The previously classified upcoming Star Wars ongoing series from Marvel Comics has been revealed, finally. The title and star of the new book will be non other than Dr Aphra , whom we first met in the pages of Darth Vader # 3. First announced on StarWars.com in an interview with Darth Vader writer Kieron Gillen. ” It’s Marvel’s first ongoing starring an original character not from the movies” He says in the interview.
About the plot, Gillen tells StarWars.Com; “Basically, it picks up kind of where, if Darth Vader ever finds out Aphra survived, she’s dead again. So she’s living in hiding. She’s trying to get back to her life of archaeology and she’s dealing with the fact that she has enormous debts. She owes Black Krrsantan, the Wookiee, enormous amounts of money, so she has to try to pay him off, but the bigger problem is that she promised to help locate the people who trained and tortured him….”
This has been highly anticipated and the speculation over just what this book would be was rampant in comic book stores and online alike. The fires were again fueled with the release of Darth Vader # 25 which showed the apparent death of Dr Aphra as she is dramatically blown out of an airlock like an alien xenomorphic queen.
Penned by Kieron Gillen, this new series will begin in December of this year. Inevitably, and as is current Marvel Comics fashion, her first issue will come with a slew of variant covers and store exclusives. Look out for those announcement in the coming weeks.
Some folks were wondering if this would be the previously cancelled Rogue One mini series that would be perfectly timed for release just prior to the Rogue One movie being released. Other said “No way, this is an ongoing series and it just HAS to be Doctor Aphra.” Keen, eagle-eyed fans and readers recognized this gem of a character in her interactions with Darth Vader and quickly understood that she had a larger story for Marvel to tell.
Now, we get to read about her story.
THE PRESS RELEASE:
Because you demanded it! Following the blockbuster finale of Darth Vader #25, the fan-favorite character begins a new journey in STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #1 – the new ongoing series coming this December! From superstar writer Kieron Gillen (Darth Vader) and fan-favorite artist Kev Walker (Marvel Zombies) comes Marvel’s first ongoing series starring an original character created in the comics!
“What I wanted to do was show what makes Aphra tick,” says writer Kieron Gillen, in an interview with StarWars.com. “That’s the work I feel I’ve got to do with the character, and that kind of push and pull she has between the stuff she does, which is good and bad”.
Following her time in the clutches of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra has barely escaped with her life. If he ever learns of her survival, he’ll hunt her to the ends of the galaxy. But for now, it’s time for a return to what she does best. With the droids 0-0-0 and BT-1 in tow, she’s off in search of rare artifacts from the galactic center to the Outer Rim and everywhere in between. Aphra’s got debts to pay after all. Just as long as she can stay one step ahead of the Empire, some Bounty Hunters and just about everyone else in the galaxy!
“We all love Aphra so much,” says Star Wars line Editor Jordan D. White. “We were overjoyed that she found a way to survive the wrath of the Dark Lord. Now, she’s free to continue her rogueish adventures in digging up old droids and weaponry and selling them to the highest bidder…so long as she can stay off the Imperial radar.”
This December, the Star Wars galaxy expands into thrilling new directions as Doctor Aphra makes her explosive solo debut. It’s high adventure in deep space when STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #1 comes to comic shops and digital devices everywhere!
