Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) (Single Issues)

by Kieron Gillen, Kevin Walker (Cover Art), Salvador Larroca (Artist)

Because you demanded it! Following the blockbuster finale of the critically acclaimed Darth Vader series, the fan-favorite character begins an all-new journey! Following her time in the clutches of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Doctor Aphra has barely escaped with her life. If Vader ever learns of her survival, he'll hunt her to the ends of the galaxy. But for now, it's time to return to what she does best. With the droids 0-0-0 and BT-1 in tow, she's off in search of rare artifacts from the galactic center to the Outer Rim and everywhere in between.

Genres: Star Wars, Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book, Fantasy

35 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2016

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[Kay ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to find this in the 50 cent bin at my comic shop, a lot of people in my discord group recommended it so when I found it I had to buy it.

What I liked: The cover drew me in for sure also the plot seems simple enough, we are following Dr. Aphra around and she collects artifacts and sells them. I enjoyed her companions who seems that they’ll do anything for her. Also the artwork neat and vibrant.

What I didn’t like: I’m not sure if I should read the Darth Vader series before hand? Will it help me understand the Dr. Aphra better? Also, I don’t understand why her father turned her in, that was messed up.

If I can remember I’ll probably pick up the second issue if I can find it.

[Solace Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a brilliant setup for what is sure to come, but I can't help but feel that Aphra will not have a happy ending at the end of her story.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a different kind of Star Wars story, and I'm very curious to see what they can do beyond the war. I'm glad that Doctor Aphra is being used to explore other types of stories and characters who aren't characters from the screen. I dig (pun intended) all this archaeological stuff and see it as an opportunity to delve deeper into the galaxy far, far away. And the flashback to her university days was something new and refreshing as well. Nice that Sana got a mention since we knew that they were somehow connected.

[Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect I'm not a big enough Star Wars fan to fully appreciate this, but it was a fun adventure with a morally dubious heroine, written by the ever wonderful Kieron Gillen. So I'll give the next issue a whirl to see if I can get into the Doctor Aphra groove.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The character of Doctor Aphra maintains those traits that made her likable in Darth Vader. She's scrappy. She's smart. She's arrogant enough to walk into mistakes and also know she can wheel and deal her way out of them. She's been likened to a female version of Han Solo but I feel there's enough there that makes her unique in her own right and I'm excited to see Gillen tell of where she came from.

My favourite insight into her personality is when she creates a lie to benefit from, and her friend from school enthusiastically thanks her for the chance to study the falsehood. Aphra had an opportunity to tell this individual the truth, and instead allowed her to spend the rest of her career disillusioned. That struck me more than anything in the issue, and it was so subtly done.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the first issue of Doctor Aphra. The fact that it was two stories really helped! Too many comics feel too short in a single issue and this didn't. We had Aphra in a little Indiana Jones pastiche though as the bad guy. The droids were brilliant. It was off to a great start. The 2nd story was Aphra at university pulling one over on her professor. I enjoyed it but think I will get the graphic novel rather than collecting the individual comics as the come out.

[Casey Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not love the first one, but the droids at the end made it worthwhile, then the 2nd story got me a bit. Again, not love but...I might pick up the 2nd one. I'm intrigued by reading about "other characters" in the Star Wars world than the main ones, and she is so very different.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's such a good character.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I really liked it." - 3.5 star rating, with a round up to a 4.

I like Aphra.

When it comes to new characters that have been thrown into the mix over the decades, she brings a lot to the table and is a ton of fun.

- Being a Father of two (2) daughters IRL, female lead character driven content hits differently and I appreciate it a lot more.

- Han solo feels, with scoundrel/swindler ways that are ever present and super fun

- All of her companions are essentially the Dark Side variants of Han's:

-- Her Wookiee being Black Krrsantan, who is an absolute menace that makes Chewbacca look like a teddy bear.

-- Her version of R2-D2, BT-1 aka 'Bee Tee', has freakin' chain guns, flame throwers, rockets, and more. Again, super fun.

-- Even her C-3PO is beyond wild, who loves to poison humans via his needle finger, along with a passion for torture and tons of sass dialog to go with.

- Finally, where there's Aphra... Lord Vader isn't far behind. They have a really unique relationship that is again, very fun to read about.

This was an acceptable starter issue of a FOURTY (40) ISSUE mega-comic book series on her. I was a bit hesitant to get started on this, because that is quite the journey. But, then I saw Kieron Gillen as the lead content creator and I was quickly motivated to give this a go. Gillen has written some incredible Darth Vader comics and with that said - I am in.

The biggest takeaway from issue #1 out of 40 here, is the explanation for how she got Doctor in front of her name. Perfectly acceptable delivery and well done.

39 more to go! I think this is going to be a fun ride.

[John Michael Strubhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Aphra is being naughty. It's her nature. She's a bad girl, but somehow, she manages to win my sympathy. An interesting character to be sure. She either has a bright future ahead of her, of she's going to die suddenly. Who knows these things? You'll be entertained by this well-written comic. They've toned down her appearance to make her .... how shall we say .... less appealing to 14-year-old horny boys (redundant, I know, but there it is). Anyway, the story is good. Aphra has a history and we learn a bit about it in this issue. On the issue #2!

[Tyyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really get it, maybe this gets a lot better? Why is her backstory somehow similar to Mara Jade's, yet she is in some ways more PG and in some ways somehow completely brutal? Why does this character exist, when there was already a much more interesting and awesome version of her?

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 - “Oh, Master, it must be terrible to have your credentials questioned.” - Triple Zero
“It is! I mean, OBVIOUSLY I cheated. BUT HOW DID THEY FIND OUT?” - Aphra
“Well, your questionable morality was always going to catch up with you eventually..” - her father

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've heard a lot about the character so I thought I'd get around to reading the free issue I had and it was fun, enough to try some more and I think I need to go back to the Vader series. The Omnibus looks pretty cool though...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Doctor Aphra in the Darth Vader series, and was glad to read more of her in this spin-off. I look forward to seeing more of her adventure and learning more about her.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having faked her death to escape Darth Vader, Aphra's a female Indiana Jones - just not as nice!
Will definitely look for volume 2!

[Tom Gilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, i like the character, a female Indiana Jones feel. The artwork feels a little 'childish' but i can live with it.

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars AND pop culture archaeology? Yes, please!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much much better than the Darth Vader comics. Still a bit difficult to follow though.

[Taylor Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
I love a gay, Asian, morally grey character who used to work for Darth Vader.
(Read digitally for my Archaeology in Popular Culture class)

[Doctor Doom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The character is semi-interesting, the supporting characters are the real stars [killer droids, killer wookie]. Way more interesting.

[Panyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indiana Jones Star Wars köntösben! Azonban a scifinek köszönhetően azért nem teljesen ugyanaz, illetve a fő karakter sem olyan erős, mint Indy, de azért kíváncsian várom mi történik Doctor Aphrával.

[Ithlilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know about you but I enjoy murderous robots and main characters that don't mind getting their hands dirty. Aphra had a little too much of a Han Solo vibe in this one for my liking but still enjoyable. 3.5 stars

[Patrick Factora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout this issue, I just felt a majority of Indiana Jones vibe with Dr. Aphra and its just a wonderful read! Great artwork and I'm excited for more of her comic issues in the future.

[bookthump · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my colleagues at work seems to have started a tradition of gifting a Star Wars comic book to me each Christmas. This is a tradition I am pleased to be a part of. I am not familiar with Doctor Aphra, but she apparently appeared in another series and has now earned her own spin-off. I enjoy her and her underhanded nature and I was pleased to see the brief return of the psycho droids BeeTee-One and Triple Zero. They were pretty much the only part of the Darth Vader Annual #1 that I liked and I had hoped to see more of them. Their appearance here is brief but impactful and is a hint of more shenanigans to come from them.

Comic books are too expensive for me to buy on a monthly basis, but this is definitely a series I could see myself reading when it is collected in a trade paperback format.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spin-off from the Darth Vader comic series following archaeologist Aphra as she travels in search of artefacts (and tries to avoid any more Imperial entanglements). In this issue, we get two storylines, one set in the post-Darth Vader present and a second one that looks back at her student days (and explains a reference in the first story to a particular planet). We see that she has always had a rebellious, non-conformist streak - which of course does not bode well living under the strict Imperial regime. There's very much a scoundrel, Han Solo vibe about Aphra and I like that. I already have issue 2 and look forward to reading that in the next couple of days to see what happens next.

[Chris Jags · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was pretty much done with the Star Wars expanded universe after Disney nuked it, but on a whim I picked up Doctor Aphra. I hadn't and haven't read her first appearance, in another series, but on the strength of the first two issues of this comic, I'd say I'm probably going to enjoy it. The art is proficient, the story is thus far standard but lays the groundwork for a fun adventure. The clincher, though, were the two homicidal droids, Triple Zero and BeeTee. A sadistic protocol droid? An astromech with delusions of genocide? Sign me up!

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Had a gritty Indiana Jones vibe to it, which was a bit of a miss for me. Mostly because Indiana Jones was about fighting the Nazis and not joining them. I also don't like Dr. Aphra's characterization; she's super inconsistent with what she cares about and why. I will probably read more of them because it's Star Wars and I love the world, but I definitely don't love Dr. Aphra or anyone in her group. Which is odd because they're all droids or Wookies and I love Droids and Wookies.

[Saritza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting beginning to the series but it undermines the Aphra we know in the Vader series. There she was a capable and headstrong archaeologist with a crew of baddies at her command. In this series we find out she's a fraud and manipulative, which works to her advantage but she's more petulant and "kid-like" than before.

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really interesting! I only picked it up because I liked 000 and Beetee in the Vader comics, but Aphra seems like she may be a pretty cool character after all. I normally only like force sensitivities in Star Wars, but I guess there are always exceptions to the rule.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun and solid start to this new comic, with some brilliant artwork, interesting plot and the return of my favourite characters from the Darth Vader comics.