Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: action, Doctor Aphra, Emilio Laiso, kieron gillen, Marvel Comics, sci-fi, si spurrier, star wars

Doctor Aphra #15 Review: A Delightful Hive of Scum and Villainy

Lieutenant Magna Tolvan awaits her sentencing as she continues to have the mysterious Doctor Aphra stuck in her head.

Elsewhere, Doctor Aphra continues her mission for the new Son-Tuul crime lord and former ally Triple-Zero. In his sadistic power trip, he has sent Aphra on a trip to retrieve something for him, keeping her hostage with a droid and teaming her up with unstable mercenaries. Can she survive Triple-Zero's tyrannical rule?

Tolvan definitely has some sort of feelings for Doctor Aphra, and it's unusual and surprisingly refreshing to see sexuality being intentionally presented in such a manner in a Star Wars property (at least in one not explicitly marketed towards kids).

The uneasy yet humor-filled new "partnership" between Doctor Aphra and Triple-Zero is aptly uncomfortable. The band of mercenaries she is teamed with each have their own unique personality and quirks. It does waver into tonal issues, especially when it uses a grisly torture being performed by Triple-Zero for a punchline, but it works through most of the comic.

We don't spend a lot of time with them, but the book uses their bios, Aphra's evaluation of them, plus unique visual design to make each one memorable. One is a joke on a fantasy and anime trope, and he gets a laughable yet piteous and grisly end.

Aphra is, as always, a fantastically lovable scumbag. Tolan is becoming a more and more enjoyable character, and I hope she sticks around for many issues to come.

Emilio Laiso's art is fluid and dynamic. It remains good for most of the comic, though there are some panels that feel light on detail. Those are few though, and I quite enjoyed the style throughout most of the book. Rachelle Rosenberg's color art is bright and popping, giving the comic that extra bit of dazzle that makes it look even better.

Doctor Aphra #15 is a fun read full of scummy yet lovable characters with solid artwork to boot. It engrosses you very quickly, and I highly recommend it. Pick it up.

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