Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 168

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 168
Publication Date: November 2006

As the book reached the end of his first year as head writer, Ian Flynn really pulled out all the stops. Issue 168 is when it was explicitly clear to me that Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book had entered a new era. And, for the first time in six years, that was a good thing. The waste of the old was being cleared away to make room for something new. Despite the goofy cover art, this is one very good comic book. Let's, as a blue cartoon hedgehog is fond of saying, do it to it.

In Robotropolis, Dr. Robotnik has finally put all the pieces together. He figures out that A.D.A.M, his sentient computer virus son, has been Anonymous, the malicious third party acting against both him and the Freedom Fighters, all along. Being a master planner, A.D.A.M foresaw this. Using the Nanites in his shell as a conduit, the virus takes over Tommy Turtle. He has the Nanites that infected Bunnie and Jules activate in Knothole, creating a distraction and grabbing Tails. He incapacitates Shadow the Hedgehog. Both Shadow and Tails are valuable parts of his plan. The villain's endgame falls into place and he's rearing to take both Eggman and Sonic out.

With the first part of the very appropriately named “Order from Chaos,” Ian Flynn pulled off practically a damn miracle. As their run on the book came to an end, Ken Penders and Karl Bollers threw out probably a dozen plot points that never went anywhere or did anything. Seems like both writers were just throwing lots of things against the wall, seeing what would stick. Or maybe they were out of ideas. Either way, the book had become a mess. Though he started his clean-up in “The Darkest Storm,” with “Order from Chaos,” Flynn takes nearly every point the previous writers sets up and ties them together into a coherent plan.

That lame attempt to make Tommy Turtle interesting by giving him Nanite-powered transforming abilities? Actually a plot by Anonymous to give himself a physical form. The Nanites being released and building a city? The city was a distraction, so the Nanites could pulled the homing rod A.D.A.M really needs for his plan. That business of Bunnie, Nicole, and Jules being infected by Nanites? That was so A.D.A.M has eyes in Knothole and perfect ways to distract the Freedom Fighters. Those robotic Destructix that appeared and reappeared a few times? Fakes, sent to make sure Robotnik watched the faked video of somehow talking to them. Shadow working for Eggman? Well, Shadow is needed for Anonymous' master plan too. That business of Tails being the Chosen One and bringing about the Great Harmony? The writer is going to get to that as well. It might seem convoluted but that it makes sense at all is fucking amazing.

Probably the greatest stroke of genius was turning Tommy Turtle into a villain. (Or, at least, the physical embodiment of one.) In the two-or-so years he had been a main member of the cast, Tommy had accomplished nothing but annoy the hell out of readers. Making him into a bad guy redirected all of that fan resentment in the right direction. Flynn even makes some of Tommy's previous incompetent antics intentional acts of sabotage carried out by Anonymous. The turtle gains a silvery redesign that is even somewhat intimidating, looking like what I imagine Mecha-Gamera would be. To prove he's a bad-ass, he has A.D.A.M./Tommy easily subdue Shadow. Which is probably an example of Shadow succumbing to the Worf Effect but, fuck it, I'll allow it.

Yeah, I guess another somewhat unsightly cliché is employed in this story. As Anonymous slots Shadow and Tails into his machine, he explains his master plan. That's right, he performs a villainous monologue, detailing every aspect of his evil scheme before crushing his opponent. You could even call this exposition, as A.D.A.M pauses to explain something about Chaos Emerald, the objects he seeks to gather. All of this is true. But I'm so impressed by the writers ability to make sense out of all this nonsense that I'm willing to let this stuff slide a little.

What elevates “Order from Chaos” from being a good story to a truly outstanding is that Flynn still finds room for some emotional content. When Bunnie marches into Rotor's lab, she is not under her own control. The Nanites are forcing her arms and legs, causing her to smash Nicole's monitor and attack Sonic. All the while, tears are streaming from her eyes. The Chaotix are called in to subdue her. Unlike the quasi-rape Bunnie suffered in “Sonic's Angels,” Ian makes sure that Bunnie keeps her agency during this ordeal. It's not just an action beat but a sequence of honest emotion. Sonic's interaction with his dad, also controlled by the villain, gets another almost tearful moment from our hero.

In the back pages, Ian Flynn picks up another plot point that a previous writer introduced and then seemingly forgot about. I'm referring to Antoine's father falling sick. “Courage and Honor” opens with Antoine in his hut, still in disarray from Anti-Antoine's time in Knothole. A touching moment between Bunnie and Antoine is interrupted when Sonic bursts into the room. He has bad news. General D'Coolette, who was also poisoned by Anti-Antoine, has taken a turn for the worst.  The coyote and his girlfriend gather around his sick father, having a heart-to-heart before Antoine's dad finally passes.

General D'Coolette becoming sick is a plot point that nobody has mentioned since Karl Bollers introduced it back in issue 153.  Even the clarification that Anti-Antoine poisoned the General is Flynn's invention. That's how little attention the previous staff paid attention to stuff. Flynn uses that dangling plot point to build a touching story. As Antoine and Bunnie sit around the General's hospital bed, Antoine apologizes for his past cowardice and rash actions. His father forgives him, insisting that he was always proud of his son, that he always loved him. He even finds time to bless Antoine and Bunnie's relationship. The elder D'Coolette was never much of a character but, in his last appearance, Flynn makes him a real living thing. He makes his loss felt. It's surprisingly heartfelt stuff. (I imagine Ian's feelings were genuine. He dedicates the story to his deceased mother.)

“Courage and Honor” is a really well written story. It's a shame that the artwork isn't up to that same standard. Someone named Gary Bedell does the pencil for this story. Bedell draws the Mobians with weirdly stretched out bodies. Bunnie, for one example, looks about seven feet tall. Everyone's limbs are too long, too skinny. The heads are too round, everyone's faces looking the same. Sonic's spines, meanwhile, drape all the way done his back in a really weird looking way. I will give Bedell this much. His facial expressions are good, so he still manages to express the emotion at the center of this story.

