This is second Doctor Aphra volume 1 I have written about. Doctor Aphra started new comic along other Star Wars titles last year. Previous comics ended at the beginning of Empire Strikes Back. This one starts at Hoth after the battle. Doctor Aphra is 30% of Han Solo, 30% of Indiana Jones and 30% of Tomb Raider. Last 10% is ruthless con-woman. She was introduces as Darth Vader’s sidekick. Later she got her own comic but her paths connected with Darth Vader’s paths and she met protagonists of Original Trilogy.
New comic lose connection to Darth Vader early on. Darth Vader is mentioned once at the beginning and that was it. Aphra starts without package which came from Darth Vader connection. She is lovable anti-hero from the beginning when in previous comic she had connections to really evil characters. Now this is more about action and fun. Darker aspects of previous comics are gone. I liked previous comics but I don’t have problem with new tone. If we get live action Doctor Aphra Disney may not want her comic to have evil droids who enjoy torturing too much.
New series is good starting point. You don’t need to know her history. First volume tells everything you need to know. Aphra and gang are after mysterious rings which are told to give wearer wealth and eternal life. It introduces new characters which could have important role in larger story arc. First five issues are about action, fun and introducing Aphra and her world. Doctor Aphra is still my favorite in Disney’s Star Wars. She might be happy accident. Evil Han Solo/Indiana Jones shouldn’t work this well. Reason she works is she is more developed than evil version of two Harrison Ford characters.