Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 54

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 54
Publication Date: October 1997

The “Brave New World” one-shot set a new tone, more introspective and realistic, for “Sonic the Hedgehog,” post-“Endgame.” Issue 53, thanks to new head writer Karl Bollers, brought Ixis Naugus into the fold, providing a new enemy for Sonic and friends. However, issue 54’s sole story, “Running to Stand Still,” makes it clear that things are not going to relax into a familiar pace. This world will remain brave and new.

Since Knothole Village remains trapped inside a pocket dimension, three hours in the future and accessible only by tunnel, many Mobians have moved into the newly rechristened Mobotropolis. Sally appoints herself, Rotor, Dr. Quack, Geoffrey St. John, and Sonic as members of a council designed to make the city livable again. Sonic, however, isn’t too keen on the new position. He wonders what role a warrior like him can play in a world without Robotnik. Also weighting on Sonic’s mind is how his Uncle kept his parents’ lives a secret from him. Meanwhile, Snively schemes from inside his prison cell.

Like everything connected to Sonic, Karl Bollers remains a controversial figure among the fandom. In some circles, he’s actually even more hated then the widely loathed Ken Penders. Bollers’ style is no doubt different then the previous writers to work on the book. He utilizes a lot more comic book narration. His dialogue is a little more stylized, different the the broad exposition and lame one-liners of Penders. Yet for a story like “Running to Stand Still,” the narration actually works pretty well. Sonic spends most of the story wrapped up in his own thoughts, considering his place in a rapidly changing world. While Bollers’ prose borders on the cheesy at times, it’s well utilized in this context.

Sonic is acting unusually moody. While sitting around during one of Sally’s meetings, he fights off sleep. Rotor asks Sally if he can take some time to pursue his missing family, a plot point abandoned back in issue 32. She vetoes the idea, saying that Rotor’s technological know-how is needed at home. When Sonic asks again on the walrus’ behalf, she gives the same answer. When the Robians raise the idea of moving into the mostly abandoned Knothole Village, to escape the persecution by the fearful public, King Max denies the idea. (His reasoning isn’t expounded on. King Acorn is just a jerk.) Sonic doesn’t seem suited to politics and he makes his feelings known to Rosie. The plot point isn’t quite resolved but Sonic comes to a realization: That he has to make a difference. Thus, he needs to go wherever a difference needs to be made.

Yet something is bothering Sonic closer to home. For years, Uncle Chuck was the only connection to his presumed lost family for years. Over the last month, Sonic has discovered that not only are his parents alive but Chuck’s been keeping their existence a secret from him for years. This provides the main emotional conflict throughout this issue, as Sonic continues to snipe at his uncle, his resentment showing. Eventually, the two resolve their problem, walking through a wooded area. Chuck explains his actions, that Sonic’s pain from missing his parents would cripple him too much. I’m not sure if I agree with that but Sonic and Chuck hug it out.

Honestly, it’s kind of ballsy of Bollers to build an entire story around emotional stakes. There’s truly no action in issue 54 at all. Uncle Chuck is testing Sonic’s speed in a variety of locations, across the treetops, the ocean waves, the desert plains, and a giant hamster wheel. That’s the closest this issue comes to an action sequence. While imprisoned in Devil’s Gulag, Snively activates a device hidden under his fingernail. This awakens a stashed-away collection of Egg-Robos (referred to as Eggbots here), presumably hidden away back in “Battle Royal’s” “The Map.” What Snively is up yet isn’t revealed, as the comic ends just as the machines fly overhead.

Last time we saw Nelson Ortega’s work in issue 46 and 50, it was pretty shaky. He’s improved a lot since then. Sonic still goes off-model on two occasion, he’s head developing into a weird shape. Otherwise, the artwork is good. The opening page of Sonic bouncing through the treetops of Knothole or hydroplaning across the ocean waves are quite impressive. Ortega’s obviously been taken some lesson from Patrick Spazinate, as Nelson’s take on Sally is clearly influenced by Spaz’. He also does some good work with facial expressions, focusing on Sonic’s face as he’s lost in thought. A different artist, newcomer John Herbert, illustrates the interludes of Snively in prison. Herbert’s work is incredibly moody, full of shadows and detail. His one-pager of the Eggrobos emerging from their eggs looks great. I’m not sure why two artists worked on the book but issue 54 is mostly a good looking one.

Though not quite perfect, “Running to Stand Still” easily represents Bollers’ best work on the book thus far. [9/10]