Oops.
Creative Staff:
Story: Simon Spurrier
Art: Kev Walker, Marc Deering
Colors: Java Tartaglia
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
What They Say:
STUCK IN A JUNKYARD JAIL AT WAR. IT CAN’T GET WORSE – RIGHT? I mean, unless you add a vengeful FORCE GHOST. And insane MURDERDROIDS. And a BOR BRAIN-LEECH. And a SENTIENT BIOHAZARD…Surely even rogue archaeologist DOCTOR APHRA can’t find a way to make things even worse. Wrong. Because her current beau and her ex are just about to meet…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Working within the Star Wars universe can be an awkward thing at times as finding the right balance of seriousness and humor along with adventure and science fiction elements can be complicated. Marvel’s books have mostly found a good balance but it does at times feel like Simon Spurrier is still nailing it down a bit. Part of that is Aphra just runs that line back and forth with glee so that it’s all over the place and that can be a bit off-putting at times. This issue has Walker and Deering on the art once again though there are a lot of panels and expressions here that just makes it feel like a different artist at times but it still has a good flow to it and I’m really enjoying how Aphra is going through everything with her many expressions.
The chaos taking place in this jail/location is kind of nuts and at times I’m not sure some of the narrative works. What helps with this installment is the way that the other characters handle things. Aphra herself is moving through her motions of trying to find shiny new objects, much to Tolvan’s dismay, and that’s lead her to seeing her mother while searching with Lopset and a whole host of other shiny objects. What this really reveals is that there’s a severe biotoxin deep within the world and it’s going to be a significant issue soon. This provides a tie back to Rogue One with the mindreading creature being used here, which makes sense when it comes to prisoners, and her being able to reveal that as a truth sets in motion a hilariously awful moment in how they intend to use the whole place as a projectile for some Rebel controlled planet. It’s quick and all over the map but Spurrier made me laugh with the way it unfolds – which I’m mixed on whether that’s a good thing.
What proved a lot more fun for me was watching what Tolvan and Sana are up to. Tolvan’s doing her best to survive with what Aphra has put her in the middle of and that leads to Sana crashing onsite as well. Having the two of them going up against each other makes for some really fun sequences and Walker puts together a great couple of panels where the dialogue blends and both realize that they’re both getting screwed over in different ways by Aphra. That these two have a kind of uneasy alliance as everything gets worse is just priceless, especially when Aphra comes across them at the same time and it’s just incredibly awkward. Lopset handles it the best even if he does keep commenting on how awkward it is. Aphra’s continued presence in some of the more problematic events going on and how it draws in others like Tolvan and Sana just makes it all the more delightful and has left me wanting an extended Tolvan/Sana team-up.
In Summary:
Doctor Aphra still feels like an odd book to me. I really enjoy the character and both Gillen and Spurrier have told some fun stories for her with good artwork that makes it enjoyable. But part of me still feels like it hasn’t really found its place one the Vader element was removed from when she was in his book. I know the character has plenty of stories and standalone work to accomplish but there’s a need, in my mind, for something a little more grounded for a few issues and something more personal to happen. I really dig the character and want a lot more stories with her – though part of me is wondering if novelization may be the best route in the end.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: July 25th, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