Tracy Yardley's pencils on the cover story, by the way, are up to his usual standard of quality. Flynn's script has to unpack a lot in this one, which is why I forgive him for one or two contrived move. Otherwise, the cover story moves super quickly and smoothly, cutting through about two years of bullshit in a way that looks easy. The back-up story, meanwhile, is a genuinely touching story about a father and son coming together just as one of them is about to die. I don't give out really high grades on this blog very often but, fuck it, this is a [9/10.]

Sonic X: Issue 13

Sonic X: Issue 13
Publication date: October 2006

It's not often that Archie's suite of “Sonic the Hedgehog” books acknowledged the holidays that happened around their release schedule. The book featured a Christmas story all the way back in its first year but that's about it. Considering Mobius is an Earth millions of years in the future, it makes sense that Sonic and his pals would have no conception of human holidays. The “Sonic X” book, however, appears to be a different story. Issue 13 pays homage to objectively the best of all holidays, by featuring Sonic and his friends trick or treating on the cover. The corresponding story also contains some seasonally appropriate spooky elements. That's right, kiddies, this issue is something I thought I would never get: A Sonic the Hedgehog Halloween special.

Following last month's cliffhanger, where Tails emerge from an alien war machine, both Sonic and his two-tailed sidekick are taken into government custody. Captain Westwood, fearful of being punished for his own screw-up, claim both Mobians have been working with Dr. Eggman the whole time. As a result, both are tossed in prison. Meanwhile, Vanilla has expressed some concerns about whether Cream and Chris are safe going on adventures with Sonic. Hoping to ease her mind, Chris' mom takes the four of them on a trip to a private island the family owns. The vacation is far from peaceful though. As Chris and Cream discover, evil spirits have possessed everyone living there.

Before we get to the spookiness, I'll discuss the element of government intrigue in the first part of “Hare-um Scare-em.” The idea of the Earthly government turning against Sonic and Tails is an interesting one. On one hand, it strikes me as slightly unlikely. As one of the presidential aides point out, Sonic has helped save Earth countless times. I'm also not quite sure what G.U.N. targets Sonic for, since he took down the alien war machine that was attacking the city last time. Still, there's something suitably powerful about the image of the comic's heroes being detained, interrogated, and tossed in prison by those that employ them. (Though, yes, Sonic and Tails wearing stripy prison uniforms is a goofy sight.)

Moreover, “Hare-um Scare-um” has Captain Westwood graduating from minor annoyance to full-blown villain. We already known that Westwood is a coward more then happy to manipulate people to further his own goals. In this issue, he reveals a truly treacherous and scummy side. He sells Sonic and Tails up the river to protect his own ass and as petty revenge for previous humiliation. He's more then happy to stroke anti-alien sentiment in the president in order to rise to power. I know this is a ten year old kids' comic but, considering this was the same year our fucking president tried to ban an entire religion, the “Sonic X” president turning against “aliens” is a weirdly unnerving sight.

But let's put all of that stuff aside in order to discuss this comic book's most important element: The motherfucking zombies. Or, at least, zombie-like entities. Confirming my suspicion that he's a huge horror dork, writer Joe Edkin shoves a bunch of “Evil Dead” references into this issue. Upon arriving on the island, the Thorndykes find it eerily empty. As the ghost-possessed humans attack Chris and Cream, they moan out cries of “Join us!” You probably wouldn't expect a “Sonic” comic to feature ghostly humans, with creepy doll-like eyes, floating above the ground and attempting to attack a pair of children. “Hare-um Scare-um: Part 1” even concludes on a page portraying Vanilla and Chris' mom taken over by the evil spirits. That's an image that probably traumatized a copy of young readers. At least, I hope it did.

Of course, “Sonic X” is still a goofy kid's book. Things aren't allowed to get too creepy. When Chris and Cream are attacked by the zombie/ghosts inside an ice cream parlor, they fight off the creatures by flinging Rocky Road at them. That's a good way to undermine the spookiness of your threat, don't you think? That a pair of actual children, Chris and Cream, can easily outrun the possessed also makes them seem less dangerous. All of this is apparently a reference to a previous episode of the “Sonic X” cartoon, where Amy Rose was possessed by the ghosts from “Sonic Adventure 2.”  (As another random shout-out to the events of the show, apparently Emerl is still alive, living with the Thorndykes as Cream's personal bodyguard? I guess that's another thing that happened when we weren't looking.)

Through the government betrayals and ghostly zombies, an actual theme of sorts emerge from “Hare-um Scare-um: Part 1.” Vanilla and Chris' mom – who has a name, I guess – bound over their mutual concerns about their children's well-being. Thorndyke seems pretty confident that the aliens and such he's hanging around with are enough to keep Chris safe. Vanilla is still concerned about Cream, even though “Sonic Advance 2” portrayed the little bunny as a confident crime-fighter. Presumably the events of this story arc, featuring Chris and Cream fighting some monsters, will make both mother realized that their kids can handle themselves. I mean, that's where I assume Edkin is taking it.

It could probably be a little better balanced, and isn't as much fun as the “Gremlins” inspired story he previously wrote, but this is still one of my favorite “Sonic X” issues so far. This is, after all, a comic containing both Sonic the Hedgehog and some “Evil Dead”-style zombies. I mean, holy shit, how could I not love this? David Hutchinson provides some solid, even atmospheric artwork, furthering my theory that he's probably the best artist working on this book. Who knows if Edkin can provide a solid conclusion to this story but I sure did enjoy this first half. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167
Publication Date: October 2006

Before I get on with my review of “Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 167,” which contains the second half of Ian Flynn's first stab at the “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting, let's talk about the two most recent covers. Yes, for some reason, Archie invited Sanford Greene back to do some covers. Greene would mostly be a transitional artist between Patrick Spaziante being the main cover artist and Tracy Yardley taking over cover duties for the most part. While Greene's covers for issues 166 and 167 are slightly better then his past works, his take on the Sonic cast still look a little off. On this cover, for example, everyone's head is a little too big and the perspective is kind of weird. I'm pretty sure Greene would only do one more cover for the series but don't quote me on that.

