Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 29

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 29
Publication Date: August 1999

Following the end of the “First Date” story arc, Archie’s “Knuckles the Echidna” series continues to be in a low-key mood. Issue 29 would be the final stand alone issue in the “Knuckles” series, as the comic would only run for three more issues after this one. The issue is focused on wrapping up a long lingering bit of history, one fans actually care about. As the cover proudly proclaims, Princess Sally is taking one final trip to the Floating Island.

In Knothole, Sally continues to bitch out her dad for keeping her mother and brother’s existences a secret. She travels to the Floating Island on a diplomatic journey, hoping the Brotherhood of the Guardians can assist the Freedom Fighters in their new war against Robo-Robotnik. She’s also there to seek further help with her mother’s illness. While on the island, Knuckles and the Princess put to rest the borderline romance/friendship they’ve shared since childhood.

If there’s one reoccurring theme in “My Special Friend,” issue 29’s sole story, it’s that authority figures are secretive, evasive, passive-aggressive assholes. Sally is annoyed that her father kept secrets from her. He insists he did it for her own good. Sally even finds a way to justify her father’s long since forgotten order to disassemble all of the Robians.

Once on the Floating Island, she meets with the Brotherhood. After her reasonable request for aide, the Brotherhood shoots her down. Not because the echidnas lack the resources to help out. They don’t. The Guardians refuse because they believe the other Mobians to be intellectually inferior. Because they try to peacefully co-exist with their enemies, instead of just wiping them off the map, thus creating “a constant state of war.” This is the same group that previously tried to nuke the dingos or lock them in a pocket dimension. The Guardians apparently consider nuclear genocide and perpetual imprisonment more humane then peace. The Brotherhood have always been huge assholes but this is a crowning achievement of douchery previously unseen.

The Brotherhood’s decision to be massive cocks isn’t even the main thrust of this story. Instead, the lingering emotions between Knuckles and Sally is much more important. This story definitely finds Sally in a grouchy mood. Upon greeting Knuckles, she yells at him for not telling her about her mom. Knuckles’ honest answer – that he didn’t know – seems to soothe her annoyance. The two teens soon bond over their parents being shifty ass-wipes.

After the Brotherhood rejects her proposal, Sally and Knuckles have another heart-to-heart. They reminiscence about their childhood play dates. He tries to let her know that his family’s opinions do not represent his own. However, he also admits that there’s nothing he can do to sway their thoughts. The story ends with Sally leaving the island, asking Knuckles how they can continue to be friends when the Floating Island is indifferent to her strife. It’s a downbeat ending, political and personal. It also, effectively, forever dissolves whatever romantic tension that’s ever existed between Sally and Knuckles.

Despite the heavy issues of trust and intercontinental politics, “My Special Friend” is still a fairly light-hearted issue. The issue begins with Catweazle – remember him? Me neither – badgering Knuckles about his new step-dad. The Brotherhood may be enormous pricks but they greet Sally with a smile. It’s honestly kind of hilarious to see the normally hyper-grim Spectre smiling, waving, and soft-balling compliments at Sally. There’s some light humor, when Knuckles and Col. Sommersby discuss his mother’s cooking.

This issue is probably most notorious for correcting a continuity error from the comic’s beginnings. Remember how Sally used to be blonde or brunette in the comic’s earliest issues? Apparently, during some previously unseen adventure predating the series’ start, Sally tumbled into a vat of mysterious chemicals. Her skin didn’t turn chalk white. Instead, her hair and fur just shifted colors. It took awhile for it to wash out. Honestly, it’s a long road to cross just to correct a coloring error but, whatever, I’ll take it.

In the main “Sonic” book, Art Mawhinney has mostly been busy drawing the back-up stories. With issue 29 of “Knuckles,” he returns to a cover story. While I love Art’s pencils, he seems to be having a slightly off-day here. Sally is drawn with a thinner face, oval eyes, and a more elongated body then usual. Knuckles, meanwhile, is a bit chubbier then expected. Even Art’s most serious artwork has kind of a cute edge to it. After mostly seeing the Brotherhood drawn by grittier artist like Manny Galan or Jim Valentino, it’s somewhat disarming to see them drawn so adorably by Mawhinney.

Even while having an off-day, Art could deliver some fantastic moment. A series of panels devoted to Sally bowing her head, upon realizing that her dad sucks as much as Knuckles’, is quietly devastating. Considering this is a story about diplomacy and emotions, and facial expressions have always been specialties of Art, he was a good choice to draw it. Even if Sally and Knuckles look a little odd.

After heart and plot were at odds throughout the “First Date” story, it’s nice to see that Ken could occasionally balance those elements more gracefully. “My Special Friend” is admittedly a bummer of a story. But that’s okay. Life during wartime is rarely easy. Stories like this make me wish Sally could’ve guest-starred in Knuckles’ book more often. [7/10]