Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 243

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 243
Publication Date: December 2012

“Endangered Species” would be the final story arc of the original Archie Sonic comic universe before the entire world would be rebooted. And you can’t really talk about it without talking about Ken Penders. If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know all the gory details. I’ll reiterate them anyway.

In 2009, the prolific former “Sonic” writer realized that Archie had seemingly never made him sign a work-for-hire agreement. Which meant Penders owned all the characters and concepts he created for the book. In other words, Ken owned the majority of the comic’s cast and lore, which Archie had continued to utilize since he left the company. Penders sued Archie for copyright infringement. The suit would go to trial in 2010 and drag into 2012. At first everyone assumed Ken was talking out his ass, as he’s been known to do. As the lawsuit went on, and especially after Archie fired its entire legal team in autumn of 2012, it became increasingly apparent that the publisher really didn’t sign Ken to a work-for-hire deal. Archie had fucked up. Probably, I’ve widely suspected, because they never assumed, back in 1992, that this series would ever be worth anything. (For a while, they were insisting that the original contract was lost in a fire, which strikes me as a fishy story.)

Through it all, the comics were published normally. Maybe Archie assumed that Ken would never be able to copyright a bunch of characters and concepts derivative of things Sega owned whole-sale. A lot of fans made the same assumption. The courts, however, backed Ken up. However you feel about Penders -his writing was inconsistent, to say the least, and he acts like a total tool on Twitter- never forget that this whole mess was Archie’s fault. If they had paid proper attention and hadn’t made sketchy deals, none of this would’ve happened. This was the start of a series of legal and financial problems that probably led to, or at least contributed to, Sega’s decision to end their licensing agreement with Archie. In other words, the end of Archie’s “Sonic” comic series begins here.

By the time issue 243 was being prepped for publication, it must have been apparent that Archie wasn’t going to win the suit. (You can tell it was, because a few word balloons were sloppily rewritten so as to not use certain phrases Sega and Ken were contesting.) The “Endangered Species” arc, one assumes, was originally meant to wrap up the long simmering plot points about Knuckles’ post-Enerjak guilt and the fate of his people. Instead, it would hastily write out all of the echidna characters Ken created. I imagine Ian Flynn hoped this would be a temporary fix, until the lawsuit was resolved and things could return to normal. But things never returned to normal. Instead, the arc prefaced the book’s entire continuity being rebooted and totally purged of all of Penders’ creations and ideas.

The issue begins in an Albion classroom, taught by an unnamed Komi-ko, three days in the past. (This helpfully reminds newer readers of the echidna race’s convoluted history.) This was before the Death Egg arrived. Team Fighters only shows up afterwards. The Tornado is immediately grounded by Metal Knuckles. Sonic and friends find a ruined, largely unoccupied city. The remaining echidnas, led by Remington, are fighting against the occupying Dark Egg Legion, led by Lien-Da. The heroes join the fight.

Knuckles is, weirdly, nearly entirely absent from this issue. He doesn’t show up until the very last scene, in a moment largely copied from last issue’s back story. Luckily, we’re invested enough in the echidnas without him. And things are looking grim for our monotreme friends. Albion has been reduced to blasted out buildings. Remington and his friends fight in ruined streets against an oppressive Dark Egg Legion army, outgunned and out-numbered. It can be assumed that large portions of the city’s population, including Remington's girlfriend, Komi-ko, are dead.  Remington is pretty broken up about it, visibly crying in one panel. Seeing how much this loss has effected Remington make its impact feel more real. This is a surprisingly grim place to begin your funny animal adventure comic.

Luckily, I do not dislike this kind of grimness. In fact, I might embrace it too much. There's definitely a thrill in seeing Sonic and friends thrust into such a dark situation. Watching the scrappy rebels fight against a better armed and prepared, tyrannical army takes me back to "SatAM" and the comic's earlier day. Since Team Fighter has had Robotnik on the run for a few issues, it's nice to return to a time when our heroes were underdogs, fighting against a more-powerful enemy. Yes, Sonic and the others are still hyper-confident. After showing up, he immediately takes out a tank while Amy is smashing Legionaries left and right. They turn the tide of the fight in a few minutes. But it's still nice to root for the downtrodden, especially when the balance of power has been more equal recently.

In fact, the action is this issue is very strong over all. The entire last third is devoted to Team Fighter and the echidnas raiding the Dark Egg Legion base. Sonic thrashes yet another tank. Remington dives and shoots. There's plenty of explosions. This leads to a pretty tense confrontation between Sonic and Lien-Da. The Kommisar has been outfitted with new superpowers, electric energy whips that discharge from her hands. (This is suspiciously similar to the weapons of Whiplash, the villain from "Iron Man 2," but that's surely a coincidence as Ian has never ripped off the MCU before.) This makes the already extremely fierce Lien-Da even more intimidating. In fact, Sonic even seems a little overwhelmed. The fight is exhausting enough that a sucker-punch from Metal Knuckles immediately afterward is enough to put Sonic down for the count.

Lien-Da, as always, is a high-light. In addition to her fabulous new superpowers, which she clearly enjoys having, Lien-Da is in full-on Bad Bitch mode here. Razing Albion to the ground, taking control of the echidna homeland, is clearly an opportunity she relishes. She vamps, building herself up, as she goes to confront Lara-Le, who isn't exactly having it. Lien-Da's response is to cup Lara's face like she's a disobedient child. As if the dominatrix subtext wasn't obvious enough already. When she gets to deploy her new superpowers near the end, she's clearly having fun with that too. Of course, Lien-Da's ruthlessness comes with some hidden insecurities. We see this when Robotnik calls her up, threatening her life and ordering her to pick up the pace. She remains one of the book's most multifaceted, but still entertainingly evil, villains. I'm really gonna miss her.

