THE 2003 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG COMIC BEST/WORST LIST!

 
2003 was probably the best year Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book had had in a while. Which isn't saying too much. The comic's quality was more consistent then outright excellent over these twelve months. There was some lame arcs and one or two lame cover stories. However, most of the issues in 2003 were readable, decent, and not terrible at the very least. The artwork also took a  swing up in '03, with Ron Lim making fewer appearances. The year brought the 125th milestone which was, if nothing else, way better then the year that brought the 100th milestone.

The main book is still the only “Sonic” book Archie was publishing at this point. Once again, only thirteen issues will be covered in this retrospective Which are:

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 119-131

BEST COVER STORY:
Karl Bollers, "Home Part 1: The Blue Blur Returns" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 130)

Dan Drazen loved this one too. While issue 120's “She's Gotta Have Him,” also from Karl Bollers, has the advantage of not setting off a disappointing story arc, the first part of “Home” is clearly the standout story of 2003. Sonic being reunited with his friends and family produces some touching moments, such as Tails tackling him in affection. What's better though is the hedgehog's reunion with Sally. In a beautifully composed moment, he greets her at his own memorial. The tearful reunion crescendos with an intense kiss. The cherry on top is some humor, in the form of paparazzi snapping the two's picture. “Home” immediately falls into some mediocre plotting but that first half of that first story still holds up.

WORST COVER STORY:
Benny Lee, "Caterkiller is Coming" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 119)

The “Tossed in Space” story arc presented some underachieving stories, for sure. Benny Lee's “Red Chaos” was probably the most underwhelming one. Yet those joints at least had interesting ideas behind them. “Caterkiller is Coming” was mostly just lame, a story whose lameness I have always remembered. Turning Caterkiller into a giant tank-train was a weird decision. Sonic shows off a ridiculous ability to phase through solid matter, never mentioned before nor ever again. Lee also contributes some seriously bizarre dialogue that also distracts the reader.

BEST BACK STORY:
Romy Chacon, "Song Bird" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 121)

There were other candidates for this slot. Ken Penders' “When There Was Only One Guardian” from issue 122 and Romy Chacon's “The Royal Signet” from issue 120 nearly got the nod. Both of those stories had flaws but still summoned up some decent emotion. Ultimately, I signaled out another Chacon production.

With “Song Bird,” Mina Mongoose finally finds her purpose as a character. She becomes the pop sensation of Knothole, providing fight songs to the resistance against Robotnik. Watching the sheer joy on her face as she finds her calling is quite touching. While the love triangle wouldn't be buried quite yet, it is handled with some humor. I especially like Nicole's dismissive attitude towards pop music. Add it all up and you got a pretty decent five pager.

WORST BACK STORY:
Mike Gallagher, "Better Read Than Dead" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 126)

Thanks for making my job easy, Mike Gallagher. “Better Read Than Dead” is an unnecessarily meta act of self-indulgence. Gallagher writes his boss, editor Justin Gabrie, as a superhero who saves Sonic from the villain Deadline, a grim reaper lookin' motherfucker who tries to get his shitty fan fiction published in the comic. So, right away, it removes the character we care about in favor of the editor's self-insert. The way the villain is defeated – by calling on the sometimes mediocre talent behind the book – is equally self-serving. Some stupid jokes take us out and thankfully end this awful story.

BEST STORY ARC:
Karl Bollers, "Sonic Adventure 2.5" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issues 124-125)

The only reason “Heart Held Hostage,” from issue 122 and 123, didn't win this honor is because of Karl's weak characterization of Princess Sally. Instead, I went with “Sonic Adventure 2.5,” Archie's big event of 2003. The story line is one of the most satisfyingly constructed stories of the year. Karl successfully juggles a number of plot points. He brings Shadow back into the book, revives Knuckles the Echidna, reveals that Mobius is really a future Earth, and packs in a number of big action set pieces. True, some of them are a bit convoluted. But, over all, “Sonic Adventure 2.5” is a good read.

WORST STORY ARC:
Ken Penders, "Afterlife" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issues 120-123)

The “Tossed in Space” story line was probably the most disappointing arc Archie published in 2003. Those stories were subpar but they contained potentially interesting ideas. Penders' “Afterlife,” meanwhile, never got off the tarmac. Knuckles could've done anything while exploring echidna heaven. Instead, the goddess Aurora recapped his entire life up to then, including his very recent history, while hammering home the tired point of his great destiny once more. In the end, Knuckles wills himself back to life even though, you know, it probably doesn't work that way.

BEST COVER ART:
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 130 – Patrick Spaziante

“Tossed in Space” might have been disappointing but the covers were usually pretty cool. Issue 127 and 128 featured some eye-striking visuals. Yet, me being a sentimental old fogie, the cover that tugged my heart strings the most won this award. Issue 130 features the stirring image of Sally, weeping by Sonic's gravestone. Behind her, framed by a setting sun and billowing leaves, Sonic gingerly approaches her, a very confusing set of emotions racing through his mind as well. As always, Spaz' combination of dynamism, detail, and skill makes the image unforgettable.

