Star Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent #1
“WELCOME TO THE DAGGERS”
She’s been a rogue archaeologist.
A pawn of the Empire.
A reluctant ally to the Rebellion.
After the fall of the Empire, what’s next for….
Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent
Writer: Cherish Chen
Artist: Gabriel Guzman
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colourist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover artist: E.J. Su
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: June 18 2025
Welcome back to the non-stop, madcap world of Doctor Chelli Aphra as we open this latest run on the world of Chandrila, where a list of charges are read our to our errant doctor, a laundry list that would surely see any other being sentenced to an age inside but miraculously, Aphra is instead sentenced into supervised release on the proviso that her whereabouts are known at all times, and quickly we step to Chandrakant where what appears to be a New Republic officer smashes through a high window in a casino, falling and landing on an awning before sprinting to a speeder in a hail of fire. We see more New Republic officers watching on monitors as they roar away, others in hot pursuit, and take bets on whether they’ll escape, but another figure enters the room, reminding them to never underestimate that disguised NR officer Doctor Aphra, and ordering them to tell Auski to move in.
They manage to evade more of their pursuers, until escape seems likely when their speeder is hit and crashes, Auski standing in front of them holding a huge blaster cannon. Aphra’s freedom is short-lived, and we cut to Nakadia, as a handcuffed Aphra and her associate are marched out, and entering the detention area she’s seated as another New Republic officer named Director Gray, from the Department of Artifacts and Archival Goods Retrieval (AKA Daggers) enters. Their goal is to protect relics and artifacts lost or stolen during the Imperial era, but as Aphra scoffs Auski calls her parole office….who just happens to be her Rodian associate sitting right beside her.
The petrified Rodian quickly turns on Aphra, blaming her for everythign and is led away, and as Director Gray explains their mission statement and wonders why such a gifted archaeologist as Aphra is only in it for the credits when another enters the room – Luke Skywalker, who Gray had asked to attend. Gray continues, telling them of a dealer called Baff Baksheen, a questionable dealer who has been offering a Luovian Gauntlet, a weapon capable of harnessing a considerable amount of energy. If she helps Skywalker, then her various infractions may be ignored, and she agrees.
Shortly after they’re in the cockpit of a sleek vessel headed to Daiyu, as Luke wonders why Aphra never settled on a questionable world like Daiyu and she ribs him for being the hero of the galaxy. In this post-Imperial era, the world of very different for both of them, but Luke reminds her that he’s not there to save her, she’s more than capable if doing that herself.
The rainy world of Daiyu, and the pair enter the shop of Baff Baksheen, who is curious about who Luke is when Aphra introduces him as Barm Foy. Aphra asks if he has the gauntlet, which he does and he pulls it out explaining that the gauntlet con hold not just power or electricity but also harness the Force. He doesn’t seem to want to sell it, no matter the price and seems hesitant to relinquish it until Luke reveals himself and uses the Force to pull it away from him. Suddenly the gauntlet swings towards Luke and latches onto his hand, Force enegry swelling around the room. Aphra tried to knock him out to stop it, but that doesn’t work and as Baff tries to excape she stops him before trying another tactic to stop Luke – who is clearly in big trouble – from being killed. She uses crowd control sticks as asks him to contain the energy (which he now doesn’t believe to be the Force) and he holds is back while she restrains him, and using a cable and a nearby droid she manages to pull the gauntlet from his hand.
With Luke tied up and weakened she goes to leave and sell the relic, but he implores her to rethink and go with him, return this hugely dangerous item and work with the New Republic. Against her better judgment she agrees, and soon we’re back in Director Grays office. The gauntlet back in their hands, Luke explains how Aphra helped capture Baff and bring the gauntlet in, and tells Gray to offer her a position in Dagger, much to both their surprise. Given that, they agree, and shake hands where the issue ends in a shocking manner as a bright light surrounds their hands and Aphra looks down in shock – her electro-tattoos are gone.
This is how you kick off a new run of Aphra, put the focus on the action and the mission and watch her charge around the galaxy like a Reek in Luthens shop causing mayhem and headaches for everyone, but being completely irreplaceable in the process. Fantastic artwork (Gabriel Guzman draws a superb Hamill) and the story by Cherish Chen promises action, adventure and lots and lots of eye-rolling as Chelli treats the entire galaxy like her own personal World Between Worlds and leaves a trail of carnage behind her. And yes, we’re totally here for it.
