Doctor Aphra #6 Review

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The secrets of the Ordu Aspectu are revealed in Doctor Aphra #6.

This article discusses the plot for Doctor Aphra #6.

Doctor Aphra #6

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

Aphra’s Dilemna

Chelli Aphra and her father find themselves trapped in the core of the Citadel Rur as Doctor Aphra #6 begins. They have two problems. First, Rur revealed itself as a murderous sentience contained inside the core of the citadel. So, escape is paramount. In addition, escape is complicated. Black Krrsantan and the droids took Aphra’s ship and fled the citadel without them. At best, Aphra is an antihero, and saving the galaxy isn’t her usual course of business. However, when a murderous intelligence is bent on destroying everyone in the galaxy, what is an archaeologist to do?

Ordu Aspectu Exposed

The Eternal Rur has Aphra and her father trapped. By all appearances, Rur is an artificial intelligence. Plus, this artificial intelligence seemingly activated a droid defense force for the citadel. Next, Rur begins demanding Aphra tell them the date. However, Aphra is clever. She promises to exchange the date for the short story of what happened. Rur agrees, and then begins his story.

Rur relates how the Ordu and Jedi reached a peace accord. The Ordu permitted the Jedi to inspect their work. After they reached this agreement, Rur continued his work. Rur intended to copy his intelligence. However, he inadvertently moved his sentience into the machine while leaving “an evil ghost inside his fleshy body.” The new immortal Rur knew the “fleshy” Rur would deny this. Therefore, with his ability to control all machines, he attacked the Jedi and Ordu alike.

The immortal Rur sent the citadel across the galaxy. Amon, the Jedi, and Rur essentially defeated Rur by dislodging the crystal supporting the immortal Rur’s consciousness. However, Rur’s droids had enough power and they defeated all the Jedi and Ordu before shutting down.

Aphra’s Skepticism

Aphra is appropriately skeptical of Rur’s story. It is entirely too convenient. In fact, it is easy to see through. The original Rur likely never transferred his sentience. The machine simply went haywire. Rur’s only goals are preservation and domination. In addition, with its ability to control any machine, Rur is in position to conquer the galaxy.

This story seems similar to the story of the Order of the Terrible Glare. This was discussed in the review for issue four. However, that influence was never confirmed. Still, it is a nice throwback to old Legends material.

The Archaeologist

Rur injured Aphra’s father shortly after explaining his history. Therefore, the responsibility for solving this mess falls to Aphra alone. She then returns to Rur’s core. Rur greets her by saying, “You return to bask in my presence, mortal!” Aphra responds with a sarcastic statement that she is an archaeologist. She is all about recovering ancient artifacts carefully before she pulls out one of the ancient lightsabers she recovered and attacks Rur’s consoles. This begins the destruction of the citadel, and Aphra carefully retrieves Rur’s core crystal.

The Imperials

Aphra and her father aren’t the only ones in the citadel. While Aphra combats Rur in the core, Captain Tolvan and her snowtroopers fight Rur’s droids. Aphra solves two problems at once. She uses the Rur’s core crystal and activates the bridge. She then beckons the Imperials across. Once they make it to the other side, she deactivates the bridges and sends the droids plummeting into space. Aphra strikes a temporary truce with Tolvan and they escape the Citadel in her Lambda shuttle.

Truces Don’t Last

Tolvan, Aphra, and her father reach the cockpit of the shuttle to find the pilots dead. Unfortunately, Rur’s reach extended outside the citadel and infected the ship’s droid. It attacks Tolvan and Aphra. However, once the citadel explodes, the droid returns to normal. Neither did Tolvan and Aphra’s truce. Tolvan pulls a rifle on Aphra and demands her identity. Aphra wasn’t the only one to learn a lesson along the way. Indeed, Aphra’s father pulls an ancient lightsaber and stabs Tolvan through the shoulder.

Top Men

This entire series paid homage to Indiana Jones. This issue continues the trend. Once Aphra and her father dispose of Tolvan on a desolate world, they discuss the fate of Rur’s crystal. As archaeologists, they are loathe to destroy it. However, they know it isn’t safe. Aphra happens to know some guys. In the space equivalent of the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the aliens that administrate Quarantine World III in Kallidahn Space accept the crystal, place it in a crate, and store it in an enormous warehouse. All that was missing was a bureaucrat stating “Top men are working on it right now.”

Lessons Learned and Ignored

Once all is said and done, Aphra and her father have a heart to heart talk. Aphra’s father acknowledges that looking for deliverance in the past was foolish. Therefore, he must hope for the future. In that way, he grew as a character. Aphra grew as well. First, she could have killed Tolvan. After all, she murdered her former partner in the first issue of this series.

Plus, although not entirely altruistic, Aphra started taking a larger view of the galaxy. Not long ago, she served Darth Vader and the Empire. Domination and subjugation were their goals. Now, she looks out for herself, and her conscience emerges from time-to-time and guides her action. Despite this, she is still Aphra. She sold the ancient lightsabers she collected to settle her debts. Furthermore, she only deposited a fake crystal at Qurantine World III. When Krssantan returns with her ship, she proposes using that to get rich. 

Conclusion

Doctor Aphra #6 concludes one of the best, if not the best, Star Wars stories Marvel has told so far. There were no wasted issues. Furthermore, none of the issues played the role of a transition or set up issue. Each one contributed to the story and told a tale of its own. Among the strengths of the series was the independence of the characters. Aphra, her father, and the rest had their own story. The saga didn’t constrain their tale or destiny. Therefore, the fate of any character wasn’t safe. Everyone knows that Luke, Han, and Leia must survive any story between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. However, any character can die in Doctor Aphra. This is the freedom Marvel needed. The Marvel crossover event The Screaming Citadel is next for Aphra.

Favorite Panel of Doctor Aphra #6

One of the best things about Doctor Aphra is her profession. Aphra always describes herself as an archaeologist. As Indiana Jones made us aware, archaeology is not a passive profession. Dr. Jones used a whip. Dr. Aphra, well, she goes for the lightsaber. When she needed a way out, she lit up a lightsaber and went to work on Rur’s consoles. Aphra took no prisoners. Therefore, I chose this panel as the favorite for Doctor Aphra #6.