Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 24

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 24
Publication Date: March 1999

Critics of Ken Penders like to say he had no interest in Sonic, Knuckles, or any of the SEGA-originated characters. That the writer was more interested in his own ideas and simply used the “Sonic” cast as a way to tell those stories. I give Penders a lot more credit than most anyone else but even I agree with this assessment. Look no further than issue 24 of “Knuckles the Echidna,” in which the title character spends nearly the entire book unconscious and is rescued by other characters.

Knuckles, Julie-Su, and General von Stryker remained captured within Haven, still controlled by the Dark Legion. Instead of murdering his enemies right then and there, Dimitri decides to perform surgery on Knuckles, to determine the source of his power. Luckily, Locke and Spectre sneak into Haven and proceed to fuck up the bad guy’s plans. Meanwhile, Constable Remington realizes something is obviously wrong with Benedict the head councillor, getting to the bottom of these shenanigans.

For me, one of the most frustrating things about Ken Penders is how he introduces characters with potential and then does so little with them. Julie-Su is awesome – I’d be willing to call her mai waifu, even – and what has she done recently? Lay unconscious in Locke’s ship? Spend two issues dangling upside down in Haven? Why do you introduce a bad ass echidna babe and not do anything with her? Literally the same thing could be said about Lien-Da. Since the Kommisar’s introduction two issues ago, she’s done nothing but sit around. Meanwhile, Ken’s self-insert Locke and Constable Blandington actually motivate the plot.

And what about Knuckles? As I said, he spends all of issue 24 incapacitated in some way. At first, he’s captured. While Dimitri monologues, Knuckles fires back with some quibs. Afterwards, he’s knocked unconscious and put on an operating table. It’s at this point that the book finally hints at an origin for the superpowers Knux has displayed recently. Apparently, Knuckles has undergone some sort of genetic energy, transforming him into a living Chaos Emerald. Okay, sure, whatever. Why is the titular hero so inactive in this plot? That violates the basic rule of writing. The protagonist is supposed to be proactive, not unconscious.

Locke and Spectre get most of the action. Having escaped the Legion’s take over, they teleport back into Haven. Sabotaging the base’s controls, they pump a gas through the ventilation system. This gas, somehow, disrupts the Legionnaire's robotic upgrades. I’m, uh, pretty sure gases don’t work that way. Meanwhile, Locke karate kicks a guy, Spectre blasts laser beam from his werewolf hand, and they both save the day. Spectre continues to be the most likable of the Brotherhood but Locke suddenly kung-fu fighting… Well, it’s certainly a thing that happened.

Benedict replacing the President of Echidnaopolis has definitely been one of the comic’s dumber plots recently. I mean, the guy is obviously evil and so clearly a puppet for the Dark Legion. Remington finally acts on his suspicious, throttling the guy inside his office. A chase ensues, which leads Remington and Harry – remember Harry? – to Haven. Essentially, the cop and the cab driver exist in this story to escort Julie-Su and Knuckles out of Haven. The only reason Locke and Spectre don’t do this is so their mysteriousness can be preserved. Boooo. Most ridiculously, Benedict isn’t merely a stooge for the Dark Legion. He’s a goddamn robot, which is revealed in a hysterical series of panels.

About the only compelling aspect of this issue is Dimitri, who rather convincingly explains his side to Knuckles. The Guardian is having nothing of it though, which is another example of Ken making his heroes look like pricks and his villains look reasonable. There’s also a funny panel where some Legionnaires comment on Haven obviously being technologically advanced. So why are these two factions fighting then? I can’t tell if Ken is aware of his own plot holes or if this is his idea of wacky banter.

Also, von Stryker is in this story for no reason, the Moritori Rex subplot remains unresolved, Dimitri somehow escapes, and Jim Valentino’s artwork remains hideous. The “Dark Alliance” story arc has been the weakest to appear in “Knuckles” for quite some time, starting decently, fumbling in the middle, and totally collapsing at the end.  [4/10]