Yep. It’s going to be another review where we talk spoilers but you’ve probably already seen this particular one.
Y’all. Chelli Lona Aphra is gay and Kieron Gillen and Si Spurrier are not messing around with being very clear about that fact. Just, you know, in case you were somehow blind to the multiple previous references to it in the book thus far.
It’s ironic that within days of the Harry Potter franchise dancing around the idea of actually showing that Dumbledore’s gay within its canon, Star Wars is over here going, “have full page panel of Aphra and Tolvan kissing!” Listen, I’m not going to say that Star Wars is doing anywhere close to perfect when it comes to LGBTQA representation in the galaxy far, far away. They’re not. They’re certainly doing far better than they were five years ago but they have a long way to go. Marvel though… Marvel is doing right by Aphra. She’s been around for just shy of three years and our unapologetically queer rogue archaeologist has her own damn book. There are people out there who are going to call this pandering and say it’s too politically correct. Those people are wrong and I honestly don’t care if the door hits them on the way out. Star Wars needed a character like Aphra and I’m sure glad that it has one.
The rest of the issue is pretty good too. Aphra’s team has more trouble than they would have liked breaking into the old Techno Union files and it definitely doesn’t help that everything Triple Zero wanted turns out not to be there. It’s hard not to wonder how much longer Aphra can keep working for her new Master before something goes really, really wrong. Oh and Tolvan? You know that the cute Nameless Criminal girl is just going to be trouble. You know this…
I don’t recall if I’ve mentioned it before but Ashley Witter’s covers are gorgeous and I am a fan. The Laiso/Rosenberg team up for the artwork is pretty close to perfect and a nice alternative to Kev Walker. I’ll be interested to see if they swap back and forth for arcs. Either way, I’m happy!
Keep doing you, Doctor Aphra, keep doing you. I’ll be here happily reading each issue you bring us and so should all of you.
Doctor Aphra #16: Kieron Gillen and Si Spurrier/Writers, Emilio Laiso/Artist, Rachelle Rosenberg/Colors, Joe Caramagna/Letterer, Heather Antos/Assistant Editor, Jordan D. White/Editor
