Sonic Universe: Issue 38

Sonic Universe: Issue 38
Publication Date: March 2012

Look at that cover. If you're a fan of nineties sci-fi/comedy television or cult cinema, you probably recognize it as an obvious reference to “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” This is not the first time Archie's “Sonic” comics have referenced the much loved movie-mocking TV show. Robots based on Crow and Tom Servo briefly appeared in issue 52 of the main “Sonic” book. Aside from the presence of robots, neither series has much in common but I know I'm not the only person who's a fan of both. Both being franchises that originated in nineties, maybe it's likely that nerds that grew up with Sonic also grew up with MST3k. Anyway, that's not really related to the comic book I'm reviewing here.

“Scrambled Part 2: Family” begins with Robotnik leading an attack on Central City, the capital formerly known as Station Square. He's after Snively, who he's tracked to the city. The reason Snively has come to the home of G.U.N. Is to reconnect with Hope, his half-sister. He hopes to convince Hope to come with him to the Dragon Kingdom, so he can hook back up with Regnia. Meanwhile, Robotnik's forces – including Mecha Sally and Metal Sonic – quickly get into a fight with E-123 Omega and G.U.N.'s other robots.

In an interesting change of the norm, with “Family,” Flynn reverses his usual focus. The action scenes happen pretty much in the background while the emotions and the characters are front-and-center. So what about that action? Among Robotnik's troops in Station Square we see these new vehicles that look an awful lot like AT-ATs but with Robotnik's face on them, a really odd and kind of funny inclusion. Eventually, Mecha Sally and Metal Sonic end up attacking Omega from both sides, which is a decent action beat. They then proceed to rip through some jet fighters.

It's all pretty neat stuff but not what elevates this issue. Instead, it's the confrontation between Snively and Hope that makes the aptly named “Family” special. At first, Hope is frightened when Snively sneaks up on her like the creeper he is. However, he quickly calms her down by explaining that she's family, that he cares about her and wants to include her on his latest quest. And Hope almost accepts when Snively starts gloating villainously about his plans to take down both Robotnik and the Freedom Fighters. At that point, Hope violently backhands Snively, slips onto a Fire Shield – yes, Flynn just casually reintroduced a power-up that has been around since “Sonic 3” – and tell hims to get out of her life.

What makes this confrontation effective is that Snively isn't lying when he says he cares about Hope. He happily confirms to her that they share a father, that they're full-blooded siblings. He references the time he warned her about Robotnik flattening Knothole to the ground. Snively may be a miserable, pathetic bastard but he genuinely loves Hope. And her rejection really stings. That's the tragedy of Snively. He's not just a scheming baddie. He's capable of real human feelings and affection. But he's so obsessed with revenge, with taking the power he feels he's owed, that he alienates the last person in the world that might actually loved him in return. At the same time, Hope is totally justified in telling Snively to fuck off. It's sad, affecting stuff.  

“Scrambled Part 2” also creates a prime supporting role for the always delightful Omega. He's introduced marching into battle, relishing another opportunity to blast enemy robots and blow shit up. Seeing Omega wax romantically about the glory of violence is always entertaining. However, Omega even gets a touching emotional beat! After Snively runs off and Robotnik retreats, Omega sneaks down to find Hope in her lab, moping in her Fire Shield. He attempts to comfort the girl, asking her not to “leak” anymore before admitting he was not “built to comfort.” It's a moment that's both funny and surprisingly poignant for the same reason. Forcing Omega into an emotional, reassuring mode takes the death-bot out of his comfort zone.

There's one downside to “Scrambled Part 2.” The issue prominently features the G.U.N. crowd, most of whom are not especially compelling.  Out of all the Grandmasters, Hugo Brass seems to have the least amount of personality, his Legionizing turning him into a mindless automaton. Flynn even has Eggman asking Hugo why he's so fucking boring. Throughout the issue, it's also revealed that Robotnik has legionized the boy band commandos, those lame anime-haired soldiers Steven Butler introduced along with the rest of the Station Square crew. This stuff just makes me yawn. This is one of the few corners of the “Sonic” universe that I have zero investment in.

