Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 254

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 254
Publication Date: November 2013

Welcome to another installment of the “Bitching About the Archie Sonic Reboot Hour.” In all seriousness, I think even fans of the reboot would admit it got off to a rough start. The last two issues have been scattered, unfulfilling affairs. I’m far from done complaining about the new continuity but I will say that issue 254 is the first post-reboot issue I’ve enjoyed. We’ll get back to bitching and moaning soon enough.

Part two of “Countdown to Chaos” is subtitled “The Soldier,” so take a good guess about who will be reintroduced this time. After visiting the reformed Knothole, Sonic and Tails track down Uncle Chuck. Along with his assistant, Ben Muttski, he’s been studying the strange earthquakes that have started to affected the planet. Antoine has been functioning as their bodyguard. Sonic and Tails restore Antoine’s memories and then rescue everyone when another tremor causes them to fall into a big ass crack in the earth. Meanwhile, Eggman continues his explosion filled journey back to the Death Egg.

Issue 254 brings some much needed heart to the reboot. Upon seeing Uncle Chuck, Sonic lifts him up into a big hug. He’s nearly brought to tears by the sight, that his uncle has survived the universal reshuffling more or less untouched. When Antoine’s memories of the old ‘verse are restored, he actually gets a minute to absorb this info, instead of the plot immediately marching onward. (Which is good, since his old memories are among the more traumatic.) Antoine provides another nice moment at the comic’s end. After we learn Bunnie is undercover in Megaopolis, he tells Sonic and Tails to inform his wife how much he misses her. Aww, ain’t that sweet.

Let’s talk about rebooted Antoine. Of the original five Freedom Fighters, Antoine was one of the few better served by the reboot. After all, the coyote’s personality has already changed considerably from his original portrayal in SatAM and the earliest comics. (Though his early status as the team coward is nodded to in a cute way.) He’s more action oriented, now able to perform spin dash-like attacks. His role as an honorable soldier and romantic has superseded his goofier elements, at least for now. His redesign is mediocre – befitting most “Sonic” males, he’s naked, save for his boots and a weird bandolier thing to hold his sword on – but it doesn’t actively offend the way Rotor’s new appearance did.

Antoine is not the only SatAM cast member to get a new look in this issue. For years, Muttski has been Sonic’s pet dog, creating an odd Goofy/Pluto situation that the comic would take years to clarify. The Genesis Wave has seemingly removed the distinction between the intelligent, bipedal Mobians and the more classically animal-like Mobini. Muttski is now Ben Muttski, an upright, talking funny animal like everyone else Sonic knows. I’m generally a fan of this decision, as it made the comic’s universe a little more consistent. (It also leads to a pretty funny reaction from Sonic and Tails.) Sadly, the new Muttski would be another example of Flynn adding to the rebooted comic’s cast without actually developing anyone. I think Ben made two or three more appearances before the book was canceled.

Issue 254 also sets up one of my least favorite aspects of the reboot. We already know this unnamed world that is definitely not called Mobius is cracking up following the Genesis Wave. We’ll be talking about earthquakes and huge chasms in the ground a lot over the next year. While rescuing Uncle Chuck’s research, Sonic inhales a little black cloud of what will soon be called Dark Gaia Energy. I won’t devote too much word space this time to how much I despise the Werehog. Believe me, there will be plenty of time for that soon enough. Needless to say, I find the setup for this plot twist to be pretty silly. I guess black smoke can do anything, including turning people into fucking werewolves.

While this issue is more focused on emotion than action, it still has to deliver the boom-boom. After Chuck and Muttski fall into the crack in the earth, Sonic, Tails, and Antoine have to leap around some logs to rescue them. It’s an okay, if slightly awkwardly framed, action sequence. Better is Eggman’s assault on a G.U.N. aircraft carrier. There’s a certain glee to the mad doctor improvising an Egg Walker and going hog wild on some random military guys.

Oh, by the way, Lord Hood and Bow the Sparrow are back too. As lame as those guys are, I can’t blame Flynn for utilizing them again. He had to salvage what he could from the old universe. While many of my complaints about the reboot still stand, part two of “Countdown to Chaos” is better than the previous two issues. Its focus on emotion and more than superficial world building is a welcomed change. It’s good to know Flynn still actually cares about these guys. [7/10]