The end of an era! This January will mark the final issues for both Star Wars: Bounty Hunters by Ethan Sacks and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra by Alyssa Crash Wong.
On October 15th at the Lucasfilm publishing panel, it was announced that Star Wars: Bounty Hunters and the ongoing drama between Beilert Valance, T’onga, and the Empire would come to an end on January 17th, 2024 with Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #42. I interact with enough Star Wars comic fans to know that this series was a bit polarizing.
JUMP: See all variants for Star Wars Bounty Hunters #42
There are plenty of people who are not fans of the story, but I can say with certainty that there are an equal amount who are devastated to see it end.
I think this split has to do with how the characters are written. Ethan Sacks has done a great job with character development since issue #1 kicked off in 2020. Nearly all of the characters have gone through significant trauma and have all bonded into a family as a result. Readers and collectors who enjoy personal relationships strengthening and falling apart are deeply invested in the story on an emotional level.
While at the same time, some feel the arcs have not played a significant enough role in the larger story being told in the comics. There are not many lore-altering moments that strengthen the movies or shows. While there is certainly crossover with legacy characters it’s been difficult at times to see the importance of the story.
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I somewhat fit in this camp but I can also appreciate the idea that Ethan Sacks wasn’t trying to tell a lore-bending high-impact story. But rather what the Bounty Hunting professional does to those who earn their credits hunting the most dangerous people in the galaxy.
There is collateral damage. Families destroyed. And while they are physically imposing they’re still people who can be hurt.
So while it was not my favorite ongoing series, I do want to give Ethan Sacks his due for accomplishing what I believe he wanted to accomplish. Tell a gut-wrenching story that adds complex emotion into a franchise that is typically pretty straightforward.
Ethan Sacks also confirmed on Twitter / X that his next project will be a Jango Fett mini-series that kicks off in March 2024.
I believe it will be 4 issues long and my best guess at the moment is that we’ll learn more about Jango’s relationship with Tarr Kligson and get the origin story that was teased in Star Was: Bounty Hunters #38.
The Final Issue of Star Wars Doctor Aphra
The end of Doctor Aphra wasn’t announced until about 6 weeks later. First noticed in the publisher’s description for the Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020) Vol. 7 trade paperback.
Instead of having 5-7 issues collected in the TBP there were 9 as it collects issues #32-40 from the current Doctor Aphra run. Going against the uniform size of a trade paperback, especially for the Dark Droids story arc that was uniform in length for all series included in the crossover event, was a clear nod that a change was coming.
JUMP: See all variants for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #40
That was a hint but eventually, Alyssa Wong confirmed on her personal social media that the long-standing series would be ending on January 31st with issue #40.
Doctor Aphra has been a staple in Star Wars comics since Disney launched their new canon version of comics back in 2015 when she first appeared in Star Wars: Darth Vader #3 (2015) by Kieron Gillen.
Shortly after that, in 2016, the first Doctor Aphra comic series that took place between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was kicked off by Gillen before eventually being handed off to Simon Spurrier.
That series concluded with issue #40 in 2019 before before kicking off the new story in 2020 (along with the main Star Wars run and Darth Vader) by current writer Alyssa Wong that would take place between The Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi.
I’ve been a fan of this Doctor Aphra series. Like Bounty Hunters, this Aphra run has been largely dominated by stories of love and heartbreak, but I think Alyssa has done a great job of introducing lore altering elements from our Han Solo / Indiana Jones love child.
We’ve gotten a deep dive into the inner workings of the Tagge Corp. run by Domina Tag (first appearance Star Wars #35 from the 1977 run) and Sith lore from the emergence of the Spark Eternal, the Ascendant, and the Dark Seekers. These stories could very easily be included in other media and play a much larger part moving forward.
Is this the end for Doctor Aphra?
While we know the series finale is confirmed, is this the end of Doctor Aphra in Star Wars comics? Based on Alyssa’s post… I don’t think so. In that tweet she hints that there could be more to come and to “keep an eye toward the future” in the upcoming Star Wars: Revelations #1 (2023) one-shot comic by Marvel Comics.
I personally don’t think we’ve seen the last of Chelli Lona Aphra in comics. I don’t think she’ll be getting a new ongoing run though. But rather play a smaller role in future comics. Potentially in a new series involving her on-and-off-again love interests Sana Starros or Magna Tolvin.
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I could also see Aphra simply disappearing for some time as a way to protect those that she loves. Like many Star Wars scoundrels, wherever Aphra goes pain and suffering follow. She may want to break that wheel and let those around her move on with their lives.
This would also free her up to appear in an upcoming Star Wars series or movie as many have predicted over the years. Time will tell. Simply put… I don’t know what the future holds for Doctor Aphra but she’s one of the biggest and most popular Star Wars comic characters in canon and I’d be shocked if her story ended here.
If you want to grab your copy of the final issues of Star Wars: Doctor Aphra and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, you can see the release dates, pre-order details, and variant covers for both below.
I’m personally getting the cover A for both, the Simonson Star Wars #16 homage variant for Star Wars Bounty Hunters, and the Ben Harvey 1:25 for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #42
(W) Ethan Sacks (A) Jethro Morales (CA) Josemaria Casanovas
THE EXPLOSIVE END OF THE SAGA! VALANCE THE BOUNTY HUNTER has one final mission to complete…and it may indeed be his LAST! Can he and the crew fight their way past BOBA FETT…and JABBA’s SECRET WEAPON? The GRAND FINALE of the series that’s four years in the making!
On sale Jan 17, 2024 | 40 Pages | 75960609602204211
Final order cutoff: Dec 11, 2023
SRP: $5.99
Variants:
- Casanovas Cover A
- Logo Variant
- Simonson Homage Variant
- Wachter 1:25 variant
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #40
(W) Alyssa Wong (A) Minkyu Jung (CA) Josemaria Casanovas
NIGHT AS DAY! The TAGGE FLEET burns. The GALAXY reels. DOCTOR APHRA is alone. But as she explores an ancient ruin on a desolate planet, Aphra may find the answers she’s been hunting for her entire life. Is this the end for DOCTOR APHRA?!
On sale Jan 31, 2024 | 32 Pages | 75960609724104011
Final order cutoff: Dec 18, 2023
SRP: $4.99
Variants:
