Sonic X: Issue 7

Sonic X: Issue 7
Publication Date: April 2006

Issue 6 was, by far, the most entertaining installment of Archie's “Sonic X” adaptation thus far. What made that issue so much fun was writer Joe Edkin combining oddball references to sci-fi/horror classics with a madcap sense of humor. With issue 7, writer Joe Edkin continues to dig into a cinematic past for inspiration but dials back with the comedy. This also ends up working pretty well, even if this issue doesn't reach the hilarious insanity of the previous one.

Chris Thorndyke's birthday has come. Naturally, his parents are off working around the world. Luckily, he has Sonic and his friends to keep him company. Work draws them away too. Sonic is recruited by a self-serving G.U.N. agent, Captain Westwood, to dig up a mysterious and possibly alien object in the desert. Meanwhile, Rouge and Topaz go into the sewers to investigate a strange room discovered underground. What they don't see is the entity living in that area, watching them.

Despite the punny title, “Take This Job and Shovel It” actually leans far less on the goofy humor that has characterizes “Sonic X” up until this point. Instead, the book moves into a slightly more serious, and even mildly creepy, direction. Eggman and his quibbing sidekicks are nowhere to be seen in this issue. Tails, Amy Rose, and even Chris have a smaller role. Instead, most of the issue is devoted to Sonic having his adventure in the desert and Rouge and Topaz having their adventures in the sewer. There's more shadows in these scenes, as well as hints at a deeper mythology, suggesting aliens will have a role to play in “Sonic X.” Interesting!

Not that Edkin abandons the humor that has filled this book so far. Most of the jokes come from Captain Westwood. Despite being a high-ranking government agent, Westwood is deeply insecure. He's jealous that Topaz gets all the cool gigs and blames having Rouge as a partner, an interndimensional furry animal, is what's giving her the extra edge. So Westwood decides to seek out Sonic, hoping to recruit him as his partner. His melodramatic reactions to these concerns are good for a laugh. Sonic's reaction upon discovering his deception is equally amusing. During these scenes, we even get some decent character development when he explains to Westwood while he likes to hang around with Chris Thorndyke. (Mostly because the kid lets him stay in his mansion for free.)

The most obvious homage in “Take This Job and Shovel It” is to “War of the Worlds.” After using his super speed to dig up the strange alien device, the vessel comes to life. It's a dome-like vehicle that walks around on three spindly legs. It also has a heat ray mounted on an agile, articulated hose. If the homage wasn't super obvious already, Edkin even throws in the image of the heat ray rising out of the pit and firing on Sonic. It's a hedgehog-afied take on the early events of H.G. Wells' novel. It's not as much fun as gremlin-like Chao with chainsaws or giant robots but it's still pretty cool. Especially when Sonic defeats the tripod with only a shovel.

Meanwhile, Rouge and Topaz' journey into the sewers recalls some other eighties horror flicks, of which Edkin is clearly a fan of. It begins with a pair of sewer maintenance workers uncovering an unopened door. That's an image that brings to mind “Alligator,” “Don't Be a Afraid of the Dark” and about a dozen episodes of “The Real Ghostbusters.” As Rouge and Topaz slink around the mysterious area, I couldn't help but be reminded of the likes of “Alien” and “C.H.U.D.” Maybe my horror nerd brain, fried from too many midnight double features, is just seeing stuff that isn't there. But there's a likable, vaguely spooky atmosphere to these moments. I don't think it was accidental.

Issue 7 also introduces a new character. I am aware of Emerl, from vague memories of playing “Sonic Battle” on my Game Boy Advance. He's a mysterious gold robot that can copy other abilities or something, right? I believe he had a bigger role in the “Sonic X” anime? Anyway, the gold robot appears in this story. He's the thing in the room, observing Rouge and Topaz from the shadows. I don't know where Edkin is going with this but it's an interesting angle, keeping Emerl mysterious while suggesting that he might be either a threat or a new friend.

Issue 7 brings a new artist onto the book. David Hutchinson's work is pretty good. He shares a major problem that Tom Smith III had, as his backgrounds are rather undefined and bland. However, his work on faces is quite good. I especially like the anime-esque designs he brings to Topaz' face. He stays on-model but brings his own style to the book. His action is solid, with a decent sense of movement. I hope he continues to work on the book, even if his illustrations shows room for improvement.

Looks like “Sonic X” is starting to come into its own, developing its own mythology distinct from the main book and perhaps the cartoon show that spawned it. Honestly, if “Sonic X” kept it up – mixing some light-hearted humor with interesting plot reveals and throwbacks to classic sci-fi and horror stories – I would be perfectly alright with that. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 161

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 161
Publication Date: April 2006

The cover for issue 161 proclaims that a new kid is in town. Of course, it's referring to Scourge the Hedgehog, a revamped version of Anti-Sonic that would become a genuine adversary to the heroes and be quite popular with readers. Yet the cover can't help but have two meanings. With their first issue, Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley had already established that they knew what they were doing. They were shaking things up and improving the book. Nobody would've guessed that they would still be working on the comic a decade later. The new kid in town was destined to stay.

The second part of “Birthday Bash” begins with a cute double panel, showing Sonic and the newly minted Scourge sharing some thoughts. By Freedom HQ, Sonic and Shadow fight with CroctoBot, deemed an unimpressive threat by the hedgehog. Using the Master Emerald, Scourge teleports to Sonic. After briefly teaming up to destroy CroctoBot, Sonic, Scourge, and Shadow begin their fight. Though the scuffle doesn't last long, it's clear that more confrontations are forthcoming.

A theme throughout Ian's first year as head writer would be reorganizing the series, which meant cutting elements that nobody much liked and improving on other ideas that were underdeveloped.  Issue 161 accomplishes some of those goals in a roundabout way. Firstly, it puts Locke in his place. Anti-Sonic becomes Scourge and immediately lays the smack down on Knuckles' dad. Narrative wise, this proves that Scourge is a genuine threat, since Locke was besting Shadow just a few issues ago. But these panels also features one of Flynn's new characters beating the shit out of Ken Penders' self-insert. It's hard to imagine Ken ever allowing Locke's clock to be cleaned so thoroughly. And it's totally satisfying to see, since the old man was always insufferably smug. It also makes Ian's mission statement as head writer abundantly clear.

