Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 9

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 9
Publication Date: January 1994

In an earlier review, I mentioned my fondness for the comic’s ability to mash together different elements of different Sonic continuities. This is, after all, a comic book made to sell video games, based on a cartoon show but with the style and tone of an entirely different, if related, cartoon show. Though the comic has changed a lot over the years, it’s always been a weird mishmash of various different Sonic media. A few times in the comic’s history, the series would directly adapt an episode of the SatAM series, usually to disastrous results. Only once, however, did it ever adapt an episode of “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.” In issue 9, with the cover story “Pseudo-Sonic.”

Now it’s a loose adaptation, fitting the AoStH character of Pseudo-Sonic into the comic’s world, which more resembles SatAM. However, the general outline is the same. Sonic accidentally enters a poison sumac field and blows up to massive size from hives. Meanwhile, Robotnik sends a robotic doppelganger named Pseudo-Sonic to attack Sonic’s friends. The details are different. In the cartoon, Pseudo-Sonic is meant to discredit the real deal with acts of villainy. The robot is not autonomous, being piloted by a small mouse inside. Sonic gets poisoned by accidentally stumbling into the field. In the comic, the robot’s goal is to infiltrate the Freedom Fighters’ secret base. Pseudo-Sonic has artificial intelligence. Sonic is searching for flowers for Sally’s birthday when he becomes infected. Yet the general outlines remain very similar.

As for the story, it has ups and downs. The tone remains very comical, as you’d expect. Despite robotic doubles of Sonic becoming a valuable part of Sonic mythology, Pseudo-Sonic is no Metal Sonic. He’s far too goofy to be threatening. More importantly, even the characters in the book recognizes him as a robot. Sonic ballooning to huge size from the sumac and the presence of a random butterfly pushes pass my acceptance for goofy, cornball bullshit. Like many of these early stories, it ends with Pseduo-Sonic directly pleading with the audience, asking for letters from readers if they want to see him again. Considering he wouldn’t appear again until issue 170, I’m going to guess they didn’t get too many letters.

However, there are elements to this story that I like. That the Freedom Fighters immediately realizes Pseudo-Sonic is a copy is a nice subversion of how these stories usually progress. Tails’ makes him self useful by easily defeating Pseudo-Sonic, via the power of static electricity. The end of the story finally fulfills some of Bunnie’s potential, as she kicks the ever-loving shit out of Robotnik with her super strength. If she can do all that, it sort of makes you wonder why the Freedom Fighters even need anybody else…

The back-up story has a similar tone. While out gathering flowers for Sally again, Sonic discovers a rare Mobian Needle Bird, a spiny breed of bird endangered by Robotnik’s pollution. He names the bird Thorny and takes him back to HQ. Unfortunately, the Freedom Fighters have a history of bringing home pets that are secretly robotic spies. Also, Thorny eats Sally’s birthday cake, pissing her off. Anyway, you can see where this is going. After kicking the bird out, Sally gets captured by a robotic tree and Sonic and Thorny save the day, after which she forgives the bird of his crimes.

It’s a basic, simple story that doesn’t make much of an impression on readers. Thorny, like Pseudo-Sonic, is promised a return at the end of the story, being made an honorary Freedom Fighter. Unlike Pseudo-Sonic, he would never return again. What thing I do mildly like about the story: There’s a degree of conflict. It’s not just so-many pages of silly gags. It involves the characters’ interacting, coming to conclusions, changing their minds, and showing off their personality. (It also has one funny moment, when a baby deer bombardier is referenced.) The standard may be low but surpassing them counts for something. [6/10]