The main story in issue 167 is subtitled “Tempus Aetenrus,” because Flynn loves his Latin apparently. Anyway, after being cornered by Knuckles' forces last time, Sonic, Tails, and Lara-Su are tossed in the dungeon with Rotor. Luckily, it's just a trick, as Knuckles reveals himself as a double agent for the resistance. Now free, Sonic marches into the throne room, ready to confront King Shadow head on. Yet the middle-aged Sonic isn't as much of a match for Shadow as he was in the past, forcing an unexpected hero to emerge.

Even though they are currently having adventures in the main timeline, I still get a rush out of seeing Sonic and the gang go on an adventure together. The opening scene of issue 167 is devoted to Sonic, Tails, and Lara-Su cracking jokes in the dungeon. That sets the light tone of adventure and fun that characterizes the entire issue. The image of Sonic and Knuckles running through the hallways, sniping jokes at each other, is something that always amuses me. The straight-ahead plot flow of this story – heroes attempt to overthrow evil king – makes for a smooth, quick moving script.

There's really only one major action beat in this issue, though it comprises the entire second half of the script. However, the story features another great bit of action illustration from Tracy Yardley. Sonic races forward and slugs Shadow in the face. He shrugs this blow off. Afterwards, he throws his cape off. Before the cape hits the ground, which is brilliantly illustrated in a series of isolated panels, Shadow has beaten Sonic into submission. Not only does this emphasize the raw power Shadow has, his often boasted abilities as the Ultimate Lifeform getting an actual display, it also gives Sonic another far-too-rare vulnerable moment.
The ending to “Tempus Aetenrus” comes off as slightly sudden. After Sonic takes the fall, Lara-Su leaps into the battle. After trading blows with Shadow for a minute, she utilizes Chaos Control to freeze the black hedgehog in his place. It's a slightly underwhelming conclusion, as King Shadow is defeated far too easily after so much build-up. Though Lara-Su is clearly powerful, it's also somewhat jarring to see a teenage girl opposing such an unstoppable character with so little effort. Still, it is nice to see Knuckles' daughter get a victorious moment to herself.

After all the action theatrics are wrapped up, Sonic and Sally take the throne once more. This leads to easily the most touching moment in the issue. The hedgehog and the chipmunk sit together in a private area. Slowly, they draw closer. After so many years apart, their reunion is awkward. Yet, as their hearts take the lead, they pull each other into for a kiss. (Which Yardley sweetly draws attention to, framing the kiss in a heart-shaped panel.) This sequence features some of Flynn's best dialogue thus far. I especially like Sonic's sheepish admission that he wants kids.
The back-up story is another contribution from Romy Chacon, who was less retired than I guess. In “Hedgehog Day,” Sonic is awoken by his alarm clock. After Scourge and CroctoBot crashed his previous birthday party, Knothole is throwing him a second one. And he's late. While rushing to get to the party, he trips and breaks his leg. Sonic awakens the next to the exact same situation. The day is seemingly repeating itself until Sonic finally makes it to the party without incidence.

Yes, this is a take-off on “Groundhogs Day.” No, it's not an especially good one. Unlike Harold Ramis' famous film, Sonic isn't trapped in repeating loop because he needs to become a better person. He's trapped, for reasons that are never explained, to facilitate the moral of setting your alarm clock for the right time. Chacon's script features mostly lame jokes. Such as Mina's latest hit being entitled “Soldier Boy” - presumably she implores us to crank dat? - or each day concluding with Sonic in the hospital, a new citizen threatening to file a frivolous lawsuit against him. The most outrageous of these scenarios is, after Sonic decides he's just not leaving his house, when a group of paparazzi climb onto his roof and fall inside, all of them ending up in the hospital together.

Drawing “Hedgehog Day” is Dave Manak, one of the series' earliest artists returning after a long hiatus. I'll give Manak this much. He's finally made some attempt to update his style. Sonic and the gang are portrayed with the longer torsos and more anime-esque facial designs that they gained in the franchise's later years. Otherwise, Manak's artwork is as angular and cartoony as always. Panels devoted to Sonic spitting out his toothpaste are unintentionally grotesque. The nosy reporters have instantly forgettable designs. Sonic's hut looks entirely different from previous portrayals. (So does the Race Car Bed, which I guess didn't get thrown out after all.) It's about the same level of quality Manak has always contributed: Decent, but still kind of ugly.

A lame back-up story can't take away from the quality of the cover story, which is quite good. Flynn continues to redefine the comic, cranking out solid action yarns that respect the characters and their universe. Though intended to be the final “25 Years Later” story, this arc would prove so popular that Flynn would give the setting more chances in the future, devoting a “Sonic Universe” arc to far flung future versions of Sonic and the gang. In other words: In two comics, Flynn manage to entice fans more then Ken Penders' did over an entire year. Go figure. [7/10]

Sonic X: Issue 12

Sonic X: Issue 12
Publication Date: September 2006

I had to look at that cover a couple of times to figure out what the hell was going on. On first glance, it looked like Sonic and Knuckles were holding up a tipping over claw machine. And there's a laser eye in there or something shooting a heat ray at them? And I guess this is happening in front of a TV shop? It wasn't until I actually read this issue that I realized I was looking at the “War of the Worlds”-style tripod previously seen in Sonic X: Issue 7. That still doesn't explain the TV shop though. It's not the best designed cover is what I'm saying.

Three things are happening at once, around here in the “Sonic X”-verse. With Eggman in jail, Sonic is super bored and beings pestering his friends for something to do. Eventually, he agrees to help Sam Speed track down a pair of crazy street racers. Meanwhile, the government recruits Tails to help study the alien ship that Captain Westwood uncovered in the desert. Even more meanwhile, Dr. Eggman and his hench-bots sit in jail, slowly forming their next evil plan.

