Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 29

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 29
Publication Date: October 1995

By this point in the existence of Archie’s Sonic series, it started to form its own personality. Though with lots of SatAM, some of the video games, and an occasional burst of “Adventures of,” the team of writers had added enough of their own ideas to make the series kind of its own thing. However, there’s no doubt that SatAM was the biggest influence on the comic. This is made all the clearer in Issue 29, which introduces more SatAM element. Firstly, it adds Dulcy the Dragon to the comic’s cast. A character conceived for the show’s second season, Dulcy managed to become a fan favorite despite never doing much of anything. The comic also features one of the oval-shaped hoverpods that were a common fixture on the cartoon. After a bit of a break, Robotropis is back to looking like it did in the show. Most importantly, the issue’s story truly feels like a left-over SatAM script.

 
After Dulcy and Sonic smash a hoverpod, Sonic sneaks inside and steals a rare de-robotocizer. The Freedom Fighters immediately formulate a plan for the object. Sally will sneak directly into Robotropis, purposely being captured. Using a chip devised by Rotor, Sally will be robotocized and sabotage Robotnik’s plan from the inside. However, before throwing her in the device, the villain discovers the chip and removes it. Now, the Freedom Fighters head into the enemy base, not realizing that their plan has been compromised.

“Steel-Belted Sally” is a story with very high stakes. Sally is robotocized, her free will zapped away. She becomes an agent of the enemy. Meanwhile, some important technology is introduced. A chip that restores a Robian’s free-will and a device that can de-roboticize someone seem like a huge deals. Accordingly, the Freedom Fighters’ first instinct is to de-roboticize Bunnie. Despite these huge ideas, the story is a bit disappointing. By starting the issue with the discovery of the de-robotocizer, from the beginning we know Sally will be returned to normal. The device seems too tidy and neat. It really seems like writer Angelo DeCesare thought up the idea of Sally being turned into a robot and then back-tracked, making sure the readers wouldn’t be too upset by the concept. Considering the last issue featured Sonic being brainwashed and wailing on his friends, that’s surprising.

Truthfully, the story plays it so safe that we never feel like Sally is in any danger at all. In both SatAM and many of the comics, roboticization is shown as Robotnik’s greatest crime. And why shouldn’t it? He yanks an individual’s free will away and transforms their flesh into steel. It’s a human rights (animal rights?) violation of the greatest order. Look at the SatAM episode, “Sonic’s Nightmare,” where the thought of Sally being captured turns Sonic into a nervous wreck. By showing it as easily undone, something that can be changed with a single device, the idea is robbed of its threat factor.

Secondly, the Freedom Fighters never seem very concerned about their leader being changed into a soulless robot. Perhaps the story just moves too quickly to focus on that. Still, I’d expect Sonic and friends to be way more pissed, far more emotionally violated, by what happens. DeCesare’s script is a little too jokey in general for the subject matter. For a story that involves the theft of free will and a major character being seriously endangered, wrapping it up with an “Everyone Laughs!” ending seems insincere.

I’ve done so much praising of Art Mawhinney’s artwork since starting these reviews. Yes, issue 29 looks very good. Mawhinney’s strength for hugely expressive faces gets shown off. However, I do offer some criticism. Dulcy has always had a slightly awkward design and, even with someone as skilled as Mawhinney drawing her, she still looks kind of silly. Mecha-Sally, who years later would become a very important part of the mythology, looks really odd as well. The visible bolts and rivets in her body make the design seem slightly comical. Her modular body is just awkward. As a kid, I was always disappointed that the terrifying Mecha-Sally drawn by Spaz on the cover never appears exactly like that in the book.

The cover story seems to be want to be dark but kind of wimps out. The back-up story, surprisingly, doesn’t cheat on the darkness. The second part of “Growing Pains” picks up where last month's story left off. Tails is still imprisoned by Robotnik and the robotic Fiona. However, he makes a last minute escape. Now he has to fight off the girl he loves and the mad tyrant behind the scheme.

It’s odd. Mike Gallagher is never above goofy sight-gags or puns. His script here is typically free-willing. Despite that, he’s still written one of the darkest stories to ever appear in the pages of “Sonic.” Tails is betrayed by the girl he loves and shoved in a death trap. Even after escaping, that girl tries to murder him repeatedly. The story concludes with Fiona trying to drown Tails in the sea, shoving his face under the waves until he expires. Holy shit, right? I continue to like Gallagher’s characterization of Tails as an angry teen. He even seems genuinely tough after he clogs up Robotnik’s machine with his tails. He wakes the guy with a tree and gets in a fist fight with his love interest. At one point, Tails even announces that Robotnik has “robbed him of his innocence!” Again, I say “Holy shit!”

The conclusion is a bit of a cheat. Fiona, just before delivering the killing blow to Tails, rusts up. Apparently, Robotnik didn’t think to water-proof his Auto-Automatons. Tails places the rusted up model on the beach and notices that Robotnik left some papers talking about his plans on the other side of Mobius. This, naturally, sets up the “Tails” mini-series which debuted the same month as this book. However, the story ends on a surprisingly emotional image. The robotic Fiona, rusted stiff, stands on the beach and watches Tails leave. As he goes, a tear runs from her eyes. Does this suggest that the robot maybe did have feelings for Tails, that Robotnik’s creations are capable of free will and emotions? We’ll never know. When Fiona Fox appeared again, years later, it was the flesh-and-blood version the automation was based off. And though the book would occasionally reference Tails’ feelings for Fiona, her reveal as a villain would sink that ship forever. It’s a shame. Imagine a story about a robot learning to love and overcoming its programming. Could’ve been something.

In short, the cover story is a bit of a disappointment while the back-up story remains strong. [7/10]