Comics Doctor Aphra #1-6: Aphra (6/6 Released)

Nice tie-ins with Rogue One. I love those small tidbits that connects SW universe

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tank on Yavin IV and mentioning of Jedha

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This story is getting really interested!
Bring on new issue!!

 

So now I want to know about the pronunciation of her first name: CH or K. If it's the former, good cuz it's cool and different. If it's the latter, it's way to close to the common Kelly name. But still cool.

 

I am really starting to enjoy this series just as much as I did the Vader one. Gillen is absolutely the best we have seen so far within the Marvel line of bringing in entirely original characters and making the audience care about them. I'm starting to like her dad and I hope we get to see Aphra's mom at some point through flashbacks.

Not sure what the plan is for Aphra in rather they plan on killing her off at the end of this series but I hope she is a character they keep around for a long long time to come. If for nothing else she is a good character to wrap star wars universe lore stories around.

 

Ch

 

I just finished issue two and will be picking up three tomorrow. Already this is my favorite star wars comic. It's spectacular. I don't know what to start about it exactly. Aphra is an amazing character and the more stories I read with her, the more I like her. I'm also really enjoying the archeology aspect of the book.

 

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Can't get over the fact about how useless the Imperials were. So completely pathetic. It seems to me that during Darth Vader Aphra's enemies were a lot more threatening. I get that there's more of a comedic tone, but at the same time it doesn't make me care about the fights if they're so easily won.

It's curious how Aphra has no problem with the sterilization of Geonosis but has problems with the Death Star. She never struck me as racist so it seems like inconsistent writing. I hope they aren't planning to turn her soft just because she's the protagonist now.

However I did enjoy her banter with dad quite a bit and it is interesting getting to know her back story more. There's a lot of bitterness and vulnerability that her dad brings out in her.

The archaeological stuff was also pretty neat.

 

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I am really scared they are gonna make her soft or more moral. I really ope she stays the cruel SOB she was in the Vader book. She can be fun but no need to have her be a good person.

 

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If you had a problem with the sterilization of Geonosis, would you tell Vader?

 

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Maybe not, but she seemed pretty upbeat about the whole thing.

 

Love this comic. I haven't read comics for about 30 years, then decided to read the trade paperbacks (SW & DV) to see what depth & details they add to the universe. Really enjoyed DV and was sold on Doctor Aphra after the whole "You're what I've been looking for all my life" frame and even more so with the page with the "If I get a choice, I'd like the lightsaber right through the neck." The line "You're what I've been looking for all my life" is so interesting - what happened in someone's past to make them think this? And how does this correlate with her actions on Yavin IV and thoughts about Alderaan and Jedha?

Needless to say, I was psyched that Doctor Aphra got her own ongoing and now I am the comic store every Wednesday a new issue comes out. Fantastic writing. Can't wait for issue #4.

What do we need to do to keep this series running forever?

 

Keep buying 'em! ;-)

 

I don't think Aphra cares massively about Alderaan. I think it's more that she automatically argues with her dad.

 

That's the impression I got as well. She persisted arguing about Alderaan just to spite her dad.

 

I think it's that and in the case of Jeedha that was also a massive historical site that was lost with untold treasures.

I think her reaction can be read as a mix of frustrating her dad and frustration at the Empire destroy the sorts of things she tries to save.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

I was a bit worried this series would pale in comparison to Darth Vader, but I find it more and more enjoyable with every new issue. The art is really nice and the the direction the plot is taking is intriguing (bring on more of the history of the Jedi!). While I usually like references to other works/series, the Rogue One bits in #3 seemed a little shoehorned to me. Looking forward to a long run of Doctor Aphra.

 

I might follow this one series out of them all, it's the first one from Marvel I read that feels more like an EU story rather than an attempt to recapture moments from the films. Aphra's definitely my favourite new EU character we've seen with 000 being a close second, and if the story connects more to the old Tales of the Jedi lore, I'll follow it for a good while

 

KikReask- Get use to it buddy because that's the new Disney direction. The old EU way of doing things are a bit........................over. Still, the story is fantastic, in fact, all the Marvel comics have been real good. All these stories all fit as one, so this is even bigger than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All the movies, animation, comic books, and novels tie in together.

 

I'm looking forward to learning what exactly happened to her mom as that should give us some color on her views of the rebellion and the empire. I was first thinking that Aphra backed DV and the Empire because they would have brought order to her world which may have allowed her mom to survive. But, I am not sure if that is the case as it sounds like her mom may have rebelled against the empire. Aphra may have just worked with DV as he is always involved in the most dangerous adventures which is what makes her tick. Or Aphra might believe in the empire's cause as she viewed those who sucked her mom into defying the empire as fools. Makes sense that she is taking the high road with her dad about Alderaan and Jedha just to make a point with her dad that he does not care about the living (specifically his daughter) and is instead obsessed with the past.

By the way, the cover for issue #6 by Kamome Shirahama in the April solicitations is incredible. The description of what I assume is a new arc is also ridiculously tantalizing.

 

excellent issue and can't wait for the fourth one to come out.

 

This was a fun issue because it had a nice balance between Star Wars relic hunting trickery and a ticked off Wookiee blasting people (especially when he tore the canon off the AT-AT and used it manually). Also I loved how it snuck on the destruction of Jedah as an event (and it being written off as a mining accident but Aphra doesn't buy it). The last panel was grand too

 

I'm trying to enjoy the title because I thought the character had potential in Darth Vader, but there are 2 things that are really bugging me: 1) the parallels in this story to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (I am expecting Mr. Aphra to pull out and umbrella or something in the next issue to save them. Bets on him finding his "holy grail" at the end of this arc?) and 2) Dr. Aphra's extreme bitterness towards her dad. So bitter, the character is not fun to read and I feel more sympathy for the dad. Jones was bitter, but it wasn't over the top and provided some funny moments. Dr. Aphra's bitterness just makes the character ... ugly.

Here's to hoping I'm wrong about this story and the ending won't parallel the movie. I'd also like a return of the Dr. Aphra character we saw in the Darth Vader title.

 

Considering her backstory her reaction to her dad does make a lot of sense. She blames her dad for her mom getting killed. A lot of kids hold a lot of bitterness towards a parent after a divorce.

As far as her returning to being the same character as she was in the Vader series well she was mainly comic relief in the Vader series. Since this is her series she really shouldn't be a comic relief character.

 

The cover for issue #6 (gorgeous cover by Kamome Shirahama) that I referred to above that is in Marvel's April solicitations sounds like it will be the last issue in the first arc. I base this on the fact that amazon lists the first TPB to be issues 1-6.

This makes sense as the cover and description seem to jive with the article by screen rant in the link below that does a great job of connecting this Aphra tale to an arc called "Blind Fury" by Alan Moore in Marvel UK's Star Wars Monthly #159 in 1982. Excellent article if you have time to check it out...basically setting forth a compelling argument that this Doctor Aphra first arc is influenced by Rur from the 1982 Blind Fury arc.

The cover to #6 seems to support this in some ways.

http://screenrant.com/star-wars-comic-canon/