Warning: contains spoilers for Star Wars: Age of Republic - Anakin Skywalker #1!
In the 2019 comic series Star Wars: Age of Republic, Anakin Skywalker does what Qui-Gon Jinn couldn't. One issue of this series focuses on Anakin taking a new mission during the Clone Wars, which will lead him to make big decisions. Before and during his mission, Anakin displays Qui-Gon's rebellious spirit, but is able to make calls that Qui-Gon couldn't under different circumstances.
During the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon makes the decision to free Anakin and take him on as a padawan. Despite wanting to, Qui-Gon is unable to free Anakin's mother or any other slaves while on Tatooine. Later on, during the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker serves as a soldier and general within the Republic's army, alongside other members of the Jedi Order. He is tasked with several missions and is often seen disagreeing with his higher ups or his peers on how to best execute missions. This issue shows Anakin doing what he does best: disagreeing, but getting results.
In Star Wars: Age of Republic - Anakin Skywalker #1, written by Jody Houser with art by Cory Smith and Wilton Santos, Admiral Yularen assigns Anakin with destroying a Separatist droid foundry on the third moon of Kudo. Kudo is a desert planet that remained neutral during the Clone Wars. Upon reviewing the mission, Anakin notes that the potential casualties estimate is very high because the Kudons that inhabit Kudo are workers in the foundry. Anakin suggests a change in plan to allow for evacuation of the foundry, thereby lessening the casualties that may occur during the mission. While discussing the same plan with Obi-Wan, his former master sees the benefit of both plans, but tells Anakin to trust himself and the Force. Naturally, when push comes to shove, Anakin decides to do things his way.
This turns out to be a very good choice once he is planetside. Despite eventually joining the Sith, as a Jedi Anakin strives to save lives. Many times this turns out well for him, like in this instance. When Anakin arrives at the foundry, he discovers that the planet's inhabitants working inside of it are enslaved by the Separatists. They have been gassed and forced to work there. Had Anakin destroyed the foundry immediately, as ordered, he would have killed not just innocent Kudons, but innocent slaves, like he used to be. This situation harkens back to The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon saves Anakin, although Qui-Gon is only able to save him and his motives aren't entirely altruistic.
Qui-Gon saves Anakin, but fails to save any other slaves. Additionally, when he saves Anakin, it is because Anakin is Force-sensitive with the highest Midichlorian count ever recorded in the galaxy up to that point. Qui-Gon saves Anakin not because he was a child in slavery, but because Qui-Gon believed he is the Chosen One. He expects Anakin will become a great Jedi and benefit all other Jedi in the future, placing a large burden on a child's shoulders. Qui-Gon tries to see a big picture of the galaxy, whereas in the Clone Wars, Anakin sees the smaller picture of galactic inhabitants in danger.
Anakin frees the slaves at the foundry, telling them to fight for themselves and nothing more. It is not about a cause in this moment, but about their freedom and the freedom of the galaxy. In this instance, Anakin does what Qui-Gon couldn't: he frees all the slaves in this location and asks nothing in return. Whether or not Qui-Gon could, Anakin makes it a point to do so when the situation presents itself. He doesn't ask for loyalty or future favors in return. Ultimately, both Jedi fail to meet their goals in certain ways, though it is easier to see the immediate impact of Anakin Skywalker's decisions than the longer term ramifications of Qui-Gon Jinn's.
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