Canon Comic Review: Doctor Aphra #19

– Spoiler Review –

Doctor Aphra #19 brings the stellar “Remastered” arc to a satisfying, hilarious end, providing everything fans love about a good Aphra story, including another reason it’s an excellent source of LGBTQ+ representation, all while cementing the series as Marvel’s best.

What I love about the final issue in an Aphra arc is, no matter how well I think I know Aphra and whatever shenanigans she can get up to, her actual plans and machinations always manage to surprise in hilarious and delightful ways. The hits keep coming the entire issue, from how she manages to secure the data vault to her ultimate, satisfying double-cross, all with a little help from her “it’s complicated” partner, Inspector Tolvan. I seriously can’t get over how splendidly everything came together this issue, as moments from all over the arc had important payoffs and set the stage for Aphra’s plans here. For starters, “Snugglebumoogiewoogie” got a few good laughs from me when Aphra first uttered the exploding Tooka phrase, but I about died laughing when it gets uttered here, providing a much needed escape for Aphra, Hera, and everyone else unfortunately wrapped up in the battle. Rexa’s headgear came in handy for Aphra not only to fly the Rebels’ training ship, also when accessing the Tarkin Initiative vault’s data. Dek-Nil, Aphra’s insane probability droid, did survive to live and bizarrely contribute to another day. And the budding relationship between Aphra and Tolvan pays off for both women in their ultimate goals, and the issue keeps you guessing how much their change in relationship really means to both of them but ends on a wonderful answer.

Last issue, I predicted murderbots Triple-Zero and Bee Tee would still remain autonomous, but I did not guess how Aphra would find her way out from under their mechanical digits and it’s through one helluva trick! Last issue, we learned it would take TONS of time for anyone to successfully locate a datapoint in the Hivebase-1’s dense data core, especially with as little information as Aphra had when looking for Triple-Zero’s first memories. But somehow Aphra pulls it off in 3 hours, well short of the Hivebase commander’s estimation of 8, and she delivers the data on a card, exactly like one the Death Star plans were on, in a perverse reverse of Leia’s iconic image of kneeling before Artoo and giving him hope, as Aphra kneels before a droid who is her Master and the hope she is offering is his hope of reconnecting with his deadly first memories. Aphra, in a rare gesture of kindness, lets Hera and the Rebellion keep the rest of the data core and scour for the Empire’s secrets, but both the Rebellion and murderbots found out they really underestimated Aphra’s particular brand of devilry: she encrypted the data core she left with Hera and the data card she gave to the murderbots. While the Rebellion can pay up to unlock theirs, Triple-Zero casually ordering Aphra’s death won’t be happening anytime soon again, as she’ll likely be the only way he can decrypt the data and finally reconnect with his murderous past. My skin has been crawling throughout “Remastered,” knowing the murderbots were free and always on the edge of having Aphra killed, but I can finally rest at ease for a little bit with them now back under her thumb because she’s holding all the cards this time. It’s a delicious turn of events and I’m thrilled to see how Triple-Zero both finds appreciation and distaste for her actions…and how/when he tracks her down to get his memories unlocked.

There’s a brief conversation between Triple-Zero and Aphra, but it is a surprisingly deep and interesting one, as he explains how his whole plan was to show her how much alike they both are and how much of a true success it was; He’s making a note here, huge success (had to sneak in a GLaDOS reference when talking about murderous droids)! In a way, he’s not totally wrong, as she’s always been capable of the things she’s done to fulfill the mission for him, something I noted in my review of the previous issue. But as she tells him here, and is his only source of disappointment in her, is how she actually regrets and feels bad about what she’s done, knowing it’ll come back to haunt her…though at least she’s still alive for it to haunt her. It’s not often she admits it, and that she does so moments before her double-cross of him, shows how much it hurts her for him to even think they are the same. She does care, but she’s been great at hiding it.

