Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 66

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 66
Publication Date: October 1998

I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before so excuse me if I’m repeating myself. Ixis Naugus dates back to the SatAM, of course. Head writer Ben Hurst’s original plan was that, after Robotnik’s defeat at the end of season two, Naugus was going to assert himself as the series’ new primary villain. After Robotnik’s defeat in issue 50, the comic book decided to follow a similar course. While Naugus was a villain with a lot of potential, he never truly lived up to it. The Ixis Naugus story arc, including Sonic and Tails chasing the wizard around the world, technically ran for sixteen issues, including a Sonic Super Special. Of those sixteens, Naugus himself only actually appears in six. Because “Sonic Adventure” was looming around the corner, and the Sega mandated return of Robotnik with it, the Naugus story line comes to its too-soon conclusion here, in issue 66.

After telling his fucking life story last time, Nate Morgan shows Sonic and Tails his secret stash of Power Rings. Morgan’s impregnable fortress turns out not to be entirely pregnable, as the evil wizard immediately sneaks into the ring storage room by fusing with the cave wall. Sonic, Tails, and Naugus adsorb the thousands upon thousands of rings, each transforming into powerful new forms. Throughout the battle, Nate Morgan and Eddy the Yeti try to protect themselves.

Like I said, Nate Morgan did not especially endear himself to readers last time. Maybe even Karl Bollers realized this flaw. Issue 66, christen with the cringe-worthy pun title of “A Friend in Deed,” begins with Sonic reading Nate Morgan the riot act. The hedgehog’s complaint boils down to this: Morgan’s technology can help millions of people. Instead, he hides away in his fortress, after being spurned by two separate kingdoms. In other words, Sonic commands the scientist to stop feeling sorry for himself. One of Sonic’s strengths has always been his ability to cut through the bullshit. Rarely is it so well utilized as here. Or so needed.

Of course, this is an action book. After Naugus pokes his ugly head in, Sonic and Tails take the fight to the wizard. Immediately afterwards, all three of them adsorb the shit ton of Power Rings. In the past, Sonic becoming Super Sonic, or any of the other super forms, meant the situation had gotten very serious. In order to show just how serious the confrontation between heroes and villain is, Sonic and Tails gain a whole other level. That’s right, they go Super Sayian level 2! Sonic becomes Ultra Sonic! Tails becomes Hyper Tails! Naugus becomes Ugly Naugus! (Yes, that’s what they really call him.) I guess inventing another super form is kind of lazy.

It’s also kind of cool. Naugus’ ability to manipulate the elements is increased. Sonic gains this ability as well, counteracting the wizard’s powers with his own. Truthfully, only Tails gets the short of it, as the only obvious power upgrade he gets involves a flock of birds to do his bidding. (Blame Sega for that one, though.) Karl Bollers’ narration boxes can get kind of heavy handed but Steven Butler’s dynamic artwork and the satisfaction of watching the good guys and bad guy fight makes up for it.

And the book squanders plenty of that good will very quickly. Ultra Sonic and Hyper Tails loose their new abilities almost immediately after gaining them. Apparently, the bigger the power, the shorter the fuse. This results not in Sonic and Tails defeating the bad guy but Nate Morgan. With a secret Power Ring cannon in his eye piece, the scientist blasts the evil wizard back into the Zone of Silence, dissolving that plot very quickly. And people complain about Knuckles being Ken Penders’ pet character! Nate delivering the quote-unquote "killing" blow to Naugus is not so much disappointing. It's the ease with which he defeats him that bothers me. Maybe Sega really was breathing down Archie’s back to bring Robotnik back. That would certainly explain how quickly, messily the story line is bottled up.

