Spoilers for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra series.
A preview for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #17 reveals a brand-new weapon that can take down blasters with ease: the Whip of Sorrows. The upcoming comic introducing this powerful new weapon is written by Alyssa Wong (Shang-Chi Infinity Comic) and illustrated by Minkyu Jung (The Magnificent Ms. Marvel). It features a main cover by Sara Pichelli (Spider-Man) as well as a variant by W. Scott Forbes and a Lucasfilm 50th anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse.
Doctor Aphra is a very popular and influential character within the universe of Star Wars comics. The archaeologist first appeared in Darth Vader #3 and was created by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine) and Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man). Aphra actually worked for Vader before she faked her death in order to escape his clutches. The current run of the Doctor Aphra comics is a relaunch of this space traveler’s previous series. A rogue who plays the field rather than becoming an outright hero or villain, Aphra specializes in working on droids and weapons. She will certainly face a very interesting new weapon in Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #17, which would likely be even more effective in her hands if she can survive her encounter with it.
The Star Wars website released an exclusive preview of Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #17, which includes five explosive pages from the issue. Aphra and bounty hunter Sana Starros face off against Aphra’s old enemy, Kho Phon Farrus, who first appeared in the previous issue. In addition to being obsessed with dark occult rituals, Farrus is shown to know how to pick out effective weapons when they bust out the Whip of Sorrows. Designed by the ancient Ascendant Cult, the whip feeds on energy, which readers see firsthand in the preview when it’s used to make Starros’ blaster completely useless.
The Whip of Sorrows creates a deadly situation for Doctor Aphra when she gets the whip wrapped around her cybernetically-enhanced arm, which proceeds to make alarming sound effects before blowing up. The extent of the damage is left to the readers’ imagination unless they pick up the full issue. However, considering Doctor Aphra is basically the Indiana Jones of Star Wars and he could survive an explosion using only a refrigerator, Aphra will likely be just fine (along with the fact that the series is called Doctor Aphra). But the Whip of Sorrows might be a smart addition to her arsenal.
Ring in the beginning of the new year and witness the power of the Whip of Sorrows with Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #17 when it hits comic book stores on January 5, 2022. There are plenty of other upcoming Star Wars titles for readers to look forward to, including the next issue of Star Wars: Bounty Hunters out by the end of December and the new comic book trilogy beginning with Crimson Reign that has started releasing.
