The Book of Boba Fett fleshed out Temuera Morrison’s interpretation of legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett by having him interact with legendary underworld characters from across the Star Wars galaxy. With the arrival of Cade Bane (Corey Burton) and Black Krrsantan (Carey Jones), the Disney+ series threw fans a kernel of Outpost Mix that indicated the impending debut of the fan-favorite Marvel Comics character Doctor Aphra in live-action. However, to the disappointment of many, especially the LGBTQ+ fans who have eagerly been awaiting on-screen representation in a galaxy far, far away, the rogue archeologist never made her debut in the series.
Making his live-action debut in The Book of Boba Fett’s second episode, “Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine,” was Wookiee bounty hunter Black Krrsantan, created by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca for 2015’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #1. In the comics, Krrsantan crossed paths with Boba Fett before the events of the live-action series (something the characters subtly acknowledge in an episode of the Disney+ show) when Darth Vader hired both bounty hunters to work together on separate but related missions. The Wookiee bounty hunter has also crossed paths with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine, Han Solo, and Chewbacca.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
However, what excited many fans about Krrsantan’s Disney+ appearance was the possibility Doctor Aphra may appear in the Boba Fett series. In addition to crossing paths with well-known heroes from the Star Wars films, the Wookiee frequently crosses paths with Aphra. It even saves her from being chucked out of the airlock by Darth Vader in Darth Vader #25 by Gillen, Max Fiumara, Dave Stewart, and Joe Caramagna. Then, in the comics, Krrsantan follows Aphra around to ensure she pays off her massive debt to him. Since Marvel Comics has limited Aphra’s appearances to the original trilogy era, fans know little about much of her life. However, Aphra’s history also provides Lucasfilm with a unique opportunity to introduce a young version of the character in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Who Is Doctor Aphra?
Marvel Comics
Created by Gillen and Larroca in 2015’s Darth Vader #3, Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra is a rogue archeologist who has teamed up with some of the biggest baddies and greatest heroes in a galaxy far, far away. With a long history at Marvel, she’s kidnaped Hera Syndulla, busted noses with Luke Skywalker, and even worked for Darth Vader (and then, she betrayed him and lived to tell the tale).
When she is not getting into trouble with (or for) the dark side, Aphra is one of the galaxy’s most daring treasure hunters. The character started as a darker take on one of the most popular rebel archeologists in cinema. “Inverse Indiana Jones was kind of the initial call,” Gillen told StarWars.com, “and it always grows because you put it in Star Wars, and it changes… Dropping an archeologist in Star Wars makes sense, and that she’s morally unpredictable, that makes sense as well.”
RELATED: Explained: How the MCU Appears to Be Assembling the Young Avengers
According to Pablo Hidalgo’s Star Wars: Scum and Villainy: Case Files on the Galaxy’s Most Notorious, Aphra is 24-years-old at the Battle of Scarif, which takes place in 0 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin). The Death Star’s destruction — known as the Battle of Yavin — in Star Wars: A New Hope is used as a measure of time, so any event taking place before Yavin is called BBY, and any event taking place after Yavin is called ABY (After the Battle of Yavin). Using Spock-like logic to deduce Aphra’s birthday from the Battle of Scarif age, Doctor Aphra was born in 24 BBY, five years before Senator Padmé Amidala gave birth to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker’s twins Luke and Leia in 19 BBY.
That means Aphra is only five years older than Luke Skywalker, making an appearance of a teenage Aphra in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+ a possibility. Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place ten years after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, meaning it will occur in 9 BBY when Luke is 10-years-old and Aphra is 15-years-old. Fans don’t know much about this period of Aphra’s life, but Aphra’s father was also a rogue archeologist who looked for Jedi artifacts and often brought his young daughter with him (and maybe Lucasfilm will follow the Marvel Studios model of introducing the young version of Marvel Comics favorite to develop in another series, think Young Avengers).
Aphra’s Dad Hunted Jedi Artifacts
As a child, Aphra happily lived with her parents on the Second Moon of Thrinittik until the takeover of the totalitarian Galactic Empire, ruled by Darth Sidious in his public guise as Emperor Palpatine. After the Great Jedi Purge, Aphra’s father began neglecting his family to look for Jedi artifacts in a misguided attempt to keep his family safe. Often guided by his obsession, Aphra’s father sometimes manipulated her into going on dangerous missions with him because his young daughter was small enough to sneak into a small space and cute enough to distract people. Could they have gone Tatooine? Maybe we’ll find out in Obi-Wan Kenobi!
Aphra learned a lot of her trade as a rogue archeologist by watching her father study Jedi artifacts — although the particular Jedi her father studied sacrificed Padawan learners to gain immortality — when she was a child. Although she pretended to be into her father’s Jedi obsessions, she found his stories about the Sith much more interesting (remember, by this point in the Star Wars timeline, galactic citizens doubted the Sith ever existed).
Black Krrsantan Meets Obi-Wan Kenobi
Krrsantan originally appeared in the same 2015 Darth Vader comic book run that introduced Doctor Aphra and has continued to appear in her comics, including 2016’s Doctor Aphra run and the ongoing 2020 Doctor Aphra run. Never easy to pin down, sometimes the Wookiee is an antagonist to Aphra, and sometimes he is an ally – as with many bounty hunters, his loyalty follows the credits. His alliance with Aphra is another point in favor of Aphra appearing in the Star Wars universe soon, even if it’s not in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Krrsantan may make another appearance on the Disney+ show, making a future Aphra appearance all the more likely.
But it’s not just Aphra he has a history with, the renowned and feared Wookiee bounty hunter has also grappled with a few Jedi in his day. Krrsantan appeared in the panels of Star Wars #20 by Jason Aaron, Mike Mayhew, Chris Eliopoulos, and Mike Mayhew in a story that sees the Wookiee hired by Jabba the Hutt to hunt down Obi-Wan Kenobi because of his actions during the Great Drought.
RELATED: Obi-Wan Kenobi: Exploring Foes and Locations
The showdown between Krrsantan and Kenobi occurs during the Jedi’s time in the Tatooine desert, watching over a young Luke Skywalker. The story even includes Uncle Owen, who plays the role of damsel in distress for the issue, and an appearance from Young Skywalker, who saves the day with his already exceptional piloting skills. This is how Krrsantan earns his facial scar and given Din Djarin’s appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, it wouldn’t be surprising to see characters crossover into Obi-Wan Kenobi when it arrives at Disney+ this May.
