“Target Aphra”
Creative Staff:
Story: Greg Pak
Art: Raffael Ienco
Colors: Federico Blee
Letterer: VCs Joe Caramagna
What They Say:
VADER UNBOUND! The DARK LORD OF THE SITH has called upon the galaxy’s greatest archaeologist, DOCTOR APHRA, for help. He’s lost control of THE FORCE, and only APHRA knows what can tame his path of destruction! …But will an archaic KYBERITE weapon only lead to more devastation?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The recent storyline is one that certainly makes a lot of sense to be happening amid other events between films and but it’s also feeling like it’s eating itself with all the characters involved. Greg Pak is continuing to make good use of Sabe with this new storyline but I’ll admit some of the wariness is creeping in with how long you can really do something without it getting too complicated. With this issue, Raffael Ienco returns to the book after some time away and I couldn’t be happier as their take on Vader definitely delivers for me. His art style works well in carrying the tone and style so that it feels like a part of the big picture. Federico Blee handles the color design for their work here and that helps to bridge things together as well while also having some nicely stylish moments.
With Vader and other Force-sensitive people struggling to different degrees because of the shockwave of the Fermata Cage still, Vader’s looking for new ways to deal with it. Having settled things with Sabe, he’s now utilized Ochi to get close to Aphra again. It’s a smart move as she certainly has knowledge that could be useful and knowledge that will take him to a device that could help. She’s not exactly keen on being near him again so it’s a creative bit of delightful fun to watch as it plays out with how it happens. And to see her being smart enough to go subservient for a while all while also still protecting herself as best as she can. Lucky for her, Ochi makes for a great distraction along the way and she’s able to redirect Vader’s quiet ire toward him. Vader’s never been the most talkative of people in the series but this issue and some other recent ones have him quieter than normal, all while we see more of those memories intrude about there still being good in him.
What Aphra is able to offer is a device that a Separatist tried working with some time ago that uses Kyberite, the rock and metal that surrounds the Kyber crystals themselves. It doesn’t alter his power levels or anything, and it doesn’t eclipse them like he was looking for, but it offers a way to potentially channel his wild powers more. That it’s a shield of sorts is amusing with him also using a staff as we get some old-school knight elements in the foreground. It’s a good adventure watching this unfold as Vader and Aphra often are the best parts of either series for these characters but we get a bit more than that as well. With Palpatine looking to manipulate and toy with Vader, he’s sending out waves of bounty hunters to try and take him down as part of his training as Vader’s disappeared since the event with Sabe. Suffice it to say, it pops up at the end here to complicate things but it’s hard to imagine it being something he can’t deal with easily.
In Summary:
Aphra was one of the best things to come out of the original Vader series and when the two are together it works well. Greg Pak knows how to write her pretty well when it comes to playing against Vader but also in how to manipulate Ochi and survive. The dynamic here works well because she knows she’s got a sliver of a chance to survive this and is using everything she can and has done in the past to survive. It also helps that Ienco is back on the art duties as I love their take on Vader in how he moves and walks as well as Ochi in the blocky elements of his design. Aphra hits a sweet spot as well and the whole book just comes together so well that I’m excited for what’s next after some of the problems of the recent Hidden Empire storyline and its fallout.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics
Release Date: June 14th, 2023
MSRP: $3.99
