Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 129

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 129
Publication Date: October 2003

I've made my dislike of the magazine cover gimmick well-known. I had no idea why Archie conceived of that idea in the first place and I was happy to see it go. The “Tossed in Space” story arc, meanwhile, has featured some pretty great cover artwork from Spaz... Up until now, anyway. For the final installment of this would-be space epic, Spaz seemingly returned to the magazine cover style. You've got a handful of characters posing simply in a white background, boarded by text. I don't know, maybe he missed a deadline? Either way, it's very disappointing.

Issue 129 is one of those weird ones where the cover story comes second. The back-up, coming first, is “Space Gamble.” In it, Sonic competes in an alien foot race. Why? Because his space ship got busted up and he has to get it repaired before continuing on his quest back towards Mobius. This is also a chance, you might notice, for Sonic to prove that he really is the fastest thing alive. Naturally, the motley crew of alien speedsters are no match for the blue hedgehog's famously speedy footwork.

Last issue, I noted the obvious influence “Star Trek” had on the “Tossed in Space” arc. This issue, that other famous “Star” franchise gets homaged. “Space Gamble” is pretty clearly inspired by the pod race scene from “The Phantom Menace.” There's no pods but the resemblance is otherwise clear. The race takes place over a desert terrain. Sonic wagers his victory against his own ship. He competes against a number of colorful, alien racers. One of which is clearly antagonistic, especially once his cheating ways are revealed. The announcer is even a two-headed creature, which is probably the most direct steal. (Also, one of the racers is named Greebo.)

It may not be creative but this scenario does, admittedly, entertain me. The other aliens are suitably weird. The cheater is named Scarab and, obviously, has an insect like design. There's also a weird, frog thing, a pink female, and a red horse critter that barely appears. There's no suspense, as Sonic overcomes the other racers pretty easily. Letting Sonic loose the race might have been an interesting moment of humility for the hedgehog. Instead, Scarab is a dirty cheater, making Sonic the winner. Then again, one of the reasons we read this comic book is to watch Sonic tear shit up and be a bad ass. So “Space Gamble” isn't a great story but it's mildly entertaining.

The second part is devoted to the final edition of “Tossed in Space.” In “Welcome to the Wheelworld,” Sonic arrives at the wheel shaped world of the Bem. Last time, E.V.E. told him this world could take him anywhere in the universe. The planet is preoccupied with a big trial. One of the Bem scientist, one Sonic previously met, is on trial for interfering with other alien worlds. Through a convoluted series of events, Tails' long lost parents also reside on this world. All of these disparate characters have to work together if Sonic is going to get back to Mobius.

Boy, there is a lot of technobabble in this one. When Sonic touches down on the world, he delivers an uncharacteristic monologue about his space ship. Four whole pages are devoted to detailing Ceneca-9009's history. These pages are accompanied by text balloons packed full of words. And not natural words either. Like, pseudo-science-y words instead. When one of the other Bems show up before the end, this character also smacks a panel full of exposition on us. I get that this is a race of scientists but must all of them be so damn droll?

Furthermore, I do not care about the plight of Ceneca-9009. I guess we're suppose to feel bad for this green-skinned weirdo. Yet she's such a non-character. Everything we learn about her, we learn through stiff exposition. Through this info-dump, we discover that Ceneca accidentally doomed an entire race to death. She thought a planet of formerly organic and currently robotic beings had been turned into machines against their wills. After turning them fleshy again, she found out that these guys had become robots to protect themselves. You'd think a scientist would've double-checked that kind of shit. So she's an idiot. It's hard to be sympathetic towards someone who accidentally massacred an entire race, even if her intentions were pure. It's difficult to care about Sonic's subsequent attempt to rescue the alien.

Bringing Tails' parents into this story is an odd decision. I suppose we never have learned what happened to Tails' mom and dad, after being introduced to them in “Sonic Kids 2.” I just assumed they had been part of Robotnik's Robian force and, I don't know, got destroyed or something over the years. It wasn't an exactly pressing plot point. “Welcome to Wheelworld” seeks to resolve this plot point that you probably didn't care about. Basically they were abducted by aliens, right after Rosemary Prower was about to be robotocized. The already robotocized Amadeus Prower was immediately change to organic again. However, their rescue made Mobius the center of intergalactic controversy. It's a strange way to resolve this particular plot point.

As random as the circumstances surrounding the Prower's disappearance is, it does allow Benny Lee a few chances for pathos. Sonic's reaction to learning that Tails' father was robotocized on the day of his birth – to hang his head in his hands, feeling like he's failed his best friend – is surprisingly vulnerable. Sonic's determination to help the two foxes is mildly touching. Though Lee's dialogue remains tangled, it's nice that he devotes so much time to Sonic and the Prowers catching up. The conclusion, where the foxes decide to stay on the alien world so Sonic can return to Mobius, isn't quite earned. But it tries and that's worth something.

Recently, the artwork continues to be good. Dawn Best draws “Star Gamble.” Her style is well suited to the alien physiology of Sonic's opponent. Best can't quite capture the sense of motion that would've made this one really pop, as the artwork is a little overly posed. Still, it looks good. Art Mawhinney returns for the cover story. As always, Art is a total professional. Even the aliens are rendered in his cute, emotive style. Since this is mostly a dialogue driven story, Mawhinney's strength for action isn't displayed much. Still, these are two nice looking stories.

The final page of issue 129 shows Sonic piloting his ship towards Mobius. Which means the “Tossed in Space” arc has finally come to a close. The story line was disappointing, an interesting idea that always seemed to rush through its fascinating ideas, to focus on the more awkward aspects. Notably, Sonic wouldn't return to outer space for quite some time following this. I guess the writers had to work through their sci-fi fascination? For what it's worth, the last issue of “Tossed in Space” is probably the best installment of the arc. [6/10]