Doctor Aphra #1

Doctor Aphra #1 comic reviewSet after the events of The Empire Strikes Back, evil archaeologist Chelli Lona Aphra earns a new series opening with her plundering the recently-evacuated Rebel base on Hoth, and running into a bit of Imperial trouble, before accepting a job from Shadow University student Detta Yao. Yao is on the hunt for the mythical Rings of Vaale (which, it turns out, may be real, very valuable, and very dangerous).

The new series’ initial issue is a good mix of action and story with several characters to introduce including Aphra and her team of Just Lucky and Black Krrsantan, Yao, and an old acquaintance of Aphra in archaeologist Eustacia Okka, along with introducing the Rings and the team’s chief rival in their search for them in Ronen Tagge and the Tagge family.

While I enjoyed Aphra’s introduction as a character in the Star Wars Universe, I’ll admit to losing interest as her orbit took her farther away from Darth Vader. Writer Alyssa Wong sells the first issue on a dangerous treasure hunt fairly well, although I don’t know if I’m entirely sold on Marika Cresta’s art yet.

[Marvel, $3.99]