I really would've liked it if Archie could've gotten Manny Galan back to draw this. I'm sure they didn't know this would be the last story to feature these characters but it would've been nice to bring things full circle by having the regular "Knuckles" artist back. However, they at least did get an artist who has worked with these characters before. Steven Butler does not meet the heights here he previously touched during his "Mobius: 25 Years Later" strips. But it's still pretty damn good. Butler's action scenes have the same gritty immediacy that they've always has. His character work and expressions are top-notch, helping to sell the emotion of this tale. And, always, nobody draws Lien-Da looking more dangerous and powerful than Butler. His Metal Knuckles looks a little weird and wobbly-kneed but otherwise I have no complaints about the books art.

"Endangered Species" may signal a very dark time in the book's history but the first part is pretty damn good. Action, fun character beats, events that actually make me feel things. That's all I ask of my comic books about blue hedgehogs that run fast. [8/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 37

Sonic Universe: Issue 37
Publication Date: February 2012

The rivalry between Robotnik and Snively has been going on for years. It's built into the DNA of the series, inherited from SatAM, where Snively openly despised his uncle and would eventually attempt to usurp him. In the comics, I can't even recall all the different times Robotnik's nephew has betrayed him, attempted to kill him, and overtake his empire. It's fertile ground for a story and Ian Flynn would bring that relationship to the front with the “Scrambled” story arc, beginning issue 37 of “Sonic Universe.”

A normal day aboard the Death Egg is interrupted when Eggman gets locked out of his own computer system. The Death Egg is completely locked out and Snively makes a daring escape. Soon, the mad doctor discovers that Snively has broadcast a message to the Dark Egg Legion that the Death Egg is destroyed and Robotnik is dead. Furious, Eggman sets out to capture Snively but he's already escaped. He moves on to his next plan: Assembling the Grandmasters of the Legion and sending them on a quest, to find a missing Chaos Emerald. Meanwhile, the former Ivo Kintobor sets out to get some payback at his nephew.

It's sort of surprising that “Sonic Universe” has been running as long as it has without attempting an Eggman-centric arc before. Out of all the bad guys it could've focused on, it's odd that Scourge and the Babylon Rogues got that honor before Sonic's oldest enemy and supporting cast member. Flynn paints Eggman as an especially ruthless villain protagonist. After pulling all the Grandmasters together, he reiterates his complete control over them, reminding them of their explosive implants. Moreover, he emphasizes that they are enslaved to him, even beyond the circumstances of his death, even though he doesn't care about their individual lives at all. Pretty fucked up, dude. It's a stark reminder that the Eggman is not to be trifled with.

“Scrambled” also seems to be setting up a “men on a mission”-style story. You know what I'm talking about. Movies like “Ingloruious Basterds” or “Kelly's Heroes.” “The Dirty Dozen” and “Suicide Squad” – two movies this set-up vaguely resembles – have built stories around a band of unlikely guys, tossed together, usually against their wills, in order to achieve some sort of goal. What's especially neat about this is how we know some of the Grandmasters already while others are new characters. Lien-Da, Duck Bill, Conquering Storm, Uncle Beauregard, and Drago – who, in a very morbid touch, is zapped away by Eggman while seemingly sexually harnessing a female Legionnaire – are all familiar faces. (Then there's Hugo Brass, Ripklaw, and Akhlut, undefined characters who might as well be new additions.) New characters include a leather-bound snake named Mordred Hood and two riffs on especially obscure Archie “Sonic” lore. There's a nerb grandmaster, the Foreman, because Ian seems determined not to forget about those guys. There's also Diesel, a bear biker seemingly inspired by the bear biker gang Knuckles fought way back in the “Chaotix Caper” story arc.

It's a fairly dark story, as far as “Sonic” comics go, so I guess Flynn felt it necessary to throw in some comic relief. And I'm not sure how I feel about this. After getting locked out of his computer system, Robotnik calls on Orbot and Cubot, two Sega-approved robotic lackeys that only previously appeared in game tie-ins. When I was first reading these comics, I hated these guys, finding their shtick annoying and thinking they don't contribute anything to this book's universe that it didn't already have. Must Eggman have comic relief sidekicks? Did Sega demand these two appear, instead of, I don't know, Crabmeat or Scratch and Grounder or something? With age, I've softened a little on these two – their shenanigans, like making tea and cookies for the assembled Grandmasters, are mildly amusing – while still finding them a mostly unnecessary addition to the world.

And let's not forget Snively, Eggman's original comic relief lackey. What I've always found most endearing about Snively are his dueling qualities of ambition and incompetence. He's desperate to have power, having spent his entire life without any. Yet he lacks the cunning necessary to become a major leader like his uncle, which is why all his previous takeovers were doomed to fail. At the beginning of “Scrambled,” Snively shows off one of his best schemes yet. He fills the Death Egg with explosive robotic doubles of himself, cast-offs from the old Infiltrator/Auto-Automatons line-up, allowing himself to escape in the space capsule from “Sonic 2.” It certainly sets up the possibility that Snively might actually have a chance of success this time, even though we know he doesn't, opening this story with some nice dramatic tension.

Jamal Peppers is back on pencil duty. It's pretty good, in many ways. Peppers' attention to facial expressions are especially nice. Matilda's lack of a reaction to Beauregard vanishing into thin air, along with the somewhat disturbing blank stares of the Snively infiltrators, make both of those moments really pop. However, I'm a little disappointed to see that Peppers seems content to ape Yardley here. In truth, if the opening page didn't tell me as much, I would've assumed Yardley drew this one. This is why I've expressed misgivings about Yardley's style becoming the default look for the book, as it shackles artists like Peppers, who are talented in their own right.