That’s a problem the story has. Surprisingly, Bollers pulls the issue back together in its final pages. Throughout this issue, we learn that Eddy the Yeti can speak a little bit of English. His most prominent words include “Nate… Friend!” During the fight with Naugus, the yeti does everything in his power to protect the little man. The battle with the wizard is intense enough that it tears the fortress apart, causing it to collapse. Eddy the Yeti holds up the fort, literally, long enough for Sonic, Tails, and Nate escape. Eddy’s final words, before he’s crushed by the rubble, are “Nate… Friend! Nate… GO!” That’s right, he sacrifices himself in order to save his friend. While Bollers’ narration can certainly be overdone, his writing here – about how Morgan has never understood that victory sometimes comes at a grave cost – is awfully effective. When paired with Steven Butler’s artwork, of the heroes standing solitary in the field of snow, adds an impressive degree of emotion to the story.

Since the threat of Ixis Naugus is neutralized for the time being, writer Karl Bollers saw fit to include the character’s secret origin in the back of the issue. Hundreds of years ago, when Mobius was still shaken by the Days of Fury, three wizards conspired to rule the world. Called the Order of Ixis, each of them had mastered one of the four elements. Agunus the Rhino had mastery over the Earth. Suguna the Lobster controlled water. Nusgau the Bat wielded power over the element of air. Only the element of fire, contained within the sun, was out of their reach. The three wizards, each fighting against the other, raced towards the sun. Nusgau betrayed his brothers as they reach the sun. The bat gains control of all four elements while also being physically fused with the other two wizards. The same ritual seemingly transports him hundreds of years into the future, where he literally falls into the Court of Acorn.

First off, the back-up story answers a question I’ve been wondering for a while: What the hell is Naugus? All other Mobians are some sort of anthropomorphized animal. Naugus was a weird goblin thing. Bollers’ answer to this query – that Naugus is a Rhino-Lobster-Bat – proves surprisingly satisfying. I actually like the wizard’s origin. Unlike Ken Penders or Scott Fulop’s pseudo-mystic bullshit, Bollers actually handles myth-making pretty well. The sun symbolizing the power of fire is cool. Naugus betraying his fellow wizards for a chance at more power certainly seems in character. Really, the only aspect of the story that doesn’t work for me is the wizard randomly landing in King Max’s court room. Okay, sure, I can accept that. But the king immediately accepting this weirdo as his court wizard and royal advisor? Now that strains believably.

Still, issue 66 represents some of Bollers’ best work in a while. The story is a solid action tale, featuring some fun combat. Surprisingly, he finds a real emotional heart beating within a high stakes story. The back-up is also pretty good, providing a satisfying origin for the villain and showing that Bollers is better at magic than any of his contemporary “Sonic” writers. [8/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 19

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 19
Publication Date: October 1998

Crossovers between the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series and the “Knuckles the Echidna” series were relatively common. Usually, it was Knuckles crossing over with Sonic, presumably in order to drive sales to the newer series. This left readers who only read “Sonic” regularly confused and annoyed. In issue 19 of “Knuckles” though, the crossover went the other way. A subplot in the “Sonic” book recently concerned Geoffrey St. John and his team of recruits. Turns out the team was assembled in order to rescue Queen Alicia – as in Sally’s mom – from the Floating Island. And now, that story line starts to actually pay off.

As Ken Penders all too frequently did, issue 19 splits its pages between about four different story lines. In the first, Geoffrey and his Secret Service touch down on the Floating Island, looking for the supposed crash site of Queen Alicia’s shuttle. Instead, they find some very choppy weather conditions. A heavy snow storm is falling in the middle of the desert Sandopolis Zone. The same storm is ripping through Echidnaopolis, which is certainly cramping the quasi-date Knuckles and Julie-Su are on. Meanwhile, Lara-Le has finally had enough and decides to confront Locke face-to-face. The same bad weather downs her craft, forcing Knuckles’ dad to finally take some damn action. Also, Moritori Rex – still disguised as Tobor – plots something villainous from within Haven.

