Published: August 23, 2023
Rated: T
Writer: Alicia Wong
Artist: Minkyu Jung
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Junggeun Yoon
The synopsis;
LEGACY ISSUE # 75!
A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
• Sent by DOMINA TAGGE to investigate a series of strange droid
malfunctions, DOCTOR APHRA faces a deadly enemy from the past.
• A horde of CLONE WAR-ERA PROTOTYPE BATTLE DROIDS designed
by Domina herself!
The review;
Doctor Aphra has been having an incredible run recently. High stakes, then back to basics with an incredible storyline featuring Luke Skywalker. It’s been a great time to be an Aphra fan. Where could writer Alyssa Wong possibly go next? Well, as it turns out, that it was not such a difficult question. It’s the first for Doctor Aphra of the Dark Droids crossover. The opening issue of this huge crossover event, and the series’ that have already been released have been exceptional. I mean heck, the opening issue by Charles Soule is one of the greatest openings I’ve ever read – period. The dark tone and impending doom loom in every single arc that has been told and I expect Aphra to be no different. With Minkyu Jung doing the artwork, I’m sure it’ll be a story worth reading. Aphra also has one other thing that I think will be incredible in this event, something that will really set it apart: dark droids. That’s the same of the event I hear you cry, well… yes, it is, but Aphra has its own dark droids who I adore, Triple Zero and Beetee. Throw these into the mix of Dark Droids and something tells me there will be plenty of laughs – at least from them, less so from the people caught up in their sights. They seem made for this event and I can’t wait to see how and when Wong gets them involved. But for now, let’s see how these events are going to merge with where we have been led with Doctor Aphra.
A few issues ago I said how much I enjoyed Domina Tagge and learning about the Tagge Corporation. Wong comes right back to that in a fantastic way. We learn a lot more of the Tagge Corporation, particularly its history. The fact that the family were originally Separatists who tried to build their own version of the battle droids. The fact that (even though they are successful now) they failed. The fact that Domina was a child genius, and it were her designs that were implemented for the droids. All these little facts that Wong is giving us adds to the whole picture of the Tagge Corporation. Every time we get them, I simply want more. It’s fascinating to read. It is really this that takes the spotlight for the start of the issue. Whereas everything else has started very dark. this has a more intriguing tone than an impending doom. The whole Dark Droids storyline feels like it is playing out like Alien. We start with the feeling of horror and worry, to then reach here when the tone eases up and all is well, before been hurled back into the doom striking. Wong moves us through several changed in the atmosphere in this issue, covering a lot of ground.
The look at Tagge ends, well, with a rather shocking twist: Aphra and Domina. A shock to say the least and one I really wasn’t expecting. Yet, when you think about it, it also makes perfect sense. For Domina it is part of having power over someone, being domineering. For Aphra, well it’s Aphra who always seems to end up in situations like this, even in the same comic! It feels like it should change the dynamics of their relationship, however, nothing really changes which is perhaps the perfect result for this happening. Once the dust has settled, and there are reunions with Aphra, Domina, Sana and Tolvan… well, I have a feeling Doctor Aphra is going to turn into our own little soap opera!
The atmosphere changes constantly. We open with death, to seduction by Tagge, to nightclubs, betrayal, to isolation, to danger (I think I got them all). That’s a lot of change for a single comic and yet Jung handles it splendidly. Domina looks gorgeous, the seduction of Aphra screaming from the pages. He is able to shift gears to a change almost instantly and this issue shows just how much control he has over his work. Wong is certainly pushing Jung with this pace, but he rises to the challenge to tell this story with clear precision.
Although Domina steals the show at the start, Aphra quickly takes it back. I love that the focus here is the Tagge’s trying to work out what is happening with their droids, that they need to bring Aphra in to solve the problem. It’s routine, it’s what Aphra does and what the Tagge Corporation need. Of course, for Aphra it is all about the money and been paid. For new readers, Wong makes sure to make it clear that this is an Aphra who is a little broken. She is usually so sure of herself and holding things together, but right now, even after the events with Luke, she is still broken. Wong uses Lucky as the comparison here. Lucky is happy, able to walk away from trouble because he has decided to settle down. Aphra, who doesn’t know what she wants, is flaying around because she can’t cope. It’s heartbreaking to watch yet shows the growth in both characters since the start of this series. Lucky has grown up and matured. Aphra is finally having to accept that she has emotions that can’t just be squashed down.
Dark Droids, Star Wars, Darth Vader, they’ve all started with absolute doom and gloom and been brilliant for it. Doctor Aphra does it differently and is just as brilliant for taking the different way. This doesn’t start with doom and gloom but with strangeness and mystery, something that needs solving. It feels like Aphra even though we know it is going to get much darker all too quickly. Wong makes sure to catch new readers up while also throwing long time readers off guard. Whatever we think might happen is probably going to turn out very differently. The glimpses back in the Tagge Corporation’s past are fascinating and I’ve said it before, Wong needs to do a series on this alone. Throw in Domina, one of my favourite comic characters, and it would surely be a success. To be able to add all of this into a Dark Droids crossover and catch new readers up and send us onto the spiralling darkness of the story arc in one issue who’s just how fast paced this issue is. Wong doesn’t hit the brakes on this issue. With the revelations we’ve already had, this issue is certainly a fanatic one to read and makes me very curious to where this will all lead.
Availability;
Doctor Aphra (2020) is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
