– Spoiler Review –
With the series’ biggest story coming to a close, Doctor Aphra now free from the clutches of the Spark Eternal’s body possession, we now face the fallout for her and the team arrayed to rescue her. What results in Doctor Aphra #31 (Vol. 2) is an issue which pays off all the incredible character and story work so far in the series’ most emotionally charged, representation changing issues, and one of the Star Wars comics, and comics in general, finest issues of all time. It’s something special, which doesn’t even cover it, so without further ado, let’s dive in below!
With the final page of last issue, I couldn’t help crying over the moment of Chelli Lona Aphra surrounded by all these people who cared about her, despite herself and best efforts. So how does she go about repaying them for their efforts in this issue? Doing what she does best, keeping them at arm’s length with biting comments, sabotaging as best as she can. Oh, Aphra, when will you learn? This is met with disappointment from some, anger from others, especially Magna Tolvan and Kho Phon Farrus, but Aphra’s father Korin steps in and asks her to be honest with all of them. He’s been largely in the margins this series despite his return, but they’ve mostly worked out their issues so I’m not surprised this is his biggest moment and it felt right he’d be the one to step in. Agreeing with her dad, this is when she says what she really wants and meant to say, not like her earlier comments blaming Kho for leading her to the Spark, who countered it was Aphra’s own greed who led her to chase after them, but rather Aphra reveals her incredulousness over all these people, together, caring enough to come after her. She doesn’t believe she’s worth all the trouble they went through, and she’s not necessarily wrong, and she tries to absolve herself of their pain, saying she didn’t ask any of them to help her, knowing full well she’ll have a hard time making it up to any of them. It’s very classic Aphra, trying to rid herself of responsibility, and Magna is having none of it, pointing out they didn’t do it for Aphra, they did it because Sana Starros asked them too and Aphra’s actions now are exactly why Magna wouldn’t have done it otherwise, so she storms off, Aphra trying to hide how much her words hurt. Sana says she’ll go talk to Magna, but Aphra steps up…and it’s exactly what Sana was planning on happening. There’s already been some great material up to this point in the issue, but after this the emotional payoff for several characters put me through a roller coaster of feelings, including tears of happiness several times afterwards, as the issue splits off with certain groups and pays off some of the amazing character work Alyssa Wong’s been seeding this whole time. Hopefully I can do some measure of justice in talking about it here.
Let’s start with Aphra and Magna. On her way to catch up to Magna, she’s talking to herself, calling herself the stupidest genius alive, because she can’t insult herself without a compliment, but acknowledging Just Lucky is right about her breaking things on purpose so she doesn’t get hurt, knowing now the ship’s sailed and she’s hurting already. Aphra’s ready to talk about when they separated last, but Magna barely gives her a chance to explain, stopping her short of saying sorry for sleeping with her, gathering information on the Rebellion, and leaving her (read all about it in my review of issue #39 of the 2016 series), instead turning things around and accusing her. In response, Aphra shouts the truth, how she did it to save Magna (Korin and Vulaada’s lives, too), and goes on a bit of rant but it’s so open and honest for once it’s almost shocking to hear for us readers and Magna, as it shows how much she’s grown as a character (even if the final pages of the comic shows she’s still Aphra deep down inside). Aphra tells Magna what we’ve seen and known as readers, that she left her and betrayed Vader himself to help hide the Rebellion and save Magna’s life, but she’s not admitting it now for forgiveness, but rather so, if the two part now, Magna’s final memory won’t be Aphra driving her away again on purpose. Magna realizes she’s changed quite a bit when she admits all this, opening up as well how she’s tried her best to put Aphra in her past but seeing her now reopens the old feelings like a dam breaking, but she knows they’ll both choose something else over one another. Aphra tells her she loved her and Magna gets to respond “I know,” though this is more about how they’ve expressed their feelings before (issue #35 of the 2016 series) and less a Han/Leia reference at this point, but she can’t deny Magna’s right, how there’s no forever for them if she’ll pick the Rebellion and Aphra will pick herself. However, Aphra doesn’t care, asking for them to work on now, moments at a time, giving her a chance to change Magna’s mind. While they’re holding hands at this point, we break away from them on said panel, only to see later in the issue Magna’s shuttle still departs without Aphra, the doctor telling Sana they’re working things out. Before we dive into her and Sana’s conversation, which by the way, is as incredible as hers and Magna, if not more, let’s check in on some other amazing moments so I can happy cry again.
