Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 209

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 209
Publication Date: February 2010

With issue 208, the Iron Dominion super-arc was heading into its last third. The plot line was always disliked by some Sonic fans and, even the ones who liked the idea, where starting to tire before now. However, as Flynn started to put the pieces together for the conclusion, “Iron Dominion” picked up considerably steam. Issue 209 contains the second half of the two-parter actually called “Iron Dominion.”

After the Iron Queen has seized control of New Mobotropolis, Sonic, Sally, Tails, and Monkey Khan successfully escaped to Freedom HQ. As a last ditch effort to save the city, Sonic and Sally has Tails digitize them, using the same technology previously used to enter Shadow's digital memories. The two's avatars face down the digital firewall of New Mobotorpolis, coming in contact with the retrofitted Iron Nicole and the Iron Queen herself.

The first few pages of “Iron Dominion: Part Two” is devoted to Ian Flynn trying to cover up his own plot hole. Sally freaks out about how she never suspected that the Iron Queen would use New Mobotropolis' nanites or Nicole against them. Which makes Sally look like a fucking moron, as that's probably the first problem I would consider. No matter. “Iron Dominion: Part Two” is about Sally reconnecting with Nicole and bringing her back around to the side of good. This eventually results in a touching sequence where Sally uses just her words to fight back the Iron Queen's evil influence on Nicole. By this point, the friendship between Sally and Nicole is so touching that it's hard to remember that, for years, Nicole was nothing but a handheld computer.

On one hand, the science behind Sonic and Sally being inserted into a digital world is shaky, at best. I have no idea how the hell this is supposed to work. (Flynn actually using the words “Digital World” immediately starts me humming the “Digimon” theme song.) Having said that, Flynn uses this as an opportunity for some cool, mildly surreal action sequences. The Iron Queen inserts herself into the digital world, appearing as a giant version of herself with snarling, white eyes. Sonic has to leap into Regina's giant face. Interestingly, Nicole uses her digital status to match Sonic, spin dash for spin dash. It's a little different from the action beats we usually see in this book.

Before the digital adventure happens, Ian indulges in some romantic tension between Sonic, Sally, and Monkey Khan. Probably inadvertently, Flynn shows perfectly why Sally and Khan's potential romance is so uninteresting and why Sonic and Sally is the superior ship. While Sally is having a pity party about allowing the Iron Queen to take over Knothole, Khan pats her on the back. He gives her some empty platitudes about how it's not her fault, how nobody else saw this obviously predictable scenario coming. Sonic, meanwhile, knocks Sally out of her funk by pointing out that the Freedom Fighters have come back from worst than this. That the fight isn't over as long as they're still alive. See! Khan just says nice shit because he wants to bone Sally. Sonic actually understands her, you guys.

Khan, however, does have some purpose in this story. While Sonic and Sally are paling around in the digital world, Monkey Khan lets his fatalistic side out. He decides he'll fly out to Knothole and destroy Nicole's physical processors. Tails has to talk him down. The fox essentially tells him that Freedom Fighters never surrender and never say die. It continues to establish that the Freedom Fighters never give up on their friends, even if they are computer programs compromised by technomages.

In the middle of these fight scenes and interpersonal conflicts, we get a small update on the book's primary villains. There's a funny interaction between Snively and Lien-Da, where the echidna rolls her eyes at Snively claiming he has authority over her. Meanwhile, Uncle Chuck is pushed into a prison cell next to the still raving mad Robotnik. The conversation between the two seems to jog something in Robotnik's memory, as he begins to remember who he is and where he is. The sequence concludes with him putting his glasses back on, seeming to confirm that his mental breakdown is nearing its end.

“Iron Dominion: Part Two” still has some of the problems the other installments in this arc had. Yet Ian remembers something very important: The action scenes are the best when we care about the characters involved. Giving time to Sally's conversations with Nicole and Sonic strengthens what otherwise would've been an undemanding issue. Decent action, respect for the cast, and my favorite characters getting stuff to do: That's all I really ask for from this comic. [7/10]