WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent#1.
Luke Skywalker’sjourney as a mentor and Jedi master goes far beyond the Jedi Academy he eventually established, revealing an unlikely and rather unruly first “student.” This surprising connection shows a critical, yet chaotic, chapter in his path as a teacher and guide, hinting at his nuanced approach to connecting to students from all walks of life.
InStar Wars: Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent #1, written by Cherish Chen with art by Gabriel Guzman,Luke finds himself partnering upwith someone he has crossed paths with many times before: the rogue archaeologist and morally gray opportunist, Doctor Chelli Aphra.
Luke forges an unexpected alliance with Aphra to spare her from a very well-deserved prison sentence.The pair’s shared history, combined withLuke’s sense of responsibility borne from the recent Rebellion, sets the stage for a unique mentorship.
Luke Seeks to Guide a Chaotic Ally, But Harnessing Aphra’s Antics Might Be Impossible
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent#1, Written By Cherish Chen With Art By Gabriel Guzman
Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent#1 brings back Chelli Aphra for a new adventure at the very start of the New Republic. Once again,Aphra finds herself in a legal dilemmaas she is hauled into court for a litany of charges that range from burglary to impersonating officers (multiple times). Before her sentencing, she is given an ultimatum: incarceration or supervised release under the watchful eye of the Department of Artifacts and Archival Goods Retrieval, known as the “Daggers.” It is wrapped up in this situation thatLuke Skywalker makes his entrance, speaking up on Aphra’s behalf.
Luke does not intervene because he necessarily trusts Aphra, as she has proven herself to be unreliable and outright criminal in the past.Rather, Luke truly believes in the power of redemption and positive influence that only someone like himself could promise.He suggests that Aphra needs a second chance, seeing her chaotic brilliance as a tool to channel for the benefit of the entire galaxy, effectively taking on the monumental task of guiding Aphra towards the path of good. Luke’s well-intentioned intervention marks the beginning of their unconventional partnership.
Their Complicated Past Laid the Groundwork for a Unique Partnership
Aphra Sold Luke Out To The Empire On More Than One Occasion
Luke and Doctor Aphra share a complicated, often tumultuous, history that dates back to the early days of the Rebellion. Their paths have crossed multiple times, frequently due to Aphra’s less-than-legal archaeological adventuresdrawing Luke into dangerous situations. Whether it was her pursuit of ancient artifacts to turn a quick credit, or her alliance with Vader himself,Aphra’s antics almost always tested Luke’s patience and often landed him in considerable trouble, forcing him to confront the complexities of the galaxy outside the Rebel Alliance.
Despite the numerous headaches Aphra has caused him,Star Wars: Doctor Aphra: Chaos Agent#1 positions her as Luke’s first non-Jedi apprentice.Luke’s intervention in order to give her “one more chance”is rooted in his belief that she simply needs a good influence to steer her away from a life of crime; that a single person can be a driving factor for positive change. Though Aphra isn’t learning the ways of the Force like a true Jedi apprentice would, Luke’s attempt to guide her makes Aphra a unique early student in his journey toward becoming a responsible master.
Aphra’s antics almost always tested Luke’s patience and often landed him in considerable trouble, forcing him to confront the complexities of the galaxy outside the Rebel Alliance.
This unconventional and comical apprenticeship saddles Luke with the enormous task of attempting to instill a sense of ethical responsibility in Aphra. The dynamic is a crucial step inLuke’s evolution as a teacher,giving him early experience with mentorship long before he would formally train Jedi Padawans. While Aphra won’t be using a lightsaber, this unique mentorship could see Aphra using her archaeological skills for the greater good underLuke Skywalker’soften exasperated guidance. This dynamic offers a fresh take on the master-padawan relationship, proving that not all valuable lessons are learned through the Force, and not all protégés fit the traditional mold.
