Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 137

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 137
Publication Date: June 2004

With issue 137, the Tommy Turtle Trilogy totally tears towards termination. I've made my dislike of this particular story arc and everything it represents well known. Yet, compared to the last few limp issues, issue 137 works slightly better. I'll take any port in a storm, especially since I know good stories will become harder and harder to find soon enough. “Half-way decent” feels great in a drought of quality like this.

In “Robo-Dyne Systems,” Sonic and the Freedom Fighters, Sally included, fly towards New Megaopolis, the brand new city Robotnik has built on the radioactive ruins of Old Robotropolis. They are there for a reason: To sneak into the factory where Tommy the Turtle is being kept and rescue him. While there, Sonic and Sally uncover an entire production line of infiltration units, a new wave of Auto-Automatons meant to sneak into Knothole and take it over from the inside. The heroes decide they need to both rescue Tommy and destroy the factory.

Once you get over “Robo-Dyne Systems” being about Tommy the Turtle, it's actually a pretty decent action story. The turtle doesn't play a very large role in the plot, mostly serving as the kidnapped victim being rescued. Instead, this one is about the Freedom Fighters kicking ass as a team. I know I say this any time it happens but some things bare repeating: Seeing the team actually work together as a unit is so satisfying. Sonic and Sally are the power couple, the hedgehog speeding through enemies while Sally strategizes. Bunnie is the bruiser, smashing through robots. Antoine is the brave soldier, fighting valiantly despite being weaker than his comrades. Rotor is the brains, quickly thinking the gang out of tight ends. And Tails is the guy on the outside, arriving with the airplane at the end to save everybody's ass. It works fairly smoothly, a formula that's been in place since SatAM, kind of.

“Robo-Dyne Systems” even includes one decent fake-out. We cut from a panel of Sonic and Sally rescuing Tommy to the Princess and hedgehog reuniting with Bunnie and Antoine. The story actually doesn't project the incoming reveal too badly. Of course, this Sonic and Sally are infiltrator units. Once this is discovered, Bunnie makes short work of them. However, the combination of artwork and writing keeps the suspense effective, making for a decent sequence.

It's not just some strong pacing that elevates “Robo-Dyne Systems.” In-between action beats, the story sneaks in some decent – not great – character interaction. The story begins with Sonic noting that Sally is accompanying him on this mission, even though she's still pissed at him. The Princess points out that Tommy was her friend too. Later, the hedgehog and chipmunk have an argument mid-mission. Sally wants to focus on destroying the factory, while Sonic insist rescuing Tommy is their top priority. Considering the book has outright refused to acknowledge the break-up for the last few issues, it was nice of it to bring emotional issues back to the forefront, even if it could've been handled better. Bunnie and Antoine's break-up also comes up, briefly. Sadly, this just amounts to the coyote continuing to be a dick to her for no reason.

Onward to “Mobius: 20 Years Later,” with “Trouble in Paradise.” We follow both the Knothole Royal Family and Knuckles' household on Angel Island as they prepare for their upcoming dinner together. On the plane, Sonic expresses concern to Sally about his continued role as King of the free world. In Echidnopolis, Knuckles explains the warning Rotor gave him to Julie-Su.

What I really like about “Trouble in Paradise” is its clever visual gimmick. The left side of the pages are devoted to Sonic and Sally's journey to the Floating Island. Their panels are all framed in blue. On the right side, we see Knuckles and Julie-Su preparing for the dinner, their panels surrounded by red. In other words, we're seeing separate events playing out in real time, alongside each other. It also gives us a peak into both couple's relationships. Apparently, Sonic and Sally are still arguing about the same shit twenty years later, while Knuckles remains bad at keeping secrets from Julie-Su.

It's cleverly presented but the script is still a little too typical. Honestly, this far into adulthood, I find it difficult to believe that Sonic would still have anxiety about kinghood. Maybe when he first took the position, sure. But now? What does he expect Sally to do? Divorce him? It's dumb. Julie-Su and Knuckles' side of the conversation revolves too much around the vague hinting Ken has continued to do recently. “Trouble in Paradise” also introduces Prince Manik, Sally and Sonic's son. Penders writes the boy as an obnoxious teen stereotype, asking if “we are there yet” and so forth.

We ain't done yet. Pushed into the back is the terribly titled “One Part Ooh-La-La, and Two Parts Treachery!” While going through his things, looking to write a letter to the king, Antoine comes upon a note Bunnie write him years ago. In it, we see the time an old childhood sweetheart, named Tatiana, came to visit Antoine. The coyote feared the reappearing sweetheart would threaten his relationship with Bunnie. He realizes that Tatiana is a lying, no good bitch and stands by Bunnie instead.

Before I can address this story, which I'll just refer to as “Ooh-La-La” for brevity and my sanity's sake, I need to address the artwork. Somebody named Al Bigley does the pencils, his debut credit. It is seriously off-model. Everyone in the story have weird, elongated torsos that doesn't fit the character designs as we know them. He weirdly emphasizes everyone's shoulders, making the cast members look even longer. The faces, meanwhile, are Ron Lim level, featuring huge glassy eyes lacking expressiveness. He doesn't stick to these designs either, as everyone frequently bends out of shape. Tatiana is a seriously unappealing design too, looking like an anime teenager with a feline head shoved on her neck.

Tatiana is easily the biggest problem with “Ooh-La-La.” Antoine's back story has always been the thinnest of all the Freedom Fighters. Randomly shoving a major character in, out of nowhere, is bad form. If Tatiana is such an important part of Antoine's life, why are we only now hearing about her? The information about the character – that Antoine had a crush on her when they were kids but then she dumped him for Sonic – is rushed through. So is her reintroduction. Tatiana appears for a few panels, hugs Antoine, and then she rushes back off. The whole thing feels like a cheat.

Having said that, “Ooh-La-La” does have some good stuff in it. It's really sweet how Antoine is concerned that Bunnie will be upset about Tatiana's reappearance but Bunnie is perfectly understanding. It's also very touching how quickly the coyote realizes that Bunnie is far more important to him then some random girl that friend-zoned him a decade ago. The climax of the story is Antoine explaining how deep his love for Bunnie is by a waterfall. That scene genuinely works, giving this shortie some emotional heft. The final image – modern day Antoine tearing up the letter without care – is also oddly powerful. Why Antoine is such a prick now still hasn't been addressed – that's a dumb reveal still to come – but it's clear how much he's changed.

Like I said, issue 137 is still far from perfect. Yet it's still the best the series has offered us in at least a while. A fun cover story, an emotional back-up, and a cleverly presented tale in-between add up to the first issue I've actually liked in far too long. [7/10]