While not a critical story for enjoying the Doctor Aphra book, this annual serves to expand on the character of Black Krrnsantan in all the right ways and it helps to set up a little bit more of the current arc with how it all came to be. For my money it's worth it just for Marc Laming's artwork as that opening hunt sequence could make for a great cinematic moment alone. I really enjoyed his visual design combined with Jordan Boyd's color work to really give it some weight. There's a great lived-in feeling to so many of the scenes, from forest to bar to starship, that it really does work wonderfully. The main group from the Aphra series get their time in the spotlight here but it's really a Krrsantan story and it's one that definitely helps to make him a lot more interesting to watch as the series moves forward. Good stuff. Read Full Review

A flashback, within a heist, within a vibrant and expansive universe. Read Full Review

While not necessarily an essential read, Doctor Aphra Annual #1 serves as a fun opportunity to become a little more familiar with Black Krrsantan. Writer Kieron Gillen is able to lend new insight into this character without diminishing his fearsome aura. And while the art could do more to ease the transitions between past and present, Marc Laming and Will Sliney are right at home in this corner of the Star Wars franchise. Read Full Review

The journalists are poorly introduced, I get the sense that I'm supposed to know who they are already? We get to read Black Krrsantan's back story, but it is brief and uninspired.