Sonic Super Special: Issue 14 - Sonic Stew

Sonic Super Special: Issue 14 - Sonic Stew
Publication Date: June 2000

When conceived, the Sonic Super Special quarterly was for stories too big, too important for the regular book. We’re talking the grand fight between the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix, the first major story of the post-Robotnik era, a major battle with Ixis Naugus, the uncut version of Endgame, so on and so forth. However, the book quickly degraded towards another purpose: Stories that Archie felt like telling that don’t fit into the current plot arc. So scripts about Sally Moon, giant robots, and nonsensical crossovers got booted over to the side book. This practice reaches its nadir with issue 14, subtitled “Sonic Stew.” It’s basically Ken Penders’ next big Knuckles adventure and a totally disposable Sonic farce shoved into a book together, no theme or fiber connecting them.

Why do so many Archie issues begin with Sonic and Sally wandering through the woods? Is that where they go when they need some alone time? Anyway, one such walk is interrupted when a portal opens before the two lovebirds. A pair of uniformed echidnas emerge, whack Sally into unconsciousness, and then drag Sonic through the portal. He arrives in Litigopolis, a version of Mobotropolis ruled by a mad supercomputer insisting on super restrictive laws. The citizens live in fear of frivolous lawsuits. Sonic, teaming up with a lawyer version of Sally, discovers that Anti-Sonic framed him and has to clear his name and free the city.

“Law of the Land” is brought to us by Jim Spivey, a writer who did so little work on the book that he doesn’t even have a Mobius Encyclopaedia page. It’s a dire story. An alternate universe of Mobius built around lawyers is a fairly nonsensical idea, seemingly done to spring board off the then popularity of “Ally McBeal.” (I’d ask why Archie would spoof an adult-centric TV series in a kid’s book but they’ve done it before.) Spivey doesn’t present this world in a very interesting manner. Most of the backstory is dropped on us during a multi-page spread, Sally McAcorn – yes, they really call her that – explaining the history of the place.

There aren’t very many jokes. Spivey seems to think the mere idea of contrasting Sonic and lawyers is enough. This results in barely-there gags like Robotnik becoming a computer named J.U.D.G.E. and Knuckles becoming the leader of a fascist police force. The reveal that Anti-Sonic has framed the real deal is presented in a totally off-hand manner, barely influencing the overall plot.

However, there is one mildly funny gag in the book. After a more direct attempt to defeat J.U.D.G.E. goes wrong, Sonic thinks of a better idea. Using his super speed, he performs a series of minor crimes in a short span of time. Such as super-speed jaywalking and the repeated invasion of citizen’s personal space. The overload causes J.U.D.G.E. to explode. It’s not the idea that’s funny. Instead, the glee with which Sonic performs the petty infractions is what makes me laugh. There’s a pretty funny panel of Sonic making goofy faces at an incredulous rabbit, for one example.

Another factor holding “Law of the Land” back is its weak artwork. Suzanne Paddock – also her only Archie Sonic credit – draws this one. She adapts an exaggerated, pseudo-anime style that rarely works. Sonic and Sally have massive heads and needle thin limbs. Their proportions shift from page to page. One panel shows them with giant hands that could easily contain their spindly bodies. The characters’ faces often shifted in hideous, unpleasant ways. There’s seemingly no predetermined layout for everyone’s bodies, as Sonic repeatedly changes shape. Even during the era of Ron Lim, Archie knew not to invite Miss Paddock back.

The Sonic-centric cover story is a complete trifle, especially when compared to the Knuckles back story. We open in media ras, with Knuckles fleeing from a giant fireball consuming the Floating Island. As he lands in the ocean below, he reflects on the events that brought him here. After witnessing Lara-Li’s wedding to Wynmacher, Knuckles and the Chaotix decide to investigate the wrecked Dark Legion base. Inside, the Legion grabs Julie-Su and flies above the Island. The Brotherhood knows Dimitri is up to something and attempt to stop him. Meanwhile, Remington has to prevent another dingo protest from growing violent. All of these stories are interrupted when Dimitri and the Legion opens a massive portal that sucks the entire city into an alternate universe.

