Doctor Aphra #4 Review

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Aphra and her companions escape the clutches of the Empire in search of the Ordu Aspectu in Doctor Aphra #4.

Warning: The article contains spoilers for Doctor Aphra #4.

Doctor Aphra #4

Writer: Kieron Gillen | Pencils: Kev Walker | Inks: Marc Deering | Colors: Antonio Fabela | Cover Artist: Kamome Shirahama | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna | Assistant Editor: Heather Antos | Editor: Jordan D. White

The Ordu Aspectu Revealed

After her father blackmailed her, Aphra arrived at the Massassi temples located on Yavin IV in the previous issue. There her father hoped the temples would reveal the secret location of the Ordu Aspectu, a lost Jedi sect that might hold the secret to immortality. Once Aphra’s father activated a secret, the templ e revealed the location to the Ordu Aspectu’s lost base in the galaxy. Now, Aphra, her father, the droids, and Black Krrsantan must escape from the Empire in Doctor Aphra #4.

Doctor Aphra and Daughter

Since issue two of Doctor Aphra, Kieron Gillen carefully crafted a relationship between Aphra and her father that is best described as a dark take on Indiana Jones and his father. Like the Joneses, both are archaeologists. Also like the Joneses, they relationship is strained. A further similarity is the role of the mother. In The Last Crusade, Indiana remarks to his father, Henry, that Indiana’s mother never understood Henry’s obsession with the grail. After the birth of Henry’s grail fascination, she died. Similarly, Aphra’s mother died, in part, due to neglect. Aphra’s father failed to protect Aphra and her mother because of his obsession with the Ordu Aspectu.

The similarity between the Joneses and the Aphras takes on another dimension in Doctor Aphra #4. Although Dr. Aphra, the senior (he hasn’t received a first name yet), might be a brilliant archaeologist, he is not an adventurer. In comparison, Chelli (Aphra the younger’s name was stated in the previous issue for the first time), is a smart archaeologist and she is street wise. In addition, Chelli is a skilled adventurer. Aphra is the Indiana Jones to her father’s Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. Unfortunately, Aphra’s father’s inexperience gives them away to the Empire.

Escape from the Temple

Aphra was already nervous. She knew they didn’t have much time before the Empire discovered them. Then her father innocently revealed their location while collecting data. Fortunately, Aphra is a quick thinker and springs into action. Although not an expert marksman, she lays down enough covering fire that the Stormtroopers must seek shelter from her blasts. In addition, BT-1 is full of tricks and releases enough bombs to temporarily subdue the enemy.

Shortly thereafter, Captain Talvan and her troopers corner them. Despite her cunning, fast talking is not among Arpha’s impressive array of skills. However, Black Krrsantan arrives with the Ark Angel II and rescues them. This scene is expertly told and illustrated. An AT-AT fires on the ship as it escapes. Gillen scripted a first-rate escape and Walker’s art sells it. This is some of the best action in any Marvel Star Wars comic to date.

The Rogue One Connection

Marvel continues with recent Rogue One connections in this issue. In the previous issue, Aphra chastised her father over his cluelessness where it came to the destruction of Alderaan and the holy city on Jedha. In this issue, another Rogue One world receives a reference. Captain Tolvan reports to Admiral Ozzel about the recent incursion on Yavin IV by what she presumes to be Rebels. During their conversation, Ozzel responds to Talvin’s insolence with a rebuke. Talvin believes her inspection of the Massassi temples on Yavin is largely a waste of time. In response, Ozzel reminds her of the mess she made of security on Eadu. Presumably he means that she failed when the Rebellion attacked the research facility on Eadu during the events of Rogue One.

Temple of the Ordu Aspectu

After Aphra and her companions escaped, they set a course using the coordinates Aphra’s father collected. The coordinates take them to the Citadel of Rur. Once they arrive there, they discover a crumbling citadel with the skeletal remains of several warriors. Those warriors likely were Jedi.

Interestingly enough, “Rur” is not a new name in Star Wars. This was the name of a Shaman of a cult known as the Order of the Terrible Glare from what is now Legends. That Order of the Terrible Glare warred with the Jedi millennia ago. Eventually, Luke Skywalker encountered Rur, the last survivor of the Order, and defeated him. Coincidentally, Ordu translates from Turkish to “Army.” Also, Aspectu translates from Latin to “Glance.” If one accepts the translation, the Ordu Aspectu are the Army of the Glance. That is similar to “Order of the Terrible Glare.” So, maybe this is Gillen’s way of introducing the Order of the Terrible Glance into the new canon.

In any event, the Order of the Terrible Glare developed a method of ensnaring the life energy of sentient beings in crystals for eternity. That sounds like a perversion of immortality that one might misinterpret as the secret to immortality. If this is the case, Aphra’s father is in for a rude revelation.

Conclusion

Right now, Doctor Aphra is the best ongoing Star Wars comic Marvel is currently producing. The stakes might be more personal than those in Poe Dameron or Star Wars, but the story is just as riveting, if not more so. Aphra is unique in that she was introduced in the comics. Unlike Luke, Leia, and Han, her future is undetermined by the movies. Anything is possible for her. Star Wars needs new characters for new stories to expand the universe. Hopefully, Aphra is the first of many to come.

Favorite Panel of Doctor Aphra #4

AT-ATs are curious things. On the one hand, they are iconic. Who doesn’t remember seeing them strike fear into the Rebels during the Battle of Hoth? After all, they marched across the frozen plains of Hoth and decimated the Rebels. However, they have a notable weakness. Of course, they are much less terrifying when one realizes you can trip them with a tow cable. Portrayals outside of The Empire Strikes Back frequently present them as much less fearsome. In fact, they are usually clumsy and easily avoided. Not so in Doctor Aphra #4. Gillen and Walker make them dangerous again. Gillen and Walker expertly craft a scene that presents the AT-AT as a formidable foe. The Ark Angel II barely escapes. For this reason, one panel from this scene is the favorite for Doctor Aphra #4.