It's a really fun issue that I only have one problem with. Eggman assembling the Grandmasters, just to send them on a mission to grab some random Chaos Emerald, seems like a misstep. They should all be pursuing Snively, since he's the adversary driving the plot. Flynn probably ties those two threads together, I'm thinking, along with the last page reveal that Mecha Sally is now leading a whole squad of Metal-series robots. I can't remember if he does or not. Beyond that, this is a really fantastic first issue, setting up an exciting scenario with big stakes and an interesting ensemble cast. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 234

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 234
Publication Date: February 2012

Antoine is prominently placed on the cover of issue 234 and there's good reason for that. “Unthinkable,” 234's cover story, begins with Elias and his family preparing to be escorted out of Mobotropolis. Following Naugus' rise to the family, the royal family no longer feels welcomed. As they pile into the Mobo-Cruiser – first time in a while we've seen that – the Freedom Fighters gather around as their personal bodyguards. But Eggman is ready, his Death Egg looming in the sky above. He sends a small army of Egg-Swats, led by Mecha Sally and a Metal Sonic, to ambush the motorcade. Elias and his family get to safety but the Freedom Fighters pay a horrible cost.

As far as “Sonic the Hedgehog” comics go, “Unthinkable” is a very tense action story. The stakes seem higher than ever, with the future of the monarchy and our four-color friends hanging in the balance. There's actually something ominous about the way the Death Egg appears in the sky, dropping enemy shoulders. Maybe things feel so serious because the Freedom Fighters get their asses kick. The newly weaponized and even more powerful Mecha Sally completely catches them off-guard. The Tornado is destroyed, yet again. Bunnie is still adapting to her newly wholly organic state, which means the Freedom Fighter is down one of their strongest members. Things escalate as more and more enemy robots converge on the location, the hero's feeling genuinely overwhelmed.

Another reason this conflict feels more weighty than usual might be due to the extra emotional weight. The Freedom Fighters are still not use to their beloved Princess being a killer robot enslaved by their greatest enemy. Mecha Sally is cruel and efficient, slicing through enemies with wrist-mounted laser swords. (An addition Flynn would keep after the reboot undid everything else.) As Mecha Sonic did, she also retains just enough of her normal personality to make her robotic state even more shocking. Such as when, in a nice touch, Flynn has her quote SatAM classic “Sonic's Nightmare,” by asking Sonic where he was when the brain's where passed out. At this point, Mecha Sally is still a shocking development and the book is using her excellently.

Usually, the comics open with a brief narration box, introducing readers to the comic's world. This issue is a little different. It opens with an excerpt from Antoine's journal, talking about the days' events. This is a memorable approach, giving us a look into the mind of one of the most complex Freedom Fighters. He continues to express annoyance at the direction the kingdom and his wife's current state has taken but remains optimistic about his friends. About how besides them is always an honor. This is especially poignant considering what happens near the end of the issue.

Because this is the issue where Antoine dies. I mean, sort of. When Robotnik orders an about-to-self-destruct Metal Sonic to attach itself to Elias' Mobo-Cruiser, Antoine races over on a hover board, grabs the robot, pulls him away, and receives the full brunt of the explosion. In a shocking series of panels, he's tossed to the ground in a heap. Bunnie cradles his body and begins screaming wildly. Sonic is stunned and silenced, forced to do a very rare thing: Stand still. It's a shocking, powerful event. As originally planned, it was meant to be Antoine's death. Flynn ultimately just put him in a coma instead, realizing fans would be royally pissed if he killed one of the book's most beloved character. (And the whole ordeal ended up being unresolved because of the reboot.) If Antoine really had died here, it's a heroic and weighty death, one worthy of him.

Helping sell this serious moment is some excellent artwork from Steven Butler. His more humanoid features on the furries look a little odd, especially Mecha Sally's weirdly shapely robo-hips. But when the book needs serious mood and grit, Butler can provide it. Eggman looks especially intimidating aboard the Death Egg. The panels devoted to Antoine's sacrifice are obviously the most important. You feel the impact of the blast leap off the page, before Butler pulls back, showing Antoine's lifeless body bouncing across the battlefield, his sword landing in the ground. Which leads to a panel of Bunnie, watching horrified, the panel around her crumbling as she watches her love be fatally wounded. It's great stuff. Butler even manages to make the somewhat silly Egg-Swat design – a combination of Robotnik's old SWATBots and the sillier Egg Pawns from the Sega games – actually kind of intimidating.

Next up in the back pages is “Dark Hearts.” The story takes place slightly before the cover story. Naugus uses his staff to contact Eggman. He promises to give the doctor some intel in exchange for further information. Naugus realizes that this Robotnik is not technically the same one he knew and asks to hear the former Robo-Robotnik's previous encounters with the presumably identical version of Naugus that existed in his dimension. Eggman happily tells him, describing a brief adventure in the Zone of Silence. Naugus, in return, informs him about Elias' caravan leaving that day.

“Dark Hearts” mostly exists to inform us of two things. First off, no, despite what he's said, Naugus is not putting his villainous past behind him now that he's king. He's colluding with the enemy to help assassinate the former ruler, and apparently doing so behind St. John's back. The story is also here to inform new readers of Eggman's convoluted origins. Beyond that, “Dark Hearts” is devoted to a mildly amusing encounter between the classic SatAM version of Robotnik and all of Naugus' various weirdos. And there is a certain degree of novelty in seeing that Robotnik again after so many years. Mostly, it's worth reading for Ben Bates' artwork. Bates has fun with the Zone's fantastical world and Naugus' bitching crystal throne.

I remember having pretty mixed thoughts about this issue and the surrounding story arcs when it was new. I mostly remember feeling like my heart was being jerked around, watching these characters I love get tortured by fate. In hindsight, and mostly because the reboot I didn't know about then is just around the corner, this issue plays a lot better. Yes, it's an emotional gut punch but it's not done cheaply or simply for shock value. In fact, the emotional weight of this story makes it one of the best in a while and an early contender for best of 2012. [8/10] 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 224

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 224
Publication Date: April 2011

Some Sonic fans will only be satisfied if Sonic is out there, fighting Robotnik. Now, don't get me wrong. I like this too. However, I like to consider Robotnik simply one member of Sonic's rogue galleries. I like variety in my comic book hero/villain fights. I don't want to see Batman fight the Joker all the time either. Yet some readers consider any of Sonic's other enemies, like Naugus or Scourge or whoever, to be a distraction from the real big bad. So I'm sure this crowd was pretty happy to see the Eggman on the cover of issue 224, proclaiming his proper return to the book, since being benched back in issue 200.

