Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 127

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 127
Publication Date: September 2003

Archie is choosing an odd numbering scheme when it comes to the “Tossed in Space” story arc. Issue 127 of “Sonic the Hedgehog” is the second issue devoted to this story line. Yet the cover story is part three. That's because issue 126 contained a two part stories, both parts contained in the comic. The company usually split the individual Sonic stories into parts but rarely carried the number over to the next issue. It's just a weird quirk that caused me to look at things a second time. Anyway, on with the review.

After the incident on the Blodex home world, Sonic catches a ride with another alien race. The D'Novulans are explorers and scientists. Unluckily for Sonic, their ship collides with an exploding moon, taken out by a barrage of debris. He's tossed into an escape pod and lands on a strange planet where the local life evolves super quickly. A civilization sprouts up in the course of a day, the natives coming to worship the comatose Sonic, asleep in his pod, as a god.

From time to time, Archie's “Sonic” writers have shoved in random references to “Star Trek” or “Star Wars.” It's clear these guys are big fans of both franchises. The first half of “Evo-Solution” - that's a weird title, innit? - plays out like a direct “Trek” homage. The D'Novulans wear color coordinated uniforms, that look a lot like something you'd find in Starfleet. Their techno-babble filled dialogue and a character being called “helmsman” certainly recall the famous series. For bonus points, Benny Lee throws in some other sci-fi references. The ship looks a lot like the Yamato. Their leader is Captain Oe, which is astonishingly similar to Captain Eo, you might notice. Sonic can understand the alien's language thanks to a device nearly identical to the Babelfish.

Yet this reference filled opening is just a preface to the actual story. Once Sonic crash lands on the strange world, “Evo-Solution” features some colorfully odd moments. Sonic comments on how much the water looks like pink lemonade. A huge tree sprouts up from under the hedgehog's feet. The seasons change before his eyes, the lake freezing and melting again in seconds. The next second, a snowy winter blows in. In the course of an afternoon, Sonic watches a civilization grow from grass huts to a high-tech society.

Because issue 127 is set during this era of “Sonic,” the story in no way lives up to its lofty ambitions. The idea of Sonic inspiring an alien civilization is fascinating. So is the speedy hedgehog discovering he's the slowest thing on the planet. (Lee's script, baffingly, barely comments on this irony.) The aliens, who call themselves Azurites, uses a time displacement device to allow Sonic to leave his pod and interact with them. During this brief exchange of dialogue, the aliens tell Sonic that they worshiped him like a god. The exact nature of this deity even inspired wars. Sonic is surprisingly nonplussed by this revelation. The hedgehog is so focused on getting home that he barely comments on the situation at all. He tells the Azurites he's not a god, without ever thinking that this statement will probably cause another war. The script throws big ideas around but only addresses them in the most shallow of ways.

Ron Lim illustrates this story and it makes his limitations as an artist very apparent. Lim's Sonic looks as shitty as ever. He's got the giant eyes, the inexpressive face, the absurdly long quills, and the noodly limbs. The D'Novulans and Azurites, meanwhile, look okay. They don't look great but they have memorable designs. The D'Novulans have insect like stingers. The Azurites have three eyes on their heads. The extraterrestrials even manage to be more expressive then Lim's Sonic, though just a bit. So that proves it: Ron Lim isn't a terrible drawer. He just sucks at drawing Sonic and friends.

In issue 126, Mike Gallagher and Dave Manak contributed a totally useless back-up story. In issue 127, the same team throw together another pointless story. “Agent Sonic vs. Agent Knuckles” is a parody of “Spy vs. Spy,” though only in the loosest sense. It doesn't make fun of or comment on the famous MAD Magazine stripe. Instead, it simply slots Sonic and Knuckles into the roles of the White Spy and Black Spy. The two attempt to murder each other, their plans often unfurling in unexpected ways. There are some loose puns, such as a carnival “House of Whacks” resulting in the two getting whacked, and a weak attempts at jokes, like a surprise appearance by Shadow.

What can I even say about something like this? It's really not very funny. Gallagher and Manak don't create the same anarchistic laughs that the original “Spy vs. Spy” comics had. Casting Sonic and Knuckles in these roles doesn't even make much sense, seeing as how the two have been allies for years now. Manak's artwork is sketchy even by his standards, the characters appearing extra angular. If it wasn't for the sudden appearances of Shadow, I'd assume this was something Archie had been sitting on for years. An old stripe tossed off years ago, shoved into this book to fill out the page count. That's exactly what it feels like.

The “Tossed in Space” story arc continues to have promising ideas. But promising ideas only go so far, especially when paired with a middling execution. And if the back-up stories don't get better sooner, I'll increasingly suggest others to just skip reading them altogether. [5/10]