To a much lesser degree, another element of the comic's previous writing regime also gets dealt with. While Locke was an important character to the comic's mythology – probably too important – there probably wasn't much fan interest in Crocbot and Octobot. So Ian combines them into CroctoBot and immediately kills him off, with the trio of hedgehogs quickly reducing him to pieces. Before that, he makes sure Sonic almost passes out from laughing at the mechanical mash-up. A giant, robotic crocodile/octopus would probably be terrifying in real life but Sonic – and, by extension, Flynn – isn't much impressed. I actually sort of liked Crocbot and Octobot but even I wasn't upset about their destruction.

In truth, so much of “Birthday Bash” is devoted to Sonic mocking CroctoBot and Scourge establishing how tough he is, that the title fight seems sidelined. Having Sonic immediately form a truce with Scourge makes him seem a little less tough, even if he reneges just as quickly. The fight between the three hedgehogs only last three pages. Mostly, it proves once again that Scourge is an even match for Sonic and Shadow. While the action scenes are pretty compelling – I like the panel of Scourge shoving Sonic's face into the dirt – I wish we got a little more of this stuff. The action heavy focus ends up pushing Shadow and Rouge to the margins of the story.

I've read these books before so I know Ian will turn his attention to the Freedom Fighters soon enough. It is, however, a little disappointing that Sally and the gang have so little to do in this two-parter. They scuffle briefly with Scourge and Rouge but mostly stand back and watch the fight. The only Freedom Fighter that gets much attention is Fiona. There's an interesting collection of panels where Bean and Bark flee Freedom HQ. They ask Fiona if she's coming with them and, when she answers in the negative, question her commitment to the cause. This stuff is so interesting – Fiona not knowing if she's cut-out to be a hero – that Ian's upcoming decision to have her go fully over to the dark side becomes retroactively disappointing.

The fighting continues in the back pages. In the second half of “Sonic Rush,” Blaze and Sonic duke it out for a while. The cat's fire manipulation abilities makes her a challenge for Sonic but he subdues her after applying a little strategy. Afterwards, Blaze informs Sonic that she's not that bad, drops a few ominous words, and then disappears, leaving Sonic and the readers a little confused.

After a promising first half, “Sonic Rush” quickly dissolves into the game promo it was meant to be. Sonic and Blaze fight, he uses an oxygen-sucking tornado to beat her, and then she disappears. That's about it, as any relation to the game mythology is quickly rushed through in dialogue. I guess I prefer a brief two-parter over a series derailing adaptation but it's clear that Archie just didn't have time to incorporate the events of the video game into their comic. Which might explain why Blaze the Cat wouldn't appear for a while following this first appearance. All of which is somewhat disappointing, as Blaze made an impression this time. We're going to see more of her but it'll be a bit.

The script is slightly disappointing but the artwork remains solid. The humor Yardley naturally brings to the series is well utilized in the cover story. Sonic's reaction to CroctoBot makes the story. Yardley's sense of action is strong too, as Scourge's fight with Locke and the duel between Scourge and Shadow is pulled off well. I also like a few stray panels, showing Amy Rose's confusion or Fiona's self doubt. As for the back-up, Tania del Rio backslides slightly. Blaze or Sonic look a little too stiff in a few panels. Yet it's still not a bad looking comic, with everyone staying on model, and del Rio's shows a decent grasp of action.

After really blowing the doors off with his first issue, Ian's grasp slips slightly in his second go around. Maybe I was expecting too much. Starting his run with a relatively low stakes two-parter was no doubt intentional on his part. Sally and the gang, Scourge, Fiona, Rouge, Shadow, and the rest will be getting their due time soon enough. Just seeing Sonic have fun after so much misery is worthwhile, I'll admit. It's light but still action packed. And, instead of stagnating, the comic's world is evolving once again. That counts for a whole lot. [7/10]

Sonic X: Issue 6

Sonic X: Issue 6
Publication Date: March 2006

While Archie's main line “Sonic” book was getting a serious over hull, “Sonic X” was undergoing a similar spike in quality. Issue 5 was, by far, the best edition of “Sonic X” thus far. It transferred the series' omnipresent sense of goofiness into a freewheeling streak of absurdist fun. Issue 6 doubles down in that direction. At the same time, Joe Edkin actually attempts a serious theme among all the silliness. The result is another issue of this comic that I actually enjoyed!

In the second half of “I Never Promised You a Chao Garden,” Station Square remains in the grip of the evil Chao. Sonic, Tails, and Amy do what they can to control the Chao but there are ultimately too many of the critters. While mayhem overtakes the city, Eggman implements the second half of his plan: Jumping into a giant fucking robot called Egg-gantor and marching on the city. Luckily, reinforcements are coming. Chris' grandpa is working on a device to counteract the signal that begins the Chao transformation. Meanwhile, Tikal appears to Knuckles with the original Chaos and an army of good Chao.

“Sonic X” is still a very silly book. The opening page features Sonic and the gang complaining about the quality of Earth's fast food. (I guess the “Sonic X” Sonic doesn't like chili dogs? Blasphemy!) Despite that, Edkins sneaks in some slightly more serious themes. The opening pages focus on the idea of loneliness. Chris is lonely because his parents are never around. Cream is lonely without her mom. Sonic, Tails, and Amy are lonely being on Earth. Cheese is lonely being separated from the other Chao. Knuckles, meanwhile, is especially lonely as he's the only member of his race. Through these ideas, we also get a moral about the power of friendship. Because being together with like-minded people is the only thing that can hold back that loneliness. It's simplistic but surprisingly sophisticated for this book.

Mostly, issue 6 of “Sonic X” are focused on awesome ridiculousness. For example! Sonic and the others immediately go about doing what they can to control the chaos the evil Chao create. They rescue babies and falling window washers. Just when it looks like they are getting ahead, all the Chao enter a hardware store... And they exit with chainsaws! Not only does this reinforce the “Gremlins” homage, it's also just really amusing. It's hard to undersell the appeal of a bunch of small, crazy, flying monsters armed with chainsaws. For the first time in its short history, “Sonic X” actually made me laugh out loud with that reveal. Nobody gets minced but the action that follows is a blast.