Got all that? Of the above story lines, the one involving Knuckles and Julie-Su should be the most interesting. Now, the two young echidnas aren’t officially on a date. Last time, Julie-Su met Knuckles’ mom and the two talked briefly. This story begins with Knux and Julie heading back to Lara’s apartment. In other words, Julie-Su hopes to continue seeking romantic advice from her potential boyfriend’s mom. Of course, Lara-Le isn’t in town.

Instead, Knuckles finds an echidna woman who has nearly frozen to death in the sudden snowstorm. She cries for her missing baby and, somehow, Knuckles finds the woman’s apartment, her crying child inside. Okay, why was this woman in the snow? Why did she leave her infant child alone? Why has she collapsed? Who even knows if these questions are important. The plot line is really just there to give Knuckles something to do in this issue. Soon, he’s scooped up by Remington and moved towards the more important plot.

All of that is because Knuckles isn’t truly the star of his own comic this time. Geoffrey St. John and the Secret Service steal the spotlight. The issue begins with a dramatic few pages of Antoine, showing off his pilot license again, dropping the secret agents off on the island. The individual personalities of the agents still aren’t truly established. Hershey complains about the snow, once again showing that, perhaps, she’s not cut-out for this espionage thing. Heavy gets to show off his robot-y abilities, sprouting some tank treads. Valdez has a basic understanding of directions.

At the very least, the mystery of Sally’s mom’s location provides their plot with some decent motivation. The plot ends on a decent cliff-hanger, of the team wandering into a home of some bulldogs and meeting a mysterious new face. It’s not great or anything but it at least keeps the plot moving.

For a while now, I’ve been complaining that Lara-Le doesn’t do anything. Other then threat about what Knuckles is up to or complain about how cold and distant Locke is. Not that I can blame her too much for that last one, as Locke is a prick. So to see Lara-Le finally go and confront her ex-husband is a nice change of pace. Locke’s cockhood is re-enforced upon seeing Lara-Le’s crashed shuttle. His response is not concern for his ex-wife but annoyance that she would dare interrupt his work! What an asshole! When he finds her, the two immediately start arguing. As a child of divorce, that last part is pretty realistic. Penders still seems unaware of how awful a person Locke is. Yet this story line still packs the most honest emotion out of anything in this issue.

As always, the least compelling aspect of the “Knuckles” book is the shit happening in Haven. Upon seeing that Locke has vacated his post, that Geoffrey St. John and Lara-Le have both ventured into the Forbidden Zone, Tobor – who is really Moritori Rex – has some threatening thoughts about his plan. Considering the guy has been waiting around for literally decades, I find it hard to believe that this would prompt action with him. The whole “Tobor is really Moritori Rex!” story line is definitely one of the dumbest to be featured in “Knuckles” thus far.

Once again, I have to grasp to whatever brief kernel of humor, emotion, or truth in this book. Penders continues to steam roll his characters in the name of his convoluted plotting and labyrinthine mythology. In other words, business as usual here in Echidnopolis. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 65

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 65
Publication Date: September 1998

Issue 65 gives us the proper introduction to Nate Morgan, one of the most controversial characters among Archie Sonic nerds. A character originally conceived for SatAM, Karl Bollers would dig up Morgan and have him redesign as a dwarf Overlander. Most fans actively disliked Morgan and quite a few vocally hated him. As a kid, I was ambivalent towards Nate Morgan. As an adult, I think I understand the hate.

Last time, Ixis Naugus BAMF’d his way into Morgan’s stronghold. Before murdering Sonic, Tails, and Eddy the Yeti, Nate banishes the wizard from the building. Afterwards, he explains his story in arduous detail. An Overlander and contemporary of Robotnik, Nate Morgan invented the Power Rings. This invention got him banished from his own kingdom. He soon shacked up in the Kingdom of Acorn, his technology projecting the city into the future. A conspiracy involving Naugus and Kodos got Morgan banished from yet another kingdom. Afterwards, Nate traveled to the frozen tundra, where he continued his study with the Power Rings.

