Writer: Alyssa Wong
Art: Marika Cresta, Rachelle Rosenberg, Valentina Remenar, and VC’s Joe Caramagna
Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27th, 2020
As we continue the line-wide reboot of all the Star Wars books, let’s see what Dr. Aphra and company are up to in a galaxy far, far away immediately after the battle of Hoth!
I’ll admit that I went into this book not knowing anything at all about Dr. Aphra. Other than her brief appearance in the recent Star Wars Bounty Hunters book, I’ve never read a comic that she’s been in. I wondered if this would just be an extension of her previous solo series and I wouldn’t have any idea who she or any of the other characters were. I also wondered if this book would fit in with the other Star Wars books and make up a nice little cohesive unit, or not so much. I’m also a big Star Trek fan, so I assumed that Dr. Aphra would follow Star Trek’s lead of having a medical doctor as a MAJOR character.
Well, all my fears were for naught, and I was COMPLETELY wrong about Aphra being a medical doctor. Additionally, I couldn’t be happier on all accounts! This book checks all my boxes for a number one. Alyssa Wong introduces the characters in a way that I can remember who’s who by the end of the issue while making the previous Dr. Aphra unrequired read in my opinion. There are some references to the previous series (I’m assuming) but when Aphra gets a new crew and a new ship, we’re pretty much starting with a blank slate.
Furthermore, instead of being a medical doctor, Aphra is a doctor of archeology. So to me, this book has very much an Indiana Jones meets National Treasure type vibe that really sparked my interest immediately. Being a huge Star Wars fan, I loved the fact that this premier issue began immediately after the battle of Hoth. Heck, there’s still Storm Troopers bumbling around complaining about the cold.
Readers get a quick introduction of characters, some back story, a goal to achieve, and we’re rolling! Not only was the story fun, the art was fantastic too, which I’m also a huge fan. It gives off a very Star Wars-type atmosphere (if that’s a thing) and really pops off the page. Rachelle Rosenberg’s colors give the blasters a presence of blaster fire, rather than merely just a gunshot, which draw my attention deep into each page. But, a this series continues, one thing I hope this book does adopt is using the traditional Star Wars “opening crawl” as it’s credit page. It works so well with the other Star Wars books that use it while giving it the very distinctive Star Wars look.
Final Thoughts:
Alyssa Wong has done a pretty darn good job of crafting a solo series that also perfectly fits in the very tight time frame in which it’s set. Star Wars fans are some of the most finicky, jaded fans in all of fandom, but I’d be surprised if this debut gets very many complaints at all! As with all the other recently rebooted Star Wars books, I’m greatly looking forward to the next issue!