– Spoiler Review –
Doctor Aphra returned earlier this year with a brand new creative team to start the latest volume, but the pandemic caused quite the gulf between the initial launch of the issue (with an early May the 4th digital release!) and the rest of the opening arc, “Fortune and Fate.” Once comic releases returned, the following issues made the wait way more than worth it, as writer Alyssa Wong, with artist Marika Cresta and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg (a series staple), proved more than fit to bring the latest chaotic adventures of everyone’s favorite rogue archaeologist to life!
In all the lead up to the relaunch of Aphra and solicitations for the issues, it seemed like Alyssa Wong was going to take the character back to her roots a bit, focusing on the archaeologist side of things and take her away from avoiding Darth Vader, her muderbot pals, or skirting the edges of both the Empire and the Rebellion. A lot of that made the character a blast in the first place, be it her dressing up Luke Skywalker in formal wear to getting knocked out and put in prison by Princess Leia, while slipping away from Vader alive became her most impressive art form, but it meant getting further away from her archaeologist adventures and felt a little repetitive. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved the first volume, as I’m a giant Doctor Aphra fan, but I knew a change of pace could be beneficial as well, and damn did Wong’s promises live up to expectations and the return to archaeology on the absolute fringes of the Galactic Civil War pay off in dividends. The character has never felt fresher, even with Wong keeping the spirit of Aphra’s progression alive and well, while the strange and spooky adventure she stumbles through kept her, the new characters, and the mystery as the focus over the bigger fight between the Empire and Rebellion, the change of pace the series needed.
I talked about this in my review of issue #5, but I want to reiterate it here since I really enjoyed how Alyssa Wong straddled the line of accessibility to new readers and honoring what came before with the character. The best example of this, to me at least, comes from Aphra’s interactions and history with Professor Eustacia Okka, as it plays out like a microcosm of Aphra and Sana’s relationship: together during university, things soured, which means Okka isn’t very happy to see or deal with Aphra again, believing the worst in her. Something very similar happened between Aphra and Sana Starros, which we finally got the full details in the awesome Aphra audiobook, but unlike how Sana was constantly trying to kill Aphra, and an amicable parting meant Sana let go the hate but doesn’t want to see her again, Okka ends this arc thinking rather favorably of Aphra. Sure, Aphra acted the villain for show by callously saying she was happy Okka had died (she fell down a shaft) so she could have more money, despite genuinely saddened she seemed to die, and later surprising Okka with a new aspect to their plan to get back at arc villain Ronen Tagge, shoving her into a disintegration chamber, but it’s clear she cares about Okka. Little hints and moments throughout the arc show she cares, while her confession at the end and willingness to give Okka enough of the goods they grabbed to be fully reinstated at the Shadow University show Aphra’s actions, overall, speak louder than her words. Aphra wasn’t that tactful with Sana, but after they parted in Vol. 1, she slowly gained more tact and willingness to put others first even if it meant putting herself in danger, so in “Fortune and Fate” we got a classic bit of Aphra mixed in with how she’s come to change in small, but important ways. Also, the thread between Okka and Aphra in this arc prepares us for the eventual reappearance of Sana, both thematically and literally, and here’s hoping Aphra can bring some of her adjusted personality to the table to maybe finally heal things for good between them. And I’m not worried on how Wong will make Sana accessible to new readers, as she’s proven deft at such abilities in this opening arc of her run.
It would’ve been easy for Wong to rely on familiar characters for Aphra’s newest adventures, but I’m glad they chose to introduce new friends and foes and friend/foes to start. Yes, Black Krrsantan reappeared, but he was the only returning non-Aphra cast member from the original volume, with more time spent on new characters like Just Lucky, Okka, Detta Yao, and even Ronen Tagge. My favorite was Detta, as her sweet and innocent act hid a far more complex and dangerous individual, and Aphra’s ability to project herself on her probably helped a lot too. She’s definitely out for #1, like Aphra was when we first met her, but she doesn’t have as bitter a heart like Aphra’s, soiled through her life experiences which Detta hasn’t had quite yet. Plus, it was just plain fun to watch her smiling one panel and whipping out her poisonous hidden blade in the next (like something out of Assassin’s Creed video games), taking down everyone around her in an impressive display of speed, agility, and lethal focus. Just Lucky reminded me of Aphra as well, towards the end of the first volume, willing to work with the bad guy if it meant helping out someone(s) she cared about, as Lucky is Ronen’s man because he’s helping look after his brother. This motivation isn’t revealed until after he’s betrayed the team, but it turns the surprise (though little hints are sprinkled in beforehand) into an understandable moment we can relate to, but I liked how this aspect of Lucky’s character is never revealed to Aphra, because with him disappearing with one of the Rings of Vaale, maybe it means we’ll see him again…and they can resolve any lingering hard feelings then. I’ve already talked a bit about Okka, and if I have a theme in this section, it’s how these characters remind me of Aphra, so for Okka, I’d have to say she’s what I suspect a little more legitimate, by-the-books Aphra might be like; but would we have such an awesome character to enjoy she did that? Nope! And then there’s Ronen Tagge, the rich-boy villain of the arc, scion of the Tagge family, the polar opposite of Aphra: while she might eagerly cough up any ancient discoveries for credits, it’s still in an effort to preserve them, while Ronen gleefully destroys them after possessing them, his way to feel special in a prolific family. I liked knowing Ronen and Aphra had a short past, as she stole items from him after learning what he intended for them, which becomes invaluable as the crew has to face him in the end. Overall, I’m excited about the introduction of Domina Tagge, Ronen’s aunt and newly pissed at Aphra for nearly killing her nephew, as it means we have villains and opponents whose fates’ we don’t already know, so the stakes work both ways, while we also don’t know how they’ll operate, keeping them unpredictable, for us and for Aphra (maybe). If this is the quality Wong can deliver in 5 issues for the opening arc, I can’t wait to see what they get up to as the series continues and the cast expands.