Eustacia Okka talks about returning to school and teaching again, offering Korin a guest spot in her lectures, giving them places to go next, as these two have mostly dealt with any lingering issues with Aphra and they are ready to get back to their lives now she’s safe (for now). Eustacia turns to ask Detta Yao if she’s going back to school as well, but she’s left the room, following after Kho Phon Farrus, who’s sneaking away from the group. There’s been a lot of speculation about these two, fan ships sailing from several panels and moments over the course of the last several issues, but when Detta catches up to Kho, things don’t look to be going the way any of us hoped. Detta grabs Kho in a fight of anger, throwing them into a closet and Kho leaps into apologies, but Detta cuts them off, and psych, kisses them!! Kho is absolutely blushing and can’t believe Detta would be okay with them, but she totally is, excited to go on stupidly dangerous adventures together and then Detta closes the door so they can catch up on all the lost time!! Kho has pushed boundaries since their introduction, going on to be the Saga’s most prominent non-binary character to date, and now they are in a relationship with Detta?! It’s fitting from how they were with one another and a big new proponent of their representation, as Detta is just attracted to the person they are, no matter their identity.
While non-binary representation remains under served, though Alyssa Wong has moved it an incredible amount all on their own, this next bit tackles more queer representation that doesn’t always get the light of the day in this Saga. Just Lucky and Ariole pass the new couple as they head out as well, Ariole telling Lucky he’s heading to Canto Bight, the only place he has, while mentioning Lucky could go back there and get his brother with the funds they got from Domina Tagge thanks to helping take out Ronen. Before they depart, Lucky finally opens up to Ariole, admitting he was scared in the past, unsure of his future, but now knows, after all this, he’s only ever wanted Ariole and can’t imagine life without him. So what does he do? Proposes!! With what ring? The Lucky Ring of Vaale he stole all those issues ago!! Of course only Lucky would propose with a cursed ring because it’s supposed to bring its wearer his namesake to their life! It’s an adorable moment because he says it would all be on Ariole’s terms, whatever he’d give him, and he’s fine without an answer just yet, and Ariole can respond when he’s ready. There’s a kiss there which, while we’ve read MLM, gay relationships before in canon now, it’s never been at the forefront nor has there been a visualized kiss like the one these two share. It takes me back to the 2016’s Aphra series breaking records with the first visually depicted queer kiss, long before The Rise of Skywalker whiffed on the same thing, as this moment is the same record but for two male characters! It’s also just great character development for Lucky, who’s learned to stop hiding from what he wants because he’s now faced enough dangerous situations he knows it could end at any moment and why die alone? Especially when you’ve already found your heart? I hope Ariole says yes and we get to see the wedding before this series ends…I can only imagine it could be quite the scene and maybe a perfect way to bring it all to an end. We’ll see!
Which brings us back to Sana and Aphra, who sit under a tree together, a beautiful view of the planet below them. Aphra tells Sana how Magna not only filled her in on everything while she was possessed, but that SANA AND MAGNA WERE TOGETHER DURING THAT TIME!!! There were little hints, but I wasn’t convinced and I am totally okay with being wrong! That’s amazing to hear and I wish we’d got to see it, but this is honestly just as good, plus it wasn’t the focus at the time. Sana’s nonchalant about the whole thing, telling Aphra she encouraged the two to talk because that’s the basics of adult communication—so true, Sana—and then she continues with the same attitude as she explains to Aphra why she stuck around and tried to help her. She admits she’s not even totally sure, listing off a ton of fun adjectives to describe all the ways she feels about Aphra, but in the end, it all comes back to when she fell in love with her at university (heard in the brilliant audiobook!), and how she still loves her now. The two kiss, which is the first time we’ve seen the two do so and I almost lost it completely here!!! Thankfully, Sana knows a thing or two about letting people down softly, as right after the kiss, she says it’s not enough, as she’s not sure Aphra would’ve done what she just did for her, rescuing her from danger, and knows her self-worth enough to require Aphra to be a better person before they could ever try again. In fact, when Sana challenges Aphra to say she loves her, the doctor can’t, despite almost doing it last issue as Sana plunged a sword into her chest cavity (imagine telling that story in your vows!). Magna or Sana being with Aphra at the end of this issue, after everything so far, would’ve felt disingenuous for all the characters involved, but the fact Alyssa Wong was able to give them all this moment to unload and talk, not just carry onto the next story or plot or adventure, means the world to myself and many other readers, giving these characters what they are due and making it all organic, not plot forced but rather a decision they’ve made. There’s no easy ending for all this and I’m glad to know they’ll have to continue to work for it.
Especially Aphra, who’s alone by the end of the issue. She loves both women but this might be the first time she’s realized it herself and now knows they feel the same way. She’ll have to make a choice between them at some point, over herself, and I can’t wait to see how Alyssa will bring such a journey to life, because if it’s anything like how this has all shaken out in this comic run so far, it’ll be worth all the time and effort, and then some. But before Aphra figures that out…she has to abduct Luke Skywalker?! Wait, what?! They’ve worked together in the past, though she was taking advantage of his naivety and basically selling him to a vampire, so I imagine he wouldn’t be the most eager to help her again, but did she really have to knock him out with some cleverly hidden gas? No, but life wouldn’t be as fun if she didn’t! What adventures will she take him on and how will he react to being on one with her again? I can’t wait to find out in the issues ahead!
