Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 13

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 13
Publication Date: May 1994


The first year of Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic was almost entirely disposable. In its second year, the tone didn’t change very much. The stories remained very silly, with low stakes. However, the comic started to introduce more elements entirely unique to it. The last two issues saw the introduction of Anti-Mobius and comic-exclusive characters, like Cyril the Eagle and Larry the Lynx. Issue 13 gives us something that would long mark the comics as a unique bit of “Sonic” media. Knuckles the Echidna, of course, didn’t originate in Archie’s comic. Despite being one of the most important characters in the Sonic legacy, Knuckles would only appear in video games for years. Just seeing Knuckles in animation was enough to redeem divisive cartoons like the “Sonic” OVA or “Sonic Underground.” Before those cartoons came along, Knuckles had been doing his thing in the comics for years, having adventures and even holding down his own series for a while. And that all started here.

The issue opens with “This Island Hedgehog.” (The title is another Penders’ style reference to a bit of pop culture unlikely to resonate with kids in 1994. Disappointingly, there are no Metaluna Mutants in this comic.)  Anyway, Sonic and Tails are flying around Mobius, scoping out new Robotnik developments, when they stumble upon a floating island. Their plane is shot down, crashing on the island. They discover how dangerous a place it is and soon come face-to-face with Knuckles, the echidna guardian of the location. Robotnik has misled Knuckles, convincing him that he’s a hero and Sonic is a villain, out to steal the Chaos Emerald that keeps the island afloat. Eventually, Sonic and Tails open Knuckles’ eye to the truth.

Issue 13 is typical of this era of Sonic. There are silly jokes sprinkled throughout. Knuckles shoots down Sonic and Tails’ bi-plane – which is pointedly not the Tornado – with a rocket-propelled punch, an “Unwelcome Mat” attached to it. For some reason, there’s a reference to Batman on page 7, a Gotham City sign appearing on the island for no reason. Robotnik’s lie to Sonic is pointed out with an editor’s note. The dictator’s ship bounces off the water at the end, in a very silly sight gag. There’s plenty of silly puns in the dialogue. “This is just “plane” crazy,” “This Tarzan stuff is for the birds – not for foxes!” So on and so forth.

However, “This Island Hedgehog” is definitely a much better adaptation of “Sonic 3” then Issue 6’s “The Spin Doctor” was of “Sonic Spinball.” The general plot of the game – Robotnik manipulating Knuckles and attempting to steal the Chaos Emerald – is maintained smoothly. Instead of emphasizing the different levels like that story, Issue 13 mostly focuses on the major points. We get brief shout-outs to the game, like the appearance of the Battle Blimp (which is amusingly typo’d as a “Batter” Blimp.), Sonic randomly gaining a Lightning Shield, and a short stop in the Hydrocity Zone. Considering how Chaos Emeralds would become the most important MacGuffin in Sonic history, it’s funny how this is the first time they’ve appeared in the comic. Weirdly, everyone already knows what the Chaos Emeralds are.

The story is a bit too slim to truly give him much room to breathe but the basics of Knuckles’ personality are here. He’s gullible, brass and aggressive, but ultimately has a heroic heart. Robotnik isn’t much of a threat, still being a silly comic relief villain at this point. The plot is resolved very quickly, with Sonic quickly grabbing the Chaos Emerald back and quickly kicking Robotnik off the island. To Penders’ credit, his dialogue is better here then in his last few issues. “This Island Hedgehog” is not a great story but it’s a decent one, giving Knuckles a swift, solid introduction.

I don’t have much to say about the second story, the atrociously named “Space in Yo’ Face.” Robotnik builds a spaceship, equipped with a long-distance roboticizer beam. The Freedom Fighters sneak aboard, flying into space. Robotnik and Snively pursue them, their ships landing on the Mobius’ moon, which is covered with muck. Shenanigans ensue.

After bouncing back with a pretty decent story last time, Angelo DeCesare slips back into his goofy, pun-filled style with this one. It’s 14 pages of goofy space, moon, and sand related jokes. It’s inessential, to be kind, and really dumb, to be honest. Art Mawhinney’s artwork remains excellent in many ways. Compared to the first story – where Dave Manak’s pointy art cannot adapt to the Sega house style – Mawhinney does much better. However, even his pencils seem slightly embarrassed by the story. When Robotnik’s shuttle transforms into a giant robot, he slips. I can’t blame him.

The first story is as about as good this series got during this point in its run. The second story is utterly disposable piece of badly timed goofiness. So it’s an even split. Remember it for Knuckles’ first appearance, not the pointless back-up tale. [6/10]