Canon Comic Review: Doctor Aphra #28

– Spoiler Review –

Doctor Aphra #28 asks if loyalty can really even be a thing for someone like Aphra, leading to one helluva cliff-hanger in the latest entry to the “Worst Among Equals.”

One of the best things about having Triple-Zero around to juxtapose with Doctor Chelli Aphra is the wonderfully funny, introspective, and intriguing debates the two get into, even when their lives are on the line, whether it be from reanimated corpses imbued with Force-infested hookspores, a cobbled together BeeTee-One, or the hilarious monster hunters Winloss and Nokk. The latest subject of conversation is loyalty, be it to others or oneself, and the consequences of both. Triple-Zero believes loyalty to be illogical and Aphra believes there’s some rationality to it, as Triple-Zero thinks BeeTee betrayed him despite Aphra pointing out the restraining bolt the reanimated Posla put on the droid, as well as how inaccurate he was compared to normal, while Aphra admits a sense of loyalty to Triple-Zero, as she originally turned him on aka brought him to life, which has prevented her from switching him off/reprogramming in the past. For Trip, he tries to act like he’s not affected by all of this or sentimental like Aphra, as a way to differentiate himself and not be compared to a lowly human, but both Aphra, and now Evazan and Ponda Baba, watching remotely, see the murderbot’s weakness in regards to his little blastomech pal.

For Aphra, this was quite the interesting revelation, as I’ve often wondered why, beyond the “it belongs in an armory” mentality, she didn’t mess with his programming beyond the lock which originally prevented him and BeeTee from killing her outright (which they got her to switch off back in issue #12). To learn it’s because, in a way, she’s his creator, she gave him life and put him out in the world, she’s loyal to keeping him alive/as he was, is interesting considering how she’s been to others she was loyal to/cared for, like Inspector Tolvan or Sana Starros. With Tolvan, she’s still looking for hints if she’s alive, once again using whatever access to the holonet she can rustle together to do so, but again she turns up nothing. I really hope the next arc deals with Aphra’s search for Tolvan and what it would mean for them to meet again considering the Bor’s brain rewrite, and I wonder if that would bring back the two holo-journalists from Doctor Aphra Annual #1, as I wouldn’t mind seeing them again and it seems like something they could help with. More importantly this issue, Aphra comes out and admits her habits, on how she’s a guilt-ridden sentimentalist, but when the heat is on and she’s in the thick of her latest life threatening ordeal, her “programming” tells her to get rich, look out for #1, and “Damn everyone else.” Admitting that, with the consequences of said actions leading to what happened to Tolvan hanging over her head, maybe Aphra can begin to show how she can care for others even if it means damning herself. Triple-Zero might not be the best show of that right now, considering she’s only attempting to keep him alive so she doesn’t die herself, but maybe we’ll see her make some type of sacrifice for Vulaada (despite what she does this issue) or even Trip. By sacrifice, I don’t mean death, by the way, as I don’t imagine that’ll happen anytime soon.

Aphra believes she one ups Triple-Zero this issue when their scav friend from the last, Vulaada, once again offers them a ride due to their original deal, though she might not be fully aware Aphra won’t pay up by giving her the murderbot. But of course, even after they bonded a bit on the ride, she still sells them out because Evazan upped the odds against Aphra and Trip due to them not providing enough entertainment, as they weren’t fighting enough nor have Winloss and Nokk been effective enough: he boosts the broadcast coming out of Triple-Zero’s eye to all of Milvayne, which is how he and Ponda have been watching, and adds his hilarious commentary (which I’ve missed) to the feed, offering a bounty to Milvayne’s citizens for capturing them! Now it’s not just a few old threats after the Aphra and Trip, it’s the entire law-abiding (and those who aren’t) population of Milvayne, adding even more fun to meta-ness of the plotline. Winloss and Nokk get a fun few moments in the beginning of the issue, as their little fight over who gets to kill Aphra leads to BeeTee interrupting them and Aphra/Trip getting away, though not before the hunters take BeeTee after disabling him, making me very curious what their next move will be! But hookspored Posla, who Nokk thinks she took out of the equation, comes back to life (again), listens into the local channels and hears Vulaada selling them out, which then causes him to bring Milvayne’s police force to enact justice. This might seem bad enough, but Vulaada doesn’t just sell them out as a means to ensure survival, she shoots Triple-Zero in his chest parts and knocks Aphra the hell out, ensuring their capture. It’s a literal gut-punch for Trip, and it’s a figurative one for readers, as how the hell do they get out of this latest predicament and still find a way to get the cyberneticist to take out the explosive?!? I bet it’ll be a mixture of the general population’s desire to get the prize of bringing them in, showing the cracks of the facade of this overly lawful planet, Winloss and Nokk’s latest plan, because you damn well bet the resourceful married couple has some tricks up their sleeves, and some wily maneuvering by Aphra herself which will get them out of this latest, insane mess, but we’ll have to wait and see until next month!

Once again, Simon Spurrier has been propelling this series into a great new era, one that has been respecting all that came before but having fun diving into new avenues. The art team of Emilio Laiso (art) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colors) similarly feels like they’re having just as much fun as he, with the big bold colors, the vibrant explosions, or fun page worth of panels of the citizens of Milvayne getting into the spirit of the hunt, while my favorite part of their work is how the world became drenched in red as the betrayal of Vulaada came to light. {When I originally posted this on Wednesday, it wasn’t until Thursday morning I realized I forgot the creative team paragraph. OOPS. Sorry about that…it has since been corrected…I think the Polar Vortex here in Wisconsin has been getting to me or something!)

Here are a few other things:

A first for Star Wars comics, and Star Wars in general, the Doctor Aphra series was nominated for “Outstanding Comic Book” by GLAAD’s (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards! This is such a big moment and honor not just for the Aphra series and the amazing creative team who have been working on it for these 28-issues, but also for Star Wars as a whole too. This all largely stems from the big kiss from issue #16 and the series’ exploration of the relationship between Tolvan and Aphra, which was complex, nuanced, and heartbreaking in a real way, despite taking place in a GFFA. Bravo on the nomination and here’s hoping for a win!
The April solicitations don’t tease an overall happy ending to this arc, so get yourselves ready, Aphra fans!

Doctor Aphra #28 continues to impossibly make this latest arc the best yet, even after one amazing after another.

+ What’s loyalty got to do with it?
+ Aphra’s admittance
+ Winloss and Nokk (this is standard for any of their appearances)
+ The final gut punch

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 #28

+ What’s loyalty got to do with it?

+ Aphra’s admittance

+ Winloss and Nokk (this is standard for any of their appearances)

+ The final gut punch

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