“Chaos and the Crown: Part Two” begins in the middle of the action. Outside the Royal Palace, Sally and the other Freedom Fighters tangle with Geoffrey St. John, still trying to determine the exact nature of his treachery. Inside the Throne Room, Sonic and Naugus fight it out, trading speedy blows and magic powers. Ultimately, the conflict comes to a premature end when the Council decides to hear Naugus' claim to the Throne out. Meanwhile, Robotnik's plans are just about ready to come to fruition.

Issue 224's sole story is divided pretty evenly in two halves. The first half is focused primarily on action, while the second half is a little more dialogue heavy. And the action theatrics near the beginning are pretty great. Naugus shoots a plum of flame, which Sonic blocks with the new Sword of Acorn, which apparently used to be Sir Connery's sword. To counter this, Naugus uses his crystalline magic to form a matching sword. This leads to a super cool action beat, of Elias leaping into action and slashing through Naugus sword with his own. Outside, the fights remain neat. St. John is entwined by Bunnie's bionic arm, while just avoiding blows from Sally and Antoine.

However, the fleet-footed action ends up being short-lived. As I said, the Council of Acorn quickly decides to listen to Naugus' pleas. This strikes me as ridiculously unlikely. If a dangerous sorcerer, a known enemy of the crown, barged into the Royal Palace in a violent way, the primary concern should be detaining him. Even if Naugus had peacefully appeared, I still find it difficult to believe that Knothole's government would take him seriously. If anything, he should be a wanted criminal, considering his prior acts of terrorism against the Kingdom. About the only reason the Council allows Naugus to talk – aside from Flynn insisting on pushing this plot thread forward – is because the Prowers continue to resent Elias and want him off the Throne. It's bullshit, in other words.

At least the people of Mobotropolis being willing to trust Naugus makes a little more sense. Well, sort of. I'm sure at least some of these citizens were around during the wizard's previous attacks. That aside, they are awfully scared of Nicole and Flynn makes sure to show how the wizard can protect. This also leads to a somewhat poignant scene of Nicole, picking up a pile of crystallized nanites, which are dead forever. However, the plot twist of St. John turning traitor continues to be unjustifiable. Instead of writing a flashback to Hershey's death, Flynn continues to have the characters simply talk about it, drawing attention to how crass her death really is.

As the cover trumpets, in the background, Robotnik plots his latest return. As the issue nears its conclusion, we discover what the mad doctor has been up to all this time. He has converted the Egg Dome into a brand new Death Egg, which rises into the heavens at the very end. The last time the Death Egg appeared in the comic was all the way back in 1996, during the “Death Egg” mini-series. Considering the Death Egg is one of Eggman's most famous creations, it's surprising that the massive ship has only appeared briefly. “Sonic Quest” is not too terribly well regarded either, so this was a second chance for the vehicle, a chance for Flynn to give Eggman's flying super-fortress a bigger entrance. And it mostly succeeds at that, as the book ends on a hell of a cliffhanger.

Ben Bates continues to kick ass on penciling duties. The action scenes look great. Bates is really good at conveying a sense of movement and motion. The panels devoted to Elias leaping into action are highly dynamic and striking. He's good with character work too. The panel devoted to Nicole, in shock over the dead nanites, wouldn't be nearly as effective without Bates' skills. Art wise, I've got no complaints about this one.

So it's another mixed affair. The art is great and there are individual moments I like. However, I continue to really dislike the writing decisions Flynn has made recently. Luckily or not, depending on your perspective, we'll be taking a break from this storyline real soon with Archie's 2011 summer event. But that's another story for another day. I'm giving issue 224 a [6/10.]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 223

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 223
Publication Date: March 2011

You see that spiffy graphic on the cover of Archie's 223rd issue of “Sonic the Hedgehog?” “Countdown to Genesis?” That was the big “Sonic” event of 2011 and, obviously, it was coming up in a few months at this point. Though Ian Flynn has handled quite a few huge story arcs during his tenure on “Sonic,” “Genesis” received a level of hype that was bigger than any previous one. But I'm not here to really talk about that. Instead, this issue finally brings a plot point that Flynn has been building towards for a while now.

Part one of “Chaos and the Crown” begins with a peaceful day in New Mobotropolis. Mina and the Forget-Me-Knots are prepared to perform a free concert. Instead, a cloaked figure approaches the stage and grabs the microphone. He reveals himself as Geoffrey St. John and welcomes Ixis Naugus back into the city. A huge fight begins, the hedgehog and the wizard fighting their way towards the royal palace. However, Naugus' plans are not as straight-ahead as they appear.

Last time, I bitched that Flynn was taking too long to follow through on this new Ixis Naugus plot line. Well, I guess my concerns traveled backwards in time to 2011 because he finally got to the point in the next issue. This issue concerns Ixis Naugus making his grand return as a serious threat. Fan reaction to Naugus as a character has always been mixed. Even though that was the original plan with SatAM, Naugus' introduction in issue 53 as the heir to Robotnik's title as Sonic's archenemy was mixed. I, however, always thought Naugus had a lot of potential. Especially his use of magic, which made a nice contrast with the technologically inclined Robotnik. The wizard has been floating around the comic, back and forth, since then. But Flynn has the villain really being reestablished as a serious threat for the first time in a long time.

Maybe I only like Naugus because his elemental powers are cool for fight scenes. This fact is proudly displayed in “Chaos and the Crown: Part One.” As Sonic spin-dashes towards the sorcerer, he changes into vapor, the hedgehog passing right through him. He turns his body to flames or causes huge rocks to burst from the ground. He blocks doorways with his crystalline magic. This is certainly a very different type of challenge than what Sonic faced with Robotnik and that's why it's cool.

