Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 10

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 10
Publication Date: January 1998

As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t read much of “Knuckles the Echidna” when the comic was on newsstands. I eventually caught up with the first two story arcs after ordering the back issues through Archie. For whatever reason, I only sporadically bought the book after that. One story arc I missed entirely was the one that ran in issues 10 through 12, “The Forgotten Tribe.” This is one of the reasons I wanted to review all of Archie’s Sonic-verse books, as an excuse to finally read these stories. This is the first time I’ve ever read this comic.

Echidnaopolis is still reeling from the Dark Legion’s latest attack on the city. Knuckles, meanwhile, is more concerned with matters closer to home. He attempts to re-connect with his mother. This reconciliation is immediately interrupted when great-grandfather Athair appears in Lara-Le’s apartment. He teleports Knuckles to an obscure corner of Mobius. There, the mystic introduces Knuckles to the Forgotten Tribe, a group of echidnas who fled the Floating Island before it started floating. Athair begins discussing the Days of Fury, a prophesied cataclysm, just as strange weather and earthquakes grip the globe. Meanwhile, Julie-Su remains in the custody of Constable Remington.

“The Other Road Taken” continues a problem that has plagued the “Knuckles” book from its inception. The series has a great cast of characters – I suppose I’m including Vector and the Brotherhood in that – but frequently sidelines them in favor of continuing to build up its convoluted mythology. “The Forgotten Tribe” begins with its story rooted in emotions. Just as Sonic awkwardly attempted to reconnect with his parents in issue 57 of that series, issue 10 of “Knuckles” begins with the young guardian meeting with his mom. The book introduces the concept of religion in echidna society. Lara-Le is introduced sitting in an Aurorium, a church dedicated to the goddess Aurora. Knuckles waits outside for her, not feeling comfortable inside the house of worship.

There are several cute moments here. Knuckles becomes frustrated when discussing his father, clearly starting to resent the man. When Knuckles lashes out at Athair, Lara-Le insists her son respect his great-grandfather. Considering Knuckles has already had all sorts of wacky adventures, seeing him brought down to Earth by his mom is a really cute, grounding moment.

Issue 10 gladly makes room for Knuckles and Lara-Le’s relationship. Another important female in his life, unfortunately, gets a shorter stick. Issue 9 ended on something of a cliffhanger, Julie-Su arrested with the rest of the Dark Legion, assumed to be a collaborator. Julie-Su appears in one scene, interrogated by Remington, and is treated like a criminal. It would’ve been nice if the book shed a little more light on Julie-Su’s reasoning for hanging out with the Dark Legion. She herself seems uncertain of the motivation behind her actions. There’s two beautiful panels where she sadly lowers her head, wondering why Knuckles isn’t coming to her defense. (The Chaotix similarly get a single page appearance, where Vector continues to bitch about Julie-Su’s allegiance.)

That’s a good question too. Instead of Knuckles coming to the aide of his potential girlfriend, he’s swept up in another crazy adventure. Ken Penders continues to delight in expanding the series mythology. Maybe religion will be the primary theme in “The Forgotten Tribe.” We discover that, before the Floating Island rose into the sky, the leader of the echidna’s state religion requested to leave the city. He took a group of followers with him, who traveled all over Mobius, never finding a place where they could be accepted. They’ve continue to walk the globe ever since. I actually think this stuff is pretty interesting. The flashbacks, where the echidnas’ machinery fail and they have peaceful but tense encounters with other species, are interesting. I just wish this stuff didn’t take us away from the story’s more pressing emotional concerns.

As for the Days of Fury… Yeah, that really plays like a lame way to force some conflict into this story. Just as Athair starts talking about this prophesied catastrophe, it begins to happen. This series didn’t need another ancient prophecy or in-coming disaster. The doomsday events – out of control weather and a giant chasm opening in the ground – aren’t the most original idea either. At least Athair reveals a little more humor and humanity here then in any previous appearance. The Brotherhood doesn’t put in an appearance either, thankfully.

Manny Galan’s artwork is pretty great, aside from a handful of off-model moments. I like “The Other Road Taken” but I wish it focused a little more on the cute, character moments then on setting up yet another world shaking event. Maybe it’ll get better. [6/10]