Doctor Aphra #31 pays off so much and feels cathartic for all it does, and it hits so damn well scene after scene not just from Alyssa’s writing, but from the same art team being there through all of it, as we’re so used to their magnificent takes on these characters it just feels right this all happens in the same artwork. Minkyu Jung, with Rachelle Rosenberg on colors, and Joe Caramagna lettering are the final ingredient to all the happy tears I did, almost had, and have had writing about and rereading this issue. Jung has always delivered fantastic work on little facial ticks and beats throughout his many issues and he unleashes here. Magna’s initial spite doesn’t just ring loudly from her sneer and pointing finger, but also in Aphra’s upset look at the words she’s shouting, while her tortured, sad look, just done with the whole Aphra situation before the latter unloads the truth, makes me feel tired for Magna. How Aphra can barely look at Magna as she admits the truth, but manages to lock eyes as she tells her she loved her, gives way to Magna’s tender, almost kind look, a smidgen of sadness mixed in with happiness with how fruitful their chat as been. Then there’s Kho’s shocked look as Detta kisses them, both blushing as both their feelings are laid bare. Next it’s Lucky’s loving, committed look at Ariole as he confesses he’s all he wanted, the chivalrous way he takes Ariole’s hand and kisses it, followed by Ariole’s utter look of shock as Lucky pulls out the ring, which mimics how unexpected yet delightful the moment is for us readers. Their kiss is brief but bright, Rosenberg’s colors bathing them in yellows and golds, a mixture which brings feelings of contentment and how it’s been a long time coming, which it has. And later in Sana and Aphra’s conversation, Aphra’s little grumpy look as Sana rambles off some less than pleasant descriptors about the doctor, followed by the shock as she realizes Sana still loves her, a big, goofy grin on Sana’s face feeling like a reference for their near kiss back in issue #13, like she’s been waiting to do this but didn’t want to do it until the time was right. The page of their kiss recalls the euphoric feeling of the first one between Aphra and Magna, though it’s in a way less chaotic scene, a pleasant bit of sunset lighting raining down on their embrace under the tree, a degree of tenderness in the way they pull each other in, little leaves falling in the wind around them. Aphra’s shocked face over Sana’s next words, how she needs to be better before they can ever be together, is such a big change from the kiss, while Rosenberg goes heavier on the sunset lighting as Sana walks away, as if it’s closing a chapter on them for now, Aphra hunched over by the tree, seemingly out of breath from the reversal. Caramagna’s lettering keeps us focused on Jung’s expressive work, though he gets to take the lead several times, with my favorite being when Aphra straight up shouts as Magna starts to lay into her after she’s caught up to the other woman, Aphra’s mouth taking up the top of the insert panel but Caramagna’s word bubble, thick black lines around it and the final word the one bathed in red, makes it feel like a sharp, loud moment that’s just the start of the flood. The way Kho’s muffled sound of surprised as Detta kisses them hangs around in their hair, allows the kiss to remain the focus while it feels like they are ready to forget whatever they had coming out of their mouth beforehand. Aphra’s “What?” after Sana reveals her loving Aphra isn’t enough for them to be together, is so little, it’s like she can barely get the word out, Sana’s words punching her in the gut, which fits with her gasping look and later hunched over form by the tree as Sana walks away.
Here are a few other things:
- I left a note about this in my review of Star Wars #34 (Vol. 2), but I’ll reiterate here: hopefully they’ll clarify a bit on the timeline of some of these issues as, well, in the aforementioned comic Luke’s on Christophsis hunting down kyber so how is he here, on Numidian Prime, to be captured by Aphra? Some of the recent issues have been offering more hints how these all fit together, so I imagine it’ll come in due time!
- I’ve not been sharing as much Aphra fan-art as I used to like to, but here are some excellent ones by Myomikan on Twitter: one celebrating Aphra’s look which was recently made into the latest Black Series figure and another one with a mesmerizing take on the Aphra’ duality. Fantastic stuff!
- The Star Wars Twitter account requested and Jae & Aria delivered: a Star Wars Day treat of Aphra with the Ark Angel IV!
Doctor Aphra #31 (Vol. 2) is a triumph only writer Alyssa Wong could’ve brought to our hearts after all their unforgettable work so far, paying off tons of character stuff and broadening LGBTQIA+ representation in a way
+ Emotionally charged payoff for all the amazing character work
+ Exploding representation like only Aphra can
+ No easy endings for Aphra’s relationship woes, but progress!
+ Minkyu Jung and team deliver a tour de force to wring out the emotions from us readers
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 (Vol. 2) REVIEWS:
Fortune and Fate: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 / Arc Review — The Engine Job: #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 — War of the Bounty Hunters: #11 | #12 | #13 | #14 | #15 — Crimson Reign: #16 | #17 | #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 —The Spark Eternal: #22 | #23 | #24 | #25 — Ascendant: #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30