Aphra and crews’ pursuit of the mystical Rings of Vaale fulfills the promise of spooky, archaeological focused adventures, with some fun and enticing mystery and potential connection to the High Republic era. The city of bones, and how their “song” affected everyone in different ways, be it Lucky with the high pitched whine in his head or Detta constantly see the faces in the walls and doors moving, was a real highlight, acting as the potential curse but coming with a practical explanation. I appreciate how the arc ends without confirming or denying the Rings abilities: it only grants Okka the ability to defy death because of Aphra’s hacking, but Ronen somehow still survives the explosion, having worn both rings. They were only said to grant the wearer immortality, not protection against bodily harm and explosions, so the fact he was still alive might prove there’s some merit to their abilities; maybe we’ll see Lucky rolling in the credits, but beginning to succumb to the ring’s side effects in a later arc. Either way, the scenario Wong crafted brought Aphra back to her roots in a big, scary, and intriguing way, buoyed by the impressive art team’s fun and inventive ways to bring it to life. I only hope, despite Aphra with a new target on a back, we get more archaeological goodies in upcoming arcs.
With Marika Cresta on art, alongside Rachelle Rosenberg for colors, it was refreshing to finally have a basically all non-male creative team (not counting the excellent letterer, Joe Caramagna) crafting Aphra’s latest misadventures; it only took Marvel’s current run of Star Wars comics 5 years to hit such a low bar to cross, with IDW beating them to the punch within their first 6 months. Regardless, this art team delighted time and time again, seemingly having as much fun bringing them to life as Wong had writing these spooky tales. A big highlight comes in issue #3, where they played around with panels a bit, using split ones to show characters discovering things, but also to reveal their similarities, like how it’s used to convey Aphra’s rather correct projections on Detta. The scary aspect of the Lost City of Vaale only carried through thanks to their art, from the howling faces of bone in the walls and doors, the creepy body crawling out fro the darkness, or the phantoms appearing to Krrsantan and Lucky, I constantly had a tingle up my spine flipping through the pages. I also really enjoyed their facial work, from Aphra’s various expressions of excitement or showing she cares, to Ronen’s smug, smug grins that made me want to reach through the panels and punch him in the face, they spared no expense on adding as much as they could to every panel and moment. Also, the final panel of Domina’s intro? Epic ending for the team. I’m just very saddened they won’t be returning for the next arc, but maybe like in the first volume, they’ll come back in the arc following that.
Here are a few other things:
- Doctor Aphra’s next arc begins this week, 11/25 to be exact, and readers can get their first glimpse thanks to the official site’s preview! It looks like a fun start to the next arc, with Aphra on the run from the new Domina Tagge approved bounty on her head. The only unfortunate part is it’ll be the final Aphra issue in 2020! She’ll be back in January 2021, but not in February, and while that’s not ideal, this fan will just have to make due, so fellow fans, you’ve been warned!
- As we’re almost a month out from the release of The High Republic initiative, it’s been fun to watch all the hints and teases hidden in other works. In one of the first known references outside of a THR creator’s own work, “Fortune and Fate” contained a few, as it seems the mysterious Rings of Vaale came from the era, maybe hinting they’ll be part of the narrative somehow, while Aphra turns a High Republic era ship into her newest Ark Angel, though I’ll be curious if we’ll see who owned it in the past! I particularly enjoyed her taking the ship, as it seems about right she’d taken another piece of history and use it for her own gains!
As a big fan of the character, I couldn’t have asked for a better relaunch, and from a comic reviewing perspective, a solid story, great new cast, and thrillingly paced 5 issues made for a great opening arc. If Doctor Aphra‘s second volume can match “Fortune and Fate” going forward, we’re in for a real treat.
+ Aphra balancing act for new and old readers
+ New cast intrigues and delights
+ Archaeology spookiness
+ Cresta and Rosenberg deliver the subtle and scary
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DOCTOR APHRA REVIEWS:
Volume 2: Fortune and Fate – #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5
Doctor Aphra (audiobook)
Volume 1: Full Volume 1 Review