The cover story, given the painful pun title of “The Fellowship of the Rings,” runs for 17 pages. Seven and a half of those pages are devoted to Nate Morgan’s flashback. We are shown, in detail, his extended but uninvolving backstory. Most writers would have gingerly dropped this information over the course of a few issues. Karl Bollers dumps it all on us in a lump of pages. Not only does Morgan like to tell his story, he likes to talk about it too. Every panel is accompanied by a word box, packed to the edges with sentences. Bombarding the readers with boring, overdone exposition does not endear Nate Morgan to us.

Seven pages of exposition also stops a story dead. This is a bummer, especially since it was moving pretty quickly up to this point. In Nate’s rambling explanation, a few answers are provided. We discover that Naugus’ magic spurned Warlord Kodos to anger, creating a few of the skirmishes that triggered the Great War. We see the role the wizard played in King Acorn’s court, finally contextualizing his link to the Acorns. Mostly, we discover that Nate Morgan created the Power Rings. That last point raises some questions. Before now, the Power Rings were shown as ancient, magical devices, whose origins were mysterious and whose power were mystical. Saying some guy cooked them up really derails that set-up. No wonder Bollers and Ken Penders didn’t get along.

Oh yeah, Ixis Naugus is in this story too. Remember how I said last time that Naugus’ considerable power and willingness to get his hands dirty made him a cool bad guy? In 65, he shows up with a flaming beard and proceeds to Force Choke Sonic and Tails. Right afterwards, Nate Morgan throws a Power Ring through a window. The evil wizard stops what he’s doing and leaps after the device. Obviously, this drops him outside Morgan’s strong hold. Gee, Karl, way to drain your new villain of all his threatening power.

Anyway, there’s a back-up story. Dulcy and Amy Rose wander the ruins of Robotropolis. Amy has discovered a book, about a great artist and storyteller named Kirby. After reading that a collection of Kirby’s stories reside in the Mobotropolis library, Amy and the dragon set off to find the building. It doesn’t take them too long to track down the location. Right before they grab one of Kirby’s books, both of the girls hear some strange noise, causing them to flee.

“The Library” gets off on a cute note. Both Dulcy and Amy Rose haven’t gotten much page time up to now. Pairing them together is a neat idea, as both are enthusiastic young girls. Their excitement of having a mystery and tracking down an answer is fun. However, any “girls on an adventure!” energy the story has is quickly squashed. Once Amy gets to talking about Kirby, suddenly the story becomes about this guy we’ve never met before and have no attachment too. At only six pages, the story also concludes just when it might be getting interesting. I’m beginning to feel like “Interesting set-up, good cast, disappointing execution” is the standard operating procedure for this comic.

At least the art continues to be nice. Even though the flashback heavy narrative doesn’t play to his strength, Steven Butler still does some good work with the cover story. Art Mawhinney, in the back-up, makes Amy Rose and Dulcy look extra adorable. Maybe this story line will wrap up on a decent note? I guess we’ll find out soon enough. [5/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 18

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 18
Publication Date: September 1998

In the past, Ken Penders has displayed the bad habit of setting up a decent story line, full of interesting questions or plot developments, only to drop the ball in a serious way before the conclusion. We saw it in “Endgame” and in just about every story arc in the “Knuckles” book. The “Deep Cover” story arc only spanned two issues, given Ken far fewer chances to screw things up. I’m not saying this story line is flawless or nothin’ but at least its short.

Picking up where we left off, Knuckles and Kragok have a little talk in the latter’s jail cell. Since a Guardian and a Dark Legion leader are incapable of being civil, this quickly escalates into a fight. Because of some ill defined magical juju on Knuckles’ behalf, the two of them wind up transported into an alternate universe. In Haven, Locke and Sabre continue to repair the damages caused by the unseen saboteur. Meanwhile, Tobor has a heart-to-heart with Julie-Su and Lara-Le. All the plot lines wind up awkwardly colliding at the end.

