Knuckles: The Dark Legion: Issue 2

Knuckles: The Dark Legion: Issue 2
Publication Date: February 1997

The second issue of the “Knuckles: The Dark Legion” mini-series continues the successful formula laid down by the first one. In the present, Knuckles and the Chaotix continue to sabotage the Dark Legion’s march across the Floating Island. In the past, we learn about what happened to Edmund, how Steppenwolf assume the mantle of Guardian, and how the fire ants became involved with the echidnas. However, the issue throws in a third, mostly superfluous plot. Archimedes teleports himself into Locke’s secret lair – revealed as Haven – and the two have a mysterious encounter with Athair, Locke’s grandfather.

That’s right, kids. There’s some mystic mumbo-jumbo clogging up what is otherwise a good story. Locke watches his son’s adventure, cold and distant. Knuckles’ dad has yet to prove himself all that useful, mostly just sitting back and observing while his kid risks death. Archimedes BAMFs in for no defined reason. Meanwhile, Athair appears in Haven. He and Locke snipe at each other, the younger echidna still pissed at his granddad for abandoning his post. The masks of the Ancient Walkers appear behind Athair, he says his arrival is important, and then he disappears, saying this has been a warning. As he vanishes, Locke cries out for him to clarify his point. The readers can sympathize. What was the meaning of all that, Athair? Wouldn’t it have been more constructive to tell them what you’re warning them about? Then again, I’m not an ancient mystic so maybe I don’t understand.

 
Besides that messiness, “Sins of the Fathers” is another solid issue. Though glimpsed last time, this issue helps define Kragok, the current leader of the Dark Legion. In a nice gesture, Penders remembers that Knuckles is supposed to be hot-headed. Right about when Kragok is ready to launch into a “We could rule together!” speech, Knuckles leaps across the desk and attempts to strangle him. Realizing there’s no point in pursuing this plan, Kragok instructs his henchmen to beat Knuckles to death. Unlike Enerjak, who boasted about his limitless power but came off as slightly ineffectual, Kragok doesn’t fuck around. He’s efficient.

He’s also completely fucking crazy. Later, while chasing Knuckles and the Chaotix through the forest, he decides to set the trees around him on fire, totally ambivalent to the collateral damage this will cause. After having at least two bad guys who claim to be powerful but don’t do much, it’s nice to see a villain that clearly, directly goes after his goal.

Kragok is after the Master Emerald, naturally, yet the back-story makes it clear that this is an older conflict. This is a centuries old blood feud, playing between two branches of the same family. The flashback sequences show that the Dark Legion have never been afraid to dirty their hands. While Edmund races to rescue his son, a Legionnaire sneaks up and shoots him in the head. (We don’t see a gaping head wound but we do see Edmund’s glasses, the right eyepiece shot out.)

These flashbacks also make it clear why the Fire Ants give a crap about the Guardians. Realizing the echidnas will fuck up the Island if left on their own, the Fire Ants agree to steward the Guardians, guiding them and teaching them. Christophelies, a ridiculously named ancestor of Archimedes, appears to Steppenwolf seconds after his father is slain. The Fire Ant teaches the echidna combat, science, magic, and reveals Haven to him… Because that whole “abandon advanced technology” thing apparently doesn’t apply to the Guardians. Anyway, it’s nice to see these points clarified and Penders handles it in a clear fashion.

As for the present story, it continues to bring the action and stays in a vaguely James Bond mode. Like a Bond villain, Kragok stupidly leaves his henchmen to finish off Knuckles. He quickly disarms the guys and, just as Bond did in “Dr. No,” slips on one of the enemies’ outfits. After freeing the Chaotix, Knuckles drops a tank on some Legionnaires hulling explosives, which then blows up in spectacular fashion. That’s a body count of five thus far, for those keeping track, showing that the “Knuckles” book was definitely going to be heavier then “Sonic.”

There’s a little bit of a cheat here. As Knuckles slips on a robe, he notes that all echidnas are about the same size. That’s convenient. Meanwhile, Vector the Crocodile continues to be entirely useless. While fleeing from the Dark Legion, he notes that his feet are tired and he wants to stop running. Penders continues to think that “It’s crunch time!” is a clever catchphrase for Knuckles. It’s not. Still, “Sins of the Fathers” runs smoothly, establishing the past, introducing a viable threat, and featuring more then enough action to satisfy. [7/10]