Published: October 28, 2020
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Penciler: Marika Cresta
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Jos Caramagna
Cover Artist: Valentina Remanar
The synopsis;
POWER TO RULE THE GALAXY?
RONEN TAGGE has the legendary RINGS OF VAALE. Will he destroy the priceless artifacts or fall to their temptation? If they truly give him the power to rival the EMPEROR, what hope do APHRA and crew have to stop him?
The review;
After opening Doctor Aphra on such a high and riding the aftermath of it, it was inevitable that Alyssa Wong would have to slow things down. Last issue was all about hitting the brakes, taking the breath and moving the characters to where she needed them in order to rediscover that momentum. I’m really hoping this issue we get to see things back on track, with Aphra (and co) doing what she does best…
For this entire arc, Aphra has had to share the limelight with all the other characters. As an audience, we’ve had to get to know these characters, feel their pain, be surprised by their betrayals. Yet, each time Wong has had to do this, we lose time with Aphra, it’s unavoidable. This issue, the four is solely on Aphra, as if she’s being observing everything this whole time and is now ready to make her mark. This payoff works beautifully in this issue. We are reminded that we are ready a Doctor Aphra comic that is full of the things that have initially drawn us to this story. Wong writes Aphra perfectly. She is an archeologist, and we see that time an again in this issue, her fascination at completely the wrong moments. But it is her insight to all these other characters, which sets Aphra apart. For although Aphra wants artifacts, wants the big pay day, at her centre she is all heart. It is what makes her character so intriguing and what a lot of other characters in the universe can’t understand. By the end of the issue, Wong cements what really matters to Aphra, how she has grown in the previous series and how it will impact on this one. Wong uses Eustacia to show us how the rest of the galaxy sees Aphra, as she is more concerned by the rings than the safety of everyone else. But Aphra is the opposite. Having this comparison side by side works very well.
The other character that really shone through the issue was Ronen Tagge. Aphra watched all the characters, but really hit the mark with seeing right through this one. Ronen is a child, a child who wants the attention of the rest of his (very well accomplished) family. Rather than working hard to make a name for himself, he takes the easy way out. Although it’s been done before, Wong comes at it from a fresh perspective which makes Tagge a bit more unique in terms of villains. She has been able to craft someone who isn’t force using or a brilliant tactician, but rather someone who is driven because he has something to prove. Yet like most in Star Wars, the ultimate use is power, which is also his undoing. He is so different to Cassio Tagge and the character is better for it. On that note, we also get to see glimpses into the Tagge family history. With Aphra beginning in the Darth Vader comics, which featured Cassio Tagge heavily, it seems fitting that they play (and will play) such a strong role in this series. I’m hoping as the series progresses, we get to see even more of their background.
Droids, you’ve got to love them. Although we only get to see Teeaye for the briefest of moments, he is utilised in true Star Wars fashion. He is the secret weapon, the thing that everyone forgets until after he has saved the day. It is very difficult (possibly impossible) to replace BeeTee and Triple Zero, however Teeaye is a very different sort of droid and one that I can’t help think will become a favourite if he continues to feature in this series. This does show that although the characters in Doctor Aphra are not from the movies, that the beats that make Star Wars what it is, are still here. Wong tells a very different sort of story, following an anti-hero who makes all the wrong decisions. But at its essence, it is Star Wars. With familiar names floating about, droids saving the day and plenty of action, fans will find everything they want.
Marika Cresta’s artwork, I’ll be honest, by the end of the issue I looked up and thought, oh goodness I didn’t even notice! I do not mean this as a bad thing at all. Picking up the issue, I was immediately thrown into the Aphra world and didn’t stop until I emerged at the end. The flow of this issue and the pacing Cresta uses is just tremendous. I didn’t feel jolted out of my reading and in my mind’s eye I was watching a movie. It’s easy to forget that the it is the artist who has to make us believe, to guide us by the hand (or eyes) through the story of the writer. Cresta does that incredibly well in this issue. The characters, the settings, the movement, none of it stopped me in my reading, none of it pulled me out, it let me relax and enjoy. All the angles and panels felt right. For me ‘not to notice’ says that Cresta has done her job perfectly. The colour work by Rachelle Rosenberg is also tremendous, and you only have to go back to issue two to see how different the colour is for this issue compared to that. When read as a complete arc, I think the subtle changes in colour will be even more noticeable.
I had creeping doubt last issue about where this series would go, but I shouldn’t have feared. Wong provides an explosive end to this arc and shows that she understands this character perfectly. This is a great start to the series and with the incredible artwork by Cresta, any new readers wondering what all the fuss is about with Aphra would do well to leap on this series. Wong ends with Aphra’s next opponent, Lady Domina. With Aphra finding her ‘stunning’, one can only imagine the trouble she’s going to get herself into…
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.