Most of issue 18 is devoted to Knuckles and Kragok’s fight. Introduced as an effectively unhinged villain in “The Dark Legion” mini-series, Kragok hasn’t shown up too much since then. Instead of examining the character’s motivation, the story immediately turns into a fight scene. Knuckles wildly abuses his power as a state-sanctioned vigilante, wailing on Kragok with little provocation. The Legionnaire shoots him with an electric blast out of his robot arm and Knuckles then punches him in the dick. If you’re wondering why the police allowed Kragok to keep a weapon in his prison cell, you’re probably smarter than the writer.

Instead, the issue takes a hard left turn. Something weird happens, Knuckles and Kragok ending up in an alternate universe. Kragok, in another exposition-laden flashback, explains this is the Twilight Zone. No, not that Twilight Zone. This Twilight Zone is the pocket dimension Steppenwolf sent the Dark Legion to centuries ago. How did Knuckles and Kragok end up here? Was it something the villain planned? If so, why did he wait until now to deploy it? Or are Knuckles’ still developing powers to blame for this? Once again, the book provides no answers. Instead, we get some funky artwork of the hero and the villain floating around a surreal landscape. Man, Ken loved his surreal landscapes.

The emotional heart of issue 18 lies in Tobor’s conversations with Lara-Le and Julie-Su. Lara-Le asks the questions on everyone’s mind. Namely, how Tobor’s dad confuse his son with someone else. This plot hole is hastily justified, sort of, before Tobor mentions that he got his weird robot eyes from Dr. Quack. Emotions is pushed aside in favor of some more plot juggling. However, there’s still a brief moment, where Lara-Le asks Tobor whether a Guardian is responsible more for his island or his family. We don’t get a direct answer, the comic cutting away. All we get is one sentence, Tobor explaining that a Guardian’s responsibilities are super important. No wonder Lara-Le is frustrated. Nobody gives her a straight fucking answer.

The stuff in Haven is not especially compelling. Locke and Sabre go about repairing the damage done while the other guys debate why their entire system could be brought down so easily. Damn, the Brotherhood is boring. Do they ever do anything besides squabble among themselves? If you’re expecting the plot point about Moritori Rex disguising himself as Tobor to be resolved, look else where. However, there is one development to this side of things. Sabre tells Locke to lighten the fuck up and take some time off. Could this signal some much needed growth for Knuckles’ constipated dad? Probably not but, you know, hope springs eternal.

Issue 18 wraps up very awkwardly. Knuckles and Kragok dropped out of the sky through a portal. Tobor feels a disturbance in the Force and leaps out of Lara-Le’s apartment window. He flies up to the portal, grabs Kragok, and they stumble back through the riff in space/time. I know there was only two issues to resolve this plot but that’s hasty, isn’t it? Knuckles doesn’t even get to bid his distant grandfather a goodbye. What exactly did Tobor accomplish in these two issues? Make it back to the Island, tell his great-grandson he exists, and then disappear again. Why are echidnas so fucking evasive?

The story at least wraps up on a cute image. As Knuckles approaches the apartment, Lara-Le tells Julie-Su that she’s setting herself up for trouble if she plans on pursuing a relationship with a Guardian. Julie-Su denies any romantic attraction in a way that confirms said attraction. As he comes through the window, Knuckles receives a double hug from his mom and love interest. Aww! The book needs more cute moments like this and fewer strangled attempts at grand self-mythologizing. But, you know, Penders gotta Penders. [6/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 17

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 17
Publication Date: August 1998

After taking a one issue break to focus on more emotional matters, Ken Penders’ “Knuckles the Echidna” series gets back to business as usual. In other words, the comic returns its focus to expanding its own mythology, introducing more characters, and further developing Knuckles’ grim destiny as a super hero or some shit. Let’s get through this.

