2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. While the movie was deemed a disappointment by longtime fans when it arrived in theaters, many '90s kids grew up on the prequels and now form part of a very devoted fanbase.
The movie returns to the big screen this weekend, but before that, a tie-in comic hits stands on Wednesday.
A first look has been released ahead of that revealing an unseen moment from the movie; a young Anakin Skywalker dreams of the future, imagining himself as a brave Jedi Knight who returns to Tatooine - with a yellow lightsaber - to free his mother from slavery.
While this is just a dream, Anakin's connection to the Force at least opens the door to the possibility of this being a glimpse into an alternate future (one where he perhaps didn't fall under Palpatine's spell and become the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader).
A yellow lightsaber is interesting seeing as Rey used one in The Rise of Skywalker's closing moments and it's since been revealed that this colour blade is meant to represent balance and duality...both of which seem very relevant to Anakin.
The comic, written by Darth Vader scribe Greg Pak, provides new context around this and other moments in the film, mostly from the perspective of Annie. "I was eight when A New Hope came out, so for my formative years, Star Wars was synonymous with the original trilogy," Pak explains.
"But I delved deep into the prequels when I came on board as the writer of Marvel's Darth Vader comics, watching and rewatching all of them."
"And I found myself dazzled by the long game George Lucas was playing in laying out the tragedy of Darth Vader," the writer concludes. "It's been an absolute thrill to contribute to that legacy by revisiting The Phantom Menace with new scenes from the point of view of young Anakin."
Check out this first look at Star Wars: The Phantom Menace's anniversary comic below.
Explore the earliest days of ANAKIN SKYWALKER with never-before-seen, revelatory moments set before, after, and between the scenes of the classic movie! Featuring the dream of a JEDI, the gift of a TUSKEN, the heart of a GUNGAN, the ache of a mother and the horror of a hero!
STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1
Written by GREG PAK
Art by WILL SLINEY
Cover by PHIL NOTO