Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-2024) #21

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020) (Single Issues)

by Alyssa Wong, W. Scott Forbes (Cover Art), Minkyu Jung (Artist)

“DESPERATE MEASURES!” The SPARK ETERNAL corrupts everything it touches, and DOCTOR APHRA is no exception! Face-to-face with an ancient, malevolent presence, SANA STARROS will have to make a choice… Can she save Aphra? Can she even save herself?

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

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2022

About the author

Alyssa Wong studies fiction in Raleigh, NC, and really, really likes crows. She was a finalist for the 2016 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and her story, “Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers,” won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Short Story and the 2016 World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction. Her fiction has been shortlisted for the Pushcart Prize, the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Award, and the Shirley Jackson Award. Her work has been published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, and Tor.com, among others.

Reviews

[Saimi Korhonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

”I’ve made a terrible mistake. Shouldn’t have touched the stupid shiny thing. I’m a creature of habit, but come on, Aphra. That was really stupid.”

This issue was wild! I've loved this last arc with the Spark Eternal and seeing Aphra be controlled by this mystical, strange, technology-meets-fantasy object was super cool and fascinating. I can't wait to see what Wong has in store for the next few issues!

I liked how this issue showed how much Sana and Aphra care about each other. Seeing Sana be determined to save and help Aphra warmed my heart and once again reminded me how much I ship them. I also just adored how Wong wrote Aphra in this issue: I love how Aphra acknowledges that she made a mistake and that it was a mistake she was bound to make because it's her nature to be stupidly curious. I love Aphra and her small moments of self-reflection (she is not one to ponder on who she is too much, she is more about running away until the problem disappears).

I'm also intrigued by how Ariole and Lucky's storyline will continue. They are a cute duo and I like their shattered romance. This quote by Qi'ra in a flashback: ”I understand what it’s like to have my choices taken from me. No one deserves that.” also gave me all the Qi'ra feels. I love that lady so much.

The ending with Sana and Farrus going to find all the people Aphra has loved (and often hurt) in her life, including her dad, Eustacia, Vulaada and MAGNA TOLVAN was awesome and it made me so, so happy and pumped for the next issues! I cannot wait to see what will happen with these people.

So, yeah, Alyssa Wong continues to rock and to tell awesome stories!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, finally you're bringing back Tolvan!! Let's hope it doesn't completely burn the past series and their relationship....

I'm a bit more intrigued about Lucky's storyline now that it's tying into Crimson Dawn. Maybe he can have his own spinoff and get out of Doctor Aphra's timeslot...

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously, can Just Lucky die already!?! Also, what's the point of rounding up all of Aphra's frenemies to hunt her down if she's possessed, it literally makes no sense. Also, please don't fuck up the return of Magna Tolvan.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

#21 – Desperate Measures – “Qira … inspires.” – Ari. “That’s called CHARISMA. Every CON ARTIST has it.” – Just Lucky