Doctor Aphra #16: Upgraded… For a Price

Now that the mission to retrieve secrets for the Tagge Corporation is over, Sana and Aphra take a little time to recover. Aphra’s electro-tattoos have been burnt out from her usage of the Thought Dowser artifact, but it seems as though they must return to Domina for help. Domina is quite pleased with Aphra for not only retuning with the data stored in a stolen necklace. She offers to help Aphra to repair her blown circuitry in exchange for information about the powerful Thought Dowser artifact and any leads on how to obtain it for herself. This is what Aphra was made for. She is a rogue archeologist first and foremost, so she will need to be fully equipped for this task. At the same time, Just Lucky finds himself betrayed by his former partner and his boss. Worse that that, he needs to find his brother, for whom he has had to work for the vile Wen Delphis to cover his debts.

Now that the “War of the Bounty Hunters” is over this issue is free to set up more to come for following issues. Although it is not empty of any action, it is more dialogue and story arc setup than anything else. Not only is the basic plot trajectory set, but readers are reminded of the core personalities of the main characters. Domina is mostly cool and collective, but has a dangerous bite to her. Lucky is determined, but just as ironically unlucky in his attempt to find his brother. Qi’ra is ever manipulative. Sana Starros is strong and in control. Aphra is, well, complicated as always. Every contradictory side of Doctor Aphra is displayed in this issue. She is at times scared and at other times extremely confident. She is humble and cocky all at the same time. She is eager to do her job, but admonitory of the consequences of what Domina is asking her to do. Most importantly, she is eager to get to work. In many ways, Just Lucky is eager to stop working. With the characters outlined like this, it makes it easy for any new reader to pick up this issue and  run along with it.

One thing that is glaringly absent in this chapter is Sana’s typical disdain for Aphra. Aphra has betrayed Sana more times that either would like to recall. Up to this point, Sana has taken every opportunity to scold Aphra. Yet they seem very tight in this issue and even seem to enjoy each other’s company, similarly to the way they did when they first met at university. The couple work well together and Sana gives a lot of great advice to Aphra. It seems like the tide is turning in their relationship. However, keen readers may find that this is just a builds up for Aphra to betray Sana yet again as soon as her guard is finally down. If that is what is to occur, there is absolutely no evidence of it in this issue. They even compliment each other. It should be noted that the next big story to involve Aphra is the “Crimson Reign” series that revolves around Qu’ra and many other famous characters from the Star Wars universe. It is unclear at this point whether Sana will take a part in that story.