– Spoiler Review –
Doctor Aphra #31 brings to an end the “Worst Among Equals” arc, which serves as something of an epilogue to “The Catastrophe Con,” truly propelling the series into a different era as two major characters exit stage left.
Last issue, I mentioned how I had an inkling Aphra’s words and actions, considering she and Triple-Zero were on video the whole time, broadcasting to the planet, were calculated to turn the experiment by Dr. Evazan against him and to her advantage, and this issue seems to answer my hunch as both a yes and a no. In regards to yes, I looked no further than Aphra’s response to Triple-Zero’s question on what her jumping in the way of a blaster bolt about to hit Vulaada, who returns to help them this issue after betraying them a few issues earlier, is all about: “I guess I work well under pressure, huh?” How best to get out of the nearly impossible situation they find themselves in? Why not use Evazan’s broadcast to her advantage, putting on a change of heart with selfless actions to show the citizens they need to trust in one another and get out of the boot heel of the Empire, which is doing everything it can to prevent her actions from inciting the populace. She succeeds where the Empire fails, as her sacrifice to take the shot for Vulaada, despite her betrayal, and the earlier one last issue to pick Trip over herself, is enough to incite the populace to rise up against the Empire to protect their new folk hero, Aphra. Her response shows she knew what she was doing, but her actions betray she didn’t do all her good actions only to get the situation to help her.
One has to look at Minister Pitina Voor notes on the situation, the previously hooded head of the local Imperial PR*, to find out why I also felt no, Aphra didn’t use the broadcast solely to help herself: “The woman’s movement is entirely instinctive–and deliberate.” For someone who studies and something footage for any sign of non-compliance, I trust Voor’s deduction Aphra selflessly saved Vulaada. Sure, Aphra might’ve known what her action would incite, as her comment to Trip suggests, but for her to put herself in danger, even to save herself, is a huge change for the character. As I said in the opening, in a way this served as an epilogue to “The Catastrophe Con,” which itself was the culmination of 25 issues worth of story, even going as far back as her earlier adventures in the Darth Vader series. Last arc she felt Vader behind for good, but her selfish actions went too far, hurting someone she loved and putting her into an even worse situation than the one she had just left (which was pretty damn bad in the first place!). Most of the stories from the first 25 issues came to a close, but she still hadn’t quite learned her lesson or changed, while Triple-Zero and BeeTee were still part of the picture. Most of her actions this issue, especially towards the end, where not selfish for once, but selfless, trying to atone for what she brought in the world via the murderbots and her quest to stay alive one bumble at a time, as the clock ticked down on her eventual death from a sweet little explosive package in her throat. But despite the situation, her actions have shown she’s changed and is thinking of others before herself for once, and I can’t wait to see what this means for the character going forward, because as fun as her constant selfishness was, and still will be because it won’t completely go away, seeing her grow up a little and change is far more exciting.
Not only did Doctor Aphra #31 bring change to the good doctor, but it brought her time with the murderbots, specifically Triple-Zero to a close…for now. Part of me guessed, and hoped, the murderbots would be destroyed by arc’s end, but I prefer where things ended instead. After Winloss and Nokk disarm the bombs (more on that in a second!), Triple-Zero and Aphra are free from one another, but with a blaster shot to the gut, Aphra is vulnerable to Trip and his various torture implements. Instead of killing her, or helping her, he decides to leave her be, thanking her for being a friend and takes off with his buddy to parts unknown. Trip reveals a bit of empathy earlier this issue, something Aphra has been hoping to instill all arc long, and his move to leave her alive her recalls her similar actions when he allowed her to operate on him and she didn’t betray his trust (for the most part). Is evil learned or is it something you’re born with? Evazan was trying to figure it out with this experiment and Triple-Zero, who thought he was the embodiment of evil until he learned he was made as a mistake, showed how evil is learned if even he can find empathy and let Aphra live despite all she’s done. Having them stroll off into the fire and destruction, left to fates unknown, is an intriguing place to put them because who knows where and when we’ll see the murderbots again, but I’m also happy we’ll get a reprieve from them for the time being.
It wasn’t until my second read through of the second issue I caught Winloss’ sleight of mechanical hand, and I theorized the chip he stole was so he and Nokk could track down a far bigger monster than Aphra: Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba. I was right, as the married monster hunters went to Professor Prexo first and have him reverse engineer the signal to track down the true reprobates, disarming the bombs at the photo finish moment. I really want to see them again, and soon, as they are an absolute blast…and it doesn’t have to be in the pages of Aphra!
Spurrier really has made his mark on this series, making it his own and almost seemingly making it better under his watch. On art, we had Emilio Laiso (artist) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colors), but Andrea Broccardo helped out on art for a few pages. It’s somewhat apparent when Broccardo steps in, but Rachelle’s colors keep it feeling similar and I thoroughly enjoy each artist’s style, so the noticeable change actually wasn’t bad at all. If they switched art page by page or even panel by panel, I would’ve had no arguments. Of course the best panel of the issue has to be the splash page of Aphra taking the blaster bolt for Vulaada, as it’s a big rendition of Aphra surround by little moments and excellent placement of Voor’s words by letterer Joe Caramagna.
Here are a few other things:
- *I had a theory Voor would end up being Aphra’s mother, despite Aphra thinking she passed, but this issue all but squashes the idea with a heavy, Death Star-sized hammer. BUT, it does tease we might see more of Voor, as she muses whether Aphra would be more useful dead or alive, as if she has some ulterior plans and motives, stuff she is doing her best to hide from the Emperor himself. A female antagonist will be a nice change of pace and I’m definitely up for learning more about her plans.
- At Celebration Chicago, and a little before on Twitter, we learned Caspar Wijngaard, who drew the excellent Doctor Aphra Annual #2, will be joining Wilton Santos for the upcoming arc on interiors. The next arc also concerns Aphra not only growing up, like it feels like this issue is pointing her towards, but also her looking after someone as a mother/mentor like figure, and I imagine that’ll be Vulaada.
Doctor Aphra #31 is another fantastic finale that finally brings some change to the character, sees the exit of Triple-Zero and BT-1, and moves us towards a brand new era of the character and series. In short, everything you’d want and more from another issue of Aphra!
+ Aphra gaining selflessness
+ The exit of the murderbots, leaving it open for a return
+ Setting up a whole new era of the series
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
Doctor Aphra
Aphra (#1-6) | And the Enormous Profit (#9-13) | Remastered (#14-19) / Arc Review | The Catastrophe Con (#20-25) / Arc Review | Worst Among Equals: #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30 | Annual: #1 | #2
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