade Federation blockade is celebrated, and Anakin meets with Senator Sheev Palpatine who will watch his career with great interest. Obi-Wan then senses that Anakin's mind is clouded, and tells him that Qui-Gon was right to believe in him, and that he does too.

At some point in the future, on Tatooine, Shmi is asked by Jira if she misses her son, and she responds that she does but knows that he is in a better place. Now at home, with Anakin's protocol droid C-3PO, they receive a knock on the door, and to Shmi's surprise she is met by a Tusken Raider. The raider offers her a black melon and explains the story of how Anakin once saved their life. Afterwards, Shmi reveals to C-3PO she shared Anakin's dream of him being a Jedi.

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Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Marvel-TemplateLogo Star Wars: Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special (2024) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  2. ↑ Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special 1 takes place concurrently to Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, which Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of to 32 BBY.

External links

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Related media
Darth Vader (2015) · Darth Vader (2017)
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The Curse · Phantom Menace Special
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