I continue to be frustrated with the relationship Archie's “Sonic X” has with the Saturday morning “Sonic X.” After the previous issue's adventure, the comic concluded with a word balloon indicating that Eggman was thrown in prison following some shenanigans on the moon. This was, I assume, all shit that happened on the cartoon show. So if you missed that tidbit, you'd be very confused as to why the bad guy was incarcerated in this issue. On top of this, Joe Edkin's script ominously references the villain planning some evil plot involving appliances while located in prison. This also appears to be a plot point from the TV show. It's obvious that the target readers for this comic book were watchers of the show. It's annoying to read but I bet it was worst to write.

Vague foreshadowing for events that won't actually happen in this comic book are my only real qualm with issue 12 of “Sonic X.” Instead, this one begins with an amusing idea: What happens when Sonic gets really bored? This comic hasn't played up the hedgehog as a source of comedy but this one happily draws attention to his ADHD tendency. He pesters Knuckles to go on an adventure but the echidna refuses to leave his post. He pesters Chris at his soccer game before being told that hedgehogs aren't allowed on the field. It's amusing to see Sonic, usually portrayed as a big hero, succumb to such childish impulses. Yet totally in-character. (Though, I was hoping this would lead into Sonic and Knuckles having an adventure, the echidna acting as the terse, by-the-book Murtaugh to Sonic's impulsive, wacky Martin Riggs.)

Eventually, Sonic's urge for adventure has him teaming up with Sam Speed. Despite all the fan dislike I've seen for Chris Thorndyke, I honestly think Sam Speed is a goofier, more out-of-place character. The wackiness Sonic and the race car driver – who is also a police contractor because, sure, go with it – is middling stuff. Sonic rescues an ugly-ass baby after a speeding car collides with the infant's baby carriage. That stuff is kind of silly in a way that isn't entertaining. The moments that follow, where Sonic tracks down the racing ruffians, is kind of funny though.

It is interesting that Tails gets a story point all to himself in this issue. Thus far, “Sonic X” has mostly played the fox as Sonic's sidekick, there to toss a ring his way when he needs it but not good for much else. So I do approve of Edkin bringing up Miles' intellect. I'm also a fan of the alien stuff that the writer previously introduced. These two plot elements collide in a slightly awkward fashion. Tails is really smart but apparently not smart enough to avoid getting trapped inside an alien tripod, which then goes on a rampage through the city. The action stuff that follows – Sonic defeating the tripod by bouncing its own heat ray inside its force field – is not super coherent. It does leave to the rather juicy reveal of Sonic's best friend popping out of an alien death machine. I wonder if the book will pick that plot point up in an interesting way or just let it dangle?

So now we reach the portion of my “Sonic X” review were I criticize Tim Smith 3's artwork. Listen, I don't dislike Smith's artwork. He grasps totally the designs for each of the characters, making him especially good at mimicking the look of the “Sonic X” cartoon. Yet the lack of detail he puts into his backgrounds and his sometimes odd facial expressions can't be ignored. Sonic and Tails' faces look pretty weird in a couple of panels. The humans get oddball facial expressions too, especially the random crook in the car or Chris' one female friend that keeps showing up.

So it's another middle-of-the-road issue of “Sonic X.” There's some stuff I like about this one – Bored Sonic, Smart Tails – and stuff I'm less crazy about – the Amazing Adventure of Sam Speed, the overly direct relationship with the cartoon. That kind of push and pull has become pretty standard for this series. Hopefully, Edkin and his artists can get their shit together enough to produce some more classics like issue 6 before this series wraps up its forty issue run. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 166

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 166
Publication Date: September 2006

The exact reason why Ken Penders left Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book has often been speculated. Did the conflicts with the other writers eventually push him out? Did Archie actually fire him, annoyed by the book's floundering quality? One theory, it seems, has risen to the top. Rumor has it that Sega demanded that Ken incorporate Shadow the Hedgehog into his “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting. Apparently this was the breaking point for Ken, who was reportedly already frustrated with Sega's influence over the comic. I can't recall if any of this has ever been officially confirmed. Considering the way Sega was pushing Shadow around 2005, it wouldn't surprise me. If this was true, Ian Flynn would utilize this plot idea to breath some life into “25 Years Later” when he re-visited the concept in issue 166.

When Sonic was shot back through time in issue 144, he succeeded in preventing whatever disaster that was causing the world to break apart. His actions had an unforeseen side effect though. He returned to a new future, totally unlike what he remembered. Now a tyrannical Shadow the Hedgehog rules over Mobius with an iron fist. He has assumed the throne, by marrying Sally. The Chaotix are utilized as his personal goon squad, crushing any rebellion. Despite the changes, Sonic, Tails, and many of the other former Freedom Fighters maintain their memories of the original future. Tails recruits Lara-Su to find Sonic and lead a coup against the wicked King Shadow.

The “Mobius: 25 Years Later” setting was precious to Ken Penders. His desire to continue that story line as the much mocked “Lara-Su Chronicles” makes that much clear. If Sega insisting on King Shadow is a true rumor, it's easy to see why the order would upset him so. Issue 166's “Tempus Fugit” shows Ken's utopian future Mobius transformed into a cruel dictatorship. Shadow is portrayed as an brutal ruler, having assassinated Cobar off-screen, and torturing Rotor in the dungeon for information. (Lien-Da appears as a high-ranking enforcer, a position she both enjoys and dreads, as Shadow doesn't tolerate her penchant for treachery.) It's something of a morbid joke that Shadow the Hedgehog would ultimately be a more effective dictator than Dr. Robotnik ever was.

While I don't have the antipathy for Ken's setting that many do, I'll admit that Shadow's dystopia is a bit more interesting then Ken's perfect world. That future Mobius was so free of conflict that the heroes' marital problems were the main source of drama. Though our glimpses at this version of Mobius are limited, we do see a couple of nice touches. Like the Orwellian poster spread about the city proclaiming that “The Chaotix are Watching You” or multiple statues seemingly deifying Maria Robotnik as a pure, angelic being.

