Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 107

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 107
Publication Date: February 2002

Over his run as head writer, Karl Bollers would attempt to incorporate real world issue into Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. Racism, industry’s affects on nature, and unrequited love were some of the issues he would tackle over the years. More often then not, it was a bit awkward. No “very special issue” of “Sonic” is more awkward then issue 107. Karl would discuss the topic of abusive relationships… With dragons. Internet reviewers, who are always hypercritical of this book, have not been kind to this story.

In order to insure that the dragon threatening Station Square is properly taken care of, Sonic is forced to work with a special G.U.N. strike team. It’s the same team, Sonic discovers, that captured him in “Sonic Adventure 2.” They track the hostile dragon to a water fall in the outskirts of the island. Inside the lair, they meet Ducly. Turns out, the violent dragon is her mate. And he doesn’t treat her very nice. Soon, the volatile situation escalates to violence.

Here’s the upside: Dulcy is back! We haven’t seen the much neglected seventh Freedom Fighter since issue 78, an editor’s box reminds us. I wish she was back under better circumstances. Yes, Dulcy has acquired an abusive boyfriend. Who hits her often and hard enough to break her arm. It’s true that a children’s comic book was probably not the best place to address this very serious real life issue. Actually showing Dulcy getting slapped around was in questionable taste. Karl doesn’t really address the circumstances of an abusive relationship, just making it one aspect of a longer story. I’m sure he didn’t include Zan smacking Dulcy for shock value but it’s such an awkward inclusion, that’s how it feels.

If only that was the sole problem with “Crouching Hedgehog, Hidden Dragon: Part 2.” Sonic teams up reluctantly with G.U.N.’s special strike force, which is given the unwieldy name of Paladin Team Sigma Alpha-2. Karl obviously intends Sonic’s caustic relationship with the team to add some excitement to the story. Instead, the Paladins are just assholes. They actively work against the Freedom Fighters and bluntly resolve the story, by blowing up Zan’s cave. (Which proves Station Square didn’t need Sonic to save the day.) They also look ridiculous, with their anime bad boy hair cuts.

Ron Lim has shown no aptitude for drawing the “Sonic” characters. One assumes he did better work on his previous superheroes gigs. How else would he get this job? Yet, in this story, Lim proves that he doesn’t know how to draw humans either. The Paladin Team has squishy, vague faces. Too often, he skimps on the details, making the military men look even more undefined. The Station Square President and his team also look utterly ridiculous. Lim continues to draw the Freedom Fighters with huge eyes, inexpressive faces, and overly spindly bodies. It sucks, even by the standards set by Lim’s other issues.

How about that back-up story? “Reunification: Part 2” proves that Knuckles’ attempts to reverse the effects of the Quantum Beam was successful. His friends and family are back on the Floating Island. This is observed by Lara-Su, who introduces herself as Jani-Ca. Meanwhile, Dimitri and Lien-Da wonder what Knuckles will do next with his massive powers. When the villains bring Knuckles back onto their ship, Constable Remington is shocked to see the Guardian working with the Dark Legion.

Well, at least everyone is back on the island. That’s just like Ken. He disappeared almost all of Knuckles’ entire supporting cast for a whole year and then brings them back with a shrug. It should be a joyous occasion, considering how long I’ve been waiting for this to happen. Instead, Ken fumbles this as well. The Chaotix are zapped into a random ruin, bickering among themselves. The Brotherhood appear in Haven, commenting on how fucked up it is. At least Knuckles gets a reunion with his mom. (He does talk to his dad, via force ghost powers. Which is, you know, dumb.) However, any emotional interaction between Lara-Le and her son is handled in far too brief dialogue bubbles.

Knuckles – and nobody else, for that matter – notices that Jani-Ca has the Knuckles’ clan distinctive hand spikes. Jani-Ca spends too much time as a passive observer, commenting on Knuckles’ strange color via thought balloons. Dimitri and Lien-Da realize Knuckles’ massive power, even if the Guardian himself doesn’t. Like I’ve said repeatedly, why is he letting the Dark Legion boss him around? Why can’t he just de-atomize their asses, if he really is more powerful then Enerjak ever was? If the conclusion is any indication, where Knuckles willingly goes with Dimitri, this story turn will mostly exist to create stupid melodrama. As if the book needed more of that.

So issue 107 has some problems. The cover story is not well balanced, contains some major story oversights, and tackles a real world issue in a tacky manner. Ken Penders continues to show his weaknesses in the back up story, though Dawn Best’s pencils are quite nice. Tellingly, abusive dragon boyfriends and pretty boy commandos have rarely been spoken of since then. Here’s a connect-the-dots puzzle. Did I do it right? [4/10]