Of course, Naugus isn't just in New Mobotropolis to wreck shit and vex Sonic. And that's another problem I have with this entire premise. Naugus marches into the castle, before the council, and explains that he is technically the Acorn Kingdom's ruler. See, while they were trapped in the Zone of Silence, King Acorn pledged loyalty to Naugus, making him is superior. This is shaky logic but I guess not totally inexcusable. The problem is what this sets up. From here until the reboot derails absolutely everything, Naugus will pretend that he likes ruling Mobotropolis for reasons that aren't sinister, even though he's obviously, blatantly evil. There's really no reason for the heroes to put up with it. But they will and so will we.

Even that's not my big issue with this story turn. Once again, I wonder why Flynn has done this to poor Geoffrey St. John. He attempts to address some concerns. Via Sally, he attempts to address the problem of St. John never utilizing or showing any interest in magic ever before. (His response, “that I was busy being in a war,” hardly satisfies.) Sally inquires why a loyal soldier like St. John would turn traitor, only for him to claim that he's not a traitor, since Naugus is the true king. It's all a bunch of weak excuses to justify a lame plot twist. There's a pretty cool fight scene, of Geoffrey whipping most of the Freedom Fighters' asses, but that hardly warrants the weak writing.

The worst part comes when we discover that Hershey is dead. Geoffrey admits this bluntly in dialogue. We don't even see a body or a flashback. She's just dead. Yes, I know Hershey the Cat was hardly a beloved character. She was another Ken Penders cast-off, given little characterization and rarely contributing anything to a story. But murdering her off-screen and with zero explanation was a little mean, don't you think? Knowing the “Sonic” fandom like I do, I'm sure she was probably somebody's favorite character. I expect better from Flynn, who usually took a previous writer's ideas and explored them in a new way, instead of just lazily tossing them in the garbage bin.

One page in the cover story is devoted to Robotnik, who is still hiding in the Egg-Dome and plotting something villainous. The back-up story, “Special Zone House Call,” shines a little more light on that. Robotnik needs a Chaos Emerald for his next evil scheme and he comes to the same conclusion Sonic and St. John did a few issues back: Just go into the Special Zone and grab one. He hulls Snively along, both in Egg-Mobiles, play one of Feist's games, and grab an emerald. But not before Robotnik humiliates Snively a little.

Two characters competing for a Chaos Emerald in Feist's Zone is a story device Flynn has returned to a lot recently. Considering Feist never actually gets to keep any of his emeralds, you'd think he'd stop allowing people to compete. However, I can see why Flynn keeps returning to this one. It's a fun premise! Moreover, pitting Robotnik and Snively together allows their frequently one-sided rivalry to play out in a different way. Instead of simply scheming against his uncle behind his back, we actually get to see Snively actively fight against him. Of course, the Eggman comes out on top every time. He really makes it apparent here, when he nearly leaves Snively in Feist's zone after he looses the contest. There's not too much to this one but it's a fun read.

I have my problems with issue 223 but at least it looks fantastic. Ben Bates pens the cover story while Jamal Peppers handles the back-up. They both do a great job, full of energy and dynamic action as well as crisply drawn and expressive characters. It's a good thing, since I have some serious concerns about the cover story. While there's plenty of stuff here I like to, the flaws manage to eclipse most of the pros. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 212

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 212
Publication Date: April 2010

Why did Archie keep inviting Sanford Greene to draw covers for the “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic? I mean, aside from the obvious fact that they could barely be bothered to gave a shit about this particular series. I guess there were times when both Patrick Spaziante and Tracy Yardley were unavailable to pencil the cover. Yet, out of all the talented artists they could've contacted, why do they keep bringing back this guy? This guy who contributed only deeply off-model, ugly covers? Then again, this is the same company that employed Ron Lim for years, despite his obvious lack of aptitude for these characters. See my earlier point about Archie not giving a shit about “Sonic.”

“The Roads We Take” begins with its key players in different locations. Since they've defeated the Iron Dominion, Sonic has seen hide nor hair of Robotnik. Sonic believes the doctor (and Snively!) to be hiding out in the Egg Dome, the central building still standing among the ruins of Old Robotropolis. He's right, the doctor observing the hedgehog. Sally joins Monkey Khan as he assumes his new position as ruler of Dragon Valley. On the Floating Island, Espio informs Knuckles and the Chaotix of the secrets he gathered about them, as a ninja sent to spy on them years ago.

In the past, after wrapping up a big event storyline, Ian Flynn has devoted an issue to matters more low-key and character based. Issue 212 is one such story, which is even subtitled “Iron Dominion Epilogue.” “The Roads We Take” is a story about putting story threads to rest. The aftermath of Espio's betrayal and Sally's romantic tension with Monkey Khan get whole spreads devoted to them. The issue is also about setting up new story opportunities. Robotnik is planning something devious inside the Egg Dome, dragging Snively along with him. Sonic and Tails discover Dimitri's head inside a storeroom, though that reveal is kept off-screen for now. The book manages the divide between emotions and narrative structure fairly well.

Most importantly, for me anyway, “The Roads We Take” puts the damnable Sally/Monkey Khan romance to bed, once and for all. It's handled with a surprising amount of grace, even if it's still a romance that has no reason to exist. Their scene together acknowledges the growth that Khan has undergone over the last year, going from a totally obnoxious character to someone more well rounded. He low-key proposes to her but Sally turns her down, knowing she has business to attend to in Knothole. And, thus, Khan is out of the book, not to be seen for a while, without hurting anyone's feelings. (Sally also spends the night in Dragon Valley, suggesting she experienced some sweaty monkey love before going back to Sonic. You're welcome for that mental image.)

In the last few pages, Flynn reaffirms Sonic and Sally's status as soulmates. After she returns to Knothole, Sonic rushes up to her. In a cute moment, he surprises her by running up to her quickly. The Princess offers to buy the hedgehog lunch, which raises some questions about what currency they use in Mobotropolis. Sonic is surprised by the offer. As they walk off towards lunch, Sally reminds Sonic of the long history they have. It's a quiet, subtle moment, pointing out the unshakable connection the two have. And will continue to have, even if a cybernetic ape tries to come between them. (Seemingly to drive this point home, the entire fan art section is devoted to romantic Sonic/Sally artwork. Some of it, such as Brittany M. from Texas' dynamic piece, is quite good.)

