Star Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent #3
“LUCK BE A TOTEM”
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…
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. Despite struggling with the deactivation of her electro-tattoos (who the kark could have hacked those?!), she completed her mission with LUKE SKYWALKER. But that was just the beginning….
Writer: Cherish Chen
Artist: Gabriel Guzman
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colourist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover artist: Ejikure
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: August 27 2025
We kick off the third issue of Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent on Nakadia, at D.A.A.G.R HQ as Director Meteora Gray is explaining the intricacies of an ancient Campi tribe relic, one that – if they play ball – will see the priceless totem of Marthxi handed over to D.A.A.G.R’s care to give to the Campi. However, the crimelord who ia apparetly ‘giving away’ this priceless relic is Sabi Sabo Acidy, a notoriously ferocious gangster known to do away with his enemies in the most cruel ways. Aphra wants to know who came up with this plan, and enter our ‘guest’ for this months episode of Hantasy Island, it’s the most famous Corellian smuggler of them all, Solo. He’s flanked by two Campi emissaries (Lady Xiering and Stingxi) who will represent all interests. While Aphra quickly flirts with Xiering, she’s soon told by Gray that she’s on the team to authenticate the totem, and making her unease and displeasure very clear Solo explains exactly who Sabi Sabo is, how he rose to the top of the Felucian underworld after the Clone Wars and how Solo himself helped smuggle the totem off Raulih. He’s keen to put right an old wrong, and as Aphra scoffs at him for wanting to put things right we learn that whover holds the totem is blessed with good luck.
Solo and Aphra throw a few barbs at each other as they blast off, and soon we’re greeted by the sight of the eel-like Sabi Sabo and his Quarter Clan. Han greets Sabo with what appears to be an insult, but one that the gangster appears to enjoy, but as he greets the Campi delegation he notices a tiny smear on the totem, and turning to one of his lackeys he first accuses him of dereliction of duty, and then shockingly, lurches towards him and in second, like a monitor lizard, swallows him whole. Han and Aphra do well to hld onto their respective lunches as they all view the totem, and Han asks Aphra to step forward and do her expert appraisal, which she does. As she checks it over, the words from the opening page of Meteora Gray regarding specific patterns on the totem come back to her, and as she thanks Sabi Sabo for allowing her to check it over she quietly tells Solo the totem is a fake. Xiering seems unphased, surprised at Sabi Sabo’s commitment to the lie, while Solo tells Aphra he wants to go snooping and find the real one, despite her suggesting they just take the still very convincing fake instead. He asks Stingxi to regale Sabo with some of his own gruesome tales while they return to the Falcon to bring a gift, and as they move away flanked by one of Sabo’s guards Han knocks it out and leads Aphra through access ducts towards Sabo’s personal quarters where he believes the totem is being held.
Meanwhile, we see Xiering and Stingxi telling their stories much to the amusement of Sabo as Stingxi spots a gaggle of guards running down the corridor and we see Aphra and Solo drop into Sabo’s quarters, find the case holding the totem and watch as Aphra pauses without her electro-tattoos but Solo uses an old trick to open the lock. Quickly we’re back with Sabi Sabo and the Campi delegration as Xiering asks if Aphra has the real totem (which she does) and they take the fake and make their excuses to leave. It seems they’ve managed to fool the gangster when out of the blue Xiering turns her blaster on Aphra and takes the real totem. Sabo is outraged, Solo is confused but all are ready to fight when Sabo orders his guards to kill them all, but Xiering and her four arms are too quick, pulling ot what appeared to be harmless ceremonial blasters and gunning the guards down, leaving the fake for Sabo as she and Stingxi leave for parts unknown.
Sabo is still confused by the whole encounter, and Han explains what’s just occured. Under instructions from the New Republic – and as insurance against Aphra, who has notoriously light fingers – they made another fake, which means the real one is with them along with a fake, and the other fake with Xiering and Stingxi. Sabo wants to keep the real one, but Aphra wisely suggests they let the totem choose, and they flip a con…but we don’t see the result, only Aphra and Solo in the Falcon blasting away with one of the totems in her hand, the two deliberating on luck and its merits before the hyperdrive system on the Falcon fails and the freighter is left dead in space.
There is a genuine 80’s charm tho this Aphra series, in both word and image. Looking ike it could sit in the mid 80’s classic run of Marvel Comics, it’s pacey, witty, very easy on the eye and after a decade of Aphra sees her very much a part of the wider story, something much more satisfying for us readers after following her on so many adventures. Next month brings us Chewbacca, and in the spirt of a Star Wars themed Marvel-Two-in-One this has become a title to look forward to (not that it hasn’t always been one to watch) for its cheeky, action-oriented spirit. Now, can we please have a lve action or animated Aphra?