“Best of Times, Worst of Times” is the kind of story Ken frequently writes. It’s got a crap load of story lines, each one competing for page space. Not all of these plots, like Remington dealing with the dingos, seem especially pertinent at first. However, by ending the story on a huge cliffhanger, it also gives these other scenes more meaning. It’s just an ordinary day on the Floating Island before tragedy interrupts it. More then that, the writer also doesn’t doodle too long on any one set of characters, keeping the issue moving quickly.

Which isn’t to say there aren’t some disappointments. Seeing Knuckles and the gang banter, leap on those weird horse things, and ride across the Island is fun. Oddly, that moment segues into the heroes exploring the abandoned enemy base. After the dimensional portal starts to consume the island, the Chaotix disappear from the story, leaving Knuckles to save the day solo. Yet considering Penders’ bad habit of forgetting the Chaotix exist all together, it’s nice to see them included.

Disappointingly, Ken also benches Julie-Su in a very cheap manner. She’s immediately captured by the Legion, barely fighting back at all. They take her aboard their Romulan Warbird, Julie-Su just allowing it to happen. Really? My Julie-Su, the same girl who swung into a crime lord’s base and started kicking ass? Seems unlikely. Even then, the panels devoted to Julie-Su and Lien-Da trading bitchy barbs is funny. (Moritori Rex is also in this story, aboard the ship with Dimitri. I had completely forgot this guy was still floating around.)

As always, the Brotherhood’s segments are the least compelling. Mathias, another one of Knuckles’ ancient ancestors, floats in and informs the other Guardians that Dimitri is up to some bad shit. How does he know this? He foresaw it in a vision. Man, as if this book didn’t have enough wise, old mystic characters already. Despite the Brotherhood teleporting in and using their psychic powers to toss some Legionnaires around, they can’t stop Dimitri’s plan.

Stuck in the middle of this, Ken finally reveals the fate of Grandpa Hawking. You know, that old guy that fell into a coma when Knuckles’ book was just beginning? He’s dead now. Please tell me this event actually has some effect on the story. Please tell me Ken just didn't forgot about this plot point and randomly decided to resolve it here. But who am I kidding?

The subplot about Remington trying to quell more dingo unrest probably should be tedious. Weirdly, it proves surprisingly compelling. Once again, Ken unintentionally points out how unfair echidna society treats the dingoes. They still haven’t been set up in the temporary housing the government promised them 73 issues ago! I don’t know how that breaks down in comic book time but it suggests some major mishandling on the Echidnan government’s behalf. Yes, the protestors have their Power Gloves and guns out, threatening violence, but they have good reason to be displeased. Remington, notably, doesn’t immediately start busting heads either, willing to give Stryker and his men a chance to speak their minds. 

Yeah, it’s a lot to juggle and not all of it works. However, I suspect the reason “Best of Times, Worst of Times” works for me is because of the small personal moments Ken sneaks in. Lara-Le and Wynmacher’s wedding is sweet, especially the way Knuckles wishes the couple well, despite his ambivalence towards the union. Knuckles and Julie-Su get some cute moments of their own, holding hands and making googly eyes at each other. Even Remington gets a girlfriend. True, the goofily named Komi-Ko isn’t much of a character. Yet seeing the officer outside of a professional context is a nice change of pace. Once again, small character moments like this give the mayhem that comes later greater impact.

So “Sonic Stew” is not an especially tasty stew, few of the ingredients blending in a pleasing manner. That first course definitely leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The second course could have a more even flavor pallet, certain ingredients begging to be more evenly seasoned or more thoroughly cooked. Compared to the first bowl of stew, it’s still a big improvement but the diner is left wanting more. I think I’ve exhausted all my soup puns. Let’s give this a [5/10] and head home.