Jamal Peppers' artwork improves a little from the last issue, a little more of his own style sneaking into things. His rendition of Hope is certainly stronger than the overly round little girl Yardley draws. While the rocketing pace of the previous issue made me like it a little more, this is still a really strong issue. The interaction between Snively and Hope really pushes this one to another level. All things considered, “Scrambled” continues to be a really strong story arc. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 162

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 162
Publication Date: May 2006

The “Birthday Bash” two-parter, in addition to introducing fan favorite Scourge, was mostly Ian Flynn's proclamation to long time fans that he knew what the fuck he was doing. With “The Darkest Storm” story arc, Flynn would begin his real mission: Cleaning up the mess the book's previous writers left for him. It's a trilogy – including a bitchin' Spaz penciled triptych on the covers – designed to cut away as many unresolved plot points as possible. The result would be a new, clean foundation for Flynn to build upon. Let's get to it

A number of events are happening at the same time. King Elias talks with Sonic about his desire to restrengthen the Kingdom of Acorn. Robotnik begins to utilize the Egg-Grapes, the specialized  containment units he stuck a bunch of people in a while ago, as a way to power a new weapon. That's before Uma Arachnus' kids waltz in with the Sword of Acorn and mess up his plan. Merlin Prower and Sir Connery arrive in Knothole with some disconcerting news for our heroes: That the Ancient Walkers are on the verge of death and Mammoth Mogul could be released. Overseeing it all is Anonymous, the unknown new villain that has been conspiring against Eggman and Sonic for quite some time.

Karl Bollers introduced the idea of Anonymous – an outside force with seemingly unlimited resources fighting both Eggman and the Freedom Fighters through insidious means – two years ago in issue 135. In all that time, Anonymous did little but make a few offensive moves against Robotnik. One of Ian's first acts as head writer was to refocus Anonymous' goal: To totally tear down everything on Mobius. With “The Darkest Storm,” this mysterious villain begins to actually go to work. In other words, Flynn used the lingering Anonymous plot point as a way to dispose of a bunch of other lingering plot points. That's killing, like, six birds with one stone.

One of the biggest goals of “The Darkest Storm” was to get rid of all the mystical bullshit that had been infecting the book for years. So the Mystics Walkers are dying, poisoned by Mammoth Mogul centuries ago. Before the end, Sir Connery – who I had entirely forgotten about – would be dead too. Merlin Prower arrives in Knothole to grab the Sword and Crown of Acorn. You know, those super dumb mystical MacGuffins that book would drudge out every once in a while. It's clear that Flynn was no fan of these elements either. Instead of just forgetting about them, like Ken and Karl did, he found an organic way respectful of the series' mythology to write these things out. He also brings back Uma Arachnus' off-spring, another neglected plot point, and finds a way to tie them into this as well.

Despite the heavy plot machinations going on in the first part of “The Darkest Storm,” Ian still finds room for some softer character moments. Elias' concerns about the Kingdom's stability isn't just a plot thing. Instead, it shows his insecurity as a new ruler. This same moment also provides a cute moment for Sonic. Elias offers to reinstate the hedgehog's knighthood. He respectfully declines, showing no interest in royal intrigue. Which is a cute, in-character moment. But the best moment is saved for Tails. When reunited with his uncle, Tails starts to cry. With his parents still on the other end of the galaxy, the young fox really appreciates seeing a family member again. This plot point gets pushed aside pretty quickly but it's nice that Flynn saw fit to include it.

“The Darkest Storm” isn't just cutting unnecessary fibers. Ian is also building up pre-existing elements that were maybe unappreciated. The new writer also continues to rejuvenate Sonic's rogues gallery. He already started by turning Anti-Sonic into Scourge. In this comic, the Fearsome Foursome are reintroduced as the Destructix, since there's six of them now. Mammoth Mogul is back in the story by this issue's end, his imprisonment proving short-lived. Ian even goes about rebuilding Robotnik's power level. He's got the Egg Grapes on his side and, before the comic is over, begins taking the fight to Knothole finally.

