Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con (comic) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artists: Kev Walker, Marc Deering, & Java Tartaglia
Recent Release Date: January 8, 2019

Vol.1: Aphra
Screaming Citadel
Vol.2: The Enormous Profit
Vol.3: Remastered

Synopsis: Doctor Aphra is behind bars. Again. But this time she's in Imperial custody, strapped to an explosive transmitter synced to a single hubdroid. Take one step too far? Kablooey! Normally, sitting still wouldn't be an issue - but what happens when Aphra's captors send her hubdroid right into the middle of a war zone? And what's this rumor about the prison being haunted? Meanwhile, Aphra's got information - and it's information that the Rebellion wants. But how far are they willing to go - and who are they willing to recruit - in order to get it? Surely even our lovable rogue archaeologist can't fi nd a way to make things even worse, right? Wrong. Because her current fl ame, Inspector Tolvan, and her ex, Sana Starros, are just about to meet. Awkward. COLLECTING: STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA 20-25

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Review: This ongoing series is definitely the best of the current Marvel ongoing Star Wars comics. The ones featuring the main characters from the film series have stagnated, especially since they have a limited time frame to take place during and an already established character arc. In Doctor Aphra, the reader gets to see this complex character experience life changing events. Things can actually happen!

This book is so queer, I love it! I wish more Star Wars media had representation like this. Many of the books also feature queer characters, but the films have yet to catch up. Here's hoping for Episode IX and the upcoming live-action tv shows. Aphra's current flame comes back into play. And another great comics-created character is Aphra's ex!

There are some great cameos in this volume. I always love seeing Hera as a Rebel during the events of the original trilogy. The infamous Doctor Cornelius Evazen is also featured. 

The morality (or lack there of) of not only Aphra, but pretty much every character in this ongoing series is one of the best parts of these books. Darth Vader is still there as the big bad cliche villain, but the murder droids, Tolvan, and even Sana Starros show different perspectives from a galaxy far, far away. There's even a bit about jedi ideals in this volume. 

I give this volume a 5/5. I'm reconsidering continuing some of the other ongoing Marvel comics, but I will keep with Doctor Aphra!  


--PAUL