The Monkey Khan/Sally romance wasn't the only dumb-ass plot point that sometimes made “The Iron Dominion” a slog to read. Espio's betraying the heroes, due to some loyalty to a previously unmentioned ninja clan, was a dumb idea. Worst yet, it had very little effect on the story. Flynn neatly rolls up and disposes of that point. Around a fire, by the Master Emerald, Espio throws himself on the mercy of his fellow Chaotix. He admits all his secrets. That he's been watching Knuckles, because his clan has always watched the Brotherhood. It gets plot stuff out of the way but in a way that emphasizes the bound between characters. The chameleon feels like shit about this, that his friends have no obligation to forgive him. It's a vulnerable moment that makes up for some of the previous mistakes.

There are moments of humor and pathos here. Espio reveals that Vector is from Downunda. That his entire persona as a hip-hopping cool guy is a put-on, meant to cover up his natural Australian accent. Charmy's scrambled mind comes up again, the newly child-like Chaotix still unable to accept his recent history. Most pressingly, Espio tells Mighty that he has a sister and that she's a Dark Egg Legion member. This leads to Mighty and Ray heading off on an adventure to rescue his sister. The story reason for this is to give Mighty, a character with a strong personality that is rarely explored, something to do. I also wonder if there's some editorial, Sega-mandated reason for this. In the video games, “The Chaotix” are just Vector, Espio and Charmy. Mighty and Ray aren't official Chaotix anymore. I wonder if Flynn separated Mighty and Ray from the main group to bring the comic closer to the games?

There's so much going in this issue that, honestly, Sonic doesn't get too much to do. Mostly, the hedgehog and Tails spend most of issue 212 running around the Egg Dome, looking for Robotnik, unaware that he's right under their nose. Dialogue reveals that Sonic has made a habit of returning to Egg Dome. He's almost become obsessed with finding the villain. I'm probably reading too much into this but I think Sonic's guilt about Robotnik – about breaking his mind in the first place, about letting him get away – is manifesting in an obsessive desire to track him down. Or, maybe, he's happy to have the chase back, to have their rivalry renewed. Either way, I suspect the hedgehog's feelings will be explored more in upcoming issues.

Issue 212 is a pretty good comic book! In fact, it might actually be better than any of the issues part of the proper “Iron Dominion” story arc. By focusing on the relationships between the character, Flynn almost justifies some of the sillier narrative wrenches he through into the proverbial gears. Sometimes, getting a bead on everyone's status is more important than fisticuffs and good guys fighting bad guys. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 210

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 210
Publication Date: March 2010

As I've said before, back when the story arc was new, some fans complained that the Iron Dominion event went on too long. The story did go on for exactly a year and the pacing clearly flagged a little in the middle. Over a year, I can see how that would get old. As I've said before, it's hard to get a sense of that arc fatigue when you've read the whole thing in a little over a week, as I have here. Either way, the Iron Dominion was heading towards its end by March of 2010. The “Home Invasion” two-parter, which would depict the Iron Queen's defeat, would begin in this issue.

The occupation of New Mobotropolis by the Iron Dominion continues. Amy Rose and Antoine attempt to hold up a rebellion. Nicole has carved out a hiding place for them, where Bunnie is also being kept hidden. With Sonic, Sally, Tails, and Monkey Khan in the Dragon Kingdom, the Freedom Fighters are barely holding on. Even with the arrival of Geoffrey St. John, the tides don't exactly turn. The Queen leads the heroes into an obvious trap after proclaiming they'll be legionizing – brainwashing and implanting robotic parts – in the city's coliseum.

The first part of “Home Invasion,” subtitled “Breaking and Entering,” features very little of this comic book's titular character. This is an experimental decision that easily could've gone wrong. The book has attempted to sideline Sonic before to mediocre results. Flynn, however, pulls it off. Instead of switching the focus to some shitty new character, Flynn shines the spotlight on Sonic's established supporting cast. We've followed Amy, Antoine, and the others for years. We really care about them and their personalities are more than strong enough to support a single issue. I honestly wish this had gone on a little longer, as Sonic is sometimes a drag on his own book.

However, I do have one slight problem with the way this story is presented. Flynn makes it seem like the rebellion at home has been fighting off the Iron Dominion for quite some time. Which is a little hard to believe. First off, in the beginning of the issue, it's only Amy Rose and Antoine leading the resistance. I know they're both good fighters but it strains believably that two people have been holding off an army for a while. Also slightly implausible is how Nicole has been hiding Bunnie for all this time. You think the Iron Queen would've noticed something, considering her primary A.I. has been hiding her greatest enemies right under her nose for at least a couple of days.

They eventually get help though. Geoffrey St. John gets a flashy reintroduction, in his first major appearance since issue 188. St. John mostly just stood around, accompanying Rouge on a mission in that one. The skunk secret agent gets a lot more action-y stuff to. Like leaping through the air on a rope, shooting bolts all over the place. Flynn even exploits the character's general seriousness for some comic relief. When Iron Nicole first shows herself to St. John, he attempts to shoot here, still believing she's under the Queen's control.

Another high-light of issue 210 is a brief scene between Snively and Dr. Robotnik. During the occupation of Mobotropolis, it seems like Snively has made a regular habit of visiting his uncle in jail and mocking his disheveled state. Only this time, we see that the Eggman's mental state is starting to reform. He's come to an interesting conclusion about Sonic: That his archenemy represents the variable of chaos present in any scientific experiment. That's a good moment and segues into an even better one. Snively tells his uncle that he and Regina love each other, which causes Robotnik to laugh like crazy. Like the audience, the villain can see right through the Iron Queen's manipulations. It's a good moment because it further shows Snively's weird vulnerability. He's so desperate for love, for power, for understanding, that he's willing to accept Regina's feelings, even if they're obviously fake. It's also a great way to show that Robotnik's scheming, brilliant, evil self is back.