Speaking of which! In “Ties That Bind,” Eggamn contacts Snively. Despite co-habituating with the Freedom Fighters, the villains' nephew still doesn't feel like he belongs. His uncle offers him membership in his evil empire again. His choices are limited since the doctor plans to bomb Knothole into ash soon. Before leaving, Snively tries to convince Hope – his niece – into coming with him.

Getting Snively back in Robotnik's good graces restores a long neglected aspect of the “Sonic” legacy. Snively had been tooling around as a free agent for far too long. He's at his best when playing Robotnik's toady. Yet Flynn finds some possible soul within the scumbag's blackened heart. Snively trying to talk Hope into coming with him presents an ambiguous element that I like. Does Snively actually care about his niece? Or is he just playing into his own agenda? It's an interesting question. Either aspect would make him a more complex character. Either Snively is showing the ability to care about somebody or he's become even more manipulative and conniving. Either way, that's new growth for the guy.

Soon, Tracy Yardley would be taking over primary duties for the series. So it's nice to see James Fry drawing the cover story. His work is slightly more loose then usual, as the facial expressions are a little too James Gray-ish for my taste. He still does some good work, especially with the fight scene between the Freedom Fighters and the Destructix. Yardley draws the back-up and it has the usually sunny artist in a darker mood. In order to illustrate Snively's shadowy interior mind, Yardley utilizes a lot of shadows as well. He still brings the cuteness, during the scene where Snively and Hope are talking. I also like the redesign Snively gets, putting him in a smaller version of Robotnik's get-up. Snively getting some new clothes is long overdue.

Flynn is juggling a lot here and I can't remember if he pulls it all off. However, his strategy of tying together as many loose ends as possible is a concise one, even if his method stretches the script to the breaking point. Still, the rebirth of Archie's “Sonic” title is already off to a good start. After 2005 nearly killed the book, I really appreciate that. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 145

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 145
Publication Date: January 2005

Rumor has it that, following the release of “Sonic Adventure 2,” Sega began to make more demands of Archie. Specifically, they demanded that the comics incorporate more elements from the recent games. This, combined with “a zillion readers' request” as Ken puts it, surely had an influence on the direction the book would take in 2005. Issue 145 heavily features fan favorite Shadow the Hedgehog, almost to the point of pushing Sonic out of his own book. This issue would be a precursor to a much hyped four part arc revolving around Shadow. Whether or not you enjoy this shift of direction was strictly a matter of taste. So let's get on with it.

The book opens, not with Sonic, but with Shadow. In “Shadows of Hope,” the mysterious hedgehog spies on Hope, as the young girl still reminds him of his lost Maria. Shadow's snooping is interrupted when Locke teleports next to him. He nabs the hedgehog, unknowingly grabbing Hope as well. Locke hopes to use Shadow to protect Angel Island, now that Knuckles is traveling the world. This plan doesn't go so well.

Yeah, I loved Shadow the Hedgehog the first time I played “Sonic Adventure 2.” I was twelve years old when that game came, right in the character's target demographic. I was susceptible to Shadow's “edgy,” “extreme” attitudes. My fascination with Sega's new bad boy proved short-lived. Archie Comic's awkward attempt to incorporate Shadow into their book would reveal how shallow a character Shadow is. Grasping for straws, “Shadows of Hope” builds on the black hedgehog's fascination with Hope. This is a good idea, as its his sole shred of humanity. However, it's not quite enough to build a story on and “Shadows of Hope” quickly runs out of energy.

