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Well, not my typical reading but seeing as I had just put up my Library’s Star Wars day display and the book caught my eye, I decided to read it. Doctor Aphra is a graphic novel by Kieron Gillen, illustrated by Kev Walker. The graphic novel follows the life of Chelli Lona Aphra after she leaves the service of Darth Vader. Though this will not be her most difficult task.
No, that will be when she runs into her father, a man obsessed with a long dead race who were “related” to the Jedi (also now missing). The story is not just about the action that you consider normal for Star Wars but also a relationship between father and daughter. Aphra must confront her father in order to have her Doctorate, which she cheated to get (a long segue into her personal history), reinstated by the counsel. During this confrontation she learns more about why her father did what he did to ‘protect’ her and even why her mother took her to the outer rim. The conversation is all the more dramatic because they are in a life-or-death situation which requires them to each use their respective knowledge and skills to save the day. 
'Victory' for Aphra and her father
I found the novel easy to read completing it in a single setting, but am not sure I’ll continue reading the story. Though if I had the book and nothing else, I would read the next in the series. Over all the book is well executed with interesting and exciting graphics and poignant text. The elements come together to create a spectacle that anyone can enjoy, even if they do not fully know Aphra’s backstory (like me), or if they are a dedicated fan of the franchise.
Reference
Gillen, K. (2017). Star wars: Doctor Aphra. New York: Del Rey.
Images take by me of the graphic novel, drawn by Kev Walker.
