SPOILER REVIEW: Marvel's Star Wars: Darth Vader #3

I enjoyed this issue...Dr. Aphra has a female Indiana Jones vibe going...albeit a little more chatty. If you think about it...aside from minor characters, Aphra is only the second major (I hope she's major anyway) character in the new comic continuity. First we have Evaan in Leia and now Aphra. Interesting that both of the new characters are women. I think Aphra, if she persists in this comic will give us the lighthearted banter that has been missing so far. I mean...Vader is about as serious and morose as you can get. For an ongoing series this is a good commercial move (even though I personally would read 100's of issues that just feature Vader alone - but that's just me). I think #4 definitely will continue the arc began in this issue...the cover is pretty telling...and awesome-looking I might add.

 

Here's the #4 cover...

 

Anybody know what the heck kind of alien this Utani Xane guy is? My first thought was an uncloaked Jawa with a name like Utani (evokes instant urge to shout "Utini!" for me), but the lack of glowing eyes makes me think that this is an all-new species. I don't recall coming across this one before, but I could be wrong.

 

Pics are up.

Dr. Aphra looks sexy but different in every pic.

 

Ah...I should have looked up the location mentioned at the beginning of the comic. It plainly states that Aphra was on Kallidahin in the caption. Thanks for the post.

 

I noticed on the main site thread that links to this review someone asked why Marvel made Aphra so sexy looking. I mean if they are going for a strong female role, why degrade her by making her sexy right? I have to disagree on this point. All throughout history women have used that appeal to their advantage. Have they been degraded in the past? Certainly. I am not advocating the degredation of women, rather I am encouraging those who ask this question to embrace gender equality while also embracing gender differences. In other words, let little girls have their tea parties and care for their baby dolls...let little boys hit each other with their plastic swords. Let women be women and men be men. Is it necessary for us to abandon all sterotypes in the name of equality? Absolutely not. Men should usie their physical, emotional and mental strengths to their advantage, and women should use theirs as well.

There is a reason that all the male superheroes of the Avengers are bulky atheletic types (with the exception of Iron Man who relies on his technical savvy and qwerky personality) and a reason that Black Widow is just as sexy as she is lethal. This is what most viewers want to see. Granted, a large number of the people who will be in the theater watching the Avengers will be slightly overweight and flabby. But is this what we want to see in our heroes on screen so we can better identify with them? No it is not. We identify with them on much deeper levels than their superficial good looks. Yet we appreciate that they exemplify everything we are not yet hope to be.

Do I have a problem with Aphra being portrayed as having what most modern societies would call an ideal figure? That is a definite no. On the other hand, I do appreciate the tastefulness with which she is presented. Strong in her femininity yet not showing everything she's got. She shows almost no skin throughout the issue which is an improvement on Marvel's usual practice. The majority of their female characters in comics within the last decade or two have been very revealing and left little to the imagination. I appreciate the reserve with the Star Wars comics...accenting the characters feminine qualities while remaining tasteful. They have succeeded so far in this capacity with Leia and now look to do so with Dr. Aphra.