Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 120

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 120
Publication Date: February 2003

The Sonic/Sally/Mina love triangle was seemingly put to bed in issue 109’s “The Crush.” However, Karl Bollers wasn’t done exploiting this plot point. Issue 120 would also touch on the budding Freedom Fighter’s feelings for the speedy hedgehog. It would take at least one more story arc for Karl to bury this one for sure. Despite that, issue 120 is an interesting one, short on action and focusing more on character.

In “She’s Gotta Have Him” – is that a Spike Lee reference, Karl? – Mina continues to think up ways to get Sonic’s attention. After a mom-suggested wardrobe change does nothing, Mina touches upon the idea of officially becoming a Freedom Fighter. After a day or so worth of training, a real emergency hits Knothole. Roobtnik sends a giant-ass robot after the village. During this attack, Mina proves less than helpful.

Despite being a fairly regular member of the comic’s cast since issue 76, Mina the Mongoose has yet to really get much character development. Up until this point, she’s mostly been defined by her crush on Sonic and her missing mom. The mom thing has been wrapped up, with Miss Mongoose really appearing in the comic for the first time. “She’s Gotta Have Him” still focuses on Mina’s feelings for Sonic but, at least, gives us a little more insight into her thoughts. Literally, as she narrates the story. A cute panel shows her imagining a wedding with Sonic. We also get a few sweet moments with her mom, further establishing that relationship. Later, Mina shows a will to pursue the hedgehog, dressing up in a slinky Chinese gown, doing what she can to get Sonic’s attention.

I wish a little more time was devoted to Mina training to be a Freedom Fighter. We basically get one quick page, showing her racing with Sonic, piloting a plane with Tails, sword fighting with Antoine, and falling asleep while Rotor attempts to explain computer science. She seems to take to most of the activities and I would’ve liked to have seen more of that. Instead, a giant robot marches on Knothole. (Though, again, now that Eggman knows the village’s location, I don’t know why he doesn’t just bomb it from a distance. That seems easier than building a Megazord.) Naturally, this close call with action is too much for Mina, causing her to ditch the training. I know Karl only has so many pages to explore this concept but the story definitely seems a little rushed.

Which is most evident in the ending. On the last page, Bollers hints at Mina’s future. While taking a shower, she sings, the music floating over to Sonic’s ears. He notes her obvious talent and then the story just kind of ends. Mina would be better served once her pop career began so at least we have that to look forward to. “She’s Gotta Have Him” is still an interesting, if clumsy, story. (Though once again, I have to wonder what Mina brings to this story line that Amy Rose – also Sonic’s fan girl and obsessive stalker – couldn’t have done equally well. Maybe Sega was tying Archie’s hands on how they could use Amy? It wouldn’t be the first time they put ridiculous restrictions on characters.)

The second story takes us back to the newly rechristened Angel Island. Julie-Su sits on the dock where she first kissed Knuckles, reflecting on her feelings for the recently deceased Guardian. Mighty comes along, hoping to comfort the girl. He says he has stories about Knuckles’ younger years and Julie-Su asks to hear him. Mighty then tells the time of when he first met the young echidna.

“Those Were the Days” probably should’ve been about mourning. The Knuckles/Julie-Su love story was often hassled by that bullshit “soul touch” fuckery but, when Ken got out of his own way, the two teens had a great back-and-forth. Knuckles always seemed a little uncertain but Julie-Su obviously had strong feelings for him. Despite that, they hadn’t been officially dating very long before Knuckles died. How would she feel, after loosing one of the first people to actually treat her with kindness? She should be devastated, though likely hide those feelings under her tough exterior. This would’ve been a rich emotional vein to explore.

Sadly, “Those Were the Days” isn’t about those things. Instead, Ken uses this opportunity to give the Chaotix an origin story. Mighty ran into Knuckles immediately after escaping Robotnik’s prison camp. The echidna was ground-bound because Vector had hastily built a gyro-copter, which just happen to crash land in this area. This retcons the Chaotix’s first appearance in the “Knuckles’ Chaotix” special, which seemingly showed the team meeting each other for the first time. But that’s fine. A more personable retcon is okay, even if Ken’s writing is a bit convoluted. What annoys me is this really isn’t the time or place for an origin story. Did Julie-Su really feel better after hearing about a random adventure Knuckles had as a kid? Why couldn’t Ken had told this story after the Guardian’s inevitable return from the afterlife?

The third story, “The Royal Signet,” is another joint from Romy Chacon, who previously gifted us with Tommy Turtle. Sally and the Queen are spending some mother/daughter time together, picking flowers. That’s when Sally reveals a royal ring in her vest pocket. She then explains that Julaya, her late mentor, gifted her this ring. And today just happens to be Julaya’s birthday. The princess, the queen, and Rosie gather at the grave sight, paying homage to the lost teacher.

“The Royal Signet” is pretty good but has one major problem. Romy Chacon’s dialogue is a little overwritten. Some of it is cute, such as Sally’s affecting Antoine’s accent. But her thoughts concerning her mother’s return is a little strangled. So is her explanation of the ring’s significance and her declaration at Julaya’s grave. Even Alicia describing something as “So amusing” seems a little stiff.

Still, once you cut through the bullshit, “The Royal Signet” is pretty well done. It returns to one of the comic’s best stories, “In the Still of the Night,” which established Julaya’s importance to Sally and her passing. Chacon does little but revisit this story, showing events in flashback. Archie even got Art Mawhinney back to draw this one, providing a visual continuity as well. However, it’s nice to see Sally think about her mentor, to commiserate over her death. Considering how poorly the book is handling Knuckles’ all-too-temporary passing, it’s good to know the series could still occasionally approach death gracefully.

120 is also a good looking issue. Steven Butler draws the cover story. While his Mina looks a little weird and the giant robot has a generic design, it’s an overall handsome story. Dawn Best draws the middle tale. She gives Knuckles and Mighty weirdly muscular limbs but her sad Julie-Su looks awesome. Meanwhile, Mawhinney’s work on the final story is top-notch. While it doesn’t work totally, I admire the book for doing a more slow-paced, more character-orientated issue like this. Honestly wish they would try it a little more often. [7/10]