This story also places Sonic the Hedgehog in a vulnerable places. When Tails and Lara-Su track him down, he's homeless on the streets. His ears are bent back, his shoes are full of holes, his face is wrinkled. He's eating a chili dog seemingly covered in green fuzz. Seeing his wife married to a wicked villain was a huge blow for him. Moreover, Sonic and Sally's kids do not exist in this new timeline. The situation is so bad for him that he nearly cries, as actual, full-blown tears were forbidden by Sega. Even without the water works, this is easily the lowest Archie has ever taken Sonic. The hedgehog is not doing well.

If “Tempus Fugit” has a major problem, it's that the story ends just when things are really getting good. Most of part one is devoted to setting up the situation. So Tails and Sonic's tearful reunion features some dialogue about what happened. That he's built a device able to protect people from the old timeline, that those close to Sonic's trip maintain some memories. Just when Lara-Su and Tails talk the fragile hedgehog into fighting once more, a team of shock troops led by Knuckles close in on them. And that's where the story ends. It's a decent set-up, with some solid emotional moments and a few nice touches. But I wish it was given a little more room to breath.

The cover story probably feels short because the back-up story is longer than the usual five pages.  “The Chaotix Connection” is a collaboration between Flynn and Romy Chacon, with the likely conclusion being that Flynn fleshed out Chacon's outline. Anyway, Renfield T. Rodent – remember him? - was freed from echidnan prison when Robotnik took over Angel Island. The rat fled to Station Square, where he's built a new casino. The President of the city rightfully feels he might be up to something. So the Chaotix, along with Rouge who has been granted temporary membership on the team, are sent to investigate. They uncover another half-assed but dangerous plot from the bad guy.

“The Chaotix Connection” is something like a spiritual sequel to “The Chaotix Caper.” That previous adventure is referenced a few times, with Mighty and Espio being concerned that Renfield has poisoned the casino's food. This story is not as dark as that one, as there's no children dying from drug poisoning and no mass dosings of L.S.D. In fact, “The Chaotix Connection” is pretty silly. The Rodent has been ordered by Eggman to hypnotize anyone who stares at his slot machines for too long. This is a plot to grab the brain waves of the Chaotix, downloading them into a new set of Auto-Automatons. This includes the goofy sights of the Chaotix with mesmerized, swirly eyes. It also features an android horse with a rocket punch, a henchman granted to Renfield by Robotnik.

Despite these goofy moments, it's still satisfying to see the Chaotix working together as a team on another crime story-like adventure. Mighty shows off his strength, rolling Renfield's machines into a giant ball of scrap. Julie-Su blows the android horse's head off. Yet my favorite moments in this story involve Julie-Su and Rouge's growing rivalry over Knuckles. The bat continues to ruffle the echidna's feathers, Knuckles forced to separate them at one point. That seems like a juicy plot point but, sadly, Rouge and Julie-Su share little panel time after that.

What truly makes “The Chaotix Connection” an important story is its art. This would be Jay Axer's final credit on Archie's “Sonic” book. As always, Axer's work is phenomenal. The story opens with a startling one-page spread of Knuckles tied up, spit being substituted for blood running from his mouth. As always, Axer brings a very high level of detail to his work. All the characters, even the minor ones working in the loading bay, are incredibly detailed and well thought out. Despite Rouge wearing her odd “Sonic Heroes” get-up, Axer still draws her better than anyone else. It's also worth noting that Axer was one of the few artists on this book who could draw decent looking humans. Archie never utilized Axer very well, usually sticking him on back-up story duty, yet his artwork continued to be some of the best ever featured in the book. I'll miss the guy, for sure.

The back-up story isn't the best to be featured in the book, even if the artwork is great. It's a bit of a shame that a middling story like this took away page space from the cover story, which probably needed the breathing room. Still, this is a solid over all issue, featuring one story that shows a lot of promising ideas and a back-up that features some killer artwork. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 165

(Some self promotion before getting to the review. Over at my other blog, today is the start of my six week long horror movie marathon. If horror, Halloween, or supporting me interest you, please give me your clicks.)

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 165
Publication Date: August 2006

Issue 165 provides a bit of breathing room for Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. New head writer Ian Flynn had just wrapped up his first big story arc, with “The Darkest Storm.” Next, he would be taking us back to the still unresolved “Mobius: 20 Years Later” setting before ending the A.D.A.M plot point. Sandwiched between these big events was a single one-shot devoted to resolving past ideas, filling in some characters' back stories, and slowly urging us towards future set-ups.

In “Leak” - maybe not Flynn's most inspired title – the Freedom Fighters have captured Rouge the Bat. Last seen fraternizing with Scourge the Hedgehog, the Knothole crowd suspects her of being up to no good, the inverse of good. She is interrogated by the Chaotix. The bat, meanwhile, claims that she has broken up her relationship with Scourge and Dr. Finitevus, after learning the depths of Finitevus' evil plot. Meanwhile, Tails is captured by Scourge and the Destructix, leading to a scuffle between Sonic and the bad guys.

Since her introduction back in issue 98, Archie hasn't given Rouge the Bat much of a chance to shine. She's popped up a few stray times but it's clear that the book never had much idea of what to do with her. Ken Penders' plan to ship her with either Locke or Anti-Sonic seems like a rather desperate move, in retrospect. With “Leak,” Flynn finally provides some insight into Rouge's mind. From Fiona – more on her in a minute – we learn that Rouge has a long history of competing in underground fight clubs, stealing ancient relics, and also robbing banks. Yet the bat's seemingly sincere decision to cut ties with Finitevus and Scourge re-centers her personality as self-interested but not evil, even potentially a force for good.

Through this avenue, Ian gets a chance to indulge in his favorite fetish. I mean cutting through the mess the previous writers left, as well as redirecting some misused characters. Turns out the Destructix got dumped by Mammoth Mogul, prompting them to team up with Scourge. More amusing to me is how Flynn throws one of the dumbest recent arcs in the trash bin. Finitevus apparently wanted to utilize the nuclear arsenal that was discovered in “The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown” Through Rouge's flashback, the writer drops the nugget that Isaac's data was corrupt, if not outright wrong. Moreover, the frozen Kintobor he was guarding was dead, not sleeping. Seems like the robot went crazy after being down there for millennia. In just a few sentences, the new writer successfully dismantles one of the previous writer's least promising ideas.

