Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 10

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 10
Publication Date: February 1994

Before we get on with issue 10 of Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” series – which is really as average an issue as you’re likely to see, with one high-light – let me take a minute to complain about the covers. In these early years of the comic, the covers frequently did not relate to the comic’s story. There were mostly just dumb jokes, like Issue 7’s dumb speed-reading joke or Issue 4’s even dumber dark and gritty joke. Only two issues so far, 6 and 8, have anything to do with the content. Issue 10 seems to promise an interesting story, where Robotnik uses a freeze ray (which is not a death ray or an ice ray) to stop Sonic in his tracks, taking away his greater advantage. Yeah, that would be cool! But no, instead, we have stupid stories about Nerbs and hot air balloons. Sigh.

 

Anyway, the plot. In the first story, Sonic and the Freedom Fighters are searching the outskirts of Robotropois for landmines. Instead, they yank up a power line and are trapped in a force field. Digging below, they discover the secret underground civilization of ill-tempered creatures called Nerbs. Despite being assholes, Sonic and friends still endeavor to save them from Robotnik’s digging, which involves a trip through the Mobian sewers.

Let’s just get this out of the way. The Nerbs are annoying. First off, their names are an obvious play on the term “nerd,” back when it meant a socially awkward smarty-pants instead of just someone who is enthusiastic about something. In case the readers missed the subtle wordplay at work there, the Nerbs also wear button down shirts, glasses, pocket protectors, and funny hats. (I also always thought they looked a little bit like Nerds candy but that may just be me.) Their personality is abrasive, as they reject all outsiders. One of those annoying editor’s boxes even asks if anyone would want to be friends with either a nerd or a Nerb. Considering nerds are the people who buy comic books, maybe Archie shouldn’t have been so wiling to buy the hands that feeds them.

The story could have been about how exclusion and prejudice is bad. The Nerbs scorn outsiders, until Sonic and friends save their asses, at which point they learn to be more open to people. And, yeah, technically it is about that. In truth, the story is mostly about Sonic being a speedy badass. He zips around the sewer tunnels, avoiding Robotnik’s totally sweet dragon machine, and saws some pipes here and there. This has its pleasures too but the story remains fairly light-weight and slightly irritating. (For some reason, decades later Ian Flynn would declare the Nerbs canon, despite them being completely fucking useless.)

The seconds story begins with the Freedom Fighters floating in a hot air balloon, surveying the area for a good place for their annual picnic. Considering they’re in a fucking war, you’d think picnics wouldn’t be a concern but never mind that. Antoine, who declares the superiority of hot air balloon travel, gets his pretensions deflated when some Buzzbombers pop the balloon. Later, the picnic is interrupted by Robotnik’s army… Until Antoine sweeps in with his refurbished balloon and saves the day. Okay sure.

The back-up story is only slightly better then the main story. Angelo DeCesare’s script is full of lame puns and the plot is generally silly and light-weight. However, the tale does give Antoine some character development. Up until this point, Antoine has been characterized as a wet blanket, a braggart, and a coward, frequently bullied and ridiculed by his friends. Here, Antoine saves the day, proving himself useful for the first time in the comic’s run. Considering he would eventually evolve into a perfectly cromulent Freedom Fighter, I guess this is the start of his long journey towards character development and usefulness.

More importantly, the back-up story introduces a new artist into the Archie Comic fold. Art Mawhinney worked as a storyboard artist for SatAM. Thus, he shows more fidelity to the source material. Robotnik hangs out in an urban, dystopian hellscape, instead of a few industrial factories. He even sits in the same throne, petting Cluck! (Snivley and Antoine’s French accent are back to, which may or may not be Mawhinney’s work.) The characters look like they stepped right out of the cartoon. His lines are crisp and clean. The characters are expressive and life-like, with the action being exciting and animated. Really, I don’t hate Dave Manak’s work. But Mawhinney blows him out of the water. There’s a reason Art would be the definitive Sonic artist for years. His artwork, along with a slightly better script for the back-up story, notches this entire comic up another grade. [7/10]