Published: September 30, 2020
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Penciler: Marika Cresta
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Valentina Remenar
The synopsis;
RING OF FIRE!
• Trapped and betrayed, DOCTOR APHRA fights to escape the cursed city of VAALE before madness overcomes her!
• Meanwhile, RONEN TAGGE’s sinister plan for the RINGS OF VAALE approaches fruition.
• Will Aphra be able to thwart him in time?
The review;
Every issue of Doctor Aphra so far has been an unexpected yet enjoyable turn of events. Like Aphra herself, it is very difficult to predict where Wong will go next with the character and her team, but so far, every decision has been one that has really moved the story forward and kept readers engaged. With artwork by Cresta, each issue is not a joy to read, but also a wonder to the eyes. I wonder where this issue will lead…
After the revelation last week, that Just Lucky is working for Tagge, I was expecting to see the mask come off and the true villain show himself. Yet, as always seems the case, things are not that simple. Wong shows us that there is far more to Just Lucky than a traitor. In a lot of ways he is very much like Aphra and while reading the issue, when he says Aphra will understand, I kept thinking about the first series of Aphra, where such actions were exactly what Aphra would do. Aphra has always been about completing the job and taking the money, yet she always got sidetracked by her connections to others. Just Lucky seems to be the same, an earlier version of Aphra that we know. The connection to his brother seems to have weighed him down to the criminal underworld, one that he cannot escape.
What is entertaining, although Just Lucky is acting like Aphra would in the same situation, she is the one who is angry with him. The old phrase, ‘do as I say, not as I do’ springs to mind. It’s an interesting comparison of the two and I do wonder whether Wong has done this to show that Aphra has grown since the last series, that she has a sense of loyalty to her team, rather than cutting her losses and leaving them behind. Towards the end of the issue, she has a choice of doing the smart thing, or the thing the team want to do. Aphra supports the team and in typical Aphra fashion, has a plan. Although this growth in the character, this loyalty to her team all seems to be leaning towards a wiser, more mature Aphra, perhaps Wong is holding some key pieces for the next few issues, where Aphra herself has an alternate agenda.
The artwork so far in this series has been wonderful and I still keep going back to issue two, to that creepy, nerving artwork that really set the tone of the comic. This issue sees a massive departure from that. The fear of the city has past, rather than dwell on it, Cresta moves forward to show more details of the area (the graffiti on the walls look fantastic). Even so, complimenting the writing, there are certain parts that sent shivers down my back, particularly when talk moved to the living city. Cresta has a talent for drawing images that are unnerving, reminding me again and again of those sorts of feelings I have when watching Indiana Jones.
The explanation to the hallucinations that have been plaguing the team, to the noises some of them hearing, I think is well thought out and original. Having a living city singing to its victims to unhinge them really fits the feel. If the artwork had been lacking during this explanation, I don’t think it would have been as effective. Cresta however, once again focuses on the door, to close up images of the bodies contained within it, really adding to the atmosphere of the entire city.
There are also a lot of little pieces that Wong drops in that make this still feel like Star Wars. The droid, Tee, helps Aphra and her team escape. Although a small detail, it is one of the most common beats found in Star Wars; a droid saving the heroes. Doctor Aphra maybe a very different type of story from traditional Star Wars, but it is these beats that remind us that we are still in a galaxy far, far away and are crucial to the story. There is also mention of the High Republic, something that is cropping up more and more in the wider Star Wars media as we get closer and closer to this new phase in Star Wars. Frustratingly, very little is given away, so don’t expect too many clues.
This issue continues the story from where it left off, yet having such a strong first few issues, and ending the last issue on such a twist, I can’t help think that this issue is the calm before the storm. It goes at a gentle pace, but more than shock or intrigue, Wong is moving the key pieces around the board, setting the foundation for issue five. This isn’t a bad thing, and the comic is still enjoyable, but it feels slower than the previous ones, allowing us (the readers) a chance to catch our breathes and take stock of where the characters are now, dealing with the fall out of the last issue. Wong also takes the opportunity to answer loose threads that need to be tidied away. On this last point, I’m very grateful for, it gives the story more credit and validation. Issue five promises to take the pacing straight back up, as with all things Aphra, nothing goes slow for very long…
Availability;
Doctor Aphra (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue is available via the Marvel App and all good comic bookstores. This issue retails at $3.99.
