Welcome back, EveryWookiee to another DrunkWooky comic review! Today I’m taking a break from my read through every DC Universe Future State issue to get back to some old fashioned Star Wars! Doctor Aphra #7, written by Alyssa Wong and pencilled by Mikyu Jung released Wednesday January 20, 2021 and I’m going to take a look inside!
Check out the full solicit below and my review below that! Beware, dear reader, spoilers abound after this point!
THE ENGINE JOB, PART 2: THE OFFER
Hired by DOMINA TAGGE, APHRA sets her sights on a mysterious piece of tech that could shift the balance of the galactic civil war. Her hunt takes her to CORELLIA…and to SANA STARROS’ doorstep! But Aphra’s not the only one on Corellia with an eye on the tech…! FORMAT ComicPAGE COUNT 28 pages COVER PRICE $3.99 UPC 75960609724100721
Doctor Chelli Aphra first appears in Darth Vader #3 (2015).
The quintessential attribute of Doctor Chelli Aphra’s personality is that she always burns a bridge if it will help her quickly attain her goal. Frequently, these discarded relationships need to be ironically revisited by Aphra in order to accomplish the next goal, and so continues the cycle. Previously in Doctor Aphra, Chelli killed a prominent member of the Tagge family. Now, to deter the wrath of Domina Tagge, Aphra needs to obtain an artifact-hyperdrive technology of a certain description. Aphra has tracked it to Corellia and she’s got frenemies on Corellia to hopefully help her out.
Meanwhile, Lucky continues to grapple with paying off his brother’s gambling debts. Tagge’s refusal to pay him for the previous job, as his contract was with Domina’s late brother, leads him to Wen Delphis, leader of the Sixth Kin crime syndicate. Wen is an arachnid-type alien with an ominous sneer. Much ado was made in the collecting world about Wen Delphis appearing here. Wen is a brand new character and this would be Wen’s first appearance.
However, I think this issue does something much more powerful with characters that do not first appear here. What Wong weaves into this issue is re-introduction of previously introduced characters, further adding to their significance in the Star Wars canon. Characters that otherwise may have been swept away into the forgotten oblivion of Star Wars tales of yore continue to be relevant to the galaxy.
You see, Aphra needs to make contact with Sana Starros in order to track the Hyperdrive artifact. It recently made its way through Corellia on a smuggler’s ship and Starros might have info (Sana Starros’ first appearance is in Star Wars #4 (2015)). Aphra needs an introduction to Lady Proxima to run down her lead (Lady Proxima first appears in Solo: A Star Wars Story #1). Of course, Aphra isn’t the only rogue looking for the artifact. Vukorah, bounty hunter for the Unbroken Clan, is already giving Sana’s partner Remy the third degree (Vukorah’s first appearance is in Star Wars Bounty Hunters #3.).
Star Wars has always been about novel worlds and wonderous new characters and technology. Since Gillen’s original volume 1 run, Doctor Aphra has been the fast-paced torch-bearer of that wonder. As the galaxy’s “Indiana Jones” her pursuit of ancient artifacts necessarily leads her deeper into the galaxy’s history and explores the deep breadth of Star Wars history and canon possible for such an expansive galaxy. Spurrier continued to hold that torch and Wong is no slouch in keeping the excitement flowing during her run. The issue ends with a narrow escape- per usual with Aphra-and as always in this series, we’re left wanting more and waiting for next month’s issue #8.
Jung’s art masterfully bobs and weaves between glitzy Canto Bight Casinos, to dingy fluorescent lit back streets, to Lady Proxima’s ominously diffuse sewer palace with ease. All characters are on-model and the action is exciting and easy to follow. Since his work on the High Republic 1:25 variant, Joshua “Sway” Swaby is becoming one of my favorite premiere cover artists and this issue is not exception.
Doctor Aphra #7 is on sale now if you can find it. Check your local comic shop first, then head to ebay and grab one if you have no other choice.
