Doctor Aphra was introduced in Darth Vader comic. Later she got her own comic which crossed paths with other Star Wars comics. When Star Wars comics “relaunched” 2020 with stories happening after Empire Strikes Back Doctor Aphra looked like she would stay away from more familiar characters. After reading this collection I am not sure it would stay like that. Issue ten ends at the beginning of crossover event. So everyone is about to know Doctor Aphra is still alive and premise of this new comic is gone after ten issues.
This five issue story arcs is bit of a soft restart. It continues from fifth issue but very little from previous five issues follow. New premise is based on previous five issues but you really don’t need to read those issues before this. Everything you need to know is explained in first issue of this collection. Aphra gets new partner and client she works for. Story revolves around ancient engine which powerful people are after. Side stories hint something big is coming but that is probably the crossover event.
I liked the collection but I start to feel Doctor Aphra needs something more than just adventures she barely escapes. Older series had more interesting characters, places and story arcs. It took more changes. This new one gives us what we have already seen and maybe trusts too much on Doctor Aphra’s likeability. Her new partner is another old friend (or more) she has betrayed before. She is quite one dimensional. Is it because these issues are so close to crossover event? Will there be more character development after the even?
If you like Doctor Aphra you will like this. My biggest problem with it is it ends at the beginning of War of the Bounty Hunters crossover and I probably have to wait until its collection and next Doctor Aphra collection until I see how this continues. And I don’t know which order I should read those. I hope collection of the event and Doctor Aphra is enough and I don’t need to read every comic in crossover. I don’t like other Star Wars comics that much. I kind of want to reread everything Doctor Aphra while waiting for those collections.