Sonic the Hedgehog (Original Mini-Series): Issue 2

Sonic the Hedgehog (Original Mini-Series): Issue 2
Publication Date: January 1993


In the third issue of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” mini-series (which, once again, I must point out is issue 2.), the comic series begins to resemble its Saturday morning cartoon counterpart a little more, while still featuring lots of goofy humor. Mostly, issue 2 is where the series’ complex, convoluted mythology started to take shape. A further sign of the series’ slow tonal evolution is present in this issue’s construction: Aside from a few gag comics, the entire issue is devoted to one story.

That plot concerns a specific item: King Acorn’s Crown. Attached to the tips of the crown are four round emeralds, called the Freedom Emeralds. The jewels exuded some sort of magical powers and reportedly, while in the hands of a member of the court of Acorn, will ensure the kingdom’s protection. Considering King Max got overthrown in the first place, it looks like they did a bang-up job with that… Anyway, as Sonic and Sally open the jewelry box, turns out the emeralds have been stolen, forcing Sonic and friends to race around the area in search of them. The Crown of Acorns would later be established as one part of a trio of magical MacGuffins that the kingdom acquired. This story would entirely be retconned out of existence, like most of the comic’s early years, later on. However, “A Crowning Achievement” still represents the comic’s first attempt at building up a mythology for itself.

The story also ups the stakes slightly. In first part, Freedom HQ is threatened by a Robotnik android disguised as a part of Antoine’s royal guard. The pig threatens to explode, which forces Sonic to make a dash for the surface. Obviously, the hedgehog survives. However, the moment, along with the robot’s deranged swirling eyes and evil smile, generates some mild suspense. The story also introduces what would be Robotnik’s primary goal for the comic’s first fifty issues: Locating the Freedom Fighters’ secret hide-out and murdering them. Granted, this issue has two of Robotnik’s lackeys discovering the locale, before they are conveniently destroyed. Because the robots couldn’t just beam that information back to Robotropolis? I guess Wi-Fi wasn’t invented yet. Anyway, the situation is a little more serious.

The story line also features the series building on its continuity. Sonic ventures back to the underwater cave he was in last time, fighting with Jaws once again. (And also swimming again, because the title of my blog is more a vague idea then a concrete concept.) The relationship between the characters’ continue to build, as Sally’s outright affection for Sonic is confirmed, along with his rivalry with the snooty Antoine. The badniks also continue to be a presence in the comics, with SWATBots, Bat Brains, Buzz Bombers, and the newly introduced Burrobot all playing a bigger role in this issue. Hell, we even see Tails fishing again. Apparently, this was a hobby he once had, probably because there wasn’t a whole lot for him to do at this point, besides moon over Sonic.

Sonic is defined beyond his ‘tude and ability to deliver puns. He starts to use his super-speed in clever ways. He kicks up some flames to start the sprinkler system, in order to reveal the robotic spy. He uses a series of badniks as mid-air stepping stones in order to reach a target, a move which wouldn’t make a proper appearance in the video games until the Dreamcast era. Beyond his ability to run fast and spin in a ball, the character has always been clever too. It’s nice to see that in the comic.

So Issue 2 is more focused and serious. Which isn’t to say it still isn’t full of goofy bullshit. The character’s communicate mostly in puns and silly jokes. Antoine continues to be treated as a pompous asshat. His hot-air seems to power a balloon in one panel. A blimp declares its association with Robotnik’s regime by having a giant red mustache. Jaws is defeated when he swims into a drawling Sonic and Tails quickly made on a wall. They did this underwater, where they also carry out full conversations. A sassy SWATBot makes a cameo. And the comic continues to feature winking, meta jokes. Sonic comments on Sally’s changing hair color. The story ends with Robotnik bemoaning his few appearances in this issue. Which takes an entire page, by the way. A one-page gag makes fun of the current comic environment. It references David Letterman, Archie’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures” comic, the Energizer Bunny, X-Men, Batman, Spawn, Michal J. Fox, and the “Death of Superman” story line. While mildly amusing for those that remember the comic scene in the early nineties, this does seem like Archie, a perpetual fourth-placer in the sales rack, taking cheap potshots at companies out of their league.

Scott Shaw’s artwork continues to be sharp, cartoony, and colorful, though he goes off-model a few times. In the Sonic-Grams letter section, Gabriel from Texas asks when the action figures based on the comic are coming out. Archie says they’re working on it. 22 years later, I’m still waiting. As for Issue 2, over all? It’s the best so far. [7/10]