The Dark Droids event that traversed the Star Wars line of comics has come to an end, with some highs and lows throughout. I was happy to see many of the titles found effective ways to incorporate the event into their ongoing storylines, but when it was all said and done, it felt like an unnecessary crossover. Furthermore, the event saw the end of the current Star Wars monthlies. While it is easy to see many of the titles getting new creative teams with the #1 relaunch, it is hard to visualize Doctor Aphra moving forward without Alyssa Wong. Her impact on the character is immense, and even with these final issues being part of a line-wide event, Wong finds a way to give this arc a suitable culmination, leaving the door wide open for future adventures.
In her corner of the Dark Droids crossover, this trade collects Doctor Aphra #32-40, with our protagonist facing the challenge of severing her cybernetic connection to the invading Scourge, seeking allies while the threat spreads throughout the galaxy. Her history with cybernetics and ancient relics becomes a pivotal plot piece, and successfully connects the character’s larger arc to the happenings of this event. Additionally, Aphra takes drastic measures to thwart The Spark, cutting ties with allies while forcing her to reflect on their impact on journey. Much like the other current Star Wars monthly’s, this final arc serves as a farewell to Alyssa Wong’s storied run, with Aphra acknowledging her evolution from a self-serving treasure hunter to valuing genuine connections, influenced by the likes of Sana Starros and Magna Tolvan. In a universe full of figures locked into a nostalgia loop demanding little change, it is wonderful to see a character grow and develop.
Marvel Comics
Even though this trade is hefty, with many issues reprinted, it only features two artists (Minkyu Jung and Jethro Morales on two consecutive issues). This is a huge benefit to the artistic consistency of this storyline, with Jung’s playfully, sketch-oriented line work wonderfully capturing the subtle character emotions. The book is colorful and fun, with Rachelle Rosenberg’s bringing each panel to life. I hope that all of these creators get an opportunity to work together on a future title.
Marvel Comics
As is standard with these TPB, a few variant covers are collected, but few get the full-page treatment. Nonetheless, at 25 dollars, it is a substantial trade that justifies the price point.
While I was a bit dismayed that the current crop of titles would end with a crossover that, frankly, felt like a cool idea with little narrative depth, I’ve been pleasantly surprised how writers like Wong have found ways to weave a satisfying conclusion to their respective books while tethered to a larger crossover. These final issues of Doctor Aphra, while perhaps not the best jumping on point, are fine additions to one of the best new characters to come out of Star Wars in many years.
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