Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 45

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 45
Publication Date: January 1997

After a fairly productive 1996, 1997 would get off to a slow start for Sonic and his pals. At this point, the “Endgame” arc was fast approaching. A storyline that would offer up some serious mix-ups to the Sonic continuity, it was pen-marked to debut in issue 47 and conclude in issue 50. This meant that the two issues stuck between this arc and the conclusion of the King Acorn story arc essentially weren’t allowed to do too much. Which is how we get an issue like number 45, which may be one of the most generic Sonic stories we’ve gotten in a while.

Robotnik has been expanding his empire all over the world, except for one location: The jungle. Turns out, the fat man has a phobia of jungles. Due to this, Snively urges Robotnik to let him oversee a conquest of the Mobian jungle. Robotnik approves, as long as he takes down as many trees as possible. Uncle Chuck overhears this plan and informs Sonic. The Freedom Fighters march into the jungle but encounter a tribe of hostile gorillas before they can find the villain. Luckily, Mobie the Cavebear, last seen in issue 32, also happens to be in the area.

For a while there, I was enjoying the way the book was building on its world. This is how we found out there were other Freedom Fighter teams around the globe. That this world was bigger then just Sonic and his friends. However, since then, the books has turned its focus to building on the character’s history and forging a complex, odd world of magic. Issue 45 feels like a throwback to this earlier time in the book’s history.

 
And not necessary in a good way. The gorillas are meant to be sympathetic but act scary, threatening Sonic and Rotor with guns and chaining them to trees. The gorillas, naturally peaceful, became this way through being forced to fight Robotnik. This could’ve been an interesting comment on what fear and combat does to people. However, “Guerrilla Thriller” is way too thin for that. Instead, it introduces a new clan of characters that we do not like.

Secondly, the story doesn’t give Sonic or Rotor much to do. After going into the jungle, they immediately get captured by the gorillas. They spend most of the story chained to a tree. The only proactive thing that happens in this period is a botched attempt by Sonic to escape and Rotor poisoning the gorillas’ stew with a berry that causes sleep. Basically, Sonic spends half of the story waiting for the rest of the plot to arrive, in the form of Mobie and Snively’s deforesting machine.

 
Speaking of which… Mobie is a goofy character but one I admit liking. Despite his return getting hyped on the cover, he doesn’t do much here. The cave bear shows up, trashes some SWATBots, and yanks Sonic and Rotor’s chains apart. That’s it. As for the deforesting machine, it’s mildly intimidating. However, Tails easily defeats Snively while Sonic easily dismantles the machine. Add some of Dave Manak’s most jagged and unappealing artwork and you’ve got a pretty weak story.

Disappointingly, the back-up story isn’t much better. In “Knuckles Quest 3,” Knuckles’ continued quest for King Acorn’s sword has run into a problem. He’s been captured by Black Death, a sorcerer, and the Enchantress. The Enchantress has enslaved Knuckles’ body, forcing him to do menial labor for them. Knuckles recalls the message the Ancient Walkers gave him and decides to wait. Luckily, Sir Connery, a weird horse-looking paladin, shows up and kicks everyone’s ass. He drops a cryptic hint and Knuckles leaves. To be continued.

The “Knuckles Quest” has essentially been a long series of unproductive mini-quest for Knuckles. After meeting with the Ancient Walkers, he gets a vague hint. After fighting Merlin Prower’s monsters, he got a vague hint. This story arc doesn’t even have him being that proactive. Knuckles is enslaved throughout most of this story, clearing floors and doing chores. When the hero is actively waiting for someone else to rescue him, you know something has gone horribly wrong. Black Death and the Enchantress don’t come across as very effective villains, since enslaving someone to do petty labor seems to be their most heinous act. When Sir Connery shows up, he shouts some mumbo-jumbo and zaps both villains.

Ken Penders draws this one himself. Truthfully, the Enchantress and Black Death – who is an adorable black kitten, by the way – look alright. Knuckles ends up contorting in some very awkward looking ways. When Sir Connery shows up, any competence Ken had as an artist goes out the window. Connery is suppose to be a horse but looks like a weird lizard alien instead. As always, Ken’s attempt at action are incredibly flat and lifeless. Not only does Connery look weird, he acts weird too. He spends all of his page time ranting about how he has to purge evil magicians. Not the best way to make a first impression, man.

The cover story is useless but harmless. The back-up story is deeply lame. Issue 45 is one you can slot in your long box and then forget about. [4/10]