Sonic Universe: Issue 9

Sonic Universe: Issue 9
Publication Date: October 2009

Once upon a time, Knuckles the Echidna was popular enough to hold down his own comic book. Whatever your opinion on that series may be, it shows that Knuckles was clearly the second most popular “Sonic” character at one point. By 2009, when Archie published a comic book devoted to exploring Sonic's supporting cast, Knuckles didn't get a devoted arc until issue 9. Says a lot about how things had changed, doesn't it? Still, Knuckles' “Sonic Universe” arc was hyped up by Archie. So hardcore fans were still happy to see him, even if the general comic-and-video-game-buying public had passed the echidna by.

“Echoes of the Past” begins with Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Mighty warping into Von Stryker's dingo outpost in the desert. The dingo general gives the guardian some new documents, cluing them into Dr. Finitevus' locations. It seems the mad scientist has shacked up in some ancient echidnan ruins, which Knuckles doesn't recognize. While exploring the pyramid, the trio falls into danger.

Not all Chaotix are created equal. My dislike of Vector is no secret while Charmy and Ray have never done much for me. So temporary reducing the team to three characters is a good idea. Especially when that team-up revolves around Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Mighty, always three of the book's strongest characters. Yet “Echoes of the Past” is not a light-hearted adventure. Knuckles is still feeling guilt about his actions as Enerjak. The dingoes are hoping Knuckles and Finitevus destroy each other. Mighty is in a bummer mood. Really, only Julie-Su is her sassy, usual self. Flynn is obviously setting this up to be a serious story line.

One of the best parts of “Sonic Universe: Issue 9” isn't devoted to part of the central trio. Knuckles and the others are carried out to the ruins by a cloaked riding a sand worm. After Mighty is left alone with the guy, his identity is revealed as Harry. You remember Harry, the dingo cab driver that occasionally showed up in Knuckles' solo book? When Mighty asks how he is, we get a four page spread devoted to the dingo's recent history. How he got recruited into Stryker's army, despite his hatred of military life. How he helped Locke escape Kage's structure during “Return to Angel Island.” And how he's still with the dingo resistance, albeit horribly scarred. It's a melancholy sequence that effectively brings us up to speed with a beloved, if rarely appearing, bit player.

It's certainly more interesting than the issue's attempts at mythology building. As soon as they arrive at the ancient ruins, Knuckles is immediately flummoxed. He doesn't recognize the pyramids as local artifacts. They look more like Albion structures. As they enter the pyramid, Knuckles becomes certain that the temple was built by Albion echidnas. This doesn't line up with Knuckles' knowledge of the Floating Island's history. I'm sorry, this stuff isn't very interesting to me. Ian's latest attempt to reinvent the series' mythology is getting in the way of his story telling. (There's one nice bit of continuity here though. The inside of the pyramid resembles the secret building Knuckles discovered in “Fire Drill,” a story that was published all the way back in the “Sonic & Knuckles” one-shot.)

Even though Knuckles is seeking out Dr. Finitevus, hoping to get revenge on the madman who turned him into Enerjak, Finitevus doesn't actually appear in “Echoes of the Past: Part One.” Flynn keeps the arc's main villain off-screen so the issue can end on a juicy cliffhanger. While exploring the temple, Knuckles, Julie-Su, and Mighty fall through a trap door into one of those shrinking room death traps. This reminds me of the sub-Indiana Jones style adventuring Knuckles got up to in his original mini-series. Maybe Flynn was trying to bring that to mind intentionally. He probably should have opened, instead of closed, with that. It makes this issue seem like a long  prologue, instead of the first part of an on-going plot.

Maybe that's because Flynn pumps this issue full of other plot developments. While Knuckles and the others are exploring the desert, Vector and Ray are left with the Master Emerald. As the Island floats over Downunda, we learn that Vector was born on the future-Australia, fleeing it as a teenager. This potentially interesting development is interrupted when the Wing-Dingos – the flying canine henchmen CrocBot employed in the “Tails” mini-series – attack the two. I can't remember where Flynn goes with this but it's not the most promising development. If he wanted us to care about some heroes being imperiled, he should have picked more interesting or likable guys than Vector and Ray.

That flashback devoted to Harry is great. The rest of issue 9 of “Sonic Universe?” Could be better. The plot hasn't hooked me yet. This issue really feels like the author is throwing a bunch of stuff into the air, hoping one of these events will grab readers' interest. I'm sure it'll crystallize into something solid soon but, right now, I'll say “Sonic Universe's” first arc isn't off to the smoothest start. [6/10]