Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 133

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 133
Publication Date: February 2004

Despite an emotional beginning that was soundly praised by most every one in the fandom, except for those fuckheads who don't like the pre-boot verse at all, the “Home” story arc soon became more focused on driving action. Which wouldn't have been a problem if the plot heavy action was less interesting than just seeing the characters interact with each other. Especially since Karl continues to dole out tiny details about the changes Mobius underwent during the year Sonic was tossed in space.

“Home: Part 4,” which is simplistically subtitled “Finale,” continues to split the plot among different locations. Sonic fights Mecha. Tails fights A.D.A.M., the sentient computer virus still in control of the Tornado. Knuckles and the Chaotix, with assistance from Rouge and Amy Rose, faces down Robotnik's mechanical army. The threads slowly connect, leading Sonic and the Freedom Fighters to a temporary victory.

“Finale” is mostly focused on the big action sequences. The problem is that too much of the action is kind of dull. M, Robotnik's statuesque robotic daughter, isn't the most invigorating of enemies. She shoots laser beams from her eyes, which Sonic dodges until he can't. After a punch from Bunnie and a grenade from St. John, the depths of M's unoriginality is revealed. She exits the fire as a robotic skeleton. Yep, Mecha is a rip-off of the Terminator. More specifically, Kristina Loken's Terminatrix from “Terminator 3.” Considering “Rise of the Machines” had just come out a year before this comic, the resemblance probably isn't a coincidence. Sadly, Mecha isn't even as captivating a threat as that character. After humbling Espio and Hershey, Sonic easily defeats the fembot by dropping her into some sewer water, shorting her circuits. Robotnik coated his killbot in human flesh but didn't water proof it?

In fact, both of Robotnik's “children” prove underwhelming. As soon as A.D.A.M. controls of the Tornado, the virus probably should've crashed the plane into a mountain side. It might not have killed Tails – the fox is, after all, well known for his ability to fly even without a biplane – but it at least would've minimized that threat. Instead, Tails stumps A.D.A.M. by telling him riddles. Thus another element of Robotnik's flawed design work is revealed. He didn't think to program A.D.A.M. with a sense of humor. Tails' warmed-over witticisms, which includes such chestnuts as “What's black and white and red all over?,” is enough to temporarily send ADAM off-line! Christ, it's a good thing Tails didn't ask the A.I. to comprehend love.

There are a few nuggets of character development that makes the finale of “Home” slightly more compelling than its prior two parts. Despite never displaying  an aptitude for heath care before, Fiona Fox now acts as the team medic, giving her some reason to be here. After Rouge offers Knuckles some help, Julie-Su squints at them in jealousy. It's a cute moment, acknowledging the sexual tension Knuckles and Rouge shared in “Sonic Adventure 2.” (This potential attraction would never be furthered developed, which is fine since this book probably didn't need another love triangle.) Most importantly, after Sonic asks Bunnie and Antoine to go on a mission together, it's revealed the former couple haven't been together for months. This plot point would develop in a stupid direction eventually but it certainly catches the reader's eye here.

Not all the character development here is satisfying. Karl continues to drop the ball concerning Princess Sally. Despite not long being kept away from the action by her parents, the Princess has once again been reduced to pining for her hedgehog love. After Sonic is injuried on the battle field, Sally runs away weeping. Is this the same Sally that was dropping backkicks on robots years earlier? Meanwhile, Karl's characterization of Shadow the Hedgehog remains simplistic. The black furred hog confronts Robotnik, threatening to murder the mad scientist for reasons I can't remember now. This is consistent with Sega's characterization of Shadow at the time. (After all, the next year would bring his solo video game, with its machine guns and motorcycles.) But, after Shadow's cute reaction to Hope in “Sonic Adventure 2.5,” it seems like a step back.

In the back pages, Ken Penders' “Mobius: 25 Years Later” arc continues. Knuckles and Rotor meet in the park at night. There, the walrus informs the Guardian that something creepy is happening with the skies, hinting at a forthcoming cataclysm. Meanwhile, Julie-Su and Lara-Su have a heart-to-heart, in the wee hours after her unveiling.

Once again, Ken Penders has presented a vague, forthcoming ecological disaster as the main adversary of his story. This is at least the second, maybe third, time he's pulled that shit. Was he traumatized by a hurricane as a kid or something? Ken's attempt at witty dialogue between Rotor and Knuckles, amid loose warnings about what's to come, aren't very interesting. The scene between Julie-Su and Lara-Su is a little better. Julie-Su seems to have developed into a slightly overprotective mother. Lara-Su continues to be annoyed that she can't have solo adventures. Julie-Su assures her that mom and dad know best. It's a bit awkward but think about this. Both Knuckles and Julie-Su believed themselves to be orphans until they were fifteen. Being slightly clingy towards their daughter makes sense, as both understand what it's like to live without parents.

After Ron Lim and Dave Manak took uninspired shots at the “Home” arc, Steven Butler returns to draw all of issue 133. Butler's strength for drawing sexy females is especially noticeable. Whether it's Bunnie's cleavage, Fiona's heaving bosom, Rouge being Rouge, or Julie-Su and Lara-Su lounging around in skimpy nightgowns, this issue has no shortage of fan service. Beyond T&A, Butler's gift for action and detail also shines here... For the most part. There's an occasional weird panel. The open two page spread shows Sonic leaping over a laser blast, which looks awkward. A later panel shows Shadow running over a body of water, displaying some weird perspective work. Yet every weak panel is overpowered by an especially strong one. Such as Bunnie triumphantly wrecking Robotnik's battle ship or Knuckles and the Chaotix heading into battle against Robotnik's robot army.

“Home” started really strong but started to falter almost immediately afterwards. There's a crumb or two of something more interesting in this issue but Sonic's grand return to Mobius could've been better handled. “Mobius: 25 Years Later” remains refreshingly low-key in comparison. Gee, does that balance out to a [5/10] or so? Sure does.