Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 203

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 203
Publication Date: August 2009

It's been a while since we've had a really misleading cover. I don't think anything will ever top issue 41. That cover made the comic look like it was about Sonic, Sally, and Geoffrey St. John fighting off a white void full of monster arms. Instead, it was a totally incoherent jaunt through the Phantom Zone or something. Issue 203's cover isn't that bad but it does come close. The cover makes it look like Bunnie has betrayed the Freedom Fighters and is about to murder Sonic. This is, needless to say, a gross exaggeration of the comic's actual contents. This kind of thing fooled me in 1996 but not so much in 2009.
203 begins a two parter named “Heavy is the Head.” The story begins with a nice day in New Mobotropolis, Rosie's orphans teasing and throwing rocks at Monkey Khan because he sucks. Sonic's attempted pep talk to Khan is interrupted when Snively and the Iron Queen sneak into the city. The Freedom Fighters immediately counterattack. Which turns out to be a bad idea because the Iron Queen uses her technomagik to take control of Bunnie's body. Sonic and friends' priority changes to protecting their dear friend. When Monkey Khan swoops in to save the day, his robotic implants make him a liability as well.

You read that right. Issue 203 begins with Rory, Snaggle, and Sasha pelting Monkey Khan with stones. At this point, Flynn has made Khan's status as a lame character a running gag. See, he's such a fucking joke that even kids know it! The constant abuse achieves the impossible: You actually feel bad for Monkey Khan. Flynn uses this plot point as a launch pad for an odd scene. When Sonic attempts to cheer the guy up, he freaks out, screaming once again about how badly he has screwed things up. At this point, Ian has made Khan such a chronic looser that he's gone from pathetic to self-loathing. That constant moping is starting to ware on the reader a bit. When part of the comic depends on Monkey Khan getting out of his funk and actually doing something, it makes the character look inactive and up his own ass.

Luckily, “Heavy is the Head: Part One” does get readers to care about what happens. The Iron Queen's technomagik puts a character we're deeply attached to, maybe even love, in direct danger. When Bunnie's robotic limbs go crazy, it's against her will. She's forced to attack her friends and loved ones, a nightmarish scenario. Yes, this is the second time Flynn has used that situation, after A.D.A.M. infected Bunnie's cybernetics in “Order from Chaos: Part One.” But, shit, when it works, it works. It makes this a gripping tale.

It also forces our heroes to rethink the situation. Instead of just beating the enemies into submission, Sonic and the others have to think of a way to stop Bunnie without hurting her. The rabbit's life is directly put in danger, since the Iron Queen forces her to constantly attack, draining her life force. This leads to some cool action sequences too. The panel of Bunnie clocking Tails in the stomach is fittingly startling. Later, Tails gets blasted in the face but Bunnie's jets. She takes swipes at Amy and even Antoine. Really the only thing that saves Bunnie and the Freedom Fighters is the Iron Queen letting her go, instead of just killing her when she had the chance. Then again, the villains in this book do that kind of stuff all the time.

That's hardly the only plot hole in what is otherwise a decent little story. Honestly, the Freedom Fighters never should have brought Bunnie to a battle with the Iron Queen anyway. It's not as if Sonic doesn't know what the villain can do. He's fought her once before. Monkey Khan should've known better than to barge into this fight too, even with his magical crown protecting him. Then again, the only reason Snively and Regina made it into the city is they somehow made it past Nicole's defenses. Not sure how that would've happened. Then again, how come Regina didn't realize the entire city around her was made of microscopic robots? Well, that doesn't happen because Ian wanted to save that dramatic moment for later in the arc. Like I said, these holes drag down what is otherwise a decent story.

 
Steven Butler is back on penciling duties. The slight bumps I noticed in his art last time are totally gone now. This is a great looking story. Butler draws the entire second half under cloud-strewn skies. This not only implies Khan's lightning abilities, which become important later, but cast an eerie glow over the proceedings. Mostly, Butler's character work remains incredibly strong. Sonic's expression of exacerbation after talking to the orphans is hilarious. Monkey Khan's looks of rage and self-doubt are touching. The sheer panic on Bunnie's face during the attack really sells her fear and loss of control. I also love how determined and focused Sally looks while barking orders on the ground. It's good stuff.

The back-up story is a two-parter as well. “Friend in Deed” begins with Knuckles on the Shrine Island, thinking over the news of Espio's betrayal. Right on cue, the chameleon leaps onto the island. The two trade some terse dialogue about how valuable a power source like the Master Emerald could be to a budding dictator like the Iron Queen. That's when a fight breaks out, Espio turning on his closest friend.

In my review of 203, I mentioned how Espio's betrayal would've been more powerful if made before Knuckles. Well, “Friend in Deed: Part One” is more-or-less devoted to that very confrontation. Of course, Knuckles already knows Espio is a turncoat, making his sudden violence far less shocking to the Guardian. So, instead of being about a hero betrayed by a close friend, “Friend in Deed” is about the tension of waiting for Espio to strike. Which, sure, is fine. The dialogue the two trade before attacking is mildly tense. Yet I can't help but wonder if this would've been a more powerful story if Knuckles had no idea Espio couldn't be trusted anymore.

For its flaws, “Friend in Deed: Part One” at least looks awfully nice. Jamal Peppers returns to draw another back-up story. His pencils remain incredibly smooth and on-model. Knuckles and Espio practically look right out of Sega stock art. Peppers' panel construction is also really interesting. He foregrounds Knuckles and Espio's conflict by drawing them in opposing panels, visually illustrating the psychological struggle between the two characters. The inking and coloring is really strong too, bathing the fight in some fading sunlight.

203's cover story has some narrative flaws but has a strong enough grasp on the emotions of the characters that it almost makes up for it. If nothing else, this issue certainly makes the Iron Queen more of a threat then ever. The back story I'm less sold on, since it follows a recent plot thread I'm no fan of. But, hey, at least the artwork is all-around good looking. I'll give that a [7/10.]