Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 19

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 19
Publication Date: October 1998

Crossovers between the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series and the “Knuckles the Echidna” series were relatively common. Usually, it was Knuckles crossing over with Sonic, presumably in order to drive sales to the newer series. This left readers who only read “Sonic” regularly confused and annoyed. In issue 19 of “Knuckles” though, the crossover went the other way. A subplot in the “Sonic” book recently concerned Geoffrey St. John and his team of recruits. Turns out the team was assembled in order to rescue Queen Alicia – as in Sally’s mom – from the Floating Island. And now, that story line starts to actually pay off.

As Ken Penders all too frequently did, issue 19 splits its pages between about four different story lines. In the first, Geoffrey and his Secret Service touch down on the Floating Island, looking for the supposed crash site of Queen Alicia’s shuttle. Instead, they find some very choppy weather conditions. A heavy snow storm is falling in the middle of the desert Sandopolis Zone. The same storm is ripping through Echidnaopolis, which is certainly cramping the quasi-date Knuckles and Julie-Su are on. Meanwhile, Lara-Le has finally had enough and decides to confront Locke face-to-face. The same bad weather downs her craft, forcing Knuckles’ dad to finally take some damn action. Also, Moritori Rex – still disguised as Tobor – plots something villainous from within Haven.

Got all that? Of the above story lines, the one involving Knuckles and Julie-Su should be the most interesting. Now, the two young echidnas aren’t officially on a date. Last time, Julie-Su met Knuckles’ mom and the two talked briefly. This story begins with Knux and Julie heading back to Lara’s apartment. In other words, Julie-Su hopes to continue seeking romantic advice from her potential boyfriend’s mom. Of course, Lara-Le isn’t in town.

Instead, Knuckles finds an echidna woman who has nearly frozen to death in the sudden snowstorm. She cries for her missing baby and, somehow, Knuckles finds the woman’s apartment, her crying child inside. Okay, why was this woman in the snow? Why did she leave her infant child alone? Why has she collapsed? Who even knows if these questions are important. The plot line is really just there to give Knuckles something to do in this issue. Soon, he’s scooped up by Remington and moved towards the more important plot.

All of that is because Knuckles isn’t truly the star of his own comic this time. Geoffrey St. John and the Secret Service steal the spotlight. The issue begins with a dramatic few pages of Antoine, showing off his pilot license again, dropping the secret agents off on the island. The individual personalities of the agents still aren’t truly established. Hershey complains about the snow, once again showing that, perhaps, she’s not cut-out for this espionage thing. Heavy gets to show off his robot-y abilities, sprouting some tank treads. Valdez has a basic understanding of directions.

At the very least, the mystery of Sally’s mom’s location provides their plot with some decent motivation. The plot ends on a decent cliff-hanger, of the team wandering into a home of some bulldogs and meeting a mysterious new face. It’s not great or anything but it at least keeps the plot moving.

For a while now, I’ve been complaining that Lara-Le doesn’t do anything. Other then threat about what Knuckles is up to or complain about how cold and distant Locke is. Not that I can blame her too much for that last one, as Locke is a prick. So to see Lara-Le finally go and confront her ex-husband is a nice change of pace. Locke’s cockhood is re-enforced upon seeing Lara-Le’s crashed shuttle. His response is not concern for his ex-wife but annoyance that she would dare interrupt his work! What an asshole! When he finds her, the two immediately start arguing. As a child of divorce, that last part is pretty realistic. Penders still seems unaware of how awful a person Locke is. Yet this story line still packs the most honest emotion out of anything in this issue.

As always, the least compelling aspect of the “Knuckles” book is the shit happening in Haven. Upon seeing that Locke has vacated his post, that Geoffrey St. John and Lara-Le have both ventured into the Forbidden Zone, Tobor – who is really Moritori Rex – has some threatening thoughts about his plan. Considering the guy has been waiting around for literally decades, I find it hard to believe that this would prompt action with him. The whole “Tobor is really Moritori Rex!” story line is definitely one of the dumbest to be featured in “Knuckles” thus far.

Once again, I have to grasp to whatever brief kernel of humor, emotion, or truth in this book. Penders continues to steam roll his characters in the name of his convoluted plotting and labyrinthine mythology. In other words, business as usual here in Echidnopolis. [6/10]