10 Things Only Star Wars Comic Book Fans Know About Doctor Aphra

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Book Of Boba Fett.

The Book of Boba Fett introduced a popular character from Star Wars comics, Black Krrsantan, a Wookiee bounty hunter who debuted in 2016’s Darth Vader #1. Comic book fans were excited not just for the debut of Black Krrsantan, but what his appearance potentially means for the live-action debut of another original comic book character he’s very closely connected to – Doctor Aphra.

Doctor Aphra debuted right after Black Krrsantan in 2016’s Darth Vader #3, co-created by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca. She’s since become a major force in Marvel Comics and has crossed over into other media like books. Comic book fans know Aphra has a lot to bring to the table as a character, and more than likely will appear in live-action sooner rather than later.

10 Indiana Jones… But Not

Writer and co-creator of Doctor Aphra Kieron Gillen has stated in interviews that Aphra is essentially Indiana Jones in Star Wars. She’s an archeologist and fortune hunter who hunts relics in a galaxy far, far away, helping explore more of the mythology of the franchise.

But Aphra isn’t as noble or virtuous as Indiana Jones. She has more in common with Belloq, one of Indiana Jones’ best villains from the movies. She steals, schemes, and kills in some cases, making her one of the most complicated characters in the comics.

9 The Most Prominent LGBTQ+ Character In Star Wars

Doctor Aphra is unique in many respects, and one of the most significant is that she is one of the, if not the, most significant LGBTQ+ characters in Star Wars. Aphra – whose full name is Chelli Lona Aphra – is a lesbian who has been involved in a couple of serious relationships in the comics.

One of the most prominent has been with Magna Tolvan, an Imperial officer. Their feelings were mostly unrealized until they kissed in Doctor Aphra #16, from 2017 when it seemed that both of them were going to die.

8 Romance With Sana Starros

One of Aphra’s relationships in the comics was with Sana Starros. The two were in a romantic relationship that ended on bad terms thanks to Aphra’s tendency to simply cut and run, a reflex she developed in the all-or-nothing game of fortune-hunting in the galaxy.

Sana Starros is notable in Marvel Comics for also being the former wife of Han Solo. She’s also become a significant character in the comics and like Aphra, stands to appear in live-action if the franchise continues to explore Han Solo’s backstory or Aphra’s.

7 A Complicated Villain

There are a number of excellent secondary villains in the Star Wars movies, and Doctor Aphra would certainly rank among them if she appeared in live-action. She’s certainly one of the most complex, with a hazy morality that lends her as easily to being a villain as a hero.

Doctor Aphra has worked both sides of the equation in the comics, working directly for the Empire, stealing from them, and also indirectly working for the Rebellion in her own way. She’s primarily out for herself, meaning she’ll do anything to anyone if it benefits her.

6 Working For Darth Vader

Doctor Aphra first appears in Marvel Comics as an agent for Darth Vader. She came to his attention after she used her intelligence and ingenuity to upgrade a pair of Separatist Destroyer Droids from the prequel trilogy, and he realized that her knowledge and experience made her ideal to carry out side missions for him.

Vader would use Aphra for several off-the-books missions, which included retrieving objects and information from Geonosis. She came into possession of her murderous droid allies, 0-0-0 and BT-1, on one of these early missions.

5 Fighting Darth Vader

Darth Vader is a major villain in Star Wars and not someone any character wants to have angry with them. Despite helping Vader build his own private army, Doctor Aphra got on his bad side in the comics when she decided to steal from the Empire.

The heist to steal the entire wealth of the Son-Tuul criminal organization was actually Vader’s idea, and his intervention against her was mostly for show, but Vader would gradually turn on Aphra as her success threatened to expose his secret plans during a critical period early in the Empire.

4 Alliance With Black Krrsantan

One reason fans are excited for Doctor Aphra’s potential appearance in live-action is due to her connection to Black Krrsantan. The two have been allies and sometimes enemies, and their relationship began when she enlisted him to help in the heist of the Son-Tuul treasure.

Black Krrsantan proved a great ally for her during several missions afterward, forming part of the unit that included her droids. Given his close connection to Aphra, it’s likely that she will appear in live-action now that he has crossed over from the comics.

3 Hunting Hera Syndulla

One character who could prove instrumental in helping Doctor Aphra cross over is Hera Syndulla. In issue #17 of the Doctor Aphra series, Hera stumbled upon Aphra and her team when they were posing as Rebel recruits. Aphra then captured Hera.

Hera Syndulla is one of the best alien characters in Star Wars canon and one of the most significant, given her close ties to the Rebellion and connections across continuity. She could easily be a link to Aphra as both characters eventually cross over into live-action.

2 Kho Phon Farrus

Every major character in Star Wars has their own nemesis and in Kho Phon Farrus, Doctor Aphra has hers. Though Aphra isn’t really a hero, Kho Phon Farrus is certainly a villain. A duplicitous archeologist, they are certainly the Belloq to Aphra’s Indiana Jones.

Kho Phon Farrus’ interest in the occult and the Dark Side led to a series of clashes with Aphra. It also led them down a darker path than Aphra, who has a genuine interest in the history of objects beyond her monetary ambitions.

1 War Of The Bounty Hunters

Doctor Aphra also has connections to Boba Fett, with potential bearing on The Book Of Boba Fett. She crossed paths with the bounty hunter during the 2021 crossover War of the Bounty Hunters, in which a frozen Han Solo is stolen from Boba Fett by Crimson Dawn.

Doctor Aphra is among the players at the auction for Han Solo, held by Qi’ra, and also ends up battling Fett and many other characters for the chance to get their hands on the smuggler, who is frozen in carbonite and bound for Jabba’s palace on Tatooine.

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