A strange figure approaches the Floating Island. An echidna with robotic eyes, he first encounters Julie-Su and attempts to beat her up. What an asshole. Meanwhile, Knuckles meditates, learning how to understand and control the new powers he’s suddenly developed. The Brotherhood, including Tobor and Knuckles’ other ancestors, watch from a far, like always. Until there’s a sudden power outrage. Knuckles meets up with Julie-Su, who has subdued the intruder. The strange echidna claims to be Tobor, explaining that he unwittingly switched places with a Dark Legionnaire decades earlier.

“The Guardian Who Failed” engages in much of the flawed writing that characterizes most of “Knuckles’” weaker issues. Yet, somehow, Ken manages to balance out these issues into some sort of satisfying whole. I suspect this is because the Brotherhood of Guardians actually do something in this issue, besides ideally observing and arguing among themselves. It’s not a lot, truthfully. The power goes out and everyone rushes around. The Guardians check on two of Haven’s patients, including Hawking (who still hasn’t fucking died, somehow) and someone who will soon be revealed as Sally’s mom. It’s not a lot. Yet just actually having the Brotherhood take some friggin’ action, for once, makes a big difference.

Something else I like about this story is that its places Knuckles’ new powers in some sort of emotional context. The young Guardian is introduced sitting, legs crossed, atop an Echdnian skyscraper, meditating. Archimedes appears and notes that this is quite a change from Knuckles’ usual approach to spiritual matters. As Knuckles points out, he’s been going through a lot lately. Even though the series is seventeen issues old, all the family and responsibility Knuckles has recently gained still hasn’t really been focused on. Now, he’s got superpowers as well. Once again, it’s not a lot. But the book actually pausing to acknowledge its hero’s struggle, to point out that Knuckles is still just a kid really, is a nice touch.

So what about Tobor? He does not get the most inviting introduction. Attempting to choke out the best character in the book is not a good way to endear a new character to the reader. Once Tobor is pacified – which happens entirely off-panel, by the way – he explains his back story. This stuff feels pretty functionary. Hawking suddenly thrust the Guardian’s responsibility on his son with little warning. The Dark Legion popped out of a rip in reality. The leader, Moritori Rex, made some sweeping statements to the populace. Before he can reach the hearts and minds of the people, he picks a fight with Tobor. They have a tumble that’s described as an epic struggle but only takes up one page.

Afterwards, both are buried in rubble and Tobor’s dad accidentally grabs Moritori Rex instead of his boy. Never mind the huge plot hole that Hawking can’t tell his own son apart from a different an echidna. (Apparently even Penders realizes his re-colors look nearly identical.) Or how suddenly all of this information is dropped on us. By this point in the book’s history, I’m just used to that stuff.

At the very least, the story roots Tobor’s introduction in some okay emotion. Knuckles’ reaction to discovering yet another family member is one of resigned acceptance. The echidna is quickly getting accustomed to new relatives popping out of the wood work. What he does next is the interesting part. After listening to Tobor’s story, he gives the guy a big hug. That’s kind of a funny moment but maybe there’s more to it. In his extended flashback, Tobor talks about how his own dad was a jerk to him. Apparently that runs in the bloodline. Maybe that’s why Knuckles instantly relates to the guy. The tears Tobor sheds is a bit hard to take seriously, though. At the very least, the hug is a nice moment.

“The Guardian Who Failed” ends on a decent cliff hanger too. We the reader obviously know that the person claiming to be Tobor is actually a Dark Legion double agent. Why Moritori Rex has been undercover so long, and why he’s waited until now to act, are all questions I’m sure the book will totally fumble in answering. More importantly, the last page shows Knuckles confronting Kragok – Remember him? – in prison. It’s about time the comic follows up on that plot point. Issue 17 has got many of the same problems the book has always had but this one still worked out okay. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 64

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 64
Publication Date: August 1998

After screwing around for seven issues, Sonic and Tails remember why they’re traveling around the world in the first place. As the cover declares, our heroes are finally going to confront Ixis Naugus. Set up as the new major villain after Robotnik’s defeat, a precedence set by SatAM’s unmade third season, Naugus has been a bit underwhelming thus far. He turned some people to crystal and threw Sonic’s plane off-course. Finally, the heroes get to take the new big bad on, head-to-head.

