Review: Doctor Aphra #23 Brings Aphras Frenemies Together

The reunions are starting to come thick and fast in Doctor Aphra, as all the different parties team up to track down Aphra and the Spark Eternal. This week, we leave Aphra's mind and return to the real world, where Sana Starros convinces Magna Tolvan to join her team and track down their ex.



There are some surprising reveals in this issue -- nothing groundbreaking but surprising nonetheless, while more dots are connected regarding certain characters' pasts and backstories. Crimson Dawn is also beginning to have a significant influence in this arc, and I love that this is another example of the crime syndicate's fingers getting stuck into yet another pie.



While the Spark Eternal wasted little time last issue, this time around she's just waiting for Aphra's old frenemies to catch up. That results in a tense cliffhanger for some of those people, while most of the story focuses on Sana's team tracking down one of Aphra's hidden caches.



It all makes for an entertaining issue. While I'm always left wondering how much longer they're going to delay this final confrontation between Sana & Co. and the Spark Eternal, it can't be said that these issues are boring. It's great watching people from different circles and times in Doctor Aphra's life interact with each other. The issue ends with some old favorites reintroduced into the story, so I'm excited to see what comes next.



Spoilers ahead...







It shouldn't be a surprise that Magna Tolvan needed some serious persuading to join Sana's team to save Aphra, given the emotional toll Chelli took on her, but it wasn't a surprise that she would eventually join them. What was surprising was the hint that Magna and Sana have their own romantic history, which presumably happened after Tolvan joined the Rebellion. I never would have put them together, but a lot can happen off-screen I guess. They must have had their fair share of stories about Chelli.



We also learned more about why Kho Phon Farrus is out collecting Ascendant tech, and it turns out they were hired by The Archivist of Crimson Dawn. Sava Madelin Sun showed an appreciation for Farrus' research, and that was all it took to recruit them to the cause. It's nice to get that bit of connective tissue, as I had been getting weary that Farrus was yet another character who had been recruited by Crimson Dawn for 'reasons'. Getting more details about it helps it all make sense.







They all head to the planet Birukay, where Aphra apparently stashed away Triple Zero and Beetee-One some time ago. They don't know that's what they're looking for, just that Aphra hid something of importance here. I must confess I'm not really sure why they're there. If they're trying to locate Aphra and the Spark Eternal, why would they search for an old safehouse of hers for clues? The Spark Eternal is a different being altogether.



It leads to a fun confrontation between Sana's team and Crimson Dawn agents, dispatched to Birukay by the Spark Eternal in the previous issue to recover her two murderbots. And the final page revealing Triple Zero and Beetee-One is hilarious. I assume Aphra dressed them in beachwear before she left; that thought is somehow funnier than the idea of the droids dressing up of their own volition.







Meanwhile, Just Lucky and Ariole are tracking Sana's team as they also look to track down Aphra. Lest we forget, Ronen Tagge recruited them to steal the Spark Eternal from Doctor Aphra, a bad idea which seems to look worse with every issue. Just Lucky even has his old team from the Rings of Vaale job. While that team keeps tabs on Starros (Detta Yao is the only one who realizes they're being tracked), Just Lucky decides to investigate another lead by heading to the Crimson Dawn flagship.



He hopes that the artifacts there will provide some clue as to where Aphra has run off to (another questionable leap in logic), but little does he know that they'll get more than they bargained for. It felt darkly humorous watching them approach the ship, unaware that their target was even closer than they think. The tension when they are greeted by her and the Spark Eternal is palpable and very entertaining. I actually want to know what happens next to Just Lucky and Ariole, which isn't often the case.







Meanwhile, the Spark Eternal has an interesting conversation with The Archivist. It seems it wants to know all of her knowledge about the Sith and dark side artifacts, which makes sense given the nature of its creation. The Spark Eternal is seeking more power and hopes Sava will give her the knowledge to let her acquire it.



Next week should bring another confrontation between Sana's team and Just Lucky's squad, with Triple Zero and Beetee-One no doubt adding to the chaos. It won't be long before the big confrontation between all these parties and the Spark Eternal happens, possibly on The Vermillion. It promises to be a lot of fun.






<p style='text-align: center;']Rating: 8/10</p>

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