Anakin Skywalker’s metaphorical death and rebirth as Darth Vader was a tragedy that impacted the entire galaxy on a massive scale - including Obi-Wan Kenobi. On a personal level, Obi-Wan, as Anakin's master, suffered the most heartache due to Anakin’s transformation. Obi-Wan was a man who would have done anything for his apprentice, as one comic-book storyline reveals.

Anakin came into Obi-Wan’s care when he was only nine years old. Obi-Wan essentially raised Anakin, who never had a father figure to look up to, and trained Anakin in the ways of the Jedi. He guided Anakin to make the right decisions and understood Anakin on a level unique to master and apprentice.

In the 2016 miniseries Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin by Charles Soule and Marco Checchetto, a twelve-year-old Anakin tells his master that he’s debating leaving the Jedi Order, as he believes there is more waiting for him in the galaxy. Obi-Wan convinces Anakin to complete another mission with him before making a final decision.

Even with Obi-Wan's , Anakin Felt There Was a World Waiting for Him Outside the Jedi Order

Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin by Charles Soule, Marco Checchetto, Andres Mossa, and Joe Caramagna

On the surface, Obi-Wan’s proposal to Anakin to do one more mission seems like just the sort of thing a master would do to try to show their apprentice what the Jedi can do in the galaxy in ways that others cannot. While that is a factor in Obi-Wan’s mind, the ultimate reason is that the mission might be Obi-Wan’s last one as well, should Anakin leave the Order. Though Obi-Wan’s intentions are not shown until the end of the series, the revelation puts the interaction between master and apprentice into a different perspective.

While it seems like Obi-Wan is simply trying to change Anakin’s mind, he actually is completing what may be a farewell mission for his life as a Jedi. Before accepting the mission, Obi-Wan and Yoda have a private conversation where Yoda agrees to let Anakin leave the Jedi Order, should he wish. “Jailers, the Jedi are not,” are his specific words, which are heavy with irony considering the Jedi’s future involvement in the Clone Wars. Not only do the Jedi become soldiers in a war for the Republic, but they quite literally take prisoners of war.

Check out the future of Anakin Skywalker's legacy in Marvel's latest comics from its Star Wars line, including Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #1, which is available now from Marvel Comics.

Yoda, still contemplating the idea of Anakin leaving the Order, asks Obi-Wan what exactly Anakin’s departure from the Jedi would mean for the vow Obi-Wan made to a dying Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon’s dying wish was for his own padawan, Obi-Wan, to take in Anakin, despite Obi-Wan’s concerns, and train him as a Jedi. Obi-Wan would never have rebuked his master’s request, allowing Qui-Gon to die at peace. Obi-Wan has no qualms with revealing to Yoda, of all people, that he plans to break Jedi law and depart with Anakin, continuing to train him in the ways of the Force.

Obi-Wan's Loyalty to Qui-Gon Jinn Superseded His Loyalty to the Entire Jedi Order

As Anakin's Master, Obi-Wan Would Never Let Him Leave the Jedi Order Alone

Obi-Wan is considered the epitome of what a Jedi should be. He is fearless, loyal, and connects with the Force on a deep level. He is the model others aspire to be like, thus making him a respected hero whom other Jedi trust without second thought. Obi-Wan is the perfect person to transmit the message to any remaining Jedi to stay away from Coruscant after Order 66, as not a single Jedi would underestimate him. Darth Vader feared Obi-Wan for years for good reason, which is why he sought Obi-Wan out to execute him.

Obi-Wan was dedicated to something more than the Jedi Order: his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan’s dedication to Anakin was just as strong, as Anakin was a living representation of Qui-Gon’s will.

The fact that Obi-Wan was not only prepared, but explicitly willing, to leave the Jedi Order with Anakin to continue his training comes as a shock to the reader. The way Obi-Wan calmly discusses his plans to disobey Jedi rules is in line with how composed his character is, but the treason against the Order he spent his life with is not. It goes to show that Obi-Wan was dedicated to something more than the Jedi Order: his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan’s dedication to Anakin was just as strong, as Anakin was a living representation of Qui-Gon’s will.

Ultimately, Anakin decides to continue his training in the Order under Obi-Wan. However, the crossroads that Anakin found himself at could have gone another way. It's hard to say what the galaxy would have looked like if Anakin and Obi-Wan left the Jedi Order when Anakin was twelve-years-old, and it's possible that Anakin could have avoided his tragic descent to Darth Vader. Anakin and Obi-Wan leaving the Order would have caused a seismic shift that created ripples throughout the galaxy, drastically altering the course of the Clone Wars and the fate of the Republic.

If Anakin and Obi-Wan Left the Jedi Order, the Trajectory of the Entire Galaxy Would Have Changed

The Two Jedi Had a Massive Impact on History

As Anakin was the Chosen One, Obi-Wan would certainly have to continue to teach Anakin how to maintain his emotions to make him less susceptible to the dark side. However, that job may not have been as easy for Obi-Wan as one thinks, as Palpatine’s insidious influence reached far and wide. While leaving the Jedi temple would certainly have put a distance between Palpatine and Anakin, it’s reasonable to assume that Palpatine - with eyes and ears everywhere - would have been able to keep tabs on the two ex-Jedi with ease.

If Palpatine chose to seek out a young Anakin, it's hard to imagine that Obi-Wan - stripped of the Jedi's resources - could have provided the necessary guidance to counter Palpatine's dark influence. It certainly would be a daunting task for a solo Jedi to manage against a Sith Lord. On the other hand, Obi-Wan’s influence and teaching may have resonated more deeply with young Anakin if the two were on a one-on-one basis. Without distractions, particularly Pe and their eventual secret love affair, Anakin may have been more prone to listen to his master and stay on the light side.

The absence of Anakin and Obi-Wan from the Jedi Order would also have had catastrophic consequences for the Clone Wars. Their strategic brilliance and Force abilities were pivotal in the Republic's fight against the Separatists. Anakin was widely regarded as the best General in the Republic, with unparalleled fighting and flying skills. He was responsible for training Ahsoka Tano, who went on to be just as tenacious and influential as her master. Without Anakin - and Obi-Wan Kenobi - her whole trajectory would change, making the war’s outcome drastically different, even making the rise of the Empire without Anakin’s power as Darth Vader unlikely.

Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin is available now from Marvel Comics.