11 Years Ago, the Best Modern Star Wars Character Made Their First Appearance (And They Still Need Their Own Movie)

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Since Disney acquired Star Wars, the universe has grown massively, introducing a huge number of new characters. We’ve seen stories told across the entire Star Wars timeline through movies, comics, books, and TV series – from the next generation of the Skywalker and Solo families to the Jedi of the High Republic and a captivating new Sith Lord called the Stranger, though unfortunately, his story may never be finished.

When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, the new Star Wars films sparked a lot of debate online. While some characters, like Daisy Ridley’s Rey, were controversial, they still became memorable. Ridley’s return was a huge moment at Star Wars Celebration 2023. However, Disney’s most popular character surprisingly hasn’t been in any of the movies – and today marks the 11-year anniversary of her first appearance.

Doctor Aphra is Disney’s Best Star Wars Character

In January 2015, Marvel successfully restarted their Star Wars comic book series. The first issue, Star Wars #1 by Jason Aaron and John Cassady, became the best-selling comic of the entire decade. The Darth Vader series, created by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca, was particularly ambitious, starting with Darth Vader’s return to Tatooine to negotiate with Jabba the Hutt. The series truly hit its peak with issue #3, released on March 25, 2015, which introduced the popular character Dr. Chelli Aphra.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve always loved those quick, compelling character introductions, and Dr. Aphra nails it. She’s essentially a spacefaring Indiana Jones, but with a seriously messy personal life! Both sides of her are crucial – the Star Wars universe is perfect for a character like her, digging up ancient secrets across the galaxy. And honestly, her complicated relationships? That’s just Aphra being Aphra – she’s a bit self-centered, and it gets her into trouble. She first showed up when Darth Vader recruited her, and she hasn’t stopped bouncing from one crazy situation to another ever since.

The Star Wars galaxy has a rich and ancient past, filled with forgotten knowledge of both the Jedi and the Sith. This is where Dr. Aphra thrives – she makes a living finding lost artifacts to sell, and sometimes uncovers dangerous Force-wielding groups with the power to reshape the galaxy. Because Aphra often explores eras before the rise of the Jedi, she offers a fresh and compelling perspective on the galaxy’s early history.

Doctor Aphra’s Supporting Cast is a Real Stand-Out, Too

The most compelling comic book characters thrive within their own worlds, rather than simply appearing alongside more famous heroes. Dr. Aphra is a great example of this, thanks to her memorable supporting characters. Initially, her adventures mirrored Luke Skywalker’s – she also searched for ancient artifacts with droids as companions. However, her droids, Triple-Zero and Beetee-One, are secretly deadly robots who enjoy causing chaos. Aphra often works with Black Krrsantan, a dangerous Wookiee bounty hunter and assassin, who fans may recognize from the live-action series The Book of Boba Fett.

Aphra doesn’t have much luck in love, mostly because she prioritizes her own needs over building a real connection. She shares a fun, competitive relationship with Imperial Captain Magna Tolvan, but her true love is Sana Starros, who has a complicated past of her own – she was initially introduced as Han Solo’s ex-wife as part of a mission. However, fitting with the themes of Star Wars, Aphra slowly begins to understand the importance of caring for others.

What’s great about Aphra is her versatility – she works well both on solo adventures and with other characters. Writers particularly like pairing her with Luke Skywalker, as his hopeful nature highlights her own self-centeredness. While she’d never say it out loud, Luke had a real impact on her, showing her a different way to live and leaving her with a longing for something more. This really fits Luke’s established role as a force for good in the Star Wars universe.

The biggest letdown for many Star Wars fans is still the lack of a live-action adaptation of Doctor Aphra. She’s a compelling character – think a morally gray Indiana Jones with quirky droid companions and a complicated personal life – and feels like a natural fit for the current direction of the franchise, especially after the success of shows like The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Starfighter. It seems like the perfect time to bring her story to the screen.

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2026-03-25 21:42