Published: March 23, 2022
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Penciler: Minkyu Jung
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: W. Scott Forbes
The synopsis;
ETERNALLY YOURS!
The trap has been set! DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS are ready to steal the ASCENDANT’S GREATEST TREASURE! But their search for the SPARK ETERNAL will lead them somewhere they never expected…back to the place where Aphra’s archaeological adventures began!
The review;
Back with Aphra and I’m curious to what sort of issue we will have on our hands this month. Previously, Alyssa Wong gave us a very different paced story, something slightly out of the ordinary for this series. It was a refreshing change and certainly setting things up for this comic. I wonder if Wong will go back or carry on with this change. No matter what she decides, I’m sure it will be a thrilling ride with everyone’s favourite Doctor.
Like a beautifully crafted movie, this comic plays out at a wonderful ace that builds up the tension, the suspense and the expectations the further Wong carries us through it. The very start of the issue is completely cinematic. We see a flashback to Aphra’s early days at the university and how she first met Kho. I love seeing Aphra in her heyday, seeing how she acted as a student and caused trouble. It would be very easy to base an entire series during this part of Aphra’s life, but I think it works better this way, with Wong always teasing little bits here and there. During the first part we see that even though she is still young Aphra has a reputation with the staff members; they quite clearly know who she is! We also get placed back to the present, with the past acting like an echo to what is occurring now. The artwork by Jung draws you in, sets the pace and really sets the atmosphere of this whole issue. His artwork coloured to perfection by Rachelle Rosenberg is able to culminate in this comparison between the past and present. We see the past bright and colourful, almost through rose-tinted glasses, whereas the present is dull and brooding. Wong has bene able to do a lot of incredible starts to issues, but this one really draws everything together so well. As the scene ended, I almost expected to see a title show up on the next page and the credits begin to roll.
When you read this issue, you feel like you have a read a very Aphra issue. There’s action, suspense and just the right number of laughs. Yet Aphra doesn’t appear a lot in this part, which focuses far more on Kho. But this to me is the essence of any series focused on Aphra. She has always come out best when other characters tell her story, that she almost works as a sideline character. We saw it in Darth Vader when she was first introduced, and Wong does it again here. Too much Aphra and it is almost like she is too much for the story. But have her alongside others and she shines. Through the retelling of the past, we see just how much Aphra is Aphra. It would be easy to think she was a little less harsh, more humane, but that’s not Aphra and it never will be. I always find that when reading an issue, you start by finding her endearing, believing that she may actually be being kind or friendly only to always, always, find out that it wasn’t quite what it seemed. It brings great humour to the story every time it happens.
Domina is back and I couldn’t be happier. Of course, I wish she had been in the issue for longer, but what an impact. With Ronen back, Wong is quick to show that there are issues that need to be addressed in the family and I can’t wait for that. However, what we do see is the return of Boushh who made their appearance in War of the Bounty Hunters. Seeing that they are being sent off to find Aphra is exciting. We have the ticking time bomb element of the story, we know Boushh’s outfit has to get to Leia but how does that happen? Is it through Aphra, in which case does she run into more characters from her past?
Wong has been playing with a lot of threads this entire series and it really feels in this comic that they are started to be pulled and woven together. The history of the Ascendancy tying to the university is a fantastic touch, linking it very nicely to the very first issue of the series. The fact that the Spark Eternal is able to create Sith is extremely intriguing and although it can’t surely happen, oh how I would love to see it working. One notable exclusion is Lucky, and I wish I could say I missed his presence here, but I think his addition would have slowed the pace of this story.
This is a very strong issue, one of the strongest Wong has done for this series so far. The scope, the bringing together of different story elements and the grand, insane master plan of the villain, really give this chapter a cinematic quality that will please any reader. Not only does this feel like Star Wars but you can’t get away from that Indiana Jones feel, as we learn more about the history of the galaxy and the reveal at the end. I have enjoyed this series as it has developed over the course of the last year or so, but I feel like Wong has really hit her stride and taken the entire series up a level. Where it will head next issue, I don’t know but I can’t wait to find out.
Availability;
Doctor Aphra (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
