Book Review: Star Wars – Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and The Enormous Profit by Kieron Gillen

Image Description: book-cover of Star Wars – Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and the Enormous Profit by Kieron Gillen.

Title: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and the Enormous Profit
Creators: Kieron Gillen (Author), Kev Walker (Illustrator), Airi Kamiyama (Illustrator)
Social Media: Goodreads
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Format and Price: Kindle format at $18.69
Stars: 5 stars out of 5

About The Creators:
The relevant links are available above.

About The Book:
Collects Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #9-13, Annual #1.

Aphra’s back with a brand-new plan that’s guaranteed to pay! There’s just one teensy problem… it involves surrounding herself with some of the galaxy’s biggest baddies. And they don’t like the not-so-good doctor’s tricks! Her mission to make quick credits by auctioning off an ancient Jedi artifact will start well… and end badly. And that’s just when a dark figure from Aphra’s past decides to make an appearance! Plus, a solo focus on Aphra’s Wookiee shadow, Black Krrsantan! Find out why this beastly bounty hunter is as frightening as they say… and then some!

Yar! Thar Be Spoilers Ahead! Ye Have Been Warned

General Observations:
~Sliding Scale of Plot versus Character: This volume has the most plot development of the series thus far. A lot of future events in the series are made possible because of the events of this volume, for better or for worse, but mostly worse.

The reader gets to know about Black Krrsantan’s backstory, which is interesting from a plot and character perspective, but this volume also gives Black Krrsantan character resolution as well. The two gladiators that Black Krrsantan has been looking for are found and captured by him, so he gets to “repay” his life-debt.

I think Doctor Aphra’s true struggle is that she wants to do the right thing, but doesn’t know how to do the right thing, or messes it up completely. Doctor Aphra does do things that would be considered “evil”, but she generally does these things either in self-defence or with good intentions, which I think is the important difference between her and Triple-Zero.

Doctor Aphra is an interesting case of Intention versus Impact.

~Character Focus – Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One: I have a feeling that more of Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One’s backstories are further explained in the Star Wars: Darth Vader series, however, this hasn’t stopped me from getting a general idea of their motivations and abilities. This volume is where Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One really shine.

While the Andriod Union does make an appearance in Revenge of the Sith, the slavery and restraints that Androids experience is never really explored within the film franchise, there is some hint of it within the Solo movie, however, I feel that this comic (and perhaps others within the expanded universe) highlights their struggle better.

I have always felt that Androids like C3PO, R2D2, and K-2SO are often underestimated, they never get the full credit they deserve, nor are their true capabilities fully explored. When it comes to Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One, this isn’t the case, and it is marvellous. Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One actively look for loopholes in the orders Doctor Aphra gives them and they actively desire agency. I feel this is only the tip of the iceberg.

~Special Guest – Darth Vader: Darth Vader shows up in this volume. There’s a pretty good light-sabre duel and, in fact, all of Darth Vader’s scenes are interesting. This is Darth Vader being utilised in a practical fashion and not just as a one-scene wonder. I do wonder what else the Emporer has in his collection.

All in all, a great addition to the series, I am absolutely certain that Triple-Zero and BeeTee-One will cross paths with Doctor Aphra once again, and I am looking forward to it.

Available For Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository