Sonic Universe: Issue 68

Sonic Universe: Issue 68
Publication Date: September 2014

I wanna talk about “Sonic & Knuckles.” Yes, that video game might just be the second half of “Sonic 3” but I loved it as a stand alone game as a kid. I also loved the box art. The stylized, logo-like figure of Sonic and Knuckles’s heads in an oval on a black background was immediately iconic in my eyes. It exuded cool on the same level of other nineties advertising icons, like the 1989 “Batman” poster and the Steelers’ logo, both possible inspirations. Yes, kid-me held onto the fold-out poster of the logo that came with the game and, yes, it was up on my bedroom wall.

If you ever get me drunk enough, I’ll probably get the “Sonic & Knuckles” logo tattooed on my body. Archie’s “Sonic” comic understood that image’s power and paid homage to it a few times over the years. Like the variation at the beginning of “Battle Royal.” Or the cover to “Sonic Universe: Issue 68,” which renders Knuckles, Shadow, and Eclipse in a similarly minimalistic manner.

Let’s get right to it, shall we? “Total Eclipse, Part Two: Tipping Point” is focused on fighting and exploration. At the Master Emerald Shrine, Shadow and Eclipse wail on each other extra hard. Once it looks like the alien might win, Shadow remembers he’s standing next to a giant plot device, quickly turning the tide. Meanwhile, Knuckles, Rouge, and Omega search for Eclipse’s ship. Just as they find it, Relic’s distress call brings them back. At that point, a new conflict begins.

As suspected last time, a large part of issue 68 is devoted to Shadow and Eclipse fighting each other. The book treats this like a big deal, even though these guys fought less than five issues ago. The fight is mostly worth reading for two details. Eclipse hulks out again and uses his temporary superior strength to smash the shit out of Shadow. Seeing the so-called Ultimate Lifeform brought down a peg or two is always nice. The way Shadow beats Eclipse back is kind of bullshitty. He gets a power boost from the Master Emerald and kamehamehas Eclipse a mile away, which he could have done at any time. But the image of Shadow blasting Eclipse out of his beefed-up body, which then sags and melts in an especially gooey fashion, is highly amusing.

The stuff going on outside the fisticuffs is more interesting. While Knuckles and Rouge search for Eclipse’s ship, they have a debate about Knuckles’ purpose. Rouge believes Knuckles is wasting his potential guarding a largely empty island. That he deserves to see the world and have a full life outside his destiny as a Guardian. Knuckles, meanwhile, believes this is Rouge’s selfish nature talking. That she can’t comprehend having a greater purpose. The truth is both are right. It’s a good thing Knux is there, guarding the world’s most powerful MacGuffiin. Yet he also deserves more than this provincial life. As much as I rag on the reboot, this is probably a sturdier depiction of Knuckles being torn by his destiny as a guardian than the bullshit Ken Penders cooked up.

Of course, if you’re inclined to look at things from a shippier perspective, this debate has another meaning. Maybe Rouge wants Knuckles to leave the island behind because she wants him all to herself. Maybe she’s threatened by the echidna’s obvious attraction to a Relic. By the way, that potential romance gets a big boost here as well. After returning to the Shrine Island, Knux seems especially relieved that Relic is okay. He comes very close to giving her a big hug. Maybe he’s just happy that the only company he has on the island is safe. But I think Flynn knew what he was doing.

With the fight with Eclipse temporary resolved, the book has to fill its last few pages with another conflict. Shadow believes the Master Emerald is too powerful to be left out in the open. It should be under G.U.N.’s protection, in a secure, secret location. That, due to the effects of the Shattered World Crisis, Angel Island will float until things are settled. Knuckles, naturally, is very much against the big glowy gem that has directed his entire life being removed. So we’re headed towards another fight scene, this time between Shadow and Knuckles. Flynn’s mechanical way of setting up big fights really makes me miss the pro-wrestling level of pageantry Mike Gallagher brought to similarly juvenile melees back in the day.

There’s a problem with this, besides it being belabored preparation for another bland fight fest. (And besides the fact that I’ve never seen a single “Sonic” fan ask for this match-up, which Shadow could easily win.) On the surface, again, both parties are sort of right. However, Snively - still overseeing everything via drone - is adamant G.U.N. receives the Emerald. The one peak we get into his lab shows that he obviously has something sinister planned. So Flynn spoils the juiciness of the conflict, by showing that Knuckles really is right about this one. Which makes another bland showdown even more bland.

Issue 68 proves something that I’ve been harping on for a while. Interpersonal conflicts, that are more complex than punchy-punchy, that are tested out with words and emotions, are compelling and also grow everyone’s personalities. Ian seems to sort of understand that. At the same time, it feels like he’s meeting some executive mandate to include one big fight scene every issue. Considering all the stupid rules Archie and Sega forced on the book, I wouldn’t be shocked if that was true. But I’ve been reading Flynn’s work long enough to know that, unfortunately, this is just what he does. [6/10]