Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 207

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 207
Publication Date: December 2009

2009 was nearly over and the Iron Dominion super-arc was heading into its last third. If I remember correctly, this was right around the time when fans were beginning to tire of the story. (Excluding those who thought it was a terrible idea to begin with, anyway.) However, it's hard to replicate how I felt about this story being dragged out for a year, when I'm reading one or two issues a day. Honestly, the only problem I have with issue 207 is that it feels like a mostly unnecessary plot point while pushing a new romance I'm not a fan of.

Issue 207's cover story, “Blackout,” begins with the Iron King about to attack Old Mobotropolis. No, not Robotnik's former base. Robotnik's former-former base. As in the radioactive remains of the original capitol, which powers New Mobotropolis generator and is surrounded by a bubble. Sonic and Monkey Khan immediately fly off to stop the villain before he can burst the force field, polluting the area and draining the Freedom Fighters' home of energy. Meanwhile, Sally asks Bunnie for advice concerning her growing infatuation with Monkey Khan.

So does anybody else remember this business about a fort being built in front of the irradiated remains of Robotropolis? Okay, I'm sure Ian has covered this information before. I vaguely remember something about Nicole using the still radioactive ruins to power New Mobotropolis. Is this new information? Or did I just forget everything? You know, it says a lot about how convoluted this comic's universe can get, when even a faithful reader like me regularly forgets shit like this.

In truth, this is mostly set-up up for another fight with the Iron King. Just a few months ago, Sonic was marveling at how the Iron King is nearly physically unstoppable. Now he rushes back into battle with the guy, more-or-less making the same mistakes. Even when aided by Monkey Khan, there's only so much the hedgehog can do to the goat man. However, if you're a fan of seeing the hedgehog bounce off a bad guy, well, this issue does provide that. There's one or two clever moments, like when he digs the guy into the ground, a gag Sonic's been using since the original mini-series.

However, all the fighting and pinging builds up towards a very underwhelming conclusion. Sonic outsmarts the Iron King. Which is fine. (Even if he should've realized that sooner, since he already knows he can't beat the King into submission.) It's the method I have trouble with. After a few pages of fighting, Sonic tells Monkey Khan that Nicole will rebuild the generator underground. That they'll tell the King they're retreating, that he's won this one. Which is a seriously disappointing conclusion. The heroes fooling the bad guy off-panel and then just walking away is anticlimactic, to say the least.

The battle scene ends on a lame note. Yet this is not what I truly dislike about “Blackout.” The issue begins with Sally and Monkey Khan at lunch, The two participate in some pretty obvious flirting. While the men are away fighting, Sally visits Bunnie. The cyborg rabbit essentially tells the Princess what she already knows, that she wouldn't be attracted to the guy if he wasn't a good person, if slightly irresponsible. (Considering what we'll soon learn about Geoffrey St. John, I'm not sure Sally's judgment is so great.) It's all set-up for the last two pages of the story. After Sonic and Monkey Khan return to Knothole, the Princess walks away with the simian, arm in arm, giving him some serious bedroom eyes.

Just... Why? Flynn has brought Monkey Khan a long way with the last few issues, taking him from a totally obnoxious character to someone that's at least sort of likable. But why ship him with Sally? What do they have in common? Moreover, what purpose does teasing a romance with the monkey serve? Beside attempting to disrupt a love story that is practically preordained at this point? I mean, “Sonic Universe” just finished an arc set in the future where Sonic and Sally are married and have two kids. I know, that's an alternate time line. But come on. The Sally/Ken ship sank before leaving the dock. It's not offensively done or anything but why bother?

The back-up story, “The Iron Queen,” continues to fill out Regina's back story. After learning of the Iron King's failure, the villainess storms off, seriously pissed. This segues into a conversation between Snively and the Iron King, where the monarch explains how he first met Regina and how they came to rule the Dragon Kingdom together

On one hand, expanding on the Iron Queen's origin is a good idea. However, “The iron Queen” goes about it a bit awkwardly. 202's “A Lonely Girl's Story” had the conqueror explaining her history in her own words. This story is told by someone else, causing the explanation to smack deeply of flat exposition. While that story gave us a peak at Regina's personality, “The Iron Queen” just lays down the facts about how she assumed power. Which is not as interesting. It also tosses more ninjas at us, which I still barely care about.

On the art front, issue 202 brings back some names we haven't seen in a while. James Fry illustrates the cover story. Like many other artist, Fry alters his anime-influenced artwork so it's more in line with Tracy Yardley's work, which is more-or-less the book's default look now. Fry still has some of that energy though. You can see it in the character's facial expressions and some of the action scenes. The back-up features the second appearance of Renae de Liz, after her impressive debut in issue 198. de Liz' weaknesses are more apparent here. Her Snively continues to look seriously weird. Her composition is still relatively dramatic and eye-catching though, I'll give her that.

I guess I just wasn't feeling this one much. The cover story's central action chases the reader around before coming to a sudden stop. Meanwhile, the romantic subplot simply has no reason for existing, other then generating more unneeded shipping drama. The back-up has a solid idea but the execution feels a bit rushed and underdeveloped. It's a fairly flat issue to wrap 2009 up with. [5/10]