Written by Alyssa Wong
Art by Minkyu Jung
Published by Marvel Comics
THE WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS CONTINUES!
I am completely enthralled with Doctor Aphra.
With the War of the Bounty Hunters storyline being hit and miss thus far, Doctor Aphra herself has been a consistent refreshing bright spot. Her character is just so full of life and her moral ambiguity is simply delicious.
The funny thing is, there’s nothing innovative or new with the plot in Doctor Aphra #11. We’ve seen these devices a thousand times.
However, as a writer friend always reminds me, as long as you can get behind your characters, the audience will follow no matter what.
Spoilers abound, be advised.
This story moves fast.
We find the good Doctor and her partner Sana on a mission to find Ebann Drake, the cousin of her employer Domina whom Ebann betrayed.
And find him they do.
But, not in the most ideal state.
He’s dead, along with everyone else on board his luxury cruiser.
Making matters worse, a perfectly timed blast from the past arrives, tasked with the same mission. The one and only Durge who debuted during Genndy Tartakosky’s 2D Clone Wars micro series.
Durge was really fun.
He was smart, to the point, intimidating and brandished an awesomely designed weapon. The more I thought about it though, the more Durge felt like a reoccurring Doctor Who villain. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially because I haven’t heard from the guy since Tartakosky’s series.
As you can guess, Aphra, Sana and Durge are forced to team up against the baddies that killed Ebann and his fellow passengers. Always being the smartest person in the room, Aphra disposes of her competition and the threat to her own life in one fell swoop in a way that’s both ruthless and humane at the same time.
That’s why I dig her.
This story ends cleanly by placing Aphra where we want her, on her way to the auction of Han Solo’s Carbonite encased body.
Knowing Doctor Aphra, her agenda and her irreverent methods, we’re guaranteed to be in for a wild ride.
