Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 105

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 105
Publication Date: December 2001

2001 wasn’t a great year for Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. After taking a two month break, so Mike Gallagher and Jim Valentino could indulge their in-joke, Karl Bollers was allowed to pick up where he left off. And, I don’t know, maybe the two month break gave the writer a little time to recharge. “You Say You Want a Revelation” isn’t a great story but, in a lackluster year, it still stands out as one of the better stories.

Karl continues to chop through the mishmash of story lines he’s thrown out in the last year. Sonic and the Freedom Fighters let the loss of Nate Morgan weigh on their minds. That’s when the hedgehog gets an idea. If the Sword of Acorn can restore the free will of robotocized Mobians, why can’t it restore the free will of robotocized Overlanders? Only Sally can wield the sword in this manner and talks her dad into allowing her to go on this mission. Meanwhile, in Robotropolis, Robotnik reveals his master plan – to poison the organic beings with radiation, forcing them to become his robotic slaves in order to survive – to Colin Kintobor and all the other Overlanders in the city.

How do you like your Robotnik? The villain comes in several different flavors. Some of the video games portray him as a stereotypical mad scientist. The “Adventures of” cartoon and other games draw him as a cartoonish buffoon. SatAM and “Sonic Underground” illustrated him as a cold-blooded tyrant. The comic version of Robotnik has fluctuated wildly between the three poles. My favorite version, if you couldn’t guess, is the genocidal dictator, eager to inflict his mad will on the world. This version of Robotnik returns to Archie’s pages with a vengeance in issue 105. After Hope informs her parents that Robotnik intends to roboticize them, the doctor reveals she’s right. He relishes the opportunity, actually. He happily states that he’s a robot and that every fleshy person in the city is poisoned. He joyfully robotocizes Hope’s grandmother before her eyes. I’m not sure why Robotnik waited until now to gloat evilly. But he sure is having fun doing it.

Ever since they returned to Mobius, the Kintobor family hasn’t contributed much to the book. It’s been a plot point that hasn’t gone much of anywhere. After writing Nate Morgan out last time, Karl decides to clip the rest of the Overlanders from the book this time. Hope gets away, as the book had bigger plans for her, but the rest of the family? Turned to robotic statues. About the only important detail rising from this resolution is Snively revealing how much he hates his dad. As much as we pile on the little twerp, he’s truly just as evil as Robotnik is. As for the Kintobors? Who’s going to miss them?

A plot point dragging the series down since issue 99 has been the romantic drama between Sonic and Sally. Issue 105 doesn’t resolve this, as the tiresome Sonic/Sally/Mina love triangle would stretch on for a while longer. The book finally addresses how dumb this is though. Before leaving on the mission, Sonic outright asks Sally if she’s pissed at him. Before she can respond, Mina zooms in and gives her a big hug, thanking the Princess for restoring her mom’s free will. It’s a cute moment. If it doesn’t outright negate the ridiculous love triangle, it at least goes a way towards deflating it.

We even get some action too. Sonic smashes some ShadowBots and has a face-to-face confrontation with Robotnik, something we haven’t gotten in a while. However, the issue pulls back on the action maybe when it was most important. Instead of a big exciting conclusion, the story ends with talking. Robotnik reveals another truth – that only willinging robotocized Overlanders don’t become statues – and let’s the good guys go. Moreover, the Freedom Fighters leave the Overlanders in Robotropolis, allowing themselves to become robots if they want too. It’s kind of a downer ending to what was otherwise a decent story.

In the back pages, Mike Gallagher concludes the Downunda Freedom Fighter story he’s been telling for three months. Guru Emu scales the dam he discovered last time, confirming the suspicions that it’s a leftover from CrocBot’s take-over of the continent. Below the waves, the bunyip has… Safely carried the other Freedom Fighters to an oxygen filled area? Turns out, Barby speaks the Bunyip's language. She levels with the creature, who is just angry CrocBot took away his billabong. Everyone agrees the dam has to go. The Freedom Fighters blow it up, restoring the lake, and making everyone happy.

Here’s a win for empathy, civil conversation, and peaceful resolution. Instead of another fight ensuing with the mythical animal, the Downunda Freedom Fighters instead communicate with their captor. No, it’s not a very satisfying conclusion. Barby’s ability to speak bunyip is the purest of ass pulls. Yes, Gallgher still loads his story with ungainly dialogue. As he enters the dam, Guru Emu takes the time to recap the events so far.

Still, there’s a certain novelty to the story concluding with everyone talking things out, without punching somebody in the face. It’s rare for this book, even if it doesn’t entirely work in this instance. As expected, Gallagher ends the story with another plea for the readers to request more Downunda Freedom Fighter adventures. Considering we wouldn’t see them again for a while, I’m going to say Archie didn’t get too many letters.

Ron Lim drew the cover story. Typically, it looks lousy. His robots look utterly ridiculous. Characters bend wildly off-model during the action scenes. He also has this weird habit of drawing Sally so that she always looks surprised. As for the back-up, Nelson Ribeiro takes over for Dave Manak. Ribeiro is an uneven artist. On the first page, Guru Emu’s hand twists out of shape. All the characters look slightly odd. But nobody is hideously ugly. I also like his decision to surround the first page of panels with wooden frames.

Issue 105 isn’t an A+ book but, compared to what we’ve been getting lately, still feels like a breath of fresh air. [6/10]