Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 237

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 237
Publication Date: May 2012

After thinking on it some more, I've realized another problem I have with Ian Flynn's decision to split up the remaining Freedom Fighters into two separate teams last issue: It's something the book has essentially already done. After “Endgame,” when the Knothole crew was in a time of strife, Sonic and Tails packed up, jumped on an airplane, and decided to fly around the world.

While the circumstances are very different, the Team Fighter concept is very similar. Sonic and Tails are uprooting themselves from the area when they're needed the most. While the World Tour story arc had its purpose – showing how Sonic's world has changed post-”Endgame” – as far as I can tell, there's really no reason for the main crew to go around the world now.

The uninspiredly entitled “Loyalty,”  with the egregiously italicized subtitle “The Right to Rule,” has the newly formed Team Fighter heading back to the Mysterious Cat Country. As the Death Egg floats overhead, Eggman sends Mecha-Sally to destabilize the region. The Freedom Fighter-turn-robot snatches both Lupe and Queen Hathor, causing suspicion to sneak into the uneasy peace between the two groups. Sonic, Tails, and Amy arrive at just the right time, in order to prevent war from breaking out again.

While I'm still burned about Flynn sending the characters on this adventure, I will admit that returning to the Mysterious Cat Country isn't a bad idea. First off, it's always nice to see Lupe and the Wolf Pack. As one of the oldest and most iconic supporting characters in the Archie-verse, seeing these cast members is a treat. Moreover, the conflict between the Wolf Pack and the Felidae has been mined to solid results in the past. The root of the conflict, that neither side is exactly wrong and that their peace is always precarious, makes for good drama. By building all of “Loyalty” around that premise, that Sonic and friends are trying to prevent war from unjustifiably breaking out, lends this issue some tension. Even if the issue itself is mostly set-up and a few uninspired action sequences.

Up to this point, Mecha-Sally's threat level has been more symbolic than anything else. Just the sight of  the Freedom Fighters' leader being turned into a weaponized, robot slave was startling enough. Here in issue 237, we see that Mecha-Sally is dangerous not just because she's a really powerful robot. Turns out Mecha-Sally maintains Sally's skills as a strategist. Grabbing Lupe and Hathor separately, knowing both sides will blame the other and war will begin again, is entirely her idea. That's a nice touch, making her an intellectual threat too.

There's also another ulterior motive behind traveling to this corner of Mobius. Sonic, Tails, and Amy arrive at the Wolf Pack's base just as Lobo is deliberating what to do. The trio realize that if they bring Lupe back before Lobo and the other's finish talking out the next course of action, they can prevent further violence. Two of the young Wolf Pack members, Leeta and Lyco, decide to tag along with Team Freedom. Apparently, the twin sisters want to travel anyway. All of this is setting up Leeta and Lyco's inclusion in the upcoming Secret Freedom Fighters “Sonic Universe” arc.

Why Flynn would highlight these two very obscure characters – yes, I had forgotten about them by this point too – is something I still haven't quite figured out. Maybe he just wanted more female representation? Either way, the sisters don't do too much this issue besides walk around with machetes and dodge some laser fire.

In the back pages we get “Heart to Heart.” The story begins with Mina the Mongoose heading into Freedom HQ. She's there to apologize personally to Nicole, who has retreated further following Antoine falling into a coma and Bunnie leaving the city. Mina and the A.I. have a heart to heart – oh yeah, like the title – and eventually put their differences aside. Then Harvey Who busts in and asks Nicole for a favor, because Flynn just wants you guys to get hyped for the Secret Freedom Fighter arc coming soon in “Sonic Universe” so fucking bad.

My big problem with “Heart to Heart” is that its emotions just aren't earned. There's individual good moments here. Nicole typing out simple text on-screen, talking about the friends she's lost recently, is still effectively stark and sad. However, I just don't buy Mina's apology here. She never really says she's sorry for raging against Nicole in the first place. She says she didn't mean to incite this exact reaction among Mobotropolis population. Which sounds to me like she's trying to shift the blame. Because, as far as I can recall, Mina was pretty specifically calling Nicole out at the start of all this. Then the story segues into Mina giving the depressed Nicole a pep-talk before yet another Harvey Who-related teaser, which further deflates a story lacking heart that desperately needed it.

So I'm not too sure what to think about this one. The cover story has a really good idea but is still more set-up than a fully satisfying story in its own right. The back-up has some fucking problems. At least the artwork is nice. Steven Butler is back for the cover story and does a great friggin' job. Yardley contributes some good work to the back-up. Hopefully all these plot points that Flynn are setting up pay off. [6.5/10]