When she appeared in Archie's primary “Sonic” book, I wasn't very interested in Tikal. I actually awarded her the Worst Character prize during whatever Best/Worst list corresponded to that year.  So I wasn't very excited when Joe Edkins brought Tikal back in “Sonic X.” Surprisingly, he actually makes the character kind of interesting. Instead of just delivering exposition, Tikal actually contributes to the plot. I guess in “Sonic X,” Tikal is a time traveler, not a ghost. She returns to Earth with an army of Chao and Chaos, informing Knuckles to get his ass to Station Square. She even joins in on the fight, karate-chopping some dark Chao alongside Knuckles. This may be slightly out of character for Tikal as I know her – a quiet dispenser of knowledge – but I'm also willing to call it an improvement.

Edkins' commitment to awesomeness continues throughout the book. Just having a horde of mischievous monsters with chainsaw would probably be enough but the author finds a way to one-up himself. Eggman flying into the city in a giant mecha style robot is amusing. It gets better when Chaos grows to a giant size to fight him. You read that right. “Sonic X” just introduced a kaiju fight into the middle of the comic. It's not exactly “Pacific Rim.” The battle is short lived, with Chaos quickly upper cutting Egg-gantor's head off. But it's still a pretty amusing sight, especially when paired with the “Gremlins”-style chaos in the streets below.

Despite the newfound commitment to awesomeness, Edkin still features some of the book's reoccurring flaws. It wouldn't be an issue of “Sonic X” without some shitty puns and bad jokes. The police officer from issue 2 reappears, speaking in a new goofy accent. Chris' mom seems a little preoccupied with her hair getting wet, which is slightly annoying when a bunch of pissed-off monsters are attacking the city. After nearly getting sliced with a chainsaw, Tails informs the Chao to “cut it out.” Edkin devotes a whole page of Sonic racing through various locations, restoring Chao's to their peaceful state, while cracking jokes about. I could have done without this but after flying chainsaws and giant robot, I guess it's a fair trade.

By the way, Tracy Yardley's artwork remains good. His strength for cartoon goofiness really gets a work out on this one. Is “Sonic X” going to keep being this nutty and fun over its run? I hope so. I'm not expecting shout-outs to “Gremlins” and “Gigantor” every issue but similar indulgences of insanity sure would be nice. Hell, I'd even go for some slightly more serious ruminations on loneliness. Who knows if “Sonic X” is coming into its own but, at the very least, I really enjoyed this issue. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 160

 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 160
Publication Date: March 2006

I remember the first time I read issue 160 of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog.” A friend and I had zipped by our local comic shop on the way to a social function. As I opened the cover on the latest edition of “Sonic,” seated on the passenger side, I expected another disappointing issue like so many I had read recently. Instead, the script was funny, rewarding, and treated the characters I care about with respect. Instead of the ugly, tired, harsh pencils of Ron Lim, the artwork was colorful, lively, and expressive. In the decade since, my thoughts on Ian Flynn and Tracy Yardley's long run on the title are less unanimous but, at the time, there's no doubting their work was a revelation. Life had been breathed back into the series I used to love so much.

Flynn would begin his long run with a simple two-parter. “Birthday Bash” begins with King Elias leading Sonic back to Freedom HQ, which has long fallen into disuse. Inside, the core Freedom Fighter team – oh yeah, plus Fiona Fox – have thrown the hedgehog a surprise party. The festivities are short-lived as Robotnik sends two new agents, Bean the Duck and Bark the Bear, to attack the heroes. When they fail, he drops a new creation outside Sonic's doorstep. It's CrotoBot, a combination of two relics from the “Tails” mini-series: Crocbot and Octobot. Meanwhile, Rouge and Anti-Sonic are up to no good on Angel Island, until Locke interrupts and forces a change in the morally bankrupt hedgehog.

Refreshingly, Ian didn't perform a blank slate reboot. Instead, he directly plays off the events that just happened. This is because, as I would soon discover, Flynn is a life-long fan. (He even used to write a popular fan comic - “Other M” - which I had heard of but never read.) He would devote most of his first year on the book to fixing the mess the previous writers left. This work began immediately in “Birthday Bash.” The first page resolves Sonic's lingering frustration with King Elias over the Metal Sonic Trooper incident, ending with the King promising it'll never happen again. Flynn even brings back Freedom HQ, a location that has been out of the books for a long-ass time. He refocuses on the central team of Sonic and his friends, providing a much needed center. From the beginning, the new writer showed he was familiar with the comic's long history and was determined to respect it.

Flynn's knowledge of Sonic canon extends beyond the comic. In “Birthday Bash,” he introduces two obscure bits of Sega lore into the comic. Bean the Duck and Bark the Bear first appeared in “Sonic the Fighter.” That was an obscure, 3D-style arcade game that attempted to give the “Sonic” brand the “Virtua Fighter” treatment but received little attention in the states. Since then, Bean and Bark have never appeared in another Sega game and only made scattered cameos throughout the comic. Flynn turns Bean and Bark into full-fledged characters. Despite being a mercenary, Bean has a child-like mind prone to making ridiculous statements and an obsession with shiny things. Bark is more of a physical threat and never speaks. The characters bring a fresh energy to the issue. Flynn would manage to take Bean and Bark from obscure footnotes to fan favorites. It's easy to see why.

Yet the new creative team also sought to build up some established characters that were poorly used by the previous staff. Ian immediately works on giving Fiona Fox an actual personality. She expresses misgivings about her past. Her attraction to Sonic is based on his willingness to forgive her. In a handful of panels, Ian did more to establish Sonic and Fiona's romance then Ken and Karl did over half a dozen issues. Later, Shadow appears to personally thank Sonic for saving Hope's life last time while establishing that the two aren't exactly friends either. This show of humanity also fleshes out Shadow's personality, making him more then a grim, ultra-powerful rival to the hero.

Out of all the mismanaged plot points that came and went from the book in 2005, Anti-Sonic visiting Mobius again was one of the more grabastic. Even during his better moments – pretending to be Sonic so he could get laid easily wasn't one of them – Anti-Sonic was always more nuisance than threat. Flynn decided to turn the doppelganger into a real supervillain. While aboard Angel Island, he immediately betrays Rouge. This breaks up the union he formed with the bat, which is fine. Rouge is mischievous, not amoral, and her team-up with Evil Sonic never made much sense. After Locke interrupts what we can assume was Anti-Sonic's super transformation, the hedgehog's fur is dyed green. The Guardians' spiked knuckles leaves a nasty scar across his chest. On the issue's final page, Anti-Sonic is changed into Scourge the Hedgehog, a more devious, actually dangerous character. Like many of Flynn's other additions, Scourge would also become a fan favorite.

