Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 183

 
Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 183
Publication Date: December 2007

Don't you love a good, misleading comic cover? Issue 183 suggests a few things. The Knuckles-as-Enerjak is going to beat Shadow and Dr. Robotnik into submission. That he's going to get Sonic up against the walls, nearly ready to kill him. Neither of these statements are accurate. Robotnik does take the fall but not exactly in this way. Sonic and Enerjak aren't face to face until the very end. Shadow doesn't even appear in this issue! I guess dramatic situation like that is what sells comic but I'm certain this issue presents equally compelling scenarios that actually accurately reflect the comic's contents. Oh well. On with the review!

A couple things are happening at once. Sonic and Julie-Su arrive on the floating Island and are met by Locke. Knuckles' dad immediately presents a weapon that can kill Knuckles, ending Enerjak's reign of terror. Sonic and Julie-Su, understandably, are not fans of this idea. In Megaopolis, Enerjak quickly escapes Robotnik's holding cell. He then goes on a rampage, destroying the doctor's fleets. His powers weakening, Knuckles returns to the Master Emerald... Just in time for Sonic to rush in and make a drastic saving throw.

Ian Flynn has turned many of the Archie “Sonic” series' countless dangling plot points into satisfying story turns. One of my favorites is how he has embraced Locke's asshole tendencies. Locke has always been a huge prick, something I've commented on countless times. Under Ken Penders' watch, the book revered this jerk-hole as wise, competent, and thoughtful. Ian lets Locke's dickish actions speak for themselves, turning Knuckles' dad practically into a villain. This becomes very apparent in “Desperate Times.” Locke is totally ready to go forward with a plan that would destroy his own offspring. As Archimedes points out, Knuckles' current state is actually his dad's fault. Knuckles wouldn't have become Enerjak if Locke hadn't experimented on his egg, giving him such massive Chaos Powers. The Guardian isn't having it. That factoid would force him to acknowledge he did something wrong, an action Locke has repeatedly shown himself unwilling to do.

Luckily, Sonic has a plan of his own. Flynn once again draws attention to the hedgehog's heroism. With the world in peril, Sonic is focused on undoing Knuckles' transformation into Enerjak and saving his friend. He smashes Locke's goofy looking super-weapon and runs towards another plan. One that puts him in contact with Knuckles and sets up the story line's next big fight. Granted, I'm not sure if Sonic's plan – turning into Super Sonic and beating Knuckles up until he stops being Enerjak – makes much sense. But it's certainly in character for the guy.

Continuing the focus on combat that “Enerjak: Reborn” has shown, “Desperate Measure” also features at least one unnecessary fight scene. As soon as Locke transports Sonic and Julie-Su to Angel Island, they are met by the Destructix. Led by Scourge and Fiona, the team is once again working as Finitevus' personal bodyguards. The fight that follows features some notable sights. Julie-Su and Fiona wails on each, a combination we hadn't seen before. Sgt. Simian accidentally clocks Drago. And who doesn't enjoy watching that asshole get picked on? Even Lightning Lynx and Flying Frog make themselves useful, getting the jump on Sonic. The fight contributes little to the story but is entertaining to look at.

Yet that's not the best action sequence in this story. Robotnik's attempt to use Enerjak as a living battery is short lived. Knuckles quickly escapes. He immediately goes about wrecking Eggman's shit. He blows the building into pieces. With the wave of his hand, Robotnik's army of robots are reduced to cinders. The doctor sends his air fleet after the echidna. Enerjak just flips his wrist, throwing their missiles and bombs back at them. It's been a while since we've seen destruction of this level in a “Sonic” comic. It's satisfying to see. Because it's cool and also because it's nice to see a super powered echidna that actually knows how to utilizes his massive abilities.

Despite the action packed cover story, Ian still makes room for a back-up tale. “Ashes and Dust” once again turns its attention towards Dr. Finitevus. Hours before Sonic appeared on the Island, he caught Scourge being sketchy around the Master Emerald. Finitevus uses this as an opportunity for two types of speech. First, he gives Scourge a history lesson. Then he expounds on his own motivation a little bit.

“Ashes and Dust,” like last month's “Albion's Secret Shame,” is a bit heavy on the exposition. Granted, it's somewhat necessary exposition. I'm sure some of the people reading “Sonic” in 2007 needed a refresher course in echidna history. Even those who read those original “Knuckles” stories probably forgot some shit. Ian reduces the entire rivalry between the Brotherhood and the Dark Legion to a few panels. It's hard to say but I also suspect that Finitevus' dismissive attitude towards this history reflects Flynn's own. He's not a big fan, is the point.

That's fine and dandy but getting some insight into Finitevus' master plan is more appreciated. The albino echidna is a major villain by this point. Yet I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've learned why he's doing what he's doing. Turns out, Finitevus is neither a fan of the Brotherhood nor the Dark Legion. He's not so much an extremist Luddite as he just believes the world is corrupt and needs cleansing, seeing technology as just one example of that corruption. This does not make him an especially unique bad guy but at least we know what drives this guy now.

Flynn's reliance on action is a bit exhausting. Last issue, he should've focused a little more on character over combat. In this issue, the fight-heavy writing works a little better. We get some good moments involving Sonic and Knuckles' dad gets a proper raking over the coals. The action is pretty cool and the plot is advancing in satisfying ways. The back-up is a bit weak while providing essential information. Add it up and I liked this one pretty well, probably my favorite installment of the “Enerjak: Reborn” story arc thus far. [7/10]