All arc I’ve been rooting for Tolvan and Aphra, the two damaged, but perfectly damaged for one another ladies, to get together. Tolvan has seemed to resist to an extent, choosing to help Aphra in little ways but still stay true to her duty to the Empire, but Tolvan finally puts her reservations aside to be with Joystick Chevron! Hatching a deliciously funny plan to sneak Tolvan off the Rebel’s ship after escaping Hivebase-1, where Tolvan sheds the skin of the wolf-woman she killed for the armor of Tam Polsa, finally Tolvan and Aphra get to float off into the endless galaxy, free for a moment from their duties and responsibilities. Remember when I geeked out about the arguably huge moment to have Aphra and Tolvan kiss in issue #16? Dial that up 1000% more, as this issue took their relationship to the next level, in a tasteful way of course, but this is another giant moment in LGBTQ+ representation, showing these two women spending considerable, intimate, time with one another. And because it’s not much more than what we’ve seen when male leads end up with love interests, it being so normal and identical in some aspects provides fans of all orientations a chance to see how natural this can be as well. After two days of unencumbered bliss, Aphra heads back to the murderbots to deliver Triple-Zero’s memories, but not before she finally tells Tolvan her real name. She’s not been holding out the info because she hasn’t had the time to correct Tolvan’s acceptance of her Joystick Chevron alias, but because Aphra’s protecting Tolvan, as her real name being uttered in Imperial corridors could bring down not just the wrath of Vader on Aphra…but on those she cares about as well! Awww! That Aphra finally shares the info shows how much she trusts Tolvan and knows she can take care of herself now.

As the issue wraps up, Tolvan’s report to the Empire narrates the events, containing her usual confidence, while it’s also used as a way to set up the expectation she’s still not given up on the order and self-constraint the Empire provides her. As she busts in on the murderbot’s operations on Sun-Tuul, destroying their little crime empire (though those wily rascals get away, of course), it looks like Tolvan used her connection with Aphra for the Empire and her career’s advantage once again. Though as she arrests Aphra and places her on a ship bound for the Accresker jail, which is where the next arc takes place, a remark by Tolvan reveals her true intentions. Aphra picks up on it right away, with a little smile from Tolvan, and the appearance of Aphra’s insane droid Dek-Nil (yay!) on aboard the same shuttle confirms it for the audience that these two might have had this all planned more than we initially realized. Looks like Tolvan is taking advantage of the Empire to help her girlfriend get out of a bad working relationship and woe is me, this is one beautiful, complicated relationship I’m so damn happy to see taking off here! How they navigate Aphra being in an Imperial prison, and I assume attempting to get her out, will be tons of fun to watch unfold next arc!

Hera’s reaction to everything that’s happened fits well with her character, as does her decision to let Aphra go because she at least delivered them secrets of the Empire, but the most Hera thing ever is, in the end, she’d rather not deal with what is obviously a hot mess anymore. We don’t quite get her reaction to Aphra encrypting the data, and how letting her go might feel like a bad idea now, but I imagine she’ll just happily put this all under the rug and get back to caring for Jacen and fighting the good fight instead. Speaking of fighting the Empire, Sister Six made the surprise move to stick around with the Rebellion, unable to stomach Aphra’s decision to use Caysin to bring out the fighter in Tam last issue, which is saying something coming from an assassin and former death cult member.