It all works so well. The story has an even pacing and flow. Character moments are balanced with action beats, giving us a reason to actually care about these people and who they are fighting. It's steeped in the history of the series but seems to determined to move forward. Instead of just bumbling through what was available, Ian was actually attempting to put together satisfying stories with the available elements. The comic's quality was always uneven but, since the “Sonic Adventure” adaptation – six years before this issue came out – the series had been on an especially bumpy path. Now Ian was leading us with a steamroller, smoothing everything out, providing a satisfying, enjoyable read for what felt like the first time in forever.

With that gangbuster of a cover story, you'd be forgiven for forgetting about the back-up. “Sonic Rush” is another story from Tania del Rio, which adapts the Sega game of the same name. It concerns Blaze the Cat, a pink cat from another dimension who has come to Mobius seeking the Sol Gems. Blaze is quickly cornered by some SWATBots. She takes down a few but still gets captured. Sonic is informed that some action happened outside Knothole and decides to track down the culprit. Just as he finds Blaze, captured for studying by Robotnik's forces, the feline displays her furious pyrokinetic abilities.

I have never played “Sonic Rush” because I never had a Nintendo DS. I'm not much of a handheld guy and the duel-screen gimmick didn't impress me. However, I wasn't shocked to hear that the game was pretty good. While Sega's console games were starting to fall apart, the “Sonic Advance” series maintained a surprisingly consistent level of quality. The point is I don't have the affection for Blaze the Cat that many Sonic fans do. Having said that, the character makes a decent premiere here. She's got a mission, involving more mystic MacGuffins that I can't be bothered to care about. However, I like her toughness. She takes out a couple SWATBots with ease and later unleashes a fire storm, an impressive visual. Del Rio's script moves at a decent pace, making the first part of “Sonic Rush” a decent read.

Another reason issue 160 seemed like such a breath of fresh air at the time is the artwork. Holy cow, here's a Sonic comic that doesn't look like shit! That's what it felt like at the time. In retrospect, even during the worst years, artists like Steven Butler and James Fry were contributing solid work to the series. It wasn't all Ron Lim bullshit. Yet Tracy Yardley's entrance on the series provided Archie's “Sonic”-verse with a clear, refreshing aesthetics. Yardley's work is cartoony but not loose. The lines are crisp and clean. The action has an energy to it. Best of all, Yardley has a gift for expressions. The characters' faces really come alive. Even the back-up story looks pretty good. Tania del Rio's previous pencils were slightly off but you can tell she's been practicing. “Sonic Rush” looks solid. 

I remember loving these comics when they were new but wondered if Flynn's initial run on the book would hold up. Well, it sure looks that way. For the first time in a long time, after years of atrophy, the comic would be worth reading again. At the time, it felt fucking magical, as if an eighty year old man on the verge of death suddenly started breakdancing. Now, it's still a quality comic book. I'm actually excited by this project again. [8/10]

Sonic X: Issue 5

Sonic X: Issue 5
Publication Date: February 2006

Last time, I was complaining about the competent but somewhat bland quality of the first four issues of “Sonic X.” With that issue, what would've been the original four issue mini-series wrapped up. So number five can be seen as something like the series' proper start. If this issue is any indication of the series' on-going quality, it's a good sign. Number five is, by far, the best installment of “Sonic X” so far.

After Sonic's latest act of heroics, Cream and Chris bond over the loneliness they felt when they were young(er) kids. Meanwhile, Eggman begins his latest, devious plan. After clipping a bit of Cheese's DNA two issues ago, he's clone a huge collection of Chao. He plans to sell them around the city as pets. Once the Chao have infiltrated every corner of Station Square, he'll activate a radio signal that will transform them into destructive monsters. Correctly predicting the nation's love of cute things, his scheme works exactly as anticipated. Once again, Sonic and friends have to save the day.

Eggman's scheme can't help but remind me of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Just as Audrey II accurately surmised that his off-spring would be bigger than hula hoops, Eggman sees the marketing value of the Chao and spins that into an evil scheme. Writer Joe Edkin could've spun this into a commentary on marketing fads. The Chao are a lot like Furbies or Tamagotchis, with the addition of being actual pets. Edkin doesn't do this, of course. Instead, the premise transforms into a homage to another eighties classic. Namely, “Gremlins.” The Chao look cute at first but soon grow into vicious monsters, causing chaos throughout the city. As a fan of both films, I do enjoy this whole idea, even if Edkin probably didn't intentionally reference them.

Through this story, Edkin also manages to find some character development for three of the book's more annoying characters. Firstly, Cheese isn't just a squeaking, cute thing in this issue. He's actually kind of sad, tired of being the only chao around the Thorndyke mansion. This shifts into a helpful refresher for those who didn't watch “Sonic X,” informing us why Cheese left the Master Emerald temple to stay with Cream. It also gives Cream a little development, expounding on the loneliness she feels being separated from her mom. Edkin doesn't comment on it too much but this does give the juvenile bunny rabbit and the flying, blue thingamajig something to relate on.

Even more surprising, issue five actually manages to make Chris Thorndyke – widely disliked even by “Sonic X” fans – an interesting character. We get an extended flashback to Chris' younger days. We see his grandpa, maid, and butler attempt to make up for Chris' parents being out of his life. This leads to a rather cute story about a birthday party Chris had, beginning with Chuck talking about aliens and ending with the maid being mistaken for a monster. It's pretty stereotypical stuff but serves two purpose. It grounds Chris' personality a bit, showing an experience from his childhood that we can all relate too. Lastly, it explains why he likes Sonic so much. As a toddler, he dreamed of befriending an alien. Now, he has.

As you've come to expect from “Sonic X,” the action scenes and the humor cross paths. After the cloned Chao become so popular, Eggman activates his plan. Sonic grabs a Power Ring and ties up the evil Chao in a lamp cord, tossing him in a garbage bin. This only comprises one scene, as the issue ends by revealing the chaos in the city. So we are mostly stuck with the jokes. Some are are better then others. Robotnik's commercial for the Chao is mildly amusing, threatening the public into buying the cute critters. Less entertaining is a stray thought from Amy we see. After Sonic is tossed a Power Ring, Amy wistfully thinks about Sonic giving her the ring some day. Jeez, I know Amy's obsession with Sonic is her primary characteristic but surely there's more to her than that, right?

