Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 171

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 171
Publication Date: January 2007

Over the course of 2004 and 2005, Archie published a number of “Sonic the Hedgehog” stories featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. To be brutally honest, none of them were good. In fact, when I was first reading these issues as a teenager, I honestly wondered if Shadow had a place at all in the Archie Sonic-verse. As part of his mission to get the comic to shape the fuck up, Ian Flynn set out to write the very first good Shadow the Hedgehog story published in this comic. (And, depending on how you feel about “Sonic Adventure 2” and “Sonic Heroes,” maybe the first good Shadow story period.) Amazingly, he succeeded.

In the biblically entitled “I Am,” Shadow the Hedgehog storms into Robotnik's main laboratory. He demands to see Gerald Robotnik's diary, which Eggman has been keeping from him, and finally learn the final facts about his origin. After grabbing the ancient disc, Shadow is chased out of Robotropolis. He flees to Knothole, where Tails attempts to read the disk. Using an experimental digital interface, Nicole inserts Sonic and Shadow into Gerald's diary. Meanwhile, Snively follows the black hedgehog to Freedom HQ, ready to bust some heads.

In outline form, “I Am” is another one of Ian Flynn's stories devoted to fixing a stupid plot point introduced by the previous writers. For a while now, Shadow has been working for Robotnik. In the Sega video games, Shadow is more of a free agent, working to meet his own needs. By this story's end, Shadow is no longer affiliated with the Eggman. The book also spills the details of Shadow's origin, involving Gerald making a deal with the alien tyrant Black Doom. (Of course, Ian has already established that the Black Arms may never returned to Mobius, being locked in an endless war with the Xorda, preventing us from getting an adaptation of Sega's widely loathed “Shadow the Hedgehog.”) This is also another move that brings the comic's world a little more in line with the video games, without sacrificing the comic's uniqueness.

This is all well and good but what makes “I Am” an above average story is its emotional component. Shadow's drive and determination to resolve his past as the so-called ultimate life form has him showing more personality then he has anywhere else up to this point. More important, Shadow achieves the impossible. He is reunited with Maria. The hedgehog and the saint-like teenage girl he bonded with, years ago, have a tearful reunion. That's right. Sega allowed their number one tough guy character to cry, however briefly. When Shadow confronts Snively in the final pages, declaring definitively who he is, it's actually rather powerful. This character has found himself. It's satisfying to read – a floundering cast member is now centered – but it's mostly just good writing.

On paper, Nicole inserting Shadow and Sonic into the digital memories on Gerald's CD seems like a sudden plot point. Nicole outright announcing to Shadow that this is a rather miraculous thing she can do fairly easily does come out of nowhere. Having said that, setting the story inside what is essentially a memory is a cool idea. The disk's memory is slowly eroding away, which gives the plot a time limit, raising tension. It also leads to a cool image, the world slowly falling apart around our heroes. This moment also allows for a return of Nicole's lynx form, giving the computer program some more character development. Soon, the holo-lynx shall become Nicole's default form, finalizing her growth into a real person.

Though this is clearly Shadow's story, “I Am” does feature some decent character beats for the book's primary cast. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Nicole are the only Freedom Fighters that appear in this story. This creates a nice streamlined cast. I love Sally and the gang but there was no reason for them to be in this story. Sonic and Tails' relationship continues to be rocky, the fox still having trouble forgiving the hedgehog for dating Fiona. Of course, Fiona's been AWOL for two issues and Sonic's not so sure about her anymore either. In an especially cute series of panels, Knuckles expresses an honest concern for the young scientist. Knuckles apparently just finished a run around the woods on his hover board, a little personable touch.

On top of being a really solid character story, “I Am” also features a delightfully fun action beat. Before fleeing Robotropolis, Shadow does something unforgivable to Snively... He snatches him bald-headed, tearing out his six remaining hairs! This gives us a fun look into Snively's personality, as he was attached to these stray hairs that he had tracking devices implanted inside. After arriving in Knothole, he attacks in a deliciously preposterous vehicle called the Egg-Lobster. Yes, it's a giant robot lobster. That's a level of goofy fun I welcome, which puts this story over-the-top into the genuinely great category.

After such a great cover story, the back-up comes off as rather minor. In “Enforcers,” a group of dingoes are preoccupied with oppressing a village on Angel Island. Before Locke can start guardian-ing the place, the Destructix leap in and fight off the canines. Doctor Finitevus emerges from a warp ring, asking Locke to form a pact with him. In order to help sell the deal, Finitevus has Dimitri's floating head on hand to testify. Locke eventually, reluctantly agrees to the doctor's conditions, eager to unite the Island again. (And, pointedly, to do it without Knuckles' help.)

Of course, there's a twist and that's really the whole point of “Enforcers.” On the final page, it's revealed that Finitevus is lying. He's putting the pieces in place for his next power move. From the moment Dr. Finitevus was introduced, it's been implied that he has devious plans of his own. While Bollers was happy to let this point rest, Flynn obviously has plans of his own for the albino echidna. In the last panel of “Enforcers,” we discover that Finitevus is plotting the return of Enerjak.

Though mostly focused on plot. “Enforcers” does have one or two little dollop of character development. When Finitevus suggest Knuckles could help protect Angel Island, Locke outright refuses. This continues Flynn re-establishing Knuckles' asshole dad as an intentional asshole. This story also continues Dimitri's development into a quasi-heroic character or at least someone eager to atone for his villainous ways. It's little stuff but it's enough to elevate what would otherwise just be more plot development for future story lines.

By the way, Tracy Yardley provides pencils for both stories. Yardley keeps up with his own high standard, producing two nice looking tales. Issue 171 is another really strong contribution from Flynn, another example of what this guy would become the comic's most respected and beloved writer. He took underdeveloped characters, like Shadow or Finitevus, and turned them into something you actually cared about. “I Am” is a great cover story and even the back-up is pretty good. And since I'm feeling generous, I'll give the whole issue a [9/10.] I'm not always this nice.