The other villains get a chance to shine too. First off, public Legionizing having in the coliseum, for everyone to see, is a pretty fucked-up thing for a bad guy to do. Especially since Rotor, another established character we already care about, is chosen as the first person to undergo this procedure. (Rotor initially resists too, giving a somewhat underserved character a rare chance to shine, however briefly.) I also like a brief dialogue exchange between Regina and the Iron King. We're she explains to the King that this is entire idea is a trap, meant to lure the heroes out. Which will give him an opportunity to smash shit. Which he'll enjoy. Little moments like that make the villains a little more personable.

Steven Butler returns to penciling duties. Butler grants the story a sleek, powerful energy that helps sell the zippy pacing. Butler's strength for character work really comes through in this one. His rendition of the Iron Queen looks especially powerful, rising her staff and surrounded by sparkling energy. His action scenes, like St. John leaping around flying ninja stars or Amy Rose meeting the Iron King's hammer swing-for-swing, are fantastic. Butler also makes Robotnik look especially sinister and unhinged, adding further intimidation to his scenes with Snively. I also like the little details Butler adds to Snively, such as his eyes bulging out when Rotor takes a swing at him. It's a really strong looking issue.

Issue 210 concludes with Sonic and the others returning to Mobotropolis, crashing the Tornado through the city's dome. It's actually a moment that works really well, making the entire comic seem like a nice build-up to that arrival. Over all, the first part of “Home Invasion” is a solid story, full of action and likable character moments, even with a few minor plot holes. Will the Iron Dominion end on a up note? Maybe! If nothing else, the first part is pretty good. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 206

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 206
Publication Date: November 2009

Ever since “Sonic X” ended, Patrick Spaziante has been contributing covers to Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series more frequently. Not as often as in the good ol' days but still pretty regularly. Spaz' work has been as dynamic as ever but, with issue 206's cover, I really have to question his decisions. It's not a bad cover and represents the book's content fairly well. But drawing a strand of spittle flying from Sonic's mouth was, at the very least, an odd choice. Not really sure we needed to see that.

Anyway, the plot. Issue 206 concludes the “On the Run” two-parter with “Troubles by the Dozen.” Sonic faces off against the Iron Queen and King, along with an army of ninjas. Sonic distracts the bad guys while Tails sneaks the comatose Dr. Robotnik back to Mobotropolis. The ninjas are easy to deal with but the Iron King presents a bigger challenge. Luckily, the Freedom Fighters swoop in to help him out.

“On the Run: Part 2” represents the heroes' first victory over the Iron Dominion. Granted, that comes with a covet or two. The guys still have to race away from the battlefield suddenly. However, Sonic successfully squashes the Queen's foot soldiers. He wrecks her hovercraft, dropping the villain out of the sky. Sonic even gets in some genuinely intimidating trash-talk. He points out to his adversaries that an exact clone of him successfully conquered his world in a few days. Flynn has proven good at this in the past. It's satisfying to see the heroes get one over on the bad guys, especially after loosing several key battles.

Yes, of course, this leads to several big action sequences. Which are fun. Sonic knocks several saucers out of the sky by pin-balling through them. Those Yagyhu bat ninjas are tossed around easily. Maybe showing Sonic wrecking his enemies so easily is intentional, as the next scene has the Iron King knocking him back with one blow. (That scene may be where Spaz got his idea for the cover, since he features a line of spit flying from Sonic's mouth.) Once the Freedom Fighters rush in, we get a cool panel of Tails tossing Sonic through Regina's hovercraft. It's fun stuff.

Steven Butler is still the book's regular penciler at this point. His work is up to his usual quality. What I really like about Butler's work this time is the visual humor on display. Such as Tails huffing and puffing after dragging Eggman back to the city. Or a close-up of the Iron King's snorting nostrils. My favorite sequence begins with Antoine wondering aloud if they can outrun the bad guys. We then get a whole page devoted to Sonic running back and forth, carrying various Freedom Fighters to safety, while Antoine struggles to keep up.

Ian wraps the action up early to make room for some more character-oriented scenes. Sonic has a one-on-one with Dr. Robotnik. The doc is still raving mad. He seems to be confused about which point in time he's at, referring to Sonic as Sir Charles. He leaps back and forth between thinking it's before the Great War or right afterwards. This scene is decent but what follows is better. Monkey Khan confronts Sonic, asking him how he can show Robotnik mercy after all the horrible things he's done. This continues last issue's conversation about delivering justice with a fair hand. Sonic's not-so philosophical answer boils down to him not being interested in revenge. Monkey Khan's reaction – bafflement that Sonic is deeper than he expected – is amusing.

Speaking of Monkey Khan. Ian is still subtly pushing a potential romance between the simian cyborg and Princess Sally. It's evident in little moments. Such as Khan giving Sally an especially welcomed grin when she catches him walking around the village. Or how graciously she thanks him when he carries Robotnik to his jail cell. By this point. Flynn has recuperated Monkey Khan as a character, actually giving him some humility and heart. But pushing him as another potential love interest of the Princess? It's unnecessary and, while the two share a certain chemistry, it's clearly just as friends.

So how does the Iron Queen react to her first major failure? As you'd expect, poorly. That visual sense of humor that characterized the earlier scenes reappears when Snively, crawling across the battlefield, is nearly stomped on by the retreating army. Later, after returning home, he knocks on the door to Regina's chamber. She informs Snively that he won't see her again until they've regained Mobotropolis. Which confirms two things. That the Iron Queen really is just using Snively as a power play, something obviously to everyone but him. And that he really isn't getting laid tonight.