WORST COVER ART:
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 129 – Patrick Spaziante

The utterly brainless “magazine cover” gimmick shackled Spaz' hands for the first half of 2003. For seven issues,  he drew the characters standing in static, overly arranged poses in front of a white background. It was dumb. And, for reasons I can not understand, Spaz more-or-less returned to this gimmick with issue 129. The story presented many opportunities. Spaz could've, say, drawn Sonic and Tails' parents before a council of alien judges. Instead, he stuck Sonic and the Prowers in another white void, framed by text, calmly talking to each other. Come on, man, you can do better then that.

BEST STORY ART:
"Heart Held Hostage" - Jay Axer (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issues 122 and 123)

Surprisingly, there was a lot of good art in the book in 2003. Art Mawhinney contributed some fine work in the first part of “Afterlife” and 120's “The Royal Signet.” Steven Butler, meanwhile, did an excellent job with 119's “Dust Bunnie,” 120's “She's Gotta Have Him,” and 131's “Mobius: 25 Years Later.”

Yet, for the second year in a row, Jay Axer wins this spot. The “Heart Held Hostage” arc – I went ahead and counted both of them – featured some of his best work yet. Axer's trademark detail made Knothole, Castle Acorn, and Nack the Weasel's hiding spot look like real places, full of detail. His sense of action made sequences, like the weasels rushing into the village and Sally's escape from Nack, really pop. Axer also found a way to incorporate emotion into his art. Especially notable are Sally and Sonic's confession of love and Mina's world literally shattering apart in response. Axer wouldn't contribute to the book often after this year which was a real shame.

WORST STORY ART:
"The Prince and the Revolution" - Ron Lim (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 121)

He only showed up a few times in 2003 but Ron Lim still occasionally sullied the book with his crappy illustrations. His work on 119's “Caterkiller is Coming” didn't do a mediocre story any favors but his drawings for 121's “The Prince and the Revolution” - otherwise a decent story – were weaker. Sonic and friends were drawn as lopsided, big headed, and noodle-limbed as ever. Lim's weakness for facial expressions become even more apparent in this story, which is directly concerned with characters' feelings. There were two deciding factors that causes this one to sink below Lim's usual shoddy standards. First is an army of utterly indistinct robots that appear briefly. Second is the final panel. Lim's attempted to draw Sally rolling her eyes. Instead, she appears to be having a stroke, her eyes receding into her skull.

BEST NEW CHARACTERS:
M:25YL Knuckles and Julie-Su

2003 provided few great options for this category. While the “Tossed in Space” arc introduced many alien species, few of them were very memorable. I very nearly gave this slot to Captain Oe, from issue 127, who only appeared briefly but at least seemed like a pretty good guy. Instead, a better candidate emerged from the year's final issue.

The Mobius Encyclopedia considers the “Mobius: 25 Years Later” versions of the “Sonic” cast distinct from their present timeline counterparts. Which is how I can justify giving the Best “New” Character award to Knuckles and Julie-Su. Unlike his dad, Knuckles appears to be a pretty good parent. He cares deeply about his daughter but respects her privacy and doesn't manipulate her feelings. Julie-Su, meanwhile, has grown into a patient mother, a equal to her daughter's father, willing to stare down his temper. Their futuristic outfits are pretty neat too.

WORST NEW CHARACTERS:
Ceneca-9009

Ceneca-9009 is responsible for the death of an entire planet's population. And she's not a villain either. Instead, we are suppose to feel sorry for Ceneca-9009, a scientist who bumbles into alien civilization and attempts to “save” them while completely ignorant of the species' culture or even their basic biological needs. That alone would probably be enough to make her the worst new character of 2003. However, this dumb-ass also filled the book with heavy-handed techno-babble.  Her overly mannered speech made it equally difficult to care about her strife, even beyond her status as an engineer of genocide.

BEST IDEA:
Sonic and Sally make it official

Two very important things happened in Sonic's world during 2003. First off, the book finally buried the Sonic/Sally/Mina love triangle forever and ever. This first positive element is a direct result of the second. After years of fiery sexual tension, noncommittal flip-flopping, and obviously romantic implications, Sonic and Sally finally declared their love for one another. They even essentially announced their engagement, letting the King and Queen approve their eventual marriage. If you need further proof, the hedgehog and the Princess made out, like, three times. That's as close as this G-rated book could get to physical intimacy. This was a development that was way damn overdue.

WORST IDEA:
Death cheats

Sadly, Sonic and Sally's status as honest-to-God lovers was cut short by the blue hedgehog's “death.” Granted, the book didn't pretend he was really dead, only tossed across the cosmos. Knuckles didn't get that gratitude, as he actually did shuffle off this mortal coil for a few months. Killing characters off just to revive them a little while later cheapens the mourning other cast members feel. It makes death seem like something anyone can easily escape, reducing the overall tension for any future stories. It's also something the book has done before and better. I know dying and returning to life is standard practice for comic book heroes. But shenanigans such as these is one element I don't want to see Archie inherit from their big brothers at Marvel and DC.