Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 112

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 112
Publication Date: July 2002

Here’s something unexpected: An entire issue of Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” devoted solely to character development. And it’s not even Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles getting the development! Instead, the writers turn their eyes on Antoine and Uncle Chuck.

In Benny Lee’s “Mistaken Identity Crisis,” Antoine is feeling a little self-conscious. His newly reintroduced dad is very impressed with Sonic’s courage and heroism. Antoine, probably due to his years of cowardice, feels a little underappreciated. So the coyote and the hedgehog devise a plan. Reality, which includes a guest appearance from Zonic the Zone Cop, has other plans.

Once again, I’ll point out that Benny Lee’s writing feels somewhat disconnected with the rest of the book. For example, he writes Antoine as something of a coward, even though he long ago outgrew that characterization. Yet Lee still ends up adding some depth to Antoine and his father, two frequently neglected characters. “Mistaken Identity Crisis” doesn’t focus on a big action set piece or plot mechanisms. Instead, it’s a simple story about Antoine trying to prove himself to his dad, to win the love of a father that’s been out of his life for the last ten years.

Anybody familiar with literary stereotypes can probably see where this is going. In the end, Antoine proves that he’s actually far stronger then he thought. That this strength was inside him the whole time. Naturally, he also learns that he didn’t have to prove anything to his father, that his dad loves him regardless. This emotional payoff is cheated a little by the short page count but Lee makes his point. Father and son are brought closer, a pay-off the book earns.

What makes this understanding possible is a rather goofy, comedic contrivance. Zonic the Zone-Cop literally drops out of the sky at the story’s beginning. When he regains consciousness, he tells Sonic that Anti-Sonic is loose in this zone. Naturally, Antoine encounters the evil Sonic, assumes him to be the real Sonic in disguise, and cold-cocks him with a single karate chop. Aside from totally nerfing Anti-Sonic – an already comedic villain that is so defanged by this point that a single blow can defeat him – it’s the kind of goofy writing you’d expect from a cheesy sitcom. Yet it lets Benny Lee to tell a pretty sweet story, so I’ll allow.

The second story, Karl Boller’s “Forgiven,” turns the focus towards Uncle Chuck. The Knothole Freedom Fighters gladly welcome back the robotocized Lupe and the Wolf Pack, as their free will was returned along with the other Robians. Uncle Chuck, however, declines the invitation to the party. Chuck is feeling guilty, as he was the one responsible for robotocizing Lupe and the others, while under Robotnik’s control. A heart-to-heart is necessary to work this out.

Lupe and the Wolfpack have been excluded from the book for nearly three years, following her previous appearance in Sonic Super Special #11. I don’t know why Ken Penders wrote her out, considering she was part of the original SatAM cast. Maybe he thought she just wasn’t popular or well rounded enough? Or maybe he just has a boner for killing off strong female characters? Either way, Lupe is back. She’s still a robot but at least she’s got her soul back. It’s a welcomed return, considering she’s always been a potentially great character that’s never gotten her due.

What makes “Forgiven” powerful is how it focuses on Chuck’s guilt. That’s something the book has never really explored, if robotocized Mobians can still feel and see the things their programming forces them to do. It turns out they feel everything... Which is a huge burden fro someone like Chuck. We’re also not used to seeing Uncle Chuck, usually a stable mentor, in a vulnerable state. He’s already feeling guilt for inventing the Robotocizer in the first place. Though it only occupies a few panels, the reader really feels Chuck’s pain. To see him accepted, and loved, by his friends and family at the end is genuinely touching. “Forgiven” is one of Karl’s most affecting and well orchestrated stories in quite some time.

A familiar name returns to illustrate both stories. Art Mawhinney defined the look of the book in its early years but hasn't drawn an issue in a while. There’s some growing pains here, as Sonic’s new anime-inspired look is an odd fit for Art’s more traditional style. Yet it’s still great to have the guy back. (I also missed Mawhinney’s habit of adding personality to the background characters, making Knothole seem like a more populated place.) His cartoon cuteness is well suited to the opening story, with its goofy humor. Meanwhile, his ability to convey feeling is well utilized in both stories. Even Lupe, as a robot, gains an extra level of expression. So Art hasn’t lost any of skills in the time since he last drew the book.

In order to pad the issue out to full length, Archie sticks some more of those Sega Data Files in the middle of the book. Even though Ken has been doing these for a while, he’s just now including biographies for Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails. (And Amy Rose too, who is still just a supporting player right now.) Penders being Penders, he also throws in a detail genealogy of the Brotherhood of Guardians. All this really does is draw attention to how similarly Ken draws his echidnas. It certainly doesn’t distract from issue 112’s overall quality, which is one of the best comics the series has seen in quite some time. [8/10]