Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176
Publication Date: June 2007

Issue 175 of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series would establish new writer Ian Flynn's structure going forward. That issue would start a three part story arc, running through 177. Throughout the next two years, going towards the next anniversary edition, that's how things would function for “Sonic.” Simple, concise storylines that run for three or four issues, taking place in the new order Flynn had built for himself. In retrospect, it might very well be the writer's best period, as he kept up a consistent sense of quality. Considering how the book was floundering only recently, that counts for a lot.

Anyway, “Cracking the Empire” continues where 175's “Eggman Empire” left off. After torching Knothole and leaving Sonic to stew in his defeat, Robotnik heads off to his home city to luxuriate in his victory. Before he can turn on the Egg Grapes, and drain the hedgehog's friends and family of their life sources, a rescue mission bursts in. Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, working off a plan from Nicole, attack Robotnik's lab and free their captive friends. They find themselves in a new home, one Nicole has built from the ashes of the old. Yet this victory isn't won quite so easily.

I'll admit, “Cracking the Empire” is slightly disappointing. After seeing Dr. Robotnik crush Sonic's home and his spirit so totally last issue, the remaining Freedom Fighter's immediately turning around and attempting a perfect rescue mission seems anticlimactic. It's not an especially complex plan either. The quartet of heroes ride into Robotropolis, bust their way into the Egg Chamber, and free their friends. The only conniving aspect of the plan is how they escape, what with Nicole reprogramming Robotnik's teleportation beams to send them to safety. I don't necessarily want to see our heroes miserable and defeated but maybe they shouldn't have bounced back from their previous defeat so easily.

Instead, Flynn sticks our heroes dealing with being beaten into the beginning of the book. Sonic returns to the ruins of Freedom HQ. Amy is distraught. Knuckles is stunned. Tails, meanwhile, is angry. He gets into an argument with Sonic, incensed that his friend is so casual about the massive defeat they just suffered, mistaking Sonic's resolve for apathy. This continues a plot point Flynn has been playing with from the beginning of his run. That Sonic and Tails' friendship is about to come to blows, years of resentment showing its ugly head. We'll see pay-off on that soon enough. Like I said, I don't necessarily want to see the heroes in-fighting like this forever. But maybe a little more stuff like this would've made that rescue mission more meaningful.

Another reason Sonic and pals can rescue the other Freedom Fighters so easily is because Robotnik takes time to gloat. Instead of immediately turning the captured heroes into living batteries, he humiliates them further by saying mean things to them. On one hand, I totally get this. Watching Robotnik gloat is admittedly fun and in character. He's a sadistic bastard and a bit of a ham. Yet it also shows Ian falling prey to a very old flaw: The Villainous Monologue, such an ubiquitous troupe that mocking it isn't even fun anymore. Again, if Robotnik really wanted to win, he should've just murdered everyone immediately. But that's comic books, I guess.

What really saves “Cracking the Empire” from just being a collection of cliches is the touching conclusion. Like I said, bombing Knothole to the ground was Flynn rather literally portraying in the comic what he's spent the last year doing. And, in 176, he continues this literal streak. Now, Knothole has been rebuilt. Nicole has taken the still remaining Nanite City, left over from so many issues back, and remade it into a New Mobotropolis. As in, a new capitol city of the Kingdom of Acorn and Mobius. Years before, after Endgame, the Freedom Fighters reclaiming the old Mobotropolis was a mixed victory. They got their city back but it had been ruined by Robotnik's abuse. The heroes rebuilding their city totally from scratch, into something new and pure, is way more touching. New Mobotropolis represents hope for the resistance. Which is hope for the reader too.
New Mobotropolis also allows for another hopeful reveal. Flynn has referenced Nicole's holographic lynx form a few times over his run. By building a city for her friends, Nicole has created a place where she can keep her lynx avatar active at all times. This begins another serious change the writer has been pushing for since he came on. Nicole's personality has grown a lot over the last year or so. Now, her growth into an actual character can really begin. Sally greeting the Holo-Lynx with a big hug is even more touching.

Tracy Yardley's artwork really gets a workout on this one. His strength for big emotions, maybe even overdone emotions, comes through in the earliest scenes, when Amy is crying and Sonic and Tails are arguing. The faces are really vivid, almost comically so. This comes up again when Sally believes Sonic has led them into a dead end. She makes a face so anguished, it's actually sort of painful to look at. The panels of Robotnik villainously gloating about his victory are framed by shots of Sonic and the others sneaking into his city. It's also fun to look at the Egg Grapes and spot some obscure characters, like Sally's team of Substitute Freedom Fighters, making an appearance.

We're not done yet. The last page promises another conflict behind the Freedom Fighters and Robotnik. They've earned their new city but they won't get to keep it without a fight. I have some problems with issue 176. It's not as good, not as big of a gut punch, as the proceeding issue. However, there are enough decent moments – fun ones, like the action, or emotional ones, like the reveal of the new city – to redeem this one in my eyes. Hopefully this is just a slightly flubbed middle act on the way to an awesome conclusion. [7/10]