Like Rouge, Fiona the Fox's history is also under explored. Ian continues to run with his decision to make her a somewhat ambiguous figure trying to do good. In “Leak,” more hints are dropped concerning Fiona's checkered past. She reluctantly reveals some detail about her time as a traveling criminal, tying her history in with Rouge's. After a short conversation with Sleuth Dawg, hints are dropped that Fiona has a history of treachery. This foreshadows her upcoming heel turn. Which will honestly be a bit of a bummer, as I've grown to like Fiona as someone atoning for past misdeeds. Either way, in his last six issues, Flynn has done more for the character than any other writer did.

All this plus some fucking fights! Still eager to prove himself as a serious threat (and his creator eager to prove himself an important villain), Scourge speeds into the Great Forest and grabs Sonic for another fist fight. This leads to maybe my favorite bit of action that Tracy Yardley has drawn for the book thus far. The two hedgehogs run up a pair of towering pine trees. They leap off the bows, thrown at each other like arrows. Scourge gets a boot to the face before he slugs Sonic in the jaw. He then slides Sonic's face into the side of the tree as they ride it all the way down. I love the panel after that, devoting to showing how pissed off this makes Sonic.

That fight scene ends somewhat suddenly, when Sleuth Dawg holding Tails as a hostage. Luckily, the writer tosses in one neat action beat after that. In the interrogation room, after the other Chaotix leave, Julie-Su and Rouge have a confrontation. Julie-Su informs the bat that she doesn't appreciate her hitting on Knuckles. Rouge fires back that taking “precious things” is her specialty. I have mixed feelings about this. On a strictly superficial level, Julie-Su knocking Rouge on her ass is awesome. She's even about to call her a “B” word before getting a knee in the gut! It does seem a little petty for Julie-Su to corner Rouge like this. And I'm not a huge fan of the way she describes Knuckles as the center of her universe. This potential love triangle wouldn't go much further. Still, at the time, I was curious about how the comics would handle the obvious sexual chemistry the echidna and the bat share in the games.

Issue 165 features a back-up story, entitled “Call of Duty.” No, it doesn't feature Sonic massacring Russian citizens inside an airport. Instead, the plot concerns Knuckles being called downstairs to a monitor, where Locke has called him from the Floating Island. The Guardian informs his son that Angel Island needs him. The dingoes have continued to advance on the island. A civil war has torn the Dark Legion apart, one side led by Lien-Da and the other by a brand new Grandmaster. Knuckles insists that his place is in Knothole, stopping Robotnik at the source. This infuriates Locke and the conversation between father and son ends poorly.

Conceptually, “Call of Duty” squares away some of the lingering fall out from the “Return to Angel Island” story line. Angel Island is still in chaos, Locke is still pissed with his kid, and the idea of the Dark Legion civil war is introduced. The upcoming reveal that Remington has now become a grandmaster of the Legion is foreshadowed in this story too.

As it plays out though, “Call of Duty” is a cathartic argument between father and son. Locke attempts to manipulate his son into participating in the island's new war, either in person or via the Chaotix. This pisses Knuckles off. When Knuckles says his dad's isolationist politics can shove it, this pisses off Locke. When Locke tries to manipulate Knuckles into coming back by saying he can't guarantee his mother's safety, Knuckles punches the fucking TV screen. Who knows what Ken had planned for Knuckles and Locke's separation but Ian's take on it is certain. Knux is discovering that his dad is an asshole, that his dad has always been an asshole.

Steven Butler draws the back-up story. His typically excellent, gritty work is peppered with some more cartoony expressions, though I don't mind it too much. It's so weird to see Butler's pencils accompanying a Knuckles story that wasn't written by Penders. (Butler was one of the few classic period artist who would continue to work on the book into the new era.) I'm pretty happy with issue 165, which nicely balances character development, discarding worthless ideas, introducing some new ones, and still leaving room for some action. [8/10]

Sonic X: Issue 11

 
Sonic X: Issue 11
Publication Date: July 2006

As 2006 rolled on, “Sonic X” continued to celebrate the crystal anniversary of Sega's blue hedgehog. In “No Thanks for the Memories,” Sonic and his friends continue to run through a replica of the original game. We soon discover that this is a virtual reality program created by Eggman. Sonic's success in the game is somehow powering the mad doctor's latest scheme. Luckily, before the hedgehog and friends defeat the digital Eggman, Chris and Grandpa Chuck appear to save their asses.

“No Thanks for the Memories” remains a pretty fun homage to the original 16-bit “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Once again, I do get a certain thrill out of seeing Sonic run through the original stages. There's some fun moments delivered here. Such as Sonic and friends nearly getting blasted by the Cherry Bombs in the Star Light Zone. Or the hedgehog's unamused reaction to the underwater segments of the Labyrinth stage. (Clarifying a previous point made in issue 2, this version of Sonic can swim he just hates the water. No, I'm not renaming the blog “Hedgehogs Don't Like to Swim.”) Or his joy over grabbing an invincibility power-up and running through several traps.

The story remains a bit too comical to ever generate actual tension but it's nice that Joe Edkin acknowledge how fucking nerve wrecking the Labyrinth and Scrap Brain Zones can be. No, we don't get a simulation of the terrifying drowning music from the original game but Sonic does note how he's running out of breath after being underwater for so long. It's nice that Tails and Rouge are actively unnerved by all the flamethrowers and buzzsaws getting near their fur while approaching the final boss. It won't make you throw your controller across the room but it is a decent recreation of what it feels like to fight through those especially difficult stages.

The comic is so focused on action that there's not much room for character development. However, part two of “No Thanks for the Memories” does sneak in one or two cute moment. Most of them deal with Knuckles and Rouge's sexual tension. The bat makes reference to being as pretty as the rings or hot as the flames. After rescuing the bat at the end of the Spring Garden Zone, she proceeds to badger the echidna with romantic advances. After grabbing some rings with Knuckles, she asks if they're engaged now. He denies being interested. After some BurroBots attack Rouge, the echidna swoops in and wrecks their shit immediately. Which implies he is interested. Later, she presses up against him in a tight corridor and drops as direct a proposition that'll fly in a kid's book. The flirting provides humor but also a little bit of personality.

