Kanan Jarrus—in STAR WARS REBELS, he's a cocky, sarcastic renegade fighting against the Galactic Empire alongside the rag-tag crew of the Ghost…but years before, at the height of the Clone Wars, he was known as Caleb Dume, Jedi Padawan under the instruction of Jedi Master Depa Billaba. Neither master nor apprentice ever suspected that the Clone Troopers they commanded would turn on them upon the issuing of Order 66—the order to execute all Jedi. How did Caleb Dume survive? How did he learn to survive on his own? And how did he become the man we know as Kanan Jarrus? Writer Greg Weisman (writer/executive producer on STAR WARS REBELS, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN) and artist Pepe Larraz (DEADPOOL VS. X-FORCE, THOR, INHUMAN) bring us a tale bridging the years between the Clone Wars and Rebels!
Around 4 BBY, Fulcrum assigns Hera Syndulla and Spectres on a milk run to pick up supplies for Tarkintown refugees on Lothal on the planet Kaller. Garazeb Orrelios tells Ezra Bridger and Chopper to behave while Sabine Wren remarks that not every mission can be about rebels fighting the Galactic Empire. Kanan Jarrus is terrified upon hearing that they are going to the planet Kaller.
Fifteen years earlier, Jedi Padawan Caleb Dume and his master Jedi General Depa Billaba lead their Clone troopers into combat against Separatist forces on Kaller. Caleb has spent the past three years of the Clone Wars at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. This is among his first exposures to combat.
Armed with their lightsabers and the Force, Dume and Billaba slice through hordes of battle droids. During the battle, Billaba reminds Caleb to assume a defensive Form III pose. Under General Billaba's orders, Captain Styles and his men take the left flank while Commander Grey and his men form the right flank. The Jedi and Clone troopers smash their way through the Separatist droid ranks and approach the Separatist fortress.
With General Billaba routing his droid forces, the Separatist General Kleeve orders a retreat and makes preparations to depart on his personal shuttle. He apologizes to the Kalleran leader Gamut Key that the Separatists must abandon Kaller for now. He knows that the Kallerans did not appreciate Separatist rule and asks if Key would appear Republic "tyranny."
Caleb and Billaba see Kleeve's Separatist command shuttle departing and realize the battle is won. Following the battle, General Billaba and Caleb meet with the village leader Gamut Key. Billaba promises not to exploit the villagers for supplies and labor like the Separatists. When Key asks where General Billaba and her staff will billet, another Kalleran named Janus Kasmir interjects and explains that the Kallerans see little difference between the Separatists and the Republic.
An incensed Caleb defends his master and reminds Kasmir that General Depa Billaba is a member of the Jedi High Council. Commander Grey supports General Billaba and suggests that Kasmir wants General Kleeve back. Kasmir asks what is the name of the General. Captain Styles calls Kasmir an ungrateful "tuft-sucket" but General Billaba calms them down. Since Kaller's climate is mild at this time of the year, General Billaba informs Key that they will spend the evening in the field under the stars. Key accepts her proposal.
Caleb asks his master how she can allow Kasmir to treat her rudely. Taking Caleb to a hill, Billaba apologizes for neglecting his training and gives him a lightsaber lesson. When Billaba asks what Caleb feels, Caleb replies that he has questions. When Billaba asks about his heart, he reassures her that he is at peace. Caleb confides that he is happy to have found his place in the Clone Wars despite the suffering it has brought to the galaxy.
Billaba tells Caleb that the universe is far from static and that a Jedi's role in it must evolve. While noticing that Caleb is comfortable with Commander Grey and Captain Styles, she warns him that the war will not go on forever, nor his apprenticeship. She warns him not to get too attached to these things. While those emotions are valuable and should not be suppressed, she counsels her Padawan to rule over them.
Later at a campfire with Commander Grey and Captain Styles, Caleb asks Master Billaba why she did not respond to Kasmir's insolence. Billaba explains that she wanted to show him that the Republic and Separatists are different and to lead by example. Billaba confides that she thinks that the Jedi Order erred in taking military titles. Grey and Styles disagree and say that they would have lost this war without Jedi leadership.
Billaba responds that it is not a matter of leadership but of role and rank. Grey disagrees and tells Billaba that she underestimates the value of a clear chain of command. Caleb is frightened that Billaba is questioning the decision of the Jedi High Council. However, Billaba reminds him that Caleb was infamous for asking too many questions. Commander Gray jokes that the kid never stops asking questions and playfully brushes his head. Caleb responds that he only asks questions to better understand why a decision was made and never questioned the decisions themselves.
Billaba thinks she was being glib and tells Caleb that she picked him as her Padawan because of his questioning nature. She gives him a holocron and tells him to study the role of questions and peaceful dissent in the Jedi Order. Caleb thanks Billaba. Styles teases Caleb for being a troublemaker. Meanwhile, Commander Grey receives a hologram message from a cloaked Supreme Chancellor Palpatine ordering him to execute Order 66. Grey complies with the Chancellor's orders and lifts his blaster.
- UPC 759606081585; April 1, 2015; Marvel Comics
- UPC 759606085057; May 4, 2016; Marvel Comics; True Believers
- Star Wars: Kanan Vol. 1 — The Last Padawan
- Star Wars: Kanan Omnibus
- Star Wars: Kanan Modern Era Epic Collection: The Last Padawan
- "Blaster" — Star Wars Insider 157
- The Marvel Art of Star Wars