Welcome back to another new comic book day, EveryWookiee!! Every week I take a look at the Star Wars comic releases and analyze for first appearances and key events that may be worth collecting or keeping an eye on for future development.
First appearances and keys from these weekly articles get added to or sister site and Star Wars comics first appearance and key issue database, Wookywiki.com!
This week we got an epic Clone Wars battle story in Obi-Wan 3 and more machinations of the evil Spark Eternal in Doctor Aphra 22!
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!
Obi-Wan 3
Variants:
Obi-Wan 3 introduces three new soldiers to the 212th Battalion under Obi-Wan. Two are not necessarily clones, but “Roonians.” First, we have Commander Mekedrix, and his Lieutenant, Orion.
Then we have a new clone, AR-9771-“Airo.” Most of these three survive the Battle of Abrion Bridge.
Other than that, there isn’t much in terms of new characters or key events. This IS, however, the first comic depiction of the battle of Abrion Bridge and it is a major battle. The whole issue is an exciting depiction of the terrifying brutality of the Clone Wars and a deep examination of the Jedi’s role in the Clone Wars through Obi-Wan’s perspective:
Doctor Aphra 22
Doctor Aphra has been possessed by the pinnacle of Ascendant tech, the Spark Eternal! Now, the self-aware Spark is pursuing its own machinations. Those include probing Aphra’s memories and her vast knowledge of evil technology.
The Spark starts on the Cosmatanic Steppes when Aphra double-crossed Ulbik Tan. Ulbik tan first appears in Doctor Aphra 1 (2016) and this memory takes place there:
Next, Aphra and the Spark recollect Aphra’s interrogation in Accresker Jail under the mind-reading powers of a Mairan!
Accresker Jail was first mentions in Doctor Aphra 19 (2016), first appeared in issue 20, and Aphra’s run in with the Mairan was in 21.
You probably remember the Mairan from Rogue One. Saw Gerrera used one he called “Bor Gullet” to probe the mind of Bodhi Rook:
Having said that, the Mairan first appeared in 1996 in the Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers novel (Legends). They first appeared in comics in the Rogue One Adaptation issue 2 by Marvel. They were first identified as “Mairan” in Doctor Aphra 21 (2016).
Next, the Spark Eternal moves on to a memory that we haven’t seen before. Just Lucky and Aphra are on a planet called Sva’Leer. This is the first appearance of this planet. They’re hunting for a piece of archaeological tech called a Pharorb. Of course, they are not the only ones after it, as a “Droid Crush” ship shows up to swoop in on their find. This is the first appearance of the Pharorb and what I beleive to be an organization called the “Droid Crush.”
Finally, things get really interesting. Aphra flips the tables and starts looking into the Spark’s memories. She finds a memory of the Ascendant cult. Although they have been mentioned before (first mention in Doctor Aphra 15 (2020)), this is the first time they actually appear. We get two named members, Miril, a Chadra Fan female, and Ghess, a Trandoshan.
Finally, the Spark Eternal probes deeper and finds….the MURDER DROIDS! The Spark Eternal has found the location of Triple Zeo and BT and is now intent on finding them and unlocking the secrets Aphra hid inside! Cliff-hanger for sure!
That’s all for now!
More later!
-DrunkWooky