Eggman's schemes in “Sonic X” usually aren't very well thought out. His plan here isn't without its bumps. His hench-bots directly asks the mad doctor why he doesn't just murder his enemy, since they are right in his hands. He could've done that but the idea here is decent, as far as villainous plots go. Somehow, Sonic getting further in the virtual reality simulation powers Eggman's base, transforming it into a rocket that'll take him to the moon. In other words, the hedgehog succeeding at his apparent goal will actually help out the bad guy. That's clever! Though he probably should have still killed them afterwards....

Two aspects disappoint me about issue 11 of “Sonic X,” which is otherwise a decent little comic book. The role Chris Thorndyke and Grandpa Chuck play in the plot is kind of annoying. Essentially, the humans are here to rescue Sonic and his friends. Instead of the heroes making it out through their own devices, some supporting cast members run along and save their butts. It would be less of an issue if Grandpa Chuck didn't immediately find Eggman's lair and save the furries without any confrontation. The only bit of character development Thorndyke gets is a minor panel where he mopes about potentially being left alone again. As I said last time, this just makes him look whiny.

Secondly, what bums me out about this issue is that it's another lead-in to something on the cartoon show. After all this talk about Eggman attempting to destroy the Earth's moon, that story point is wrapped up in an info box at the book's end. See, on the cartoon show, Sonic and the gang stopped Eggman from achieving this goal, sticking him in jail. I understand the book's need to tie in with the TV show but I wish this was done in a more elegant manner. Just saying “Hey, watch the cartoon for more information about this” does not make for a very satisfied reading experience.

By the way, Tracy Yardley's artwork remains a valuable aspect of this two parter. I especially like the series of vertical panels showing Sonic's boss battle in the Labyrinth Zone. Despite some flaws, I did enjoy this little romp down memory lane. “Sonic X” has yet to top the manic fun of issue six but it's still developing into an okay book. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 164

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 164
Publication Date: July 2006

Before talking about the conclusion to “The Darkest Storm,” let's take some time to appreciate Patrick Spaziante's cover art. It's been a while since Spaz gifted us with a triptych. He used to do them all the time for the “Knuckles” book. On one hand, it's really just a line-up of key players from the story. Mogul, Naugus, Robotnik, the Mystic Walkers and some of Sonic's pals appear in stationary windows. Yet the visual device of Sonic running between the covers provides a nice beat of movement and continuity. Moreover, the mixture of colors – muted in the back, searing in the front – helps draw the eye. As Flynn's run went on, Spaz would do fewer covers for the series though he still contributed one occasionally. In a way, this three-part cover would be his big farewell to fans.

The third chapter of “The Darkest Storm,” subtitled “Downburst,” picks up with the Freedom Fighters battling the combined forces of Mammoth Mogul and Ixis Naugus. They are holding their own but the sheer scale of the battle is weighing on them. Attempts to retrieve the Crown of Acorn from Mogul prove unsuccessful, as the immortal wizard has already corrupted the remnants of the Source of All. Two surprise moves end up saving the day. Firstly, Sir Connery sacrifices himself to destroy the Sword and Crown. Secondly, Robotnik sends an aerial assault force to capture the villains, promising to return to Knothole someday soon to destroy it.

As his first epic on the book wraps up, Ian Flynn continues to clean shit up. I missed this detail last time but, after re-entering Mobius, Ixis Naugus fused the Void and the Zone of Silence into one place. That's fine since there was really no reason for those dimensions to be two different places anyway. That's not the only unnecessary element the writer ejects. The Sword of Acorn, Crown of Acorn, and Source of All are all gone for good by this issue's end. Sir Connery destroys them all to prevent Mammoth Mogul and any other villains are using them for evil. And good riddance. That mystic clap trapery did little but annoy me from the moment it was introduced.

When Ian Flynn brought Sir Connery back two issues ago, the character was one of the most obscure Archie “Sonic” characters in the book. When I first read this story eleven years ago – Christ, I'm old – I had completely forgotten who he was. In his final moments, Flynn takes Sir Connery from a footnote to a bad-ass. First off, James Fry actually draws the knight so that he looks like a horse, instead of the weird lizard monster Ken Penders created. Though he speaks in a slightly aggravating faux-Olde English speak, the equine's bravery and devotion to his duty is sort of inspiring. That he ultimately dies to protect others means he isn't just giving lip service to his duty. He's a real human horse being and a real hero.

The writer remains good at sneaking in character moments among the action beats. Since his introduction, Elias has always been a divisive character. The book often kicked the character around, not sure what to do with him, writing the Prince out for long stretches of time. At his worst, Elias came off as a whiny wienie. Though he accepted his role as royalty a while ago, Ian finally makes the character's transformation feel earned. Connery's sacrifice makes the newly minted King eager to keep his kingdom strong and united. Ian even finds some character development for Robotnik. Turns out the doctor was personally hurt by M's death and is in such a bad mood that he doesn't flatten Knothole when he has the chance to.

Yet my favorite character beat is maybe the smallest. In the opening pages, while the Freedom Fighters are battling the Destructix and Naugus' spider ninja minions, Fiona asks Sonic to pick up the pace. Afterwards, he sneaks a line of dialogue to Sally, referencing their long romantic history and congratulating the Princess for getting back on the battlefield. It's a tiny moment but thank god for it. Right here, Ian would begin the long rehabilitation of Sonic and Sally's romance, fixing the ridiculous break-up the previous writers hoisted on him. He also works towards fixing Sally's “chickification,” getting her out of the castle, stopping the constant weeping, and letting her kick ass again.

In the back pages, the “Sonic Riders” adaptation reaches its conclusion. After his humilating defeat at the hands of the Babylon Rogues, Sonic talks the event over with Knuckles and Tails. Tails yanks a trio of hoverboards out of his lab, saying they might be what Sonic needs to best the bad birdies. Deck out on the boards, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles head off to challenge the Rogues at their own game.