Issue 5 of “Sonic X” is significant in another way. This marks the first time Tracy Yardley would draw an Archie “Sonic” comic. The company must've used “Sonic X” as a testing ground before bringing Yardley onto the main book. At the time, they had no way of knowing that Yardley's artwork would define how the Archie Sonic-verse looked for the next decade. Even from the beginning, Yardley's artwork was consistent. His cute, comedic style is well suited to the more light-hearted “Sonic X.” He stays faithful to the cartoon animation designs while still injecting the Yardley-isms we'll quickly grow use to. This is best displayed during the opening scene where Sonic rescues an owl from a forest fire and during the evil Chao's attack near the end. Yardley is definitely a big improvement over Tim Smith 3's pencils, which were starting to wear out their welcome last issue.

Huh, I actually enjoyed that with practically no reservations! While still strictly staying on the kiddie level, issue 5 of “Sonic X” is an amusing ride with a neat premise, some fun jokes, and good looking art. I may even be growing attached to these newer characters. Will this become the new standard for the series or will things settle back into the “just fine” groove? I guess I'll find out soon enough. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 159

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 159
Publication Date: February 2006

Well, guys, we are here at last. Issue 159 is the final issue of “Sonic the Hedgehog” that Ken Penders would work on. With his exit, one era of Archie Sonic history – with, admittedly, wildly divergent ups and downs – was about to end. Another era, one widely regarded as the comic's best, was about to begin. As far as transitional issues go, 159 hardly wraps up any of Ken's lingering plot points. In fact, it sets up a few more! This suggests that his departure from the book was rather sudden. If I didn't know for a fact that he left willingly, I would assume he was fired.

So let's get to “System Reboot.” During their attack on Knothole, Hope is injured by a Metal Sonic Trooper. This forces Shadow and Sonic to work together, grabbing the girl and running her to safety inside of the King's castle. Afterwards, the two continue to work together to defeat the Metal Sonic horde. Robotnik, meanwhile, sits back and watches, actually hoping his enemy saves the day, since the troopers threaten both of them.

You know how the previous comic's cover trumpeted the fight between Sonic and Shadow as if it was a big deal? And then ended by setting up the brawl? Yeah, that lasts all of two pages. Granted, the reasoning for the fight – Shadow blames Sonic for Hope's injury, for some reason – is as thin as you can get. Instead, “Reboot” is devoted to the two rivals actually finding common ground. They work together to rescue Hope. They fight along side each other to stop the Metal Sonics. In a moment that's very nearly touching, Sonic even extends a branch of friendship towards his gruff rival. And Shadow smiles back! It's not exactly organic but at least it's a little more interesting then the two just wailing on each other all the time.

Sadly, every step forward is a step back. For reasons I can't remember now, Knuckles and the Chaotix are in town, fighting off the robots. When Shadow uses his Chaos Control powers to teleport Hope to the castle, Knuckles witnesses it. Later, Shadow uses the same ability to deactivate a whole fleet of machines. Knuckles confronts the hedgehog about it, realizing Shadow can tap into the Chaos Force, an ability previously limited to Guardians. So that's how you can tell Ken was starting to care about Shadow. He wrapped him up in the convoluted mythology revolving around Knuckles, his dad, and the Floating Island. That's one plot point I'm happy was dropped. That particular strain of bullshit wasn't needed at this moment. Or ever, for that matter.

Truthfully, “System Reboot” is a little more character oriented then you might expect. After arriving at the castle, Sonic announces how pissed off he is. How he thinks the Metal Sonic Troopers were an obviously bad idea and wonders why the King ever approved them. The moment doesn't go much further then that. Elias informs Sonic that he wasn't King then so there's no reason to yell at him. The story has to move on from there, getting Sonic to fight the machines. Still, I appreciate the writer for letting the hedgehog expresses these thoughts. I was thinking the same thing. I'm sure other readers were too.

The action nearly gets pushed totally aside. There's the brief Sonic/Shadow fight in the beginning. The last half features three whole pages of Sonic fighting the Troopers. He tackles a few, gets shot with an eye beam, and then whips up a tornado that blows most of them away. (Shadow and his special powers then arrive to finish off the rest.) It's pretty underwhelming. Ron Lim's pencils are as lackluster as ever. Then again, I wasn't very invested in that plot line anyway. Might as well blow it away quickly and cleanly.

Throughout the last two issues, Ken kept pausing for these really weird moments where Jules and Bernie worried about their son. These scenes barely connected with the other things going on in the story. This incredibly awkward subplot concludes here in an incredibly awkward manner. After saving the day, Elias awards Sonic a medal and a royal designation. Jules and Bernie are overwhelmed with pride, realizing their boy has truly grown up. What makes this weird is Sonic's parents barely interact with him during this story. Wouldn't some conversations with Jules and Bernie have handled this plot point in a more compelling manner? Does Ken know that parents are suppose to talk to their kids? (If he truthfully didn't know that, it would explain so much.)

Dr. Robotnik took a backseat throughout the cover story. I guess to make up for this, the back-up story stars him. It's called “Insidious” and, sadly, no lipstick-faced demons appear. Instead, the story revolves around A.D.A.M. explaining to Robotnik that they still have partial control over the nanites inside Knothole. Tommy Turtle is already infected. Using the remote link, A.D.A.M. gets the nanites to infect Bunnie's cybernetic limbs and Nicole, hoping they will take down the Freedom Fighters from within their own base.

“Insidious” is a very bland story devoted to setting up future stories. The conversation between Eggman and A.D.A.M is heavy on the exposition, making it a snore to read through. Penders draws the story himself. His pencils are not as grotesque as they sometimes were. Only Bunnie looks off-model. Instead, the illustrations are just boring to look at. Which is fitting, I suppose, since the story is devoted to a conversation between a mad scientist and his computer. Not the most compelling stuff and Ken isn't strong enough a writer to make it compelling.

