Doctor Aphra 32 is the thirty-second issue of the canon comic book series Star Wars: Doctor Aphra. It was written by Simon Spurrier, illustrated by Wilton Santos and Caspar Wijngaard, and published on May 8, 2019 by Marvel Comics. The issue features the story "Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon Part I," in which Doctor Aphra steals an artifact for a mysterious client.
Publisher's summary
UNSPEAKABLE REBEL SUPERWEAPON: Part 1. A NEW ADVENTURE STARTS HERE! After a year of close shaves, Doctor CHELLI APHRA is taking it easy and lying low. Probably herding banthas or something. She's smart like that, right? NAH, not really. The galaxy's shadiest archaeologist is back doing what she does best: busting into alien temples to steal horrifying weapons for huge profit. She just can't stop herself. But plenty of other people could. Powerful factions are watching closely: Rebel and Empire, familiar and strange – all calculating whether Aphra's more useful alive… or dead.
Opening crawl
| UNSPEAKABLE REBEL SUPERWEAPON Part I |
|---|
Plot summary
Flashback
The story opens twenty years ago on the University Quarter of the Second Moon of Thrinittik. The archaeologist Korin Aphra is excited to discover that the stolen memory crystals recording the crimes of the Jedi renegade Oo'ob the Apostate are real. He is relieved that he managed to save the crystals from the trash compactor by bribing librarians. A younger Chelli Lona Aphra cuts herself while playing with the memory crystals. Her mother Lona Aphra chides Korin for not watching their daughter. However, Korin is fixated on finding the Lost Citadel of Garn and restoring the Ordu Aspectu, believing they can restore light to the galaxy.
Lona responds with sarcasm and warns her husband about the danger of the Galactic Empire discovering his research. While Lona dresses Chelli's wound, the younger Aphra asks if her father does not care that she hurts herself, Lona replies that he cares but is just busy. She tells Chelli to pack because the two of them will be going on a trip. Lona explains that some people are "wired differently." Lona opines that obsessive and idealists like her father will bring trouble on themselves and everyone they love.
Temple raiders
In the present, Aphra and Vulaada Klam use cables to swing over a booby trap lined with bodies on glowing pink crystals at the Red Mist Slinani Migration Shrine in the Outer Rim Territories. The two flee several electrogyres. Klam asks Aphra why they could not lie low after their adventures on Milvayne. When Aphra disagrees, Klam counters that Aphra spent the past two months sneaking off to spacer bars without here. When Aphra responds that Klam is a trainee minion, Klam counters that she is a stowaway who threatened to destroy her ship. Aphra counters that she is taking these jobs to pay for their groceries, prompting Klam to respond that her ship has five years' worth if frozen rations.
Pursued by janitor droids the two retreat into a service duct. Aphra asks Klam to hand her the slicing kit and activates a hologram recording of their buyer, who had dispatched them on a mission to steal an artifact from the Red Mist shrine. Klam asks Aphra why she is working for the mysterious woman despite not knowing anything about her. The woman says that she will pay her 200,000 credits. Aphra says that their customer is authentic since she gave them a 10,000 credit down payment.
Cornered by the janitor droids, Aphra reprograms one of the droids, who shoots its companions. The droid tells the two raiders that he has been sent to escort them to their "sacred goal." The droid retrieves the artifact from a gravity trap. Once the droid has done its job, Aphra shoots it in the head. Klam responds this is cheating as Aphra retrieves the cloak. The two flee several giant swinging axes. Klam is curious about why the customer is willing to pay so much for the cape. Aphra is not bothered by such questions.
The two reach an altar containing the Farkiller of Oo'ob the Apostate. Aphra explains that the artifact is a magnification attenuator, a lightsaber technology used in sniper rifles. He explains that Oo'ob had been excommunicated by the Jedi did developing a long-range firearm. When Klam responds that the weapon is high up on the altar, Aphra counters it is worth millions. Cornered by more janitor droids, Aphra gets Klam to distract the droids while she retrieves the Farkiller.
Separation
In a flashback, the absent-minded Korin wonders where his wife and daughter have gone and believes they are shopping. Meanwhile, Lona and Chelli join a queue waiting to board a departing starship. As Imperials check the passengers, Lona tells Chelli not to look back and cry to avoid arousing suspicions. She also dismisses tears as a sign of weakness.
Arguments
Aboard the Ark Angel II, Valuuda Klam confronts Aphra about getting them nearly killed in the Red Mist. Aphra tells her to stop sulking and promises to pick up her pet qaberworm Gurtyl and then sell the stolen Farkiller for a profit. Klam responds that they should have discussed the mission and reminds Aphra that she is Aphra's ward. Aphra takes offense and warns Klam not to trust her, telling that she is not her mother. When Klam begins crying, Aphra replies that tears are a sign of weakness. After Klam leaves the cockpit, Aphra regrets losing her temper and swears.
A tough childhood
Eighteen years ago on the Outer Rim world of Arbiflux, a younger Aphra complains about being bitten by chatterplants, which her mother Lona has grown to serve as alarms. Lona counters that their nuna livestock will be Vulnerable to predators. When Aphra expresses frustration about the rigors of wilderness life, Lona replies that it is important to make mistakes. When Aphra complains about being stuck on a "dungball" planet like Arbiflux, Lona counters that the wider galaxy is dangerous and that being important is just another "lethal" addiction. This angers Aphra, who castigates her mother for bringing her to Arbiflux. Their conversation is interrupted when a band of raiders attack, shooting off Lona's right arm.
An unexpected reunion
Later at the abandoned spice mine on Unox, Aphra and Klam reunite with the qaberworm Gurty. Aphra explains that she used the old comms rig and placed the Farkiller artifact on the Shadow Market. Klam experiences a heartfelt reunion with Gurty, who is delighted to see her. When Aphra asks if Gurty forgave her for leaving her behind, Klam replies that it was the right call because she was clumsy and would have messed things up.
Taking a conciliatory approach, Aphra tells Klam that she did not mess things up and tells Klam that there is a possibility that she has some resolved issues. Several Rebel Alliance vehicles including a U-wing, an X-wing starfighter and several speeder bikes converge upon them. The two try to flee on Gurtyl but one of the rebels Sister Six stuns the qaberworm. Aphra recognizes her old friend Sister Six and introduces Klam to her. Six is worried because the "boss" thinks that Aphra dead.
The U-wing lands nearby an a red RA-7 protocol droid exits the vehicle and informs Aphra and Klam that they have been arrested by Strike Team Misericorde of the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service. The "boss" turns out to be Magna Tolvan, who has become a rebel captain.
Media
Editions
- UPC 759606086290; May 8, 2019; Marvel Comics[1]
- 03211; Cover A; Ashley Witter
- 03221; Cover B; Stephanie Hans
Cover gallery
Collected in
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 6 — Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon
- Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus Vol. 1
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Organisms
Droid models
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Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #32 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of issues 32 to 36 of the Star Wars: Doctor Aphra comic-book series to around 2 ABY. Therefore Doctor Aphra 32 must take place around 2 ABY.
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 32
External links
