Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 180

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 180
Publication Date: September 2007

Ian Flynn can usually be counted on for a good cliffhanger. After resolving the 'House of Cards” arc, issue 179 ended with Dimitri – former enemy of Knuckles and the Freedom Fighters – barging into New Mobotropolis with a grave warning. He believed that a new Enerjak, the deeply evil and divinely powerful former alter ego, was about to be unleashed. Well, that'll get the kids back next month, won't it? Luckily, Flynn knew going right into another big story arc would exhaust the reader. Issue 180 sets up the adventure to come while giving the audience a little breathing room.

We open with Sonic battling Robotnik's latest, absurd machine. The fight ends when the hedgehog demands a truce with his archenemy. Once the doctor hears that the god-like Enerjak can threaten both of them, he agrees temporarily. Before the newly formed Council of Acorn, Dimitri states his case. The Chaotix are listening in the whole time. Hearing that Knuckles' life may be in jeopardy, Julie-Su demands the team is allowed to visit Angel Island. And she doesn't care what Sonic and the others have to say about that.

Like I said, “Preparation for War!” isn't much more than an extended prologue to what Flynn is planning next. As far as building suspense goes, the story doesn't do a great job. There's been enough foreshadowing – in the comic's recent issue and even over the years – that Knuckles is destined to become the next Enerjak. When the villain shows on the final page, sporting the echidna's distinctive red fur and gloves, the audience isn't surprised. What “Preparation for War!” is really about is checking in with what Julie-Su and the Chaotix are thinking on the eve of a greater conflict. Considering Knuckles' supporting cast has been ignored too often, it's a worthy gesture.

Just on a personal level, I also like to see how cozy New Mobotropolis still is. Nicole's defense systems keep them safe from Robotnik. The strife inside the still new city has been settled. We get a peak at the newly democratic kingdom's Council. In a nice turn, Flynn utilizes some long since forgotten about characters in these newly created positions. Sitting along Uncle Chuck, Rotor, and Tails' mom is Sally's team of Substitute Freedom Fighters. As in Hamlin the Pig, Dylan the Porcupine, and Penelope Platypus. I don't think these guys have had a prominent role in the book since “Brave New World?” I wouldn't say I'm happy to see them but I do appreciate Flynn's willingness to dig deep into the comic's considerable roster of characters.

This story also gives us a further peak at Dimitri, one of Ken Penders' most accidentally compelling characters. As Enerjak and in his early days as the leader of the Dark Legion, he was a totally stereotypical villain. He'd gloat, perform evil deeds, and always allow the good guys to get away despite his massive power. Pretty much the only interesting aspect to arise from Knuckles' green days was Dimitri slowly developing a conscious about his past evil deeds. Since then, he's evolved into a compelling anti-villain: Someone who still isn't exactly good but is trying to do better. His most recent mission has him warning former adversaries about Enerjak's frightening new return. What's impressive about this is how natural the growth has been.

Even in a more character based story such as this one, Flynn remembers to pack in the action that the seven-to-twelve year old boys expect. “Preparation for War!” actually starts with an amusing bit of comic book-y shenanigans. Sonic appears fighting Robotnik's new invention: The Egg-Nautilus. That's a giant robot squid in a curly shell. My favorite moment occurs after the fight is over. When the Nautilus spends its tentacles like a propeller, flying off! Despite what the cover promises, the truce between Sonic and Robotnik play a small role in the story. It's not a great alliance but clearly a strictly temporary armistice. But fake-out covers are part and parcel for the comic business.

I guess the threat of Sonic and his greatest enemy teaming up draws eyes more than Sonic fighting with the Chaotix, especially since Knuckles is currently separated from his team. In truth, that conflict with the Chaotix is the main point of this issue. Like the hedgehog's struggle with Tails last month, the fight happens for natural reasons. The Chaotix have orders to stay in Mobius. They don't intend to obey those orders because Knuckles is in danger. That's decent writing, especially when you have dynamically drawn panels of Sonic fighting the team without really fighting him. Moreover, this plot point draws attention to Julie-Su's dominating personality trait and the reason she's one of my faves: Julie-Su is a bad bitch that follows her heart and does what needs to be done, damn the consequences.

In keeping with what happened last month, the fight is ultimately resolved with words. Sally, once again, marches into the middle of the fight and talks everyone out of fighting. (Sally playing the role of negotiator two months in a row might be a point of criticism but it fits her so well. She's always been a tactician, after all.) The two factions agree that fighting isn't necessary, that it's easier and prudent to just let Julie-Su and the Chaotix do what they want to do. Gee, why aren't more comic book fights resolved that way, with people talking things out and realizing there's no reason to fight? This stuff is certainly more compelling than the scenes on Angel Island, of Scourge and Fiona shooting the shit while Dr. Finitevus plots ominously.

Once again, Ian sticks a game adaptation in the back pages. “High Stakes on the High Sea” is based off the then-new Nintendo DS game, “Sonic Rush Adventure.” Anyway, the story begins with Sonic and Tails awakening on a mysterious beach, disorientated and confused. They are quickly met by Marine, a raccoon who fancies herself a sailor. She yanks a Chaos Emerald out of nowhere and explains that some bad guy called Captain Whiskers is after this MacGuffin. Just then, a green robot calling himself Rocket swoops in and grabs the jewel. And we're off.

Unlike the “Sonic Rush” and “Sonic Riders” adaptions, Ian doesn't stretch this one out for two installments. Instead, this glorified advertisement for a new video game only goes on for a few pages. It ends by imploring the reader to go out and buy the game. To be totally honest, “Sonic Rush Adventure” is one of those Sonic titles I tend to completely forget about. Having said that, this one-shot does introduce Marine the Raccoon. She's a fun character, rambling out pseudo-pirate lingo that she clearly doesn't understand. Despite the obvious potential she has, Marine would only appear one or two more times.

Issue 180 is obviously a transitional book, bridging the gap between one big story line to the next. As far as these things go, it's pretty well done though. The character work is decent, the stakes are personal, and the action is effective. The back-up is mostly useless but I still enjoyed this one. [7/10]