Like I said, both stories leave some dangling plot points, as if Ken was expecting to continue his tenure. What of Shadow's connection with the Chaos Force? What about A.D.A.M. using the nanites to infiltrate Knothole? The next writer would only pick up one of these plot points, likely taking it in a very different direction then what Penders intended. Having said that, there is something like a point of finality to Ken's final issue. Sonic getting a medal of honor and being elevated to Gentleman-at-Arms status is a decent stopping point, as is Shadow's growing humanity. If the comic had ended with Penders' exit, it certainly wouldn't have been a satisfying conclusion. Yet it almost feels like an ending.

Good-bye, Ken Penders. His tenure on “Sonic” has been a long, usually frustrating ride. For all his flaws – his many, many flaws – I can't hate Ken's work. For better or worst, he built most of the comic's early history. He created a lot of characters I like, even a few I love. The weird world that Archie Sonic inhabited is mostly his doing. And I like that world. Towards the end of his run, Penders' writing skills really fell apart. If he had left a year or two earlier, the book would have been better off for it. Even on his best days, he was a frustrating writer. Yet, at the end, I'm still almost, sort-of, kind-of a fan. (This issue also marks Ron Lim's final Archie credit. I'm less conflicted about his departure.) His last issue wasn't entirely terrible and that's okay. Bring on Ian Flynn. [6/10] 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 158

 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 158
Publication Date: January 2006

2006 would be the year that Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book would finally pull itself out of the pit of mediocrity it had been simmering in for quite a few years. Soon, enough, a new creative staff will come on board and revitalize the title. But we're not there, not quite yet. We still have two more issues before Ken Penders' reign comes to an end. Though Ken would leave for other reasons, you can't help but wonder if he was running out of ideas. Issue 158 promises yet another fight between Sonic and Shadow. Don't these guys do anything else? The book hasn't been this fight crazy since the early days, when Knuckles was still a new character. Anyway, let's get on with the show.

“System Reconfiguration” continues where we left off. A group of Metal Sonic robots has invaded Robotnik's city. The doctor assumes Snively is behind this but the true culprit, the mysterious force hacking his system, remains unidentified. He quickly gets Mecha back on his side. Just as the machines look like they'll overrun the villain's lair, they instead head out for Knothole City, destroying everything in their path. Sonic and Shadow just escape the chaos, heading into the forest to fight the invasion for different reason. Both hedgehogs will soon learn some startling information.

Besides old dog faithfuls like me, I don't know who the hell else was reading the comic book in 2006. Maybe the younger Sonic fans, driven to the comic by a mania for “Sonic Adventure 2” and “Sonic Heroes,” wanted to see Sonic and Shadow fight each other once again? If that was the audience Archie was targeting at the time, I bet they were disappointed in this story. Despite the cover promising a title bout between the blue blur and his latest rival, Sonic and Shadow do not fight in this issue. In fact, they are even working together – kind of – throughout part of it. Shadow spends about a third of the issue unconscious!

But covers always lie. What of the actual content? To his credit, Ken does make an effort to develop Shadow a little as a character. Robotnik attempts to manipulate the so-called ultimate life form. Robotnik points out his familial relation with Shadow's creator, making the hedgehog a nephew of sorts to the villain. Interestingly, Shadow doesn't buy it. Instead, he's driven to protect Hope. Considering his connection with Hope has been his sole humanizing element, I don't mind Ken returning to that one. It doesn't amount to much. Mostly, it's a story excuse to get the anti-hero fighting the horde of Metal Sonics. But it counts for something.

The robotic threats, called the Metal Sonic Troopers, are also potentially interesting. They sport the dorky black leather loincloth design from “Sonic Heroes.” They don't display a flick of personality. Instead, the troopers act like a zombie horde. They don't eat flesh but they do descend as a crowd, destroying everything around them. We learn their origin. Rotor and Uncle Chuck built them as a robotic police force while Sonic was in space. Once the hero came back, the Troopers were shelved. Sadly, both of these points are wasted. Sonic spends a little too much time relaxing after the robots are set loose, making them seem less dangerous. Our hero, meanwhile, has no reaction – good or otherwise – to learning that his uncle and friend are responsible for this new threat.

Among all this chaos, Ken once again makes an attempt to sneak in some pathos. Before the Troopers attack Knothole, Jules and Bernie have another conversation about their son. Bernie wonders if they've gone wrong, letting Sonic march into danger like he does. Once again, Jules recommends giving the boy some distance, that he's not a child anymore. This can't help but remind me of how Locke treated Knuckles, spying on him while refusing to actually father him. Maybe it's just residual annoyance with that plot point that makes these scenes stick out to me. Or maybe they really just don't have a place in this current story.

I know I bitch about Ron Lim's artwork all the time. In “System Reconfiguration,” Lim does some especially lousy work, just when he was showing some improvement too. The Metal Sonic Trooper look too much like a collection of pointy edges. When attacking as a crowd, Lim just draws a big blue, squiggly shape. His character work is okay in a few panels. Uncle Chuck and Shadow look okay, at least by the standards of Ron Lim's pencils. The action artwork, however, is dire. It's lifeless, messy, and shapeless.

For the back-up story, Archie forces us to suffer through another shitty “Off-Panel” comic. Mike Gallgher's script even admits that no one is actually interested in reading this. A gag claims Hugh – apparently the guy who changes the print cartridge – demanded another one of these. Anyway, the plot: Sonic and editor Mike Pellerito meet in a back alley for some reason. There, they are attacked by Blackstage, some Phantom of the Opera looking motherfucker who threatens to expose a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage to the fans, expecting this info to destroy sales. It doesn't work because fans enjoy stuff like this. So the villain essentially defeats himself.

It's so dumb, you guys. The script is derivative of “Better Read Than Dead” from 126, with a lame villain appearing to threaten the editorial staff in a really dumb way. Like in that story, Sonic is benched for most of the plot, making Pellerito the hero. (Because that's what people reading a “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book wanted to see: The adventures of the editor.) Blackstage's plan doesn't even make sense. Why would behind the scene footage destroy a comic book's credibility? It's a comic, not pro-wrestling! Is Blackstage unaware of the popularity of DVD special features?

I guess that's to be expected, as this is a gag comic. Sadly, the gags aren't funny either. Blackstage's incriminating footage includes stunt doubles, camera tricks, special effect shots, and King Acorn being in a make-up chair for six hours. (I've always suspect Mike Gallagher stopped paying attention to the book years ago and this proves that, as all these story events are from the pre-100 days.) When the bad guy is informed that his plan is stupid and sucks, Sonic tears his clothes off, puts the mask on, and sings a bar of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Jeeeezus. Is this what Archie's comedy books were like at the time? No wonder nobody read them back then. I'll give the story this much though. It's slightly less embarrassing then “The Edge of Parodies,” the previous Off-Panel five pager.

