Later this year, Obi-Wan and his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn will embark on a mission that could potentially introduce the concept of the Gray Jedi into the official movie canon in Marvel’s Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #2.
Gray Jedi were originally popularized and utilized within the Star Wars Expanded Universe before Disney’s cinematic sequel trilogy officially rendered all of it non-canon. At the time, Gray Jedi were defined as a rare form of Jedi who are capable of using abilities from both the Dark Side and the Light Side of The Force. Despite the term’s lack of canon, audiences tend to find the concept of a Gray Jedi fascinating enough to think that it should be worth its inclusion in the official canon. Many fans continue to wait with bated breath for that day to finally come, and judging by the brand new synopsis for Obi-Wan Kenobi #2, there is a small chance that the day may finally come sooner rather than later.
The second issue of Marvel’s Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi by Christopher Cantwell and Luke Ross is expected to release officially to local comic book shops and digital comic book stores at some point in June of 2022. The official Star Wars website reveals a synopsis and art cover for the impending issue.
STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI #2 (OF 5)
CHRISTOPHER CANTWELL (W) • LUKE ROSS (A) • Cover by PHIL NOTO
Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by CHRIS SPROUSE
Pride Variant Cover by DEREK CHARM
“DARK SIDE OF THE MOON”
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan answer the distress call of an outpost on the edge of the galaxy.
What’s the secret behind the devastation wrought upon the terrifying moon base?
Will whatever plunged it into darkness pull a Padawan off his enlightened path?
The biggest key to look out for in this synopsis is a teasing implication that Obi-Wan Kenobi could be “off his enlightened path.” At face value, this line would suggest that whatever (or whoever) Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon encounter on this mission could potentially force the young padawan to lean towards The Dark Side, but anyone familiar with his future knows that this can’t be the case. At least, not completely. Perhaps the implication isn’t so much that Obi-Wan is going to The Dark Side as much as he could be leaning somewhere in the middle, going just far enough to find himself into a gray area.
This especially seems plausible given the presence of Qui-Gon Jinn. Star Wars Legends featured a handful of examples of Gray Jedi ranging from the renegade Gray Paladins to the self-exiled Jolee Bindo, but a prime example of a Gray Jedi who fans fondly remember is Qui-Gon himself. While never referred to or hinted as such in the prequel trilogy, the Expanded Universe showcased members of the Jedi Order often speculating that Qui-Gon Jinn was a Gray Jedi. Perhaps his status as a Gray Jedi finally gets confirmed within the canon and he decides to pass on his knowledge of balancing the two Force Sides to his protégé. Audiences will have to wait until at some point in June 2022 to see how this story plays out in Marvel’s Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #2.
