Doctor Aphra (2020) 2

ENTER THE CITY OF MADNESS! DOCTOR APHRA and her freshly formed group have tracked the RINGS OF VAALE to a strange world brimming with ancient horrors. To make matters worse, the rings might be cursed…a curse that seems to already be fracturing Aphra's team. Can they flee the terror of this cursed world with the desired rings, or will they give in to the growing insanity that permeates this ancient place?

Chelli Lona Aphra and Eustacia Okka were once students together at the University of Bar'leth, located on the planet Bar'leth. Years prior to the main events, Okka urged Aphra to pay attention in class, but Aphra retorted that she was already intimately familiar with the subject matter. Aphra playfully mocked Okka for relying on her datapad during the lecture to read an article called "The Lost Legends of the High Republic". Aphra expressed her concern that Okka was overly concerned with the opinions of others, after which the two shared a kiss.

The group was aboard the Ark Angel III when they began discussing the quickest route to Dianth. While they were traveling, Okka, who had since become a professor, received a holographic communication from House of Tagge heir Ronen Tagge. He presented her with a choice: either join him in his pursuit of the Rings of Vaale, or face destruction along with her current companions for obstructing his path. He asked Okka to extend his regards to Aphra, which sparked suspicion among the group. Aphra revealed to the group that while she was working for Tagge, she chose to deliver the artifacts, accept payment, and then reclaim them, rather than allow him to destroy them. The Ark Angel III touched down on Dianth, and Okka and Yao noticed the Lost City of Vaale. While exploring the city, Yao believed she witnessed a face on the wall moving, while Lucky detected a high-pitched sound that was imperceptible to everyone else. The group realized that Okka had become separated from them, and they discovered her having stumbled upon the legendary Workshop of the Architects of Vaale, which also featured a map displayed on the floor. Okka explained that the workshop was located beneath them, and they gained entry through a hidden passage. She then elaborated on the properties of the rings. The ring adorned with the sapphire gem would grant its wearer immortality, but at the cost of their sanity. Conversely, the ring with the crimson gem would bestow immense wealth upon its wearer, but would also hasten their eventual death. They located the actual workshop, which was concealed behind a locked door. While attempting to devise a method to open the gate, a Zombie approached them, imploring them to abandon "this cursed place". Yao once again observed the faces on the wall and speculated whether the zombie and the faces were the spirits of past architects who had sought the rings. Aphra shot the zombie and tried to find a way to open the gate. Yao discovered a device concealed within a wall, which she believed might serve as a key. The device emitted a piercing ringing sound, prompting Lucky and Krrsantan to fire upon it. As they did so, the floor began to fracture, creating a large chasm into which Lucky, Krrsantan, and Okka plummeted. Aphra reached out to Okka, but Yao restrained her. Agora and Yao are captured by Tagge's mercenaries, who demand that she lead them to the Rings.

The initial solicitation for Doctor Aphra 2 indicated a release date of April 29, 2020.

• UPC 759606097241; July 22 , 2020; Marvel Comics ; First printing [1] 00211; Cover A; Valentina Remenar 00221; Cover B; Sara Pichelli & Tamra Bonvillain