Published: April 21, 2020
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Penciler: Minkyu Jung
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colour Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramgna
Cover Artist: Joshua ‘Sway’ Swaby
The synopsis;
LOST TECH! CRIME SYNDICATES! ASSASSINS!
• DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS’ search for the NIHIL HYPERDRIVE gets deadlier as GENERAL VUKORAH and THE UNBROKEN CLAN enter the race for possession!
• What powerful secrets of the HIGH REPUBLIC era could the lost technology hide?
• Meanwhile, JUST LUCKY and an old flame are forced to work together — and walk straight into an ambush!
The review;
A present gift-wrapped, that pretty much sums up last issue. The gift-wrap, the wonderful artwork and colours of the issue and the present, the whole story linking to The High Republic. It was such a fantastic and well executed comic that I have been eager to read the next issue. Alyssa Wong has done a great job of creating a story that has a connection to the latest (and incredible) era of Star Wars without it feeling forced. Combined with the artwork from Minkyu Jung and colours by Rachelle Rosenberg that really went the extra mile last issue, this issue promises to be something equally special…
After the excitement of issue 8, this feels a bit more subdued, but not in a bad way. Wong has done this previously, providing a somewhat calmer issue in order to allow her to move all the pieces to the right places, ready for the conclusion of the arc. Although not action packed, Wong uses these moments to really build up her characters and this issue is no different. Aphra is at the forefront of this. We see again the emotional attachment that she has to Sana, that for all her brave talk, that Sana is a weak spot in her otherwise unbreakable armour. But what was truly wonderful to see with the character was her knowledge of computers and technology. It is well known now that Aphra is an expert with technology, able to see links that others can’t. Yet Wong reminds us of that in this issue. It is such a simple thing but it’s one of those little things that I like to see again and again. It’s part of the character. The excitement of new technology, of new artefacts to find, of money, these are the things that make up Aphra and Wong uses them all this issue.
Although Aphra is at the forefront of this issue, the most appealing part of the issue is seeing more of the political and business landscape during the reign of the Empire. Life for the Tagge Corporation is not an easy one, with other companies trying to steal the latest developments to win favour with the Emperor. We don’t see too much of this in the wider Star Wars galaxy and it feels like Wong has stumbled onto something very interesting, something I would love to see further expanded. There is a lot about the Tagge family that we don’t know about, and a lot that Domina Tagge has done to really help the family reach the point it is at. Her enemies are not bounty hunters and rebels, but other corporations wanting to be at the top of the food chain. It’s a constant battle and one that always threatens to push the Tagge Corporation form their lofty position. Wong keeps letting these little nuggets of information about the Tagge family out and I hope she continues to do so.
Last issue the artwork was very striking and slapped you across the face letting you know to sit up and take note. Like the writing, this issue feels a lot more subtle. The locations are ships, bars and offices. Yet, even with these lacklustre locations, Jung is still able to create some engaging artwork. The holo transmissions that are sent to the Tagge Corporation look superb and the angle of the panels helps to capture these moments perfectly. The facial expressions of the characters really pop in this issue, helping the flow of the story,
Wong also does what she is so good at doing, links. There are still lots of little details that I’m sure are seeds being planted for later. We see very little of Lucky, although Wong alludes to something far greater is coming along that storyline. Items from The High Republic also make a brief appearance, I really do hope that the direction it suggests will be followed up by Wong! The Unbroken Clan are also making bigger and bigger appearances in these issues. Wong is showing just what a threat they are, that they are potentially going to rival the Hutts. How much of this will be explored in Doctor Aphra I don’t know, as I imagine this could be taken up by the Bounty Hunters series. To have it here though, to show that this clan is building up power, building up influence and is affecting characters in several of the series is wonderful. It shows a collaboration with the creators of each series to really provide a sense for all the different readers of what is happening in the galaxy during this time. Why would they be a real threat if they were only in one?
The direction that Wong has taken Doctor Aphra in is something that will be really rewarding to fans who are reading everything. Wong takes every series, whether it is set during this time frame or long before, to create something that is able to bridge them all. It’s the payoff you never knew you wanted. Aphra is a character that has a huge following, and the character certainly gets a lot of attention in this issue, reminding us of who she is. Yet it is all the other subplots happening around her that really interests me, that makes me keep coming back. Through Aphra, we are able to see parts of the galaxy and how it works, that we don’t usually get to see, that adds a unique twist and realism. This issue, although more subdued than last issue, uses this to explore these different areas, to move the characters to where they need to be. Something big is coming, Wong keeps hinting and I can’t wait to see what the wait is for…
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.