Kieron Gillen and Simon Spurrier really brought in several new and exciting dynamics into play for “Remastered” and Doctor Aphra issue #19 was a fantastic culmination of it all, making this the best arc yet for the series. Gillen had it all handled wonderfully by himself, but the inclusion of Spurrier has taken this series to the next level, propelling it to further greatness. The art team of Emilio Laiso (art) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colors) have done a wonderful job as well, always managing to hit the goofier tone of the series and it’s bizarre and entertaining story shenanigans. I do think it has leaned a little too goofy, but I honestly wouldn’t mind having them back on the series at some point in the future. Along for the ride too was letterer Joe Caramagna, whose Tolvan narration work reminded me of some old school typewriter stuff and I can easily imagine Tolvan tapping away at one, as well as it being a common sight with the more judicious Imperials. A big thanks of course to Editor Jordan D. White and Assistant Editor Heather Antos for letting this incredible arc get off the ground and being so inclusive with regards to the budding relationship of Aphra and Tolvan, so while they move onto other jobs, I welcome Emily Newcomen as Assistant and Mark Paniccia as Editor, who I hope continue to let this series shine as bright as it wants.

Here are a few other things:

I’d been hoping we’d see Dek-Nil survive it’s seemingly fatal end last issue and not only was my wish granted, but it looks to have a role in the next arc too!
Over at the awesome 365 Days of Star Wars Women blog, run by Amy Richau, author Beth Revis (Rebel Rising, From a Certain Point of View) was interviewed there and she mentions she’d like to write book about Aphra’s time in school. YES, PLEASE! Aphra’s POV can really benefit from prose, as Gillen’s FaCPOV story “The Trigger” proved, and while we’ve already gotten a glimpse of her school days in a backup story in the first issue of this series, I’m up for more Aphra content, and more work from Revis, so hopefully one day this can happen!
The next arc, “Broken, Inside,” will see the return of artist Kev Walker, who worked on the first two arcs of the series (when you don’t count The Screaming Citadel). As I said above, I’ve enjoyed Laiso and Rosenberg’s work, but I found Walker’s style a better fit and I’m really looking forward to his return, though it’s okay if you don’t agree. Either one gets the comedic tone across in their art, just to varying to degrees for me.
Sana Starros, a rather deadly ex of Aphra’s, got to star in a good portion of the latest novel, Last Shot! Author Daniel José Older really captured her character well, and while there weren’t any type of references to Aphra (sadly enough), I did take a mention of Sana working with the Droid Gotra, a group Aphra has worked for in the past, as a tenuous connection at best. And while Sana has been absent of late in the Star Wars mainline series, expect to see her soon in this series, per July’s comic solicitations.
While I should have my review of the full “Remastered” arc together soon, there will be a slight delay with my review of Doctor Aphra #20 as I’ll be out of country on vacation. I’ll be sharing a bit about that trip on the site, as it involves a visit to a certain sequel trilogy filming location with some dear friends of mine, so keep your eyes peeled for that article too!
UPDATE: Tosche-Station member and Aphra’s biggest fan Bria LaVorgna made her first contribution to the official Star Wars blog doing an interview with Kieron Gillen and Simon Spurrier, about, you guessed it, Doctor Aphra! It’s a real expansive, deep interview, which reveals that Spurrier is taking over for the series and just how well he understands the character, they broach Aphra’s orientation as a lesbian but how it’s such a normal, accepted thing in the GFFA that there’s no in-universe term for it, and give us some exciting teases for what’s to come in the next arc, “Broken Inside,” like a big secret at the center of everything. DO NOT miss out on this interview!

There’s no song, like Gillen’s “Bad Reputation” recommendation for issue #13, to play us out from the “Remastered” arc, but Doctor Aphra #19 takes the already high notes of the arc and plays an excellent final riff which will be hard to top…though I’m sure Aphra will find a way. Do yourself a favor and pick this album (see: series) up if you want the most creative work in Star Wars.

+ The evolution of Tolvan and Aphra’s relationship
+ Aphra’s double-crosses
+ I love it when a plan so thoroughly surprises and delights
+ Aphra and Triple-Zero conversation

Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.

Canon Comic Review: Doctor Aphra #19

+ The evolution of Tolvan and Aphra’s relationship

+ Aphra’s double-crosses

+ I love it when a plan so thoroughly surprises and delights

+ Aphra and Triple-Zero conversation

Check out the rest of our Canon Comic Reviews here!

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