Which brings us to the back pages. The month before, Flynn presented the first half of “Birthright,” which covered Lien-Da's early history. The second half of the story picks up in the modern day. Lien-Da and Dimitri are in his lab, discussing the microchips, which would override the kill switch Robotnik previously installed in the Legionnaire's robotic parts, the new regime has promised them. The conversation goes differently when Lien-Da shatters Dimitri's glass orb, robbing him of mobility. She then hides him in a box in the lab, finally assuming the role of Grand Master of the Dark Legion.

As I've said before, Lien-Da's utter ruthlessness has greatly endeared her to me. In “Birthright: Part 2,” we really see just how far she'll go for power. Imprisoning Dimitri in a box, as nothing but a head, is by far the most evil thing she's ever done. It's somehow even worst than if she had outright murder him. And what did she commit this ghastly act over? A title and a little more power than she already had. That's cold. And, in an especially villainous way, pretty bad ass.

Hey, this is a good comic book! The artwork is strong for both stories, as Jamal Peppers continues to do fine work in the back pages. The script is solid enough, allowing us some peaks into the characters' minds along with decent action beats. That sounds like a [7/10] to me.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 205

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 205
Publication Date: October 2009

Just recently, I was yelling about misleading comic book covers. It's a proud tradition of the art form. In the days before comic shops ruled the industry, when most people bought comics at new stands, outrageous covers that frequently did not reflect the books' actual content were done to draw in youthful eyes. Even in 2009, Archie was keeping this tradition alive. No, Sonic and Robotnik do not team up in issue 205. That doesn't even come close to happening. But, you know, I bet it probably sold a few more issues.

“On the Run Part One: Put All Your Eggs in One Basket” – Do you like egg puns? You better like some fucking egg puns – begins where the last issue left off. While still ranting and raving, Robotnik escapes his padded cell. Despite being a rambling lunatic, he manages to escape the Egg-Dome in a giant robotic tortoise. Sonic encounters the mad doctor while exploring the woods and is quickly disturbed by his scrambled actions. After Sonic and Tails apprehend the nutty doctor, they consider returning him to Mobotropolis and putting him in jail. That's when the Iron Queen catches up with them.

Ian is running with the idea that his most recent defeat has completely shattered the Eggman's sanity. But don't expect this mental breakdown to make the villain more dangerous. The book mostly plays Robotnik's lapse into total madness for comedy. He shouts references to the “Pingas!” internet meme, as well as the music video remix relating to said meme. His behavior is unhinged but child-like, delusional. He allows Sonic to circle his vehicle for several minutes. I'm not sure about the goofy comedic moments but making Robotnik pathetic, even sympathetic, is an interesting move.

Even more interesting is Sonic's reaction to his greatest enemy being reduced to a gibbering lunatic. As previously references in issue 200, Sonic actually feels bad for the guy. This leads to an interesting conversation between Sonic and Tails. Tails believes Eggman is beyond forgiveness. Sonic isn't so sure. Either way, they both agree that leaving him to the mercy of the Iron Dominion is cruel and decide to incarcerate him in Mobotropolis instead. It's an interesting moral dilemma to put our hero in. Usually, Sonic just runs fast, smashes robots, and makes quibs. Actually discussing the nature of justice is an unexpected but appreciated shift.

But this is still a comic book for the seven-to-twelve crowd. We've got to have our action scenes. Due to Robotnik being nuttier than squirrel shit, the fight scene is rather one-sided. The initial sight of his Egg-Tortoise tearing up the forest is actually rather startling. So is a panel afterwards, of Sonic being tossed aside by an explosion. Though the best action beat in the story is one of the more low-key ones. After Tails effortlessly disables Robotnik's robo-turtle, Sonic offers the scientist a hand... And he gets a straight-up punch in the face for his troubles. It made me laugh anyway.

In some ways, this feels like a transitional issue. The opening scenes are devoted to Sonic checking in on Bunnie in the hospital. There, he runs into Monkey Khan, who is still feeling sorry for himself about what happened recently. What's especially amusing about these scenes is Dr. Quack grumbling at both of his patients, for not staying in bed. Quack has been part of the comic for over a decade but has never been developed much. Flynn does more for the waterfowl in a handful of pages than past writers have done in years. This moment also shows Khan's continuing development, that he's starting to get over his guilt a little.

Steven Butler is still penciling the book and doing a great job. He gets several opportunities to draw Robotnik's grotesque face, which he seems to relish. As always, Butler's attention to detail is especially valuable. A nice, small touch has Robotnik continuing to wear his straitjacket, as a stylish cape, throughout most of the issue. He also gets a bunch of leathery electronic wrapped around one arm. I'm not sure when that happened but it does look cool. Butler even manages to make the Egg-Tortoise, a very goofy concept, look threatening. His character work is also fantastic.

During the cover story, Lien-Da walks away to sulk in her bunk. The back-up story, “Birthright: Part One,” picks up with Lien-Da laying in her bed, thinking about her past. She reflects on her time in the Twilight Cage, when she conspired with Kragok to murder their father. Lien-Da successfully pulls off the assassination but gets herself heavily injured in the process. She lived but Kragok took over the Dark Legion while she was out.

Lien-Da's ruthlessness has always endeared me to her. She's a villain who treats her adversaries with no mercy. Yet “Birthright” gets you to feel a little bad for her. She reflects on her failures. Despite numerous stabs at power, she has never achieved her goal of becoming the Grand Master of the Dark Legion. Moreover, her failures are laced with personal betrayal. Kragok promised her that they would rule the Legion together, after their dad's death. Instead, he intentionally boobie-trapped the blaster she used, knowing it would blow up in her face. While she was rehabilitating in the hospital, he assumed power without her. What a dick! Lien-Da may be an unrepentant villain but she has feelings too.

By the way, Jamal Peppers' pencils on the back-story are also very strong. Overall, issue 205 is a solid one. The cover story introduces a heady conflict for the hero which is compelling. The back story is a decent character piece, devoting to exploring a villain's history. The artwork is good throughout. The humor is a little heavy-handed but I enjoyed this one. Let's see if Flynn can keep it up in part two. [7/10]

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]