The cover story is slightly better then most of the “Sonic” stories Archie published in 2005. This is faint praise, as it's still a stiflingly mediocre affair. Ken isn't exactly going to go out on a high note but he could've done a lot worst. We all know that. I'm willing to totally ignore that fucking terrible back-up story and just stick this one with a [6/10.] I'm feeling generous.

THE 2005 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG COMIC BEST/WORST LIST!

This may seem like a hot take but, in my opinion, 2005 was the worst year for Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book. I know 2001 and 2004 were previously regarded as some of the series' lowest points. And, yeah, those years were rough. As bad as they were, neither of them almost caused me to quit the series. 2005, on the other hand, was the dullest of the Penders/Bollers years, full of bullshit story turns, out-of-character writing, and ill-conceived ideas. This was such a bad year for the comic that I considered not even doing a Best/Worst list. Instead, I thought about employing one of those “From Bad to Worst” list that Dan Drazen was so fond of. However, in the end, there was juuuusssst enough positive material to scrap together a rounded list. It wasn't easy.

This was, it most be noted, the first year in quite a while where more than one “Sonic” series was under consideration. The “Sonic X” book launched in the last quarter of 2005. True, “Sonic X” has yet to impress (or annoy) me enough to grab any of the below honors. But it does feel nice to be mixing things up again.

The “Sonic” material covered in this retrospective is as follows:

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 145-157
Sonic X: Issue 1-4

BEST COVER STORY:
“Songoose: Part 1” - Karl Bollers (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 153)

With “Songoose,” we bid adieu to Karl Bollers. The writer managed to leave “Sonic” on something of a high note. While the second half of this two parter was disappointing enough to keep “Songoose” from earning the Best Arc distinction, the first half was one of the few decent cover stories this year. Robotnik targeting Mina because her music annoys him is a funny touch. While I wasn't a fan of the Sonic/Mina romance being resurrected yet again, it was nice to see all the characters working together for once. Karl even manged to sneak in some character development for Fiona Fox and Antoine's dad. It's not a lot but in a year as stinky as 2005, it's what passes for Best Cover Story.

(For the record, “Field Trip of DOOM!” from “Sonic X: issue 3” was the clear runner-up in this category and even that story was just decent.)

WORST COVER STORY:
“Sonic's Angels” - Ken Penders (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 152)

This fucking thing... An issue of “Sonic” hasn't pissed me off this much since 134's “Say You Will.” From the central concepts on down, this one is rotten. Sonic's love interests – with the notable exception of Sally – gathering around him for a mission was a brain dead idea, especially since Mina is no longer a field agent. Despite that set-up, there's little romantic tension in the air, making the premise even more of a waste.

Yet that is far less obnoxious then the infamous quasi-rape that Bunnie suffers in this issue. Abducted by the Nanites, her limbs are melted into goo while probes explore her private areas. The rotten cherry on this shit sundae was Sonic rescuing her with some flawed logic and getting a big kiss for his troubles. In that instant, any reasoning for Bunnie's torment is swept away, making room for Sonic playing hero.

This kind of thing never should have happen and it especially shouldn't have happened to Bunnie, the one character even Archie Sonic fans can agree on.

BEST BACK STORY:
“Stargazing” - Tania del Rio (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 151)

The only story from 2005 that could genuinely be described as a fan favorite is 151's “Stargazing,” a back-up feature from newcomer Tania del Rio. Not only did it introduce Nicole's wildly popular lynx form, it's actually a quite touching story. By taking physical form, Nicole can see, feel, and hear in ways she never could before. Adding a pleasant whiff of melancholy, it's ultimately an ephemeral experience for her. Sally, who did not have a great year, gets a chance to realize the little blessings in her life. A quietly observant tale like this was something the book needed more of this year.

WORST BACK STORY:
“The Edge of Parodies” - Michael Gallagher (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 147)

There were no shortage of candidates for this one in 2005. What about the utterly useless refresher course in 145's “Training Day?” Or maybe Tommy the Turtle's latest, lamest transformation in 154's “More Than Meets the Eye?”

Both were bad but, yet again, another one of those stupid fucking Off-Panel stripes emerges to grab the title. “The Edge of Parodies” is an obnoxious dose of self-indulgence from Mike Gallagher and Dave Manak, recasting each other as omnipowerful superheroes, trying to one-up each other. Sonic becomes a supporting character in his own comic, desperate to end this buffoonery. The reader can relate to his pain. It's another pointless, masturbatory bit of nonsense from the “Off-Panel” team, who keep getting five page stories for some reason.

BEST STORY ARC:
“The Chosen One” - Romy Chacon (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 149-150)

It's with some reluctance that I give “The Chosen One,” Romy Chacon's two parter from 149 and 150, the Best Story Arc prize. This is, after all, the story that gave us Titan Tails, one of the most embarrassing bits of Archie Sonic lore.

If you're able to overlook that unfortunate creation, this emerges as an okay story. The “Tails is the Chosen One” plot point is finally laid to rest after literally a decade of build-up. Mammoth Mogul graduates to an actual threat for the first time, before once again being shuffled out of the book. It's not just Tails' power that proves him as a hero. It's his choice to give up that power that makes him really special, a surprisingly insightful idea. And Tails' heroic acts are ultimately motivated by his love for Sonic, giving this one some grounding emotion. I'll take it.

WORST STORY ARC:
“The Good, The Bad, & The Unknown” - Ken Penders (Sonic the Hedgehog: 146-149)

This was an easy choice. “The Good, The Bad, & The Unknown” has to be one of my most hated story arcs from the book's entire history. What should've been a simple fight between Sonic, Shadow, and Metal Sonic is stretched on for four agonizing issues. Several plot points that would never be resolved are raised. Not that we cared about them anyway, as they are truly dull, dumb stuff. A random selection of Freedom Fighters rush around the story, contributing little to it. Lastly, most of the third part is devoted to brain-meltingly dull exposition. This is one I couldn't wait to toss in the recycling bin.

