Star Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent #2
“THE ELUSIVE COLLECTOR OF AARGAU”
Following a botched heist, DOCTOR APHRA was brought into custody and recruited to join D.A.A.G.R.–a shadowy subdivision of the New Republic. This team specializes in hunting down important and dangerous archaeological artifacts, making Aphra the perfect addition to the team!
After her first successful mission with LUKE SKYWALKER, she returned to the New Republic headquarters where Director Meteora Gray congratulated them on a successful mission…but also deactivated Aphra’s tattoos!
Writer: Cherish Chen
Artist: Gabriel Guzman
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colourist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover artist: Ejikure
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: July 23 2025
We open the second issue of Chaos Agent in a very welcome location, the banking world of Aargau forst seen way back in issue 48 of the original Star Wars Marvel run in 1981’s The Third Law, written by Larry Hama. Today we’re travelling through the traffic with Luke Skywalker and Doctor Aphra, whoi is in a particularly grouchy mood, her tattoos now deactivated and the situation very much not to her satisfaction. Luke suggests that she focus on her work, gain the trust of the New Republic and in time, they’ll be reactivated, but before then they have the broker of the deal – Ilkemisti – to sell the Luovian gaunlet prototype to find, a task Aphra believes will be tricky. She suggests she allow Luke to take the lead in any conversations, but with Aargau being a society based on rules, and loyal to the New Republic, he insists he lead. Aphra is less than impressed, pointing out that while the galaxy’s regime has changed, much of the galaxy will go on as usual regardless. However, Luke is optimistic as they enter another bar.
He is instantly recognised upon entry, and welcomed by the manager who steps out back to let the proprietor know that Luke is there on New Republic business. The manager Shoo is initially annoyed at the interruption, but once Luke and Aphra enter the room her demanour changes, welcoming Luke as he explains their situation, searchng for the elusive Ilkemisti. Shoo quickly shuts him down, explaining how premises like the Cortagion club run on provacy and word of mouth. Without documentation, she’s unable – unwilling – to help, and calls her manager in Huttese to make them leave.
Outside, Luke is unpeturbed, telling Aphra it was very much how he expected their first lead to go, but Chelli, who was quietly watching the exchange, noticed the feathers of the Nithorn proprietor Shoo; she believes she was lying, and does indeed know who Ilkemisti is. As they prepare to leave, a side door opens and Cici, the bars manager, steps out and gives Luke a hololist of where Ilkemisti’s associates frequent, much to Luke’s delight. He loyalty has been tested by the rudeness of Shoo, and as they leave she warns them that they’re a far from friendly group, but to look out for a distinctive pin that they wear.
Later in the morning we see Luke and Aphra hitting the haunts on the list, showing the list and looking for the pin, but hitting dead end after dead end. Aphra thinks Luke’s method will see them stabbed in a back alley, and suggests a change of tack. She takes Luke’s credits and joins a game of chance, laying the credits on the table and casually starting conversation. She notices one of the players was stationed with the Rebellion, and learns he was based on Mimban, but he’s wise to who she is and who she’s with, pointing out that the entire planet knows Luke and Aphra are rooting around looking for Ilkemisti. She suggests they cut the pretense and asks what will it take to cut to the chase, explaining how the gauntlet is out there somewhere waiting to be disected and maybe enhanced. She tells him the New Republic might return the gauntlet, but they need to work together, and he looks across at an aide, almost as if to call them over but instead turns back to Aphra and tells her their conversation is at an end, and to leave Aargau.
Luke expects her to be deflated, but far from disappointed she believes she has plenty of information from the meeting. As she rightly surmised, the man served the Rebellion in the war, and his tapping on the table was a form of morse code called Blink Code. While publicly shunning them his tapping told her he would lead them to Ilkemisti tomorrow, and that Luke’s reputaion within the rebellion still stood firm.
The following day they spot the man in a throng of people, and he quietly tells them to head to apartment #2102, and he directly thanks Luke for his service during the war. They reach the apartment and knock on the door, only for a young kid and his surprised mother to answer the door. They’re led inside and asked to wait, when a man named Dailas enters. He has an impressive collection of artifacts, onces that Aphra instantly spots as belonging to an expert, and Luke cuts to the chase, telling him of the gauntlet, its sighting on Daiyu and the lead that led them to Aargau.
Dailas initially seems surprised, explaining how a Luovian piece like that would certainly have caught his eye, when Aphra tells him they purposely never mentioned the gauntlet was Luovian and he sighs, admitting that he is indeed the elusive Ilkemisti. He hoped to avoid them as best he could, but admits to being secretly pleased to meet the infamous Aphra. He asks of there’s a deal on the table, and Luke explains how he’ll need to travel to Nakadia to discuss it. He’s not thrilled, his anonimity blown, and as he bemoans that someone in the Aargau underworld has sold him out he punches Aphra hard, knocking her down as Luke hurls a plate to stun him. Ilkemisti pulls a blaster, prompting Luke to ignite his lightsaber to deflect, but Aphra has already grabbed an Alderaanian military blaster and fires, punching a huge hole in the wall and Ilkemisti collection with it, He’s enraged, and goes to fire, but Luke chops the blaster in half with his lightsaber, and Aphra gives him a receipt, knocking him out cold.
We end the issue with Luke and Aphra parting ways as Skywalker is pulled onto another assignment. Chelli tells Luke to not entirely lose his ‘idealistic edge’, but is shocked when she learns her partner for her next Dagger mission – Han Solo.
It very much feels like we’re onto a winner with this series, as not only does Aphra gel well with characters like Luke Skywalker, but the series in style and certainly in presentation is very much in line with the post-Return of the Jedi tone set by Marvel almost 40 (!!!) years ago. The art by Gabriel Guzman has a distinct Tom Palmer look to it, a welcome detail that beds us into the era as we push away from the end of Vader, the Emperor, the Death Star and the reign of the Empire. Hats off all round for a job very well done so far, and here’s to the arrival next month of Han Solo.
