Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 114

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 114
Publication Date: September 2002

I have no idea why Archie took a month off to let Many Hands out of his cage, to present us with the totally worthless “Cry of the Wolf.” Either way, things are back on track with issue 114. As the cover promises, Mammoth Mogul returns to the book. This installment has Benny Lee breaking his habit of stand alone stories. Instead, this one is steeped in the series’ on-going mythology. It also, thankfully, wraps up one of the previous year’s dumbest dangling plot lines.

In “Twice Told Tails,” Sonic’s sidekick is being haunted by nightmares about a spooky cave. Sonic and his parents try to assure the fox that these dreams are nothing to worry about. Instead, Tails flies the Tornado away in the middle of the night. Sonic secretly follows him. The two arrive at the cave Tails has been dreaming about. Inside, they meet Mammoth Mogul and another version of Tails trapped inside a bubble. We quickly discover the truth behind Athair’s startling revelation last year.

Obviously, the main purpose of “Twice Told Tails” is to resolve that stupid “Tails isn’t the real Tails” nugget Ken dropped on us. Benny Lee waste no time in revealing the truth. After being released from the Master Emerald during the “Sonic Adventure” prologue, Mammoth Mogul immediately grabbed the real Tails. He kept the true fox locked up in his cave, slowly draining his special “Chosen One” powers, in order to keep himself alive. To keep his friends off the trail, Mogul created the bogus Tails. It’s succinct and – assuming Benny Lee isn’t really Ken, as I’ve long suspected – probably a much more concise conclusion then Penders would’ve delivered.

It’s nice that this dumb plot thread is finally resolved. Disappointingly, “Twice Told Tails” rushes through the story a bit too quickly. Tails shows up at the cave, inexplicably drawn towards it. Mogul barges in and immediately explains what the hell is going on. Sonic and Tails punch Mogul twice in the face. This is enough to distract the elephant, freeing the real Tails, and forcing the supervillain to skedaddle. Afterwards, the fake Tails dissipates into nothingness. It all happens in the space of a few pages. I’m not complaining about Lee’s eagerness to wrap up this asinine plot twist. However, I wish it was done with a little more elegance.

Granted, there are one or two cute emotional moments. The early scenes of the hedgehogs, including Uncle Chuck and Sonic’s robotic parents, showing concern for Tails is nice. Sonic has some amusing battle banter with Mammoth Mogul, proving that Benny Lee occasionally had an ear for dialogue. I wish Sonic’s reunion with the real Tails at the end was more detailed. It only occupies a few panels but I do like the tears welling up in the hedgehog’s eyes, upon seeing the real Tails gain his freedom.

The back-up story, “Ultimate Power: Part 1,” returns us to the Chaos Knuckles saga, a story line I was personally happy to take a break from. Knuckles sets up Julie-Su and her parents with a swanky apartment in Echidnopolis. When asked how he accomplished this, Knuckles flat-out admits that being the Guardian comes with some perks. Meanwhile, Dimitri reveals to Lien-Da that he’s dying, hoping his protégé will be a worthy heir to the Dark Legion leadership.

The first part of “Ultimate Power” is loaded down with plot mechanics. It sets up Dimitri’s declining health and growing distrust of Lien-Da. The short six-pagers also reveals that Mammoth Mogul is on the Floating Island too, presumably up to nefarious things. If there’s anything interesting about “Ultimate Power,” it’s in the little moments. The way Dawn Best illustrates Lien-Da agreeing to Dimitri’s terms certainly establishes that she’s up to no good. The banter between the Guardian and his girlfriend, as she gushes about her new apartment, is kind of cute. Knuckles is finally reunited with the Chaotix, allowing Vector to get back to harassing Julie-Su. (Considering his secret crush Knuckles is the one openly collaborating with the enemy, Vector’s misogyny is even more misplaced than usual.) Amusingly, Julie-Su tosses Vector to the concrete, clearly sick of his bullshit. Which is, you know, nice. These little moments keep you reading through whatever Ken is planning.

Continuing the three story structure the comic was going with at the time, issue 114 also shoves in a third story. Karl Bollers’ “Young at Heart” has Tails and Amy Rose returning to school, much to their chagrin. Both are annoyed that they have to go to school, while the Freedom Fighters get to do fun stuff. Throughout the day, Amy has to find her own ways to pass the time.

“Young at Heart” is a pretty useless story. Karl resurrects the Knothole High concept but at least realized sticking Sonic in school was a dumb idea. The story doesn’t move the plot forward any or expand on the world. It really just exist to establish that Amy is back in school and to fill out the comic. Yet the antics Amy gets up to – making faces at Tails during history class – are amusing. Both the characters’ frustration with going to school, and the matronly way Sally escorts them to class, is cute. Sonic’s disdain for Geoffrey St. John, and the insistent way Sally clarifies their relationship, are also cute. Jay Axer draws this one and his artwork is as excellent as ever.

None of the stories in issue 114 are entirely satisfying. Yet they all have little moments in them that make me smile. The cover story, most importantly, does do away with a lame plot twist, which is certainly appreciated. Where the comic is headed next, I don’t remember. But at least we’ve got the real Tails back. [7/10]