Sonic Universe: Issue 14

Sonic Universe: Issue 14
Publication Date: March 2010

In the main “Sonic” book, the hedgehog and his closest friends (and Monkey Khan) have already returned to Mobotropolis. Obviously, this entire “Sonic Universe” arc is set in-between 209 and 210 of “Sonic the Hedgehog.” It's a bit of an awkward fit. We know Sonic makes it back to Mobotroplis with no problem. Kind of removes most of the tension from this particular story line, doesn't? Considering the book is already striving to make the reader give a shit about the ninja clans, it's a blow the “Journey to the East” storyline really didn't need.

Anyway, part two is subtitled “High Price for Rich Nights” – what the fuck does that mean? Sounds like A-ha lyrics – and picks up with Sonic and the others attempting to meet with the Yagyu Clan. Because ninjas are bad at communicating, this results in yet another fight scene, the Yaygu not realizing that this blue hedgehog is the blue hedgehog their boss is meeting. The leader of the Yagyu is interested in talking to Sonic and Tails, so they get kicked out of the meeting. While Monkey Khan and Sally attempt to reason with the bat, Sonic and Tails run into some unexpected faces from their past.

Let me repeat myself: I do not care about the mythology surrounding Monkey Khan. The Yagyu Lord previously appeared in Super Sonic Special #8. Which I hardly remember because it was a shitty Monkey Khan story from Frank Strom. As random mooks for the Freedom Fighters to beat up, the bat ninjas worked fine. But I have zero interest in learning about their history. Whole panels are devoted to explaining their history. Terse conversations detail the conflicts the Yaygu have with the other ninja clans in the Dragon Valley. I just don't care, guys. I just don't care.

Last time, Ian Flynn has Monkey Khan talk out a conflict with the spider ninja lady. Conceptually, a comic book hero talking to his enemies, instead of punching them, is an interesting ideas. In practice – or at least in practice here – it's super boring. Khan comes to some sort of agreement with the Yaygu Lord and that's the end of it. I don't demand fight scenes in every issue. But when you already barely care about a story's events, pulling back on the punching isn't a great strategy. It's almost as if Flynn took the wrong lesson from people complaining about his focus on fight scenes in his first two years.

Worst yet, the writer is still trying to make the Princess Sally/Monkey Khan ship a thing. After successfully conversing with the bat guy or something, the two exit the temple. As they walk away, we are treated to yet more quasi-romantic dialogue between the two. Ken talks about how Sally has made him smarter. Sally says they're too devious to be together, a tactile admission that this romance won't work out. Yet the scene ends with the monkey giving the Princess a kiss on her hand. It's a moment that might be charming if the very fabric of the universe wasn't resistant to this romance working or even making any sense.

So issue 14 of “Sonic Universe” is a bit of a dud... Except for one scene. The Yagyu Lord insists Tails leave the meeting with Khan and Sally, because he doesn't want children present. This, of course, infuriates Tails. It leads to a mildly touching moment outside the temple where Tails talks about how hard he's work to establish himself as a serious Freedom Fighter. (Amusingly, he shouts that he “fought Mammoth Mogul!”) Sonic reassures his friend. It's a super cute moment, based on our characters' shared history. 

That sequence crashes right into a sudden reappearance of Fiona Fox. On one hand, Flynn tries to make this count. It's clear the vixen still exerts some influence over Tails, as she clearly makes him nervous. That would be a nice contrast to the young fox's diatribe about how mature and grown-up he actually is. Flynn doesn't use that so much. Instead, it leads to a fight scene with the Destrutix, which Fiona is working with now. The action would be a nice compliment to the dialogue heavy negotiations between Monkey Khan and the Yagyu... Except bringing Fiona and the Destructix into this story is a clearly desperate move to add some conflict, to stretch out a tale that could be resolved in three issues to four.

Tracy Yardley's artwork features some great use of shadow, especially in the panel where Sally and Monkey Khan march into the Yagyu lair. However, the Strom-designed Yagyu Lord looks a little weird in Yardley's style. Probably because he looked a little weird in Strom's style. So it's another very mixed issue from “Sonic Universe,” a series that is still stumbling through some awkward early years. Gee, it's almost as if devoting an entire story arc to fucking ninjas wasn't a great idea. [5/10]