Sonic Universe: Issue 8

Sonic Universe: Issue 8
Publication Date: September 2009

I hope you like Argyle hanging out on the cover like that, because that's the most interaction he has with the actual team throughout this whole comic book. Anyway, “Mobius: 30 Years Later” wraps up with “The Freedom Fighters of the Future.” As Tikhaos rampages through the city of Portal, Sonic officially dubs the team of teenagers the new Freedom Fighters. While the youngsters hope to hold off the giant monster, Sonic runs off to rescue his family. Lastly, Silver is also doing stuff.

The giant water monster rampaging through a major city supersedes all other crises, it would seem. I wish Ian Flynn had given Lien-Da's quest of vengeance against King Sonic a little more room to breathe, before killing her off last issue. It would've been nice if we could've gotten a panel of Rutan reacting to Tikhaos' appearance or something. Instead, Flynn more-or-less cans all the other arc's story lines in favor of heroes-vs-monster theatrics. In the face of Tikhaos' rampage, the Dark Presence even form a temporary truce with the Kingdom, freeing Tails and Mina. I sorta feel like I signed up for one arc and got a different one instead.

King Shadow doesn't even get much to do in this issue. He gets a whole page devoted to a monologue, where he explains his motivation for unleashing a hyper-destructive kaiju. And it's actually fairly impressive, as he apologizes to Maria for failing to bring peace to the world. It helps crystallize Shadow's thought process. He has a very literal interpretation of “peace.” Disappointingly, this is King Shadow's only appearance in this comic book. You'd think after unleashing a watery destructive god, the royalty would be interested in tracking him down. Instead, Sonic and the new Freedom Fighters conclude this issue by posing.

If it wasn't clear already, from the title on down to everything else I've said about this issue, Flynn is using Universe 8 to establish the Future Freedom Fighters. On one hand, this does lead to some decent moments. Lara-Su taking on a leadership role, successfully containing a giant monster, is a logical conclusion to her path towards being a guardian. Manik and Sonia saving the day, delivering the killing blow to Tikhaos, is a nice touch. However, most of the characters remain pretty underdeveloped. Jacques and Belle are mostly defined by their various abilities. Skye and Melody have a handful of personality treats. Skye is shy, Melody loves her super speed. But that's about it. That action scenes are neat, which involves our heroes weaving around plenty of lashing tentacles, but there's not very many reasons for us to care about these new characters yet.

You might have notice above, how I mentioned two toddlers take out Tikhaos. That's not really what makes the conclusion so underwhelming. It's just that things are wrap up so quickly. It seems like Tikhaos reeks havoc for a few minutes before being defeated. The script constantly reminds the reader that Tikhaos isn't as powerful or stable as Perfect Chaos. Yet just a single tap to the brain finishing the beast off doesn't make for the most dramatic conclusion. Shadow was really counting on this monster decimating the world, or at least the Floating Island. That it fails so easily undermines his villainous scheming abilities quite a bit. Once again, it seems to me Flynn was shoving two different story arcs into one.

During all the action, the most likable moments emerged between the parents and their kids. After Sonic swoops into the castle to rescue Sally and his children, Manak and Sonia get super excited by the prospect of running down the side of the building. It's amusing to see an older, wiser Sonic react to his son and daughter's enthusiasm for adventuring. Later, Mina is reunited with Skye and Melody and seems deeply grateful that they are unharmed. Again, the genuine love she has for her kids shine through, even if those kids aren't the most developed. The book needed a little more stuff like that.

As further proof that this story got a little bloated near the end, Flynn still has to give Silver something to do. He finally awakes from his stupor early on and then holds Tikhaos back for a few minutes with his psychic powers. During that sequence, Silver promises not to fail again, which brings some maturity to his bumbling personality. Sadly, as with Shadow, Silver doesn't have too many other appearances in this issue. In fact, I'm not quite sure his inclusion in this story line was warranted, considering he spent most of it unconscious. Still, what's there of Silver is decent. I just wish he was given a little more to do.

As far as I can remember, this was the only appearance of the Future Freedom Fighters, as well as the last story set in the 30 Years Later setting. Considering Sega didn't like Sonic to be seen aging, a corporate mandate might've put the kibosh on further stories in this timeline. Which is something of a shame. This storyline was just overcrowded. I would've liked to have seen more adventures revolving around these new characters, seeing how the next generation of Freedom Fighters settle into their row. Alas. As it is, the second “Sonic Universe” arc had a strong start but tried to do too much in its second half, weakening the overall story. That's how it goes sometimes, I guess. [6/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 7

Sonic Universe: Issue 7
Publication Date: August 2009

During my previous “Sonic Universe” review, I expressed some concern over whether King Shadow re-entering this story would derail it. Up until his release at the end of last issue, the “30 Years Later” arc had been about the Dark Presence trying to sabotage the peace King Sonic has established over the planet. Shadow butting back into the plot changed the arc's priority. Now, it's another story about the evil future version of Shadow and his tendency to rule the world with an iron fist. Which is fine but Flynn already told that story, during the last future set arc. Well, turns out the writer's entire objective for this story was different from what I was expecting.

In “What's Old is New Again,” Lara-Su and King Sonic seek out Vector's son, Argyle. Skye and Melody, Mina and Tails' kids, tag along. Afterwards, Argyle introduces Jacques and Belle, the cyborg children of Antoine and Bunnie. Sonic immediately christens the group the Freedom Fighters. They race off to the Castle, sneaking inside and successfully beating up some Dark Presence's agents. Meanwhile, in the castle's depths, King Shadow unleashes a terrible threat that totally derails Lien-Da's plot and endangers the entire world.

Yep, turns out this story arc wasn't about how peace is hard to keep in the long term, how the past is never really done with the present. Instead, “30 Years Later” is about forming the Future Freedom Fighters. Yes, there's something irresistible about the kids of the current Freedom Fighters forming a new team. I mean, “Sonic the Hedgehog: The Next Generation” is a fan fiction just begging to be written. I guess, in my elderly dotage, blatant fan-baiting like this is less interesting to me than exploring the sociopolitical ramifications of the good guys actually winning.

Sadly, the introduction to this new team is very rushed. We're just getting to know Melody and Skye at this point, though both seem promising. We already know Argyle but, like too many of Ken Penders' creations, he wasn't developed much during his last appearance. Here, Ian Flynn turns Argyle into the Smart Guy of the group, a computer hacker and an expert in surveillance. The writer than dumps Belle and Jacques on us. No, he doesn't explain why Bunnie's children would also be cyborgs. (Or how Bunnie, whose reproductive organs have presumably been replaced with machinery, can even have children.) From the little we've seen of Jacques and Belle, they're basically clones of their parents. I just wish Ian would've introduced these two sooner, instead of dropping them in the last third of an already busy story arc.

Really, the only character development of the Future Freedom Fighters we get are romantic in nature. It's already been hinted that Lara-Su and Argyle have feeling for each other, an idea Flynn runs with. Flynn hints at a potential love-square or something when Jacques makes goo-goo eyes at Lara-Su and Belle suggestively rubs Argyle's chest, making the others jealous. Later, Jacques swoops in and rescues Melody Prower, making the mongoose swoon. And least we forget that it's already been established that Skye has a little crush on Lara-Su, a point Flynn can barely bother to include this time. I've got no problem with shipping but let's actually develop the characters before we give them a half-dozen potential pairings, please.

Future, pissed-off Lien-Da made for a strong villain for this arc. Reintroducing King Shadow essentially removes Lien-Da's purpose from the story. Then Flynn has Shadow literally remove Lien-Da from the story. He crunches the special bracelet that keeps Lien-Da in this time line or something, wiping her from existence. I'm going to miss Lien-Da with extra evil but this move is so ruthless, so sudden, that it reestablishes Shadow as a hardened, threatening villain. It's rare that we see a character outright murder another person in this comic, so the scene certainly makes an impression on the reader.

The horrible, world-threatening monstrosity that Shadow unleashes in the castle's basement is also a new character... Kind of. In an amusing panel, Queen Sally references dangerous objects Sonic and the gang encountered at some point in the future. Such as an Anarchy Beryl Bomb and E-107 Theta. But the most dangerous artifact is Tikhaos. Yeah, at some point, Tikal and Chaos were merged into a drippy villain that hungers for Chaos energy and turns into a giant monster when it gets too much. No, this doesn't make too much sense. However, I'm a sucker for stuff like this, obscure references to long past stories. The idea that Sonic and the others have trophies or artifacts from previous, unseen adventures – like Batman with his giant penny and robot dinosaur – is irresistible. And Tikhaos, with a body half-way between a liquid and a solid, is a memorably grotesque enemy.

If you're just reading this story for action scenes, “Sonic Universe: Issue 7” does satisfy. There's a pretty cool bit where Skye, still trying to control his tails, is unleashed on some Dark Presence soldiers. He spins around the room, like the Tasmanian Devil, and knocks everyone unconscious. There's also some neat panels, displaying the Future Freedom Fighters' various super powers. Yes, Jacques and Belle can fly. And have a sword and blaster hand, for some reason. Melody has super speed, obviously inherited from her mother. I guess Mobian genetics, which obviously make no damn sense anyway, work that way.

I guess I should be happy that Flynn manages to juggle so many characters and not totally loose the reader. In addition to the multiple villains and new heroes, Sally, the kids, and Silver are still floating around the plot. Sadly, this quartet spend the entire issue hiding in a panic room beneath the castle. This obviously serves two purposes. To get the really young kids out of danger, so Flynn doesn't have to write the uncomfortable inevitability of toddlers being shot at. The other purpose is to remove Silver from the main story for a while, since the time traveling hedgehog's psychic powers could probably resolve the plot in a few minutes. This is awkward but it does lead to one good moment. While Sally is getting the kids the panic room, she uses special language so her children don't get too scared. That's nice parenting.

I was mostly with the “30 Years Later” story arc up to this point but Flynn starts to slip a bit with this one. I like a couple of the individual scenes, especially that shocking moment when Shadow callously exterminates Lien-Da. However, the script is just trying to do too many things. Flynn is shoving a story into four issues that probably should've been told over six or eight. That would've given us time to get to know Belle and Jacques more, at the very least. [6/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 6

Sonic Universe: Issue 6
Publication Date: July 2009

It recently came to my attention that, at least among certain corners of the Sonic Tumblr fandom, that the future set story lines are not well regarded. Consider me surprised. Back in the day, I remember Archie Sonic fans generally enjoying “25 Years Later.” When Ian Flynn revisited the setting with the “Sonic Universe: 30 Years Later,” I wasn't hanging out on Sonic forums very much. But I enjoyed it at the very least. That story line would continue to roll along solidly in issue 6.

“Dark Siege” is densely plotted, as far as these things go. It concerns the Dark Presence's multi-pronged attack on Sonic's kingdom. Tails and Mina are attacked in their hotel room, the kids barely escaping. Lara-Su leaps into action just as Silver, who was trying to explain his mission to King Sonic and Queen Sally, gets knocked unconscious by an undercover agent. Lara-Su, Sonic, and the Prower kids run off to fight against the attack just as Lien-Da digs into the castle's bowels and frees Shadow. That's quite a lot of story for a short comic book.

In 2009, Silver the Hedgehog was still regarded by most fans as an unfortunate symptom of the widely loathed “Sonic '06.” The time tossed, telekinetic hedgehog's previous appearance in the ass end of the “Hedgehog Havoc” story line did little to change the image fans had of him. He was another self-serious, super powerful, ambiguously allied character. With issue 6 of “Sonic Universe,” Flynn begins his rehabilitation of Silver. After announcing his serious goal, saving the world from some catastrophe brought about by a traitor, Silver immediately stumbles. He's not certain he's in the right era. When he questions Sonic about the mechanics of time travel, the King tells him not to worry. Later, he's face-palming, realizing he's screwed up. In other words, Silver is an inexperienced kid, uncertain what to do and prone to frequent mistakes. This humanizes the superpowered character, suddenly making him likable.

Something Flynn did well during his last stop over in the “25 Years Later” setting was establishing the bond Sonic and Sally have as husband and wife. You certainly got the impression that they loved each other, unlike the clear resentment that boiled under their conversations when Penders wrote the couple. One of the highlights of “Dark Siege” is a conversation Sonic and Sally have in the middle of the book. Sonic insists Sally take the kids and flee. She is resistant to this idea, refusing to be the damsel in distress. This leads to a brief argument that ends with a big kiss. Awwww. They argue because both are worried about each other's safety, their frustration is based in love. That's how you do it.

We don't have as much of a bead on Tails and Mina's relationship but Flynn still handles their one scene together in this issue well enough. After Tails is gassed by a Dark Presence agent, Mina grabs the kids and speeds out of the hotel room. (Which is a nice reminder that Mina has super speed.) It says a lot about Mina that her first instinct is to make sure her children are safe. Mina also shows some strength when heading back to rescue Tails. She still gets knocked unconscious but angry and driven are moods that fit Mina surprisingly well. I kind of wish Flynn brought that same attitude to modern day Mina a little more often.

There's some decent action sequences in this one too, mostly devoted to showing that King Sonic still has it. After the family maid reveals herself to be a double agent, Sonic slams her into the wall with surprising ferocity. Seems he doesn't appreciate someone endangering his wife and kids. Later, he teams up with Lara-Su. She's already taken some soldiers out off-screen but Sonic spin-dashes the sole remaining agent into unconsciousness. This leads to a potentially absurd moment. The Dark Presence has hacked the castle's security system. Which includes, for some reason, laser cannons in the wall. It's a silly sequence but watching Sonic and Lara-Su dodge some red laser blast of death is, admittedly, an arresting visual.

The second part of “30 Years Later” rolls along very nicely. Except for one detail. We still don't have much of a bead on the story's enemies. Yes, it's established that Lien-Da's grudge against the royal family is entirely personal. Yet the rest of the Dark Presence seems to be acting evil strictly so the story can have a villain. The closing scene, where Lien-Da awakens King Shadow, is strictly perfunctory. However, the Dark Legion subplot does produce one scene I like. After the assassination attempt, Lara-Su immediately confronts Rutan, Lien-Da's son. The argument between cousins is defused when Dimitri enters the scene, talking some reason into Lara-Su. I continue to like Future Dimitri's characterization as a mellow elder, whose days of villainy is far behind him.

The second “Sonic Universe” story arc isn't balancing character development and action as deftly as the first did, thus far. Still, I like the little details we've seen and generally enjoy how lived-in this universe feels. It's clear that Flynn is so comfortable with the “Sonic” cast by this point that he has no problem writing older, more mature versions of them. Will King Shadow's reemergence derail this story line? Well, I guess we'll find out. Until then, I'm sticking with the positive score. [7/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 5

Sonic Universe: Issue 5
Publication Date: June 2009

I have no idea how popular the “25 Years Later” setting was when it first appeared in the Archie “Sonic the Hedgehog” comics. Now, of course, the story line is regarded very poorly, as the internet hates everything Ken Penders has ever done. Even I have mixed feelings about it and I liked it a lot more than anybody else did. The fact that Archie kept revisiting the setting suggests to me that the “25 Years Later” period must have been popular. The second “Sonic Universe” story arc would take place in this possible future, focusing primarily on Lara-Su.

Flynn has skipped the clock ahead five more years, which makes this the “30 Years Later” setting, I guess. After usurping King Shadow, Sonic and Sally have ruled in peace. Lara-Su is fully established as Angel Island's Guardian. Yet the peaceful period means she's got so much free time, she can babysit Sonic and Sally's kids, Sonia and Manik. All is not well, however. The Dark Presence, led by Lien-Da, is plotting a comeback. Just as Lien-Da puts the king in her sights, an unexpected visitor saves the day.

One of the elements of Penders' original “25 Years Later” plot I wasn't too crazy about was Prince Manik and Princess Sonia. Sonia was a complete non-entity, an identical copy of her mother. Manik, meanwhile, was an obnoxious asshole and budding sexual predator. Flynn completely revamps the royal children. Due to the timeline getting rejiggered by Sonic's time travel shenanigans, the kids are only five years old now. (Which suggests Sonic and Sally got right to continuing the royal bloodline.) So now Manik and Sonia are hyper-active kids, with active imaginations and more energy then they know what to do with. This, too, could've come off as annoying but the writer manages to keep the kids cute, rather than irritating.

Truthfully, opening “Five Years of Peace” with Lara-Su babysitting the prince and princess is a nice way to ease readers back into the setting. “25 Years Later” had a slice-of-life style that was badly bungled by Penders' typically glacial pacing. Flynn does the same thing much better here. The kids dancing and singing when Lara-Su walks through the door is sweet. Getting the kids in bed is such a task that Lara-Su has to employ her Guardian superpowers to restrain them. Later, she interrupts a pillow fight and gets whacked in the face for her troubles. It manages to endear the children and Lara-Su to the reader.

“Five Years of Peace” also builds on a previous pairing that was established in this future setting. It was previously mentioned that Tails and Mina got married at some point. We actually get to see the future mongoose now, who is sporting a super cute paigeboy haircut. We also meet their offspring: Melody the Mongoose and Skye the Fox. We don't get much more than an introduction to the kids, though Melody appears especially sassy and Skye seems shy and insecure. (And might have a crush on Lara-Su.) Sonic shippers being who they are, some dislike the Tails/Mina pairing but, honestly, I can't be bothered to be bothered. These two are together in the future. Get used to it.

In a not-too-subtle example of exposition, Flynn opens this story with a news reporter filling the reader in on what's happen over the last five years. (In a cute touch, the reporter is an adult version of Sasha the Cat, one of the orphans Rosie takes care of.) In Penders' “25 Years Later,” King Sonic was so precarious as to come off as a real jerk. Flynn shows Sonic enjoying his royal status a little more. His general love for the world lets him rule with a balanced hand. We get a peek at his orating skills during a big speech he makes in this issue's back half. This is a more mature Sonic, one who has accumulated to ruling the free world.

Lien-Da's assassination attempt provides the big action set piece for this issue. But there's a little more to it than that. The sequence of Lara-Su gliding around, stopping a pair of assumed assassins, only to realize they're decoys too late, is mildly suspenseful. What makes this scene really work is the real anger and resentment Lien-Da feels towards the king. Apparently, as part of King Sonic's restructuring of the world, Lien-Da has been separated from her son. That's a pretty good reason to be pissed off. The assassination isn't motivated just because of politics or because Lien-Da is naturally evil. That adds some much appreciated depth.

“Five Years of Peace” concludes with Silver dropping in, being the deus ex machina just needed to save Sonic's ass. I don't remember where Flyyn goes with that one or how this story turned out. I do think this first part is quite good, balancing the details of this future world, moving along nicely, and making you actually care about the characters. Hey, man, that's all I really ask from this book. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167
Publication Date: October 2006

Before I get on with my review of “Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167,” which contains the second half of Ian Flynn's first stab at the “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting, let's talk about the two most recent covers. Yes, for some reason, Archie invited Sanford Greene back to do some covers. Greene would mostly be a transitional artist between Patrick Spaziante being the main cover artist and Tracy Yardley taking over cover duties for the most part. While Greene's covers for issues 166 and 167 are slightly better then his past works, his take on the Sonic cast still look a little off. On this cover, for example, everyone's head is a little too big and the perspective is kind of weird. I'm pretty sure Greene would only do one more cover for the series but don't quote me on that.

The main story in issue 167 is subtitled “Tempus Aetenrus,” because Flynn loves his Latin apparently. Anyway, after being cornered by Knuckles' forces last time, Sonic, Tails, and Lara-Su are tossed in the dungeon with Rotor. Luckily, it's just a trick, as Knuckles reveals himself as a double agent for the resistance. Now free, Sonic marches into the throne room, ready to confront King Shadow head on. Yet the middle-aged Sonic isn't as much of a match for Shadow as he was in the past, forcing an unexpected hero to emerge.

Even though they are currently having adventures in the main timeline, I still get a rush out of seeing Sonic and the gang go on an adventure together. The opening scene of issue 167 is devoted to Sonic, Tails, and Lara-Su cracking jokes in the dungeon. That sets the light tone of adventure and fun that characterizes the entire issue. The image of Sonic and Knuckles running through the hallways, sniping jokes at each other, is something that always amuses me. The straight-ahead plot flow of this story – heroes attempt to overthrow evil king – makes for a smooth, quick moving script.

There's really only one major action beat in this issue, though it comprises the entire second half of the script. However, the story features another great bit of action illustration from Tracy Yardley. Sonic races forward and slugs Shadow in the face. He shrugs this blow off. Afterwards, he throws his cape off. Before the cape hits the ground, which is brilliantly illustrated in a series of isolated panels, Shadow has beaten Sonic into submission. Not only does this emphasize the raw power Shadow has, his often boasted abilities as the Ultimate Lifeform getting an actual display, it also gives Sonic another far-too-rare vulnerable moment.
The ending to “Tempus Aetenrus” comes off as slightly sudden. After Sonic takes the fall, Lara-Su leaps into the battle. After trading blows with Shadow for a minute, she utilizes Chaos Control to freeze the black hedgehog in his place. It's a slightly underwhelming conclusion, as King Shadow is defeated far too easily after so much build-up. Though Lara-Su is clearly powerful, it's also somewhat jarring to see a teenage girl opposing such an unstoppable character with so little effort. Still, it is nice to see Knuckles' daughter get a victorious moment to herself.

After all the action theatrics are wrapped up, Sonic and Sally take the throne once more. This leads to easily the most touching moment in the issue. The hedgehog and the chipmunk sit together in a private area. Slowly, they draw closer. After so many years apart, their reunion is awkward. Yet, as their hearts take the lead, they pull each other into for a kiss. (Which Yardley sweetly draws attention to, framing the kiss in a heart-shaped panel.) This sequence features some of Flynn's best dialogue thus far. I especially like Sonic's sheepish admission that he wants kids.
The back-up story is another contribution from Romy Chacon, who was less retired than I guess. In “Hedgehog Day,” Sonic is awoken by his alarm clock. After Scourge and CroctoBot crashed his previous birthday party, Knothole is throwing him a second one. And he's late. While rushing to get to the party, he trips and breaks his leg. Sonic awakens the next to the exact same situation. The day is seemingly repeating itself until Sonic finally makes it to the party without incidence.

Yes, this is a take-off on “Groundhogs Day.” No, it's not an especially good one. Unlike Harold Ramis' famous film, Sonic isn't trapped in repeating loop because he needs to become a better person. He's trapped, for reasons that are never explained, to facilitate the moral of setting your alarm clock for the right time. Chacon's script features mostly lame jokes. Such as Mina's latest hit being entitled “Soldier Boy” - presumably she implores us to crank dat? - or each day concluding with Sonic in the hospital, a new citizen threatening to file a frivolous lawsuit against him. The most outrageous of these scenarios is, after Sonic decides he's just not leaving his house, when a group of paparazzi climb onto his roof and fall inside, all of them ending up in the hospital together.

Drawing “Hedgehog Day” is Dave Manak, one of the series' earliest artists returning after a long hiatus. I'll give Manak this much. He's finally made some attempt to update his style. Sonic and the gang are portrayed with the longer torsos and more anime-esque facial designs that they gained in the franchise's later years. Otherwise, Manak's artwork is as angular and cartoony as always. Panels devoted to Sonic spitting out his toothpaste are unintentionally grotesque. The nosy reporters have instantly forgettable designs. Sonic's hut looks entirely different from previous portrayals. (So does the Race Car Bed, which I guess didn't get thrown out after all.) It's about the same level of quality Manak has always contributed: Decent, but still kind of ugly.

A lame back-up story can't take away from the quality of the cover story, which is quite good. Flynn continues to redefine the comic, cranking out solid action yarns that respect the characters and their universe. Though intended to be the final “25 Years Later” story, this arc would prove so popular that Flynn would give the setting more chances in the future, devoting a “Sonic Universe” arc to far flung future versions of Sonic and the gang. In other words: In two comics, Flynn manage to entice fans more then Ken Penders' did over an entire year. Go figure. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 166

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 166
Publication Date: September 2006

The exact reason why Ken Penders left Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book has often been speculated. Did the conflicts with the other writers eventually push him out? Did Archie actually fire him, annoyed by the book's floundering quality? One theory, it seems, has risen to the top. Rumor has it that Sega demanded that Ken incorporate Shadow the Hedgehog into his “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting. Apparently this was the breaking point for Ken, who was reportedly already frustrated with Sega's influence over the comic. I can't recall if any of this has ever been officially confirmed. Considering the way Sega was pushing Shadow around 2005, it wouldn't surprise me. If this was true, Ian Flynn would utilize this plot idea to breath some life into “25 Years Later” when he re-visited the concept in issue 166.

When Sonic was shot back through time in issue 144, he succeeded in preventing whatever disaster that was causing the world to break apart. His actions had an unforeseen side effect though. He returned to a new future, totally unlike what he remembered. Now a tyrannical Shadow the Hedgehog rules over Mobius with an iron fist. He has assumed the throne, by marrying Sally. The Chaotix are utilized as his personal goon squad, crushing any rebellion. Despite the changes, Sonic, Tails, and many of the other former Freedom Fighters maintain their memories of the original future. Tails recruits Lara-Su to find Sonic and lead a coup against the wicked King Shadow.

The “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting was precious to Ken Penders. His desire to continue that story line as the much mocked “Lara-Su Chronicles” makes that much clear. If Sega insisting on King Shadow is a true rumor, it's easy to see why the order would upset him so. Issue 166's “Tempus Fugit” shows Ken's utopian future Mobius transformed into a cruel dictatorship. Shadow is portrayed as an brutal ruler, having assassinated Cobar off-screen, and torturing Rotor in the dungeon for information. (Lien-Da appears as a high-ranking enforcer, a position she both enjoys and dreads, as Shadow doesn't tolerate her penchant for treachery.) It's something of a morbid joke that Shadow the Hedgehog would ultimately be a more effective dictator than Dr. Robotnik ever was.

While I don't have the antipathy for Ken's setting that many do, I'll admit that Shadow's dystopia is a bit more interesting then Ken's perfect world. That future Mobius was so free of conflict that the heroes' marital problems were the main source of drama. Though our glimpses at this version of Mobius are limited, we do see a couple of nice touches. Like the Orwellian poster spread about the city proclaiming that “The Chaotix are Watching You” or multiple statues seemingly deifying Maria Robotnik as a pure, angelic being.

This story also places Sonic the Hedgehog in a vulnerable places. When Tails and Lara-Su track him down, he's homeless on the streets. His ears are bent back, his shoes are full of holes, his face is wrinkled. He's eating a chili dog seemingly covered in green fuzz. Seeing his wife married to a wicked villain was a huge blow for him. Moreover, Sonic and Sally's kids do not exist in this new timeline. The situation is so bad for him that he nearly cries, as actual, full-blown tears were forbidden by Sega. Even without the water works, this is easily the lowest Archie has ever taken Sonic. The hedgehog is not doing well.

If “Tempus Fugit” has a major problem, it's that the story ends just when things are really getting good. Most of part one is devoted to setting up the situation. So Tails and Sonic's tearful reunion features some dialogue about what happened. That he's built a device able to protect people from the old timeline, that those close to Sonic's trip maintain some memories. Just when Lara-Su and Tails talk the fragile hedgehog into fighting once more, a team of shock troops led by Knuckles close in on them. And that's where the story ends. It's a decent set-up, with some solid emotional moments and a few nice touches. But I wish it was given a little more room to breath.

The cover story probably feels short because the back-up story is longer than the usual five pages.  “The Chaotix Connection” is a collaboration between Flynn and Romy Chacon, with the likely conclusion being that Flynn fleshed out Chacon's outline. Anyway, Renfield T. Rodent – remember him? - was freed from echidnan prison when Robotnik took over Angel Island. The rat fled to Station Square, where he's built a new casino. The President of the city rightfully feels he might be up to something. So the Chaotix, along with Rouge who has been granted temporary membership on the team, are sent to investigate. They uncover another half-assed but dangerous plot from the bad guy.

“The Chaotix Connection” is something like a spiritual sequel to “The Chaotix Caper.” That previous adventure is referenced a few times, with Mighty and Espio being concerned that Renfield has poisoned the casino's food. This story is not as dark as that one, as there's no children dying from drug poisoning and no mass dosings of L.S.D. In fact, “The Chaotix Connection” is pretty silly. The Rodent has been ordered by Eggman to hypnotize anyone who stares at his slot machines for too long. This is a plot to grab the brain waves of the Chaotix, downloading them into a new set of Auto-Automatons. This includes the goofy sights of the Chaotix with mesmerized, swirly eyes. It also features an android horse with a rocket punch, a henchman granted to Renfield by Robotnik.

Despite these goofy moments, it's still satisfying to see the Chaotix working together as a team on another crime story-like adventure. Mighty shows off his strength, rolling Renfield's machines into a giant ball of scrap. Julie-Su blows the android horse's head off. Yet my favorite moments in this story involve Julie-Su and Rouge's growing rivalry over Knuckles. The bat continues to ruffle the echidna's feathers, Knuckles forced to separate them at one point. That seems like a juicy plot point but, sadly, Rouge and Julie-Su share little panel time after that.

What truly makes “The Chaotix Connection” an important story is its art. This would be Jay Axer's final credit on Archie's “Sonic” book. As always, Axer's work is phenomenal. The story opens with a startling one-page spread of Knuckles tied up, spit being substituted for blood running from his mouth. As always, Axer brings a very high level of detail to his work. All the characters, even the minor ones working in the loading bay, are incredibly detailed and well thought out. Despite Rouge wearing her odd “Sonic Heroes” get-up, Axer still draws her better than anyone else. It's also worth noting that Axer was one of the few artists on this book who could draw decent looking humans. Archie never utilized Axer very well, usually sticking him on back-up story duty, yet his artwork continued to be some of the best ever featured in the book. I'll miss the guy, for sure.

The back-up story isn't the best to be featured in the book, even if the artwork is great. It's a bit of a shame that a middling story like this took away page space from the cover story, which probably needed the breathing room. Still, this is a solid over all issue, featuring one story that shows a lot of promising ideas and a back-up that features some killer artwork. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 144

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 144
Publication Date: December 2004

The “Mobius: 25 Years Later” story arc has been running in the back pages of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series since December of 2003. After a year of getting half the book to itself, which lead to a sometimes overly relaxed pacing, the possible future of Sonic and his friends gets a cover story to itself. Probably because this promised to be the final story in that setting for quite some time. Let's get to it.

Rotor and Cobar have finally figured out a way to possibly avert the incoming apocalypse. The Royal Family and Knuckles travel to the Badlands, which appear to be the radioactive remains of Old Robotropolis. Under the blasted out wastelands, they crawl towards Robotnik's time displacement machine, the device which will toss Sonic into the past and hopefully save the world. Unbeknownst to Sonic or her father, Lara-Su is a stowaway on their plane, eager to join the adventure.

“The Die is Cast” is mostly concerned with barreling towards “25 Years Later's” quasi-conclusion. However, the issue does sneak in some cute moments between the characters. At the story's start, Knuckles informs Lara-Su that her training to become a Guardian will officially begin as soon as he gets back from this mission. Her reaction, to leap excited into his arms and give him a big hug, seems very genuine and charming. When Julie-Su hears Knuckles is going on this one without her, he defuses the tension with a big meaningful kiss. I'm not sure why Knuckles excluded Julie-Su on this mission but it's nice that Ken took the time to ask her opinion.

If “The Die is Cast” provides a satisfying conclusion to anything, it's King Sonic's recent bad mood. The hedgehog hero has spent most of this story arc in a funk, feeling neurotic about his status as royalty. In “The Die is Cast,” he finally gets over himself. Rotor informs Sonic that there might not be a way to get him back to this time line, that he might end up stuck in the past. Sonic leaves no doubt that he's willing to do this. It's nice to finally see Sonic man up and act like the hero we all know he is. Should've happened a lot sooner, if you asked me.

Archie would be putting the “Mobius: 25 Years Later” alternate universe on the shelf for a while after this story line, not returning to it until after Ian Flynn came onto the book. I'm not sure why they picked this particular point to table things for now. It ends on a huge cliffhanger. Something goes wrong with the time displacement machine, Sonic being tossed to unknown whereabouts. Simultaneously, Lara-Su begins to fade from existence like Marty McFly's siblings in “Back to the Future.” The exact cause for this is still up in the air and we won't get any answers for a while now. Which is a disappointing conclusion to one of a hugely uneven but intermittently touching story arc.

The back-up story returns to the present timeline. “Love and Loss” focuses on the wildly popular Knothole News, a publication that apparently someone in Knothole has the time and resources to assemble, publish, and distribute. The paper is so popular because of a romance advice column called “Dear Aly.” The story covers four letters written to the columnist. The first is from Bunnie, still torn up over Antoine's personality shift. The second is from Mina, who is debating over ditching Ash or attempting to pursue the newly single Sonic. The third is from Amy, who is still struggling to get over her crush on Sonic. The last letter is from Sally... Which is funny, since Sally is Dear Aly.

By focusing on emotion, “Love and Loss” addresses a few of the things “Sonic” fans have actually been wondering about recently. Such as “Is Bunnie okay?” The answer seems to be “Maybe not.” She's a mess, weeping openly, desperate for answers, her heart torn up by Antoine's cruel rejection of her. Something else fans are wondering is what the hell Sally has been thinking. “Love and Loss” confronts this as well. She regrets slapping Sonic, realizing she overreacted. It provides some insight into her rejection of Sonic, that she's afraid of loosing him again. (This is still bullshit, as I refuse to believe Sally would be that petty, but it's something.) The story concludes with Sally hoping to talk things over with Sonic, to reevaluate the changes in their lives. Moreover, she promises not to let this relationship drama hold her back. It's a positive change, if nothing else.

Because just focusing on Bunnie and Sally's strife probably wouldn't be enough, “Love and Loss” also devotes some page to Sonic's stalkers admirers. That Mina is still holding a torch for Sonic is not surprising but somewhat disappointing. Seems to me that love triangle was murdered and buried a while ago. I guess Mina's feelings die harder than John McClane though. Still, Mina's reaction to Aly's response – tossing a photo of Sonic over her bed into the trash and calling Ash up for a late night booty call – is cute. As for Amy, I do like her ignoring Aly's answer, which the advice columnist predicted. Seems realistic for a girl that is physically a teenager but emotionally still a ten year old. It also must be really easy for Sally to figure out who wrote each letter.

Jon Gray, who I'm no fan of, draws “Love and Loss.” Gray's loose, cartoony style is far better suited to a low key character story like this than a big action epic like “Return to Angel Island.” Considering it's a story focused on emotions, Gray's tendency to exaggerate everyone's facial expressions actually works in this one's favor. Bunnie's face twisting in tearful agony is effecting. A panel devoted to her holding her tear-strewn face really gets to me. Amy's blunt dismissal of the Aly's response works equally well. I even like the kind of cute opening scene, devoted to people swarming the newsstand. Gray should stick to stories like these, is what I'm saying, I guess.

That back-up story makes up for some of the cover story's shortcoming, though it's not enough to boost the entire issue to a generally positive rating. “25 Years Later” wraps up for now and some characters' hearts still aching proves a little more compelling. Over all, issue 144 is another deeply uneven issue, bringing a deeply uneven year to its conclusion. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 143

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 143
Publication Date: December 2004

Before getting to the heart of the review, let's talk about that cover. Last time, it made sense for Sonic and Hope to be seated before a scroll depicting the Original Freedom Fighters. This time, Sonic is shown gasping in front of another scroll showing the Original Freedom Fighters' final mission. There's a disconnect between the two images and, for once, I really have to question Patrick Spaziante's design decisions. Text says Sonic will be in danger, which is hugely misleading. Sonic doesn't see any action in this story. So I'm really not sure what's up with that. Anyway, on with the review.

The previous comic ended on a cliffhanger, revealing that the Original Freedom Fighters were betrayed by one of their own. We see this betrayal play out. While journeying into Robotnik's fortress, hoping to pull the King from the Void, Robotnik corners them. He robotocizes the heroes and tosses them into the Void as well. Uncle Chuck records the events, making sure others – including little Hope, born years afterwards – know what happened to Col. Stripe and his men.

One of the reasons I regarded this story arc with such disdain, originally, is because of the identity of the traitor. As previously discussed, the Original Freedom Fighters have barely been developed, meaning any betrayal would barely affected the reader. Yet Romy Chacon finds a way to drain any power from this reveal, by going with the most obvious answer. Trey Scales, the snake, sold the group out to Robotnik. Why? Because he's a snake and treachery is in his nature. What the fuck? That's the lamest justification possible.

Moreover, the comic has to bend over backwards to justify how the Original Freedom Fighters disappeared. The five get robotocized – even Scales, because Robotnik is a bastard without honor – which is a natural decision. He then blows the Original Freedom Fighters into the Void. Which is obviously a messy way to justify why Stripe and the others weren't turned organic along with the other Robians. It also explains why the Freedom Fighters never attempted to rescue Stripe and his friends, why they've never been mentioned before. Yet other characters had to learn of their sacrifice somehow. So Uncle Chuck is awkwardly inserted into this scenario, recording their deaths. Considering he was still brainwashed at the time, I don't how he was able to do this.

Even while dealing with these issues, Chacon does manage to sneak in a few likable moments. A young Sally is visiting Stripe when Sir Peckers gives him news concerning the King's disappearance. This upsets little Sally, causing Stripe to chastise Peckers some. That's a mildly interesting moment. After news of the Original Freedom Fighters' passing, we see a few panels devoted to characters mourning. Such as Julayla and Rosie crying among themselves or others standing around tombstones.

Sonic brings us back around, his re-telling concluding with Sally's decision to form their own Freedom Fighter team. Yet, weirdly, Sonic isn't the one framing this particular story. Instead, it's an off-panel character that, at the end, is revealed to be Hope's history teacher. The teacher is also, apparently, Col. Stripe's widow. Which is a real random decision that comes out of nowhere and doesn't build on anything we saw prior.

Instead of squeezing in three stories, the entire second half of issue 143 is devoted to a new “Mobius: 25 Years Later,” entitled “Father's Day.” Knuckles disappears into the forest without telling his wife and daughter. It turns out, this day is the anniversary of his father's death. Knuckles kneels before Locke's grave, reflecting on the sickness that took his dad's life and how it affected him. Afterwards, he makes the decision to agree to Lara-Su's request, to begin her training as a Guardian.

“Father's Day” was clearly a personal story for Ken Penders. The story is devoted to his father's memory. (Though weirdly, this dedication is cropped out of the digital version.) Perhaps due to this, Ken draws this one by himself. His work is still very stiff but more serviceable than usual. I suspect Locke's death was heavily inspired by how Ken's own father passed. Locke doesn't die via magical shenanigans or from a super villain attack. He instead succumbs to a sick pancreas. On his death bed, Locke does something I would never expect of him. He apologizes. He admits to his son and ex-wife that he made mistakes, that he wasn't the best father and husband he could've been. Considering Locke's staunch refusal to own up to his asshole decisions, this is a surprising turn of events.

Ken being Ken, the story doesn't progress without some obnoxious moments. Knuckles' flashback begins with a superfluous scene where he parts ways with Archimedes. Locke's doctor repeatedly clarifies how strong Locke is, how unusual his illness is. Because Ken's self-insert can't even die humbly. A random explanation of “Ascension Day” - an echidnan holiday – is tossed in. Knuckles and Lara-Le forgive Locke for his mistakes a little too easily, glossing over how complicated their relationships truly are. It also bothers me that Lara-Su has such a small role in a story concerning her. The story also ends on the hilariously overwrought image of Locke and Aurora looking down from heaven on Knuckles.

But it's clear a lot of feeling went into “Father's Day,” that this was an important story for Penders. That sincerity comes through in the final product, even with its flaws. The back-up is, at least, more interesting than the cover story. Still, I came away from this re-read with a little more appreciation for what happened in these two issues. Things weren't all shitty – just mostly shitty – in 2004. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 142

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 142
Publication Date: November 2004

Around November of 2004, my fandom for Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series was not burning so bright. For the first time, I was actually considering not reading the book anymore. I'd like to say this was because I was in high school at the time and had more important things to worry about then cartoon hedgehogs. (I didn't.) Rather, it seemed to me the book had hit a terminally lame spot. The Original Freedom Fighters two-parter, running in issue 142 and 143, was just the latest in a long line of weak stories for the book. At least, that's what I thought back then.

The issue focuses, at first, on Hope, a character we haven't seen in a few months. While working on a book report about the history of the Acorn Kingdom – there's your once-every-six-months reminder the characters still go to school – she comes upon the Original Freedom Fighters. A chance encounter with Sonic has the hedgehog explaining who these previously unheard of characters were and how they inspired Sonic, Sally, and the others to fight Robotnik's tyranny.

The Original Freedom Fighters are, admittedly, an awkward insertion into Sonic history. In-between the “Sonic Kids” one-shots and the “Tales of the Great War” arc, the fall of the Kingdom of Acorn, Robotnik seizing power, and the formation of the Freedom Fighters is seemingly well trotted ground. At the very least, you would've expected the Original Freedom Fighters' names and faces to have been mentioned before. The five characters that make up the team don't strike the reader as especially inspired. They all have ridiculous names inductive of their species. Tig Stripe is a tiger, Bull Bones is a bull dog, Trey Scales is a pink snake, Spot Long is a purple giraffe, and Sir Peckers – jeezus – is a robin. It combines to give the impression that the Original Freedom Fighters, and their corresponding story line, where thought up on the spot by writer Romy Chacon.

And, no, the Original Freedom Fighters are not well developed. Trey, Peckers, and Spot barely get any dialogue. The only glimpse we get at Bones' personality is his interest in striking back at Robotnik. Tig Stripe does make something of an impression. Chacon writes him as a cross between Abraham Lincoln and Optimus Prime. He cares more about saving lives than saving face. During a flashback to the fall of Mobotropolis, he makes a conscious decision to get as many people out of the city as possible, after realizing regaining the city is a lost battle. Around a table, he delivers a speech about how it's a moral duty to fight evil. How they will do everything possible to fight for freedom. It's... Genuinely kind of stirring? At the very least, you can see why Stripe would be so inspiring to Sonic.

Which brings us back to the framing device. Sonic inserts himself into his own story. He and Sally, still youngsters, eavesdropped on the aforementioned speech. In other words, Sonic and Sally were there when the Freedom Fighters were born, an interesting idea. There's even an anecdote about the original quartet rescuing Sonic once. The story telling device allows Chacon to cover a long stretch of history in only a few pages. Moreover, I like it whenever Sonic sits down and tells a story. We're so used to seeing other characters fanboy/girl over Sonic – Tails and Amy have both served that purpose in the past – that it's refreshing to see Sonic have a similar reaction.

Speaking of Amy Rose! Issue 143's second story, “I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter,” is devoted to that character. Beginning with a flash back to Amy's childish early days, Sally tells an audience about Rose's recent victories. How she played a huge role in the Freedom Fighters' most recent success. Amy is given a medal while also being offered official membership into the Freedom Fighters.

Beginning with that flashback is a smart idea, as it shows how far Amy has come. Amy's transition from fawning fangirl to hammer-swinging warrior certainly made her more interesting. I've never been a huge fan of the character. (And I'll certainly never understood while some are so passionate about pairing her with Sonic, considering the entire point of their relationship is that Amy's feelings are one sided.) However, “I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter” makes a strong case for her. She's still young and girly, such as when she corrects Sally about what her hammer is called. She's not above embarrassment, when reminded of her youthful behavior. Yet she's certainly has earned her place among the Freedom Fighters. In other words, Karl does more for Amy's character over this brief five pager then the comic has done in 118 issues.

The final story in the issue takes us back to the future. In “Moment of Truth,” the latest “Mobius: 25 Years Later” installment, Cobar and Rotor finally give Sonic and Knuckles some grim news. The only solution they've been able to cook up involves flinging King Sonic into the past, in order to prevent the events leading up to the forthcoming disaster. This means using some of Robotnik's old technology, which takes some asking. Sonic, still feeling some anxiety about being King, agrees to go on this adventure, heading out immediately.

The stuff concerning Ken's latest apocalypse, time travel, and all that stuff doesn't interest me very much. Instead, it's the character interactions that draw my attention. Lara-Su corners her dad on the stairs, further attempting to convince him to train her in the ways of being a Guardian. This strikes me as realistic. As a teenager, I can certainly recall not letting specific debates go, even after my mom told me no. Later, Sonic and Sally have a heart-to-heart. The hedgehog admits he's been acting like a dick because he's still insecure about being king. How he feels like this latest mission is a job better suited to Sally, who has always been more of a leader. It's a little moment, grounding Sonic's character some and reinforcing his bond with Sally, but helps elevate a story otherwise dominated by exposition.

Turns out issue 142 isn't too bad after all. Compared to what's around it, this one actually comes off pretty well. The cover story and the final back-up have some serious weaknesses but are both propped up by a few, stray good moments. The story in the center is actually decent! Art Mawhineny and Steven Butler provide some fantastic artwork for the whole issue. During the Dork Age, even a relatively subpar issue can seem above average. [7/10]