Sonic and Tails have tracked Naugus to the frozen Northern Tundra. Unlucky for them, the Power Ring that charges the Winged Victory has crapped out on them. The two are stranded in the ice and cold. Things get worst when Naugus appears. Showing off his elemental powers, the evil wizard proceeds to blast the hedgehog and the fox with snow and ice. Just when things are getting bad, unexpected help appears in the form of a cyborg yeti. (Cyeti?) The abominable snow-creature takes the unconscious heroes to a mysterious new figure called Nate Morgan.

“In Search Of…” is mostly an action story. Most of the pages are made up Sonic and Tails tumbling with Naugus. For the first time, the evil wizard really shows off his abilities. He transforms into a giant fist of snow, pinning Tails to a cliff. As Sonic races towards him, Naugus changes into air, the hedgehog charging right through him. Not only does this show off Naugus’ unique abilities, it also shows how different a bad guy he is when compared to Robotnik. The doctor didn’t like to get his hands dirty. He usually sent robots to do his bidding, outsmarting Sonic and friends. Naugus, meanwhile, wants to get up close and personal with his prey. That’s cool. More importantly, it’s different.

Steven Butler continues to provide the artwork for the book. For such an action heavy story, Butler gets to show off. He’s portrayal of Naugus looks like he step right out of the cartoon show. Sonic races through the snow, kicking lots of flakes when he has to stop suddenly. A cool panel has the hedgehog flipping up over a cliff, which is a neat image. Butler’s artwork also brings Eddy the Yeti to life. Say what you will about the character but Butler’s design for him is immediately appealing and neat looking. In short, this is a good looking issue.

While there’s lot of action to be had, Karl Bollers still sneaks in some honest emotions. While standing on the icy mountain, Tails bemoans their current situation. He starts to loose hope, without a mode of transportation and hundreds of miles away from home. Sonic tries to build up his little buddy, informing them that they can’t loose hope. If they do, the terrorists Naugus wins. It’s a slightly heavy-handed moment. Compared to recent stories that have been heavy on plot but light on character development, I appreciated Bollers pausing long enough to inform us how every one’s feeling. It’s certainly more compelling than the sudden reveal of Nate Morgan, a character that remains contentious for fans.

In the back pages, Ken Penders continues the current story arc involving Geoffrey St. John’s Secret Service. After Sally asks her dad what the hell has been going on, she gets another curt dismissal. Afterwards, the King briefs Geoffrey and his new team. Just as the Great War was heating up, King Acorn trusted St. John’s dad with his queen’s safety. While in route to the Floating Island, her transport was shot down. The Queen has been missing ever since. So that’s the team’s new mission: Find Sally’s mom.

First off, props: Art Mawhinney’s pencils are fucking awesome. I love the look on Sally’s face after her dad shoots her down. Unfortunately, Ken Penders once again pushes the story’s emotion to the side in favor of relentless plotting. Sally is frustrated that her dad is leaving her out of the loop. The reader is frustrated too. I suppose the fate of the Queen is something readers were wondering about. Considering St. John’s squad has yet to prove themselves properly compelling, I’m not super excited for their further adventures.

Still, issue 64 is a good one. A whole issue of great artwork is not something this book always has. I really like Bollers’ cover story even if Penders’ back-up could’ve used some work. [8/10]

HEDGEHOGS CAN'T SWIM UPDATES WILL RESUME ON OCTOBER 3RD!

Listen, everyone has to take a break occasionally. I'm a road trip this weekend, which leaves me with little time for blog updating. Everything will be back to normal on Monday. Until then, go outside and drink a pumpkin spice latte or something. See you soon, faithful readers.