BEST COVER ART:
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 151 – Patrick Spaziante

Spaz continued to adopt a more Sega-like style for this year's cover, which I wasn't a huge fan of. Some were, admittedly, pretty eye-catching. 146 and 157 were both devoted to Shadow posing like a bad-ass, against striking black backgrounds. 149 is probably my second favorite cover of the year. Shadow being cast as Sonic's, well, shadow is a nice visual while the red and black color scheme draws the eye.

Yet the only cover this year that really felt like a classic Spaziante illustration was issue 151. The sight of Sonic floating shoulder deep in water is the kind of classic “hero imperiled” imagery that makes you want to pick up the book. I also like the look of astonishment and panic on Sonic's face. The title graphic is distractedly cheesy but otherwise I dig this one a lot.

WORST COVER ART:
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 153 – Sanford Greene

Presumably because Spaz began to do the covers for “Sonic X,” Archie brought in a new artist to draw four of this year's covers. And, boy, did they miscalculate. Sanford Greene's hideous, garish covers are some of the worst out of the series' entire run.

And his worst is issue 153. Sonic makes a stink-eye worthy face, as if he's suddenly become aware of his own hideousness. His body awkwardly bends around a series of laser beams, criss-crossing in a bunch of random directions. His hand poses weirdly and his tail seems enormous. Add in coloring that is both too muted and too bright and you've got one ugly ass cover.

BEST STORY ART:
“Fairy Tale” - Art Mawhinney (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 153)

One of the rare bright spots in 2005 was Art Mawhinney drawing so many stories. (Steven Butler also did some consistently good work, the sole positive attribute of the “Good, Bad, Unknown” arc.) Sadly, this would be Art's last year on the book.

Probably my favorite of his contribution in '05 was “Fairy Tale.” A fairly disposable back-up story, where Rosie re-imagines the Freedom Fighters as fantasy heroes in a bedtime story for the orphans, it features some classical, beautiful Sonic artwork. Feeling like lost 'SatAM” story boards, we see Pirate Sally and Sonic the Blue Knight adventure through some forest and fight some monsters. The characters are perfectly cute and the details are rich. A gorgeous sepia coloring job makes an otherwise forgettable story pop fantastically.

WORST STORY ART:
“Sonic's Angels” - Jon Gray and Al Bigley (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue: 152)

Again, there was no lack of viable options for this category. Ron Lim drew several stories, with 146's “Out of the Shell” and the second half of “Songoose” easily being his most flat, most tired work. Ken Penders stepped up to draw 154's “More Than Meets the Eye” and what met the eye was ugly.

But I'm not done bitching about “Sonic's Angels” yet. Jon Gray's overly cartoonish artwork is wholly inappropriate for the story's first half, especially that horrifying panel of Bunnie and a bizarre scene draped in an American flag for no reason. Al Bigley takes over for the second half and it's clear that Bigley doesn't know how to draw these characters. Snively is grossly off-model, Sonic's limbs jut out in all directions, and Mina suddenly has a college girl's physique.

BEST NEW CHARACTERS:
Nicole the Holo-Lynx

Yes, Nicole is a character that has been in the book since nearly the beginning, first appearing in issue 17 and on SatAM before that. For the eleven years she's been part of the cast, Nicole has rarely been anything more then Sally's personal computer. An occasional sassy one-liner was the only thing that made Nicole more than a prop.

With the introduction of her Holo-Lynx form, Nicole makes the belated evolution into an honest-to-God character. Her brush with humanity pushes her towards actual person-hood. She suddenly has thoughts, feelings, observations, fears and doubts, experiencing these things for the first time. Future writers would run with this, allowing Nicole to blossom into such an essential cast member that you wonder what the book did before her. That is the one truly lasting contribution 2005 made to Sonic's legacy. (Though, yes, she still sounds like Kath Soucie doing a robot voice in my head.)

WORST NEW CHARACTERS:
Isaac

Isaac, on the other hand, is a character I couldn't be more eager to get rid of. A rather literal recolor of E-102 Gamma, as he looks just like him but painted gold, the character does nothing but deliver reams and reams of exposition.  It gets to the point where the robot is actually talking over the other characters, indulging in a snore-inducing history lesson. Visually and personality wise, the character is as mind-numbingly boring as possible. The story arc ends by promising another appearance from Isaac. Thankfully, that would never come to pass.


BEST IDEA:
Resolving Long Lingering Plot Points

There weren't very many good ideas in 2005. But, as the book would do from time to time, the writers did wrap up some long lingering plot points. The most prominent of which was Tails being the Chosen One. After ten years of build-up, Romy Chacon tagged and bagged that one in ten pages.

Antoine's sudden transformation into a massive ass-wipe wasn't floating around for nearly as long. But was just as annoying. That one got resolved too, albeit in a clumsy manner involving a look-a-like from another dimension. At least we have the real Antoine back. That counts for a lot.


WORST IDEAS:
Shadow-Mania!
Sonic the Playboy!
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Tommy Turtle?

The bad ideas, meanwhile, piled up to such a degree that there was a three-way tie in this totally imaginary competition of mine. Where does one begin?

Was the worst idea of the year the book shoving Shadow into so many stories? One of two things happened. Maybe Archie was eager to capitalize on Shadow's soaring popularity. Maybe Sega forced them to do it. Either way, Shadow took over so many of 2005's stories that he practically became a main character. All this overexposure did was display the limits of the so-called ultimate life form's personality. Shadow would bungle into things, trying to learn more of this past without ever giving the reader any real reason to care. (Rouge the Bat, to a lesser degree, was also forced into a few stories that didn't need to feature her.)

That was dumb but far more offensive was the comic's bizarre decision to turn Sonic into a “playa.” At first, his evil double got the blame. Despite that, the real deal continued with this caddish behavior. The hedgehog would seemingly hook up with Fiona, Bunnie, Mina, and Amy over this year, grossing the reader out more and more as the hero continued to act like a philandering pick-up artist.

Lastly, but just as annoying, was the book's insistence on forcing Tommy the Turtle into stories. The turtle just showing up and being himself wasn't enough to make him interesting. Then they tried making him Rotor's hyper-efficient lab assistant. When that didn't work, they had the Nanites bound to his shell, giving him transformative abilities. None of these desperate pleas fixed the most obvious problem: That Tommy contributed nothing to the team and, considering he was created to die, had no reason to be there anyway.