Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Episode 1.45: Super Robotnik

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Episode 1.45: Super Robotnik

Original Air Date: November 5th, 1993

Previously, while reviewing "Over the Hill Hero" and "Blank-Headed Eagle," I wondered if the writers of this show just wanted to make a superhero spoof instead. I am forced to consider this question again as "Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog" returned to the superhero parody well a third time with "Super Robotnik." (Also, this is the only episode to air in the same order it was produced, meaning it's the 45th entry in the watch-order regardless of which one you go with. There's your totally useless Sonic trivia of the day...)

While cleaning out one of Robotnik's laboratories, Coconuts spills some chemicals in a bath tub. Soon afterwards, Dr. Robotnik falls headfirst into the mixture. At first angry, he soon realizes that the accidental formula has given him spectacular superpowers. (Prompting him to promote Coconuts and demote Scratch and Grounder.) Dubbing himself Super Robotnik, he immediately tosses Sonic and Tails into the frozen tundra before capturing all of Mobius' political leaders. After Sonic thaws out, Super Robotnik then challenges him to a gladiatorial trial that will determine the future of the planet. Naturally, Super Robotnik has no intention of playing fair. Luckily, Tails did some recon and discovered that Super Robotnik has a weak spot: His ass, the only part of him that wasn't bathed in the chemical. But will the butt-invading powder Von Schlemmer cooked up kick-in in time to save Mobius? 

In its previous jabs at the superhero genre, "AoStH" parroted the nineties credo that traditional superheroics were to be belittled, or where at least kind of lame. "Super Robotnik" features a far-more biting – and almost definitely accidental – insight into the capes genre. Super Robotnik has all the abilities we associate with Superman, that most iconic of superheroes: Self-propelled flight, physics-breaking strength, x-ray vision, heat vision, super breath, super-hearing, super-sight etc etc. (Though he still can't see through Sonic's paper-thin disguises.) But Robotnik is a wannabe dictator and immediately uses his powers to subjugate the world's governments to his will. Which seems to suggest that such all-encompassing superpowers are inherently fascist. Characters like Superman, no matter how altruistic they act, teach the lesson that might makes right and that self-appointed all-powerful "protectors" know what is best for us. By comparing the tyrannical Robotnik with Superman, the show suggests the unavoidable problematic subtext of all superhero media. 

Obviously, the writers didn't intend any of this and were just goofing in another piece of hyper-familiar boomer media. But that's never stopped me from reading too much into this show before. Speaking of which! I've mentioned before that Coconuts' desperate attempts to win his horrible boss' approval is a great metaphor for the common worker's struggle under capitalism. In this episode, Coconuts actually achieves his goal: He gets that promotion from his boss, gaining the love and respect he's always craved. Scratch and Grounder, meanwhile, are switched into the role of abused, humiliated underlings through no fault of their own. In one especially on-the-nose scene, the duo wreck and humiliate each other for a chance to literally pamper their boss' ass! Coconuts' breakthrough was an accident, Robotnik's decisions are made randomly, and Scratch and Grounder's attempts-to-please are absurd. What a great depiction of how ridiculous the entire boss/employer dynamic is. That Scratch and Grounder's tell the depowered Robotnik to essentially take this job and shove it in the final scene suggests this subtext wasn't wholly accidental. 

That ass-kissing scene is just one example of how unpleasantly glutinous-centric this episode is. "AoStH's" rubbery cartoon physics has often veered towards accidental body-horror. The scenes here of Robotnik growing sudden muscles, enlarging his ear, or extending his eyeball like a telescope absolutely fall into that category. (Though at least we are saved from seeing Sonic get pumped-up, even after Von Schlemmer builds him an elaborate exercise machine.) The moment Robotnik sits on a nail, revealing his ass is his weak spot, is especially bizarre. It leads to a Robotnik talking about his ass, referring to it as his "unmentionable" and his "caboose." Scratch and Grounder then dress in drag and yank the nail out with an oversized pair of tweezers specifically designed to remove nails from asses. The focus is on Robotnik's agonized face the whole time. This whole sequence feels like a disturbing cross between a prostate exam joke and somebody's fetish. Considering a later scene has Sonic bouncing off an elephant lady's matronly bosom, I'm just going to assume the "AoStH" writers were getting horny-on-main again. Though I will give the writers some credit for including a totally unexpected reference to Greek mythology there, even if they turn it into a butt joke.

But enough about butts. Let's talk about Mobius' unstable political structure. Providing definitive proof that Robotnik is only trying to take over the world in this universe, we learn that Mobius has a number of elected officials from all over the world. The strangest thing is they all look the same, their designs being vaguely Seussian. (And kind of Rabbinical? The Sonic Wiki also feels the need to point out that they have no legs.) This suggests Mobius' leadership is homogeneous, in both its appearance and incompetence. Even though a super-powered tyrant is literally flying around the globe, a gathering of the world's leaders do not deem extra security a necessary step. No wonder they have to rely on Sonic to stop Robotnik. They even say they're doomed without the blue hedgehog around! The more I watch this series, the more dysfunctional its setting becomes. 

Then again, maybe the world's governments have no need for armies, considering a throwaway gag during the last act reveals that God is real in "AoStH" universe and actively intercedes from time to time. Yes, after an angel is knocked out of the clouds by a thrown prop, it later zaps Robotnik with a lighting bolt after he's de-powered. This raises a lot of questions that this dumbass show is in no way prepared to answer. How come the forces of Heaven never intervene in Mobius' affair? Why did the powers of the angels above not attempt to stop Robotnik sooner? Do they only care about earthly affairs when they directly collide with the heavenly kingdom? Were they afraid of Super Robotnik? Are Sonic and Robotnik more powerful than God? Why is it the dumb-ass, one-off sight gags that always raise the most terrifying connotations on this show?

It's a good thing there's so much unintentionally interesting/disquieting content in this episode. Otherwise, it's just another lame half-hour of "AoStH." The animation is weirdly expressive in a few scenes, especially the very beginning, but just as half-assed and choppy as usual the rest of the time. The "American Gladiators" references at the end – Sonic and Robotnik roll around in big hamster balls – is another one of the show's pop culture signifiers that were relevant at the time but will only mystify younger modern viewers. When the jokes are lame and the story is thin, you'll have to excuse me for lingering on the accidental elements. [6/10]