Like a number of Archie's previous game adaptations, “Sonic Riders” is nothing much more then a tie-in with Sega's corporate product. This one also ends by encouraging the reader to seek out the video game, where the story is apparently continued. Considering Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are shown to live together in a cave of some sort, I'm not even sure this story is meant to be in continuity with the comic. Having said that, the second part of “Sonic Riders” is slightly more satisfying then the conclusion of “Sonic Rush.” There's a few funny lines of dialogue between Sonic and Knuckles, the echidna lightly roasting the hedgehog for his failure. It's not a lot but, considered Sega demanded minimal effort to get this thing out in time, I appreciate the writer for including anything personable.

How about that artwork? James Fry's work on the cover story is excellent. There's a great page where Sir Connery draws his sword against three panels of Sonic talking to the King. This set-up is mirrored later in the book, with a shot of Elias pulling his sword. The page depicting Connery's sword fight with Mogul is especially well orchestrated, full of dramatic lighting and intense panels of the fighters facing off. Tracy Yardley's work on the back-up is also well done. Sonic's facial expression in the first part are amusing. The action scenes featuring the Rogues are well done, with a decent sense of motion.

By the way, Ian ends the issue by confirming that A.D.A.M. and Anonymous have some sort of connection. Yet he continues to utilize the original Robotnik red herring. Which, I don't know, amuses me for some reason. I guess because it's cool that Flynn took a pretty lame idea set up by a previous writer and used it as a clever misdirect. With the conclusion of “The Darkest Storm,” the new writer has gone a lone way towards making the comic's world a little more concise. Along the way, he created a satisfying three parter, made all the better by the character moments he included in-between fight scenes. Really, my only problem with issue 164 is yet another five page HeroScape ad shoved in the middle of the book. I wish Archie would stop doing that. [8/10]

Sonic X: Issue 10

Sonic X: Issue 10
Publication Date: June 2006

The original “Sonic the Hedgehog” video game was released on June 23, 1991. This was one day before my third birthday. Yes, I think this is an interesting coincidence. That made 2006 the fifteenth anniversary of the entire franchise. Archie had been marking their comics with a fifteenth anniversary logo for a few months. Issue 10 of “Sonic X” happily announces the occasion by sticking a big birthday cake on the cover. It's sort of weird that Archie's secondary Sonic book would make a bigger deal out of this. The interior content of the book pays homage to the anniversary as well.

“No Thanks for the Memories!” is a two-parter that begins here. Following some fall-out from previous events, Chris notices that his furry friends have disappeared. Sonic is as confused by this as the boy. Eggman's latest scheme has zapped the hedgehog and his friends into a pocket dimension that looks an awfully lot like the first three levels of the original “Sonic the Hedgehog” video game. While Chris and Grandpa Chuck try to figure out what's going on, Sonic and the gang try to survive.

I feel both foolish and dissatisfied. You know all that shit I've mentioned about the space shuttle and Emerl in the last few issues? That I assumed Joe Edkin was building up towards some big story line? Turns out the writer was building up to events that happened on the “Sonic X” cartoon show. Apparently the events of “Sonic Adventure 2” has happened between issues 9 and 10. Emerl got smashed somewhere throughout this. It's hugely disappointing that stuff that happened in the last two issues got resolved outside the book. Archie never did that with SatAM in the main book. It definitely seems like bad planning to do that with “Sonic X.”

Emerl's death and Shadow becoming a player is not the only thing that happened in the space between issues. “No Thanks for the Memories!” begins with Sonic introducing the Chaotix and Vanilla the Rabbit to Chris and the gang. This is handwaved away with a brief dialogue balloon about how the barrier between Sonic's dimension and Earth has weakened, allowing other people to come through. I don't know if this is just cheap writing or something else that happened on the cartoon show. Considering Cream missing her mom was her major motivation, it's also a bummer that they were reunited outside the book. Presumably Joe Edkin has some plans for the Chaotix, as their appearance at the start of this issue are just cameos.

Bringing in new characters and resolving others are not the main points for issue 10. Instead, this is meant to be an extended throwback to the original game. About half the book is devoted to Sonic running through the Green Hill Zone, the Marble Zone, and the Spring Garden Zone. The biggest difference is that Amy and Knuckles showed up, popping up as Sonic enters a new stage. For an old school Sonic nerd like myself, I do get a certain thrill seeing Moto-Bug, the spinning spiked bridge, and the various traps and perils brought to life. Edkin's script includes some clever element. Sonic can't escape the boss battles because a force field appears. He comments on surviving a dip in lava because of his rings. He's baffled after grabbing a shield.

It's fun and what makes it even more entertaining is Tracy Yardley's artwork. Yardley cleverly alternates between vertical angled shots that directly replicate the original game levels and more dynamic, action-y shots. Such as Moto-Bug's skidding wheels, Sonic getting struck by a wrecking ball, freeing animals from the prison unit, or peering over a pool of lava. The facial expressions are vivid and emotive. It's probably the best work Yardley has contributed to Archie thus far.

So what's Chris up to throughout this? Not a lot. He mopes on the field after Sonic misses his soccer game. It's a cute panel but doesn't change the perception that Thorndyke is a whiny little bitch. After he takes a trip to Angel Island with his Grandpa, it's apparent that the Thorndykes will get Sonic out of the pickle he's in right now. Is that a better way to involve Chris in the plot then just having Sonic rescue him? I'm not sure. Maybe Edkin will really make it work next time.

Interestingly, Ian Flynn would employ a similar tactic tactic a few years later during the “Genesis” story arc, when Sonic and the Freedom Fighters would get dropped into a recreation of the first video game. I'm sure Flynn was aware of what Edkin did here. I guess just making the original game zones an alternate universe is the easiest solution to that problem? While I'm annoyed that issue 10 of “Sonic X” left some stuff to the cartoon show, the video game elements, along with Yardley's awesome pencils, are fleet-footed enough to entertain me. [6/10]