Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 12

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 12
Publication Date: April 1994

Issue 12 would be a good-looking if mildly unremarkable issue of “Sonic the Hedgehog” if it wasn’t for one thing. It features work from all three of the head writers at the time. The first story is from Mike Gallagher. The second is from the Penders/Kanterovich team. The last is from Angelo DeCesare. This allows us a good opportunity to compare and contrast the different style and approaches of three of the voices who would define the comic’s early years.

Mike Gallagher’s “A Timely Arrival” opens the book. After scraping the shit out of multiple Robotnik robots, the dictator thinks up a way to erase the hedgehog once and for all: Send him back in time! Casually cracking the secrets of time travel, Robotnik dumps Sonic back in prehistoric days. There, Sonic befriends his distant ancestors, a boghog name Sonugh, who has problems with a rotund madman named Robughnik and a group of friends that include Princess Sal-ugh. Eventually, the Freedom Fighters get him back to his own time.

Like all of Gallagher’s work, the tone is incredibly silly and light. The premise basically recalls a sitcom. Sonic going back in time and fighting dinosaurs is one thing. That’s cool actually, even if the dinosaurs talk and crack jokes too. Meeting a group of identical ancestors is a little much though. Many of the jokes are very silly, especially the entire bit about Robughnik. An earlier gag about Sally watching soap operas is also groan-worthy. Another trademark of Gallagher is self-reflective jokes. Sonic breaks the fourth wall when crashing back in his own time. The entire story is built around pre-exisiting familiarity to the “Sonic the Hedgehog” universe. Having said that, this is actually a pretty good Gallagher story. Another trademark of the author is a ecological slant. Sonic is so enraged by Robotnik cutting down trees that he catches the roof on fire on his way out. The joke about Sonic inventing hedges, and thus inventing hedgehogs, is amusing. I like the Freedom Fighters being dependent enough to rescue Sonic all on their own. It’s silly but rarely actively bad, just light-weight and disposable. (It also features the Prehistoric Freedom Fighters asking the readers if they want to be seen again, another Gallagher quirk.)

The second story, “The Bold-Headed Eagle,” is from Penders and Kanterovich. While racing through the mountains, Sonic accidentally runs off a cliff. He lands in the nest of Cyril the Eagle, who believes himself to be the last eagle and spends his days hiding from Robotnik. Sonic attempting to teach the eagle to fly again alerts them to the dictator, who is then undone by his own hubris.

If “The Bold-Headed Eagle” is a Penders work, it’s definitely an early Penders work. The writers’ typically verbose dialogue is on display, which is a problem. The story hews closer in tone to “SatAM,” as Robotropis looks more like the cartoon and Snivley plays a big role. It also introduces a new character, Cyril the Eagle, who is then revealed to have a nearly identical family, another thing Penders would become notorious for. However, it’s interesting to see Ken’s style co-exist alongside the comic’s early, goofy tone. Robotnik appears to stop Sonic inside a ram-shaped vehicle, which looks like something out of “He-Man,” while wearing lederhosen. Cyril, who is literally bald, wears a cardigan, and walks with a cane, is a pretty silly character too. Notably, he wouldn’t appear much as the comic got more serious. Though badly hampered by Penders’ puffy dialogue, it’s not a bad story. After being a quipping jerk for the last eleven issues, it’s nice to see Sonic evolving into a compassionate, helpful person.

The third story is entitled “The Lynx is a Jinx” and was written by Angelo DeCesare. Robotnik’s SWATBots are performing another sweep of the forest, forcing Sonic and company to clear out the innocent animals. While there, Sonic meets Larry, a lynx whose bad luck is contagious, usually leading to catastrophe for those around him. Fearing for his friends’ lives, Sonic follows Larry alone, hoping to find a place for the feline. Naturally, Robotnik soon attacks.

Okay, my thesis is wrong. “The Lynx is a Jinx” is actually much better then Angelo DeCesare’s previous work. There’s not quite a tidal wave of puns. Sally is mean to Larry but she actually has a good reason for it. It’s also not an entirely light-weight story. The threat of Robotnik harming the inhabitants of the forest is very real. Larry’s depression about being an outcast is treated seriously. However, the crux of the story is still pretty silly. Magic doesn’t exist yet in the Archie comic, so Larry’s weird ability to affect the luck of those around him seems really out of place. The way it plays out, with Larry using his jinx abilities to defeat Robotnik’s latest scheme, is sadly predictable. Another definite DeCesare element: the rat-rod Robotnik attempts to run Sonic down with. That is, as the kids would say, random.

(Notably, both of these stories would introduce characters that would rarely be seen again. Under Ian Flynn’s pen, Larry would eventually develop into something of a fan favorite but that’s 226 issues from now.)

Tying all these stories together is Art Mawhinney’s outstanding artwork. This is especially notable in the final story, where the Great Forest seems like a lush, alive place for the first time in the comic’s run. Mawhinney’s action is excellent, Sonic’s running and fighting seeming especially lively. Sonic burning off the page and his scuffle with the dinosaurs are both nice moments. The expressions are brilliant, especially Larry’s perpetual sad sack frown. I love how Mawhinney’s artwork shows a clear connection to SatAM but he also adapts brilliantly to comics. It’s cartoony, lively, and silly during Gallagher’s story. It’s more focused and serious in DeCesare’s story. 

While still on the “good, not great” side of the critical divide, issue 12 may very well be the most balanced “Sonic” comic yet. The writing is pretty good from all four scribes, the artwork is great, and the issue progresses smoothly and satisfyingly. [7/10]