A big problem is that Archie's writers didn't seem to have much faith in Shadow. Neither the hedgehog nor Hope truly drives the plot of this one. Instead, Ken's pet character Locke is the real protagonist of “Shadows of Hope.” Like always, Ken writes the former Guardian as a hyper-competent bad-ass. He even narrates the story. Despite being an old man, he zips in and easily grabs Shadow, one of the most powerful characters in the 'verse. Later, he puts a judo flip on the guy and pins him in the air with his Chaos Powers. (Which he notes aren't as strong as Knuckles' but are still a force to reckon with.) Truthfully, Locke is acting like a bad guy, detaining people against their will for selfish reasons. Like always, Ken can't recognize that and instead treats the old man like some sort of neutral force, instead of the prick he is.

Another reason you can tell “Shadows of Hope” is a Penders' joint is the stiff dialogue. For some reason, he writes Shadow like an alien or robot or something. He says unbelievable things like “Identify yourself or else be considered a foe!” and  “I am not bathed in the warm, soothing nutrients...” Other characters have clunky dialogue, as Locke says “You're neither biological, mineral nor vegetable!” And Hope later flatly states her emotions with  “I'm more scared of you than I am of him!' Among this super stiff dialogue is one genuinely emotional moment. When Locke corners Hope, Shadow gets a flashback to Maria's death. Triggered like Rambo in the police station, the hedgehog leaps free of his prison and attacks Locke. It's a powerful moment but the story just ends afterwards, Shadow flying away, barely affected by what just happened to him. Lame.

Karl Bollers' sole contribution to this issue, “Training Day,” sadly does not star Denzel Washington. Instead, the five pager is devoted to Robotnik educating his robot army about the Freedom Fighters. He lays some basic facts about Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose – including her oft referenced but rarely displayed aptitude with tarot cards – on his robot soldiers. Why Robotnik has to tell robots these things instead of just programming the information into them is a question I do not have an answer to.

Archie has done this kind of thing before. A totally needless refresher course about the characters and their world. Usually I assume a story like this crops up to inform new comers to the book. Maybe the editorial staff figured Shadow's reappearance in the book would attract a new audience? If so, why is “Training Day” devoted to basic facts about the Sega created stories? Wouldn't an info-dump about Sally, Bunnie, and the rest of the Archie exclusive crowd have been a better choice? Sega fans are already familiar with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy. (Who is still a bit player at this point, it must be sad.) So I don't know why “Training Day” exists. It's a useless story.

Issue 145's final story, “Harbinger,” is the first time the flesh and blood Sonic appears in this particular issue. It follows a laid back day in Knothole being interrupted by a sudden blast many miles away. After Rotor informs the others of this, Sonic and Tails blast off to investigate. Turns out, Shadow the Hedgehog has something to do with the explosion.

“Harbinger” was written, I suspect, as a “day in the life” kind of story. One of those tales not meant to have much plot but instead focus on the characters as they go about their day-to-day life, doing average stuff. So we see Sonic play a game of darts with Ash, with Mina, Bunnie, and Amy watching. We see Tails reading a book and having a chat with Rotor and Tommy, who has apparently become his assistant. There's even a detailed series of panels devoted to Sonic packing his bag for this latest journey, because going on adventures is part of Sonic's daily life too. Conceptually, I like the idea but the execution is lacking. There's no through line between these events, the scenes just piling on top of each other. It seems less like a normal day in Knothole and more like a series of unrelated events.

Not all the character beats work either. Sonic and Ash nearly coming to blows over a barroom dart game makes both seem like overly macho meatheads. Everyone just standing around and watching, dispassionately, doesn't speak very well of his friends either. It suggests Ash is jealous of Sonic which is annoying, since that subplot is dead and buried. A later scene has Tails yelling at Rotor for not immediately including him on a mission. Again, Tails being insecure as a Freedom Fighter is a plot point long since settled. At the end, Sally bids Sonic an awkward farewell at the airport, both secretly still feeling something for the other. This idea has promise but the overwrought thought balloons really sinks it.

Issue 145 features a very uneven, mostly bad, collection of art. Ron Lim draws the Shadow-centric opener. It's a little better then his usual work, as Lim finally seems to be acclimating to these characters some. Yet there's still some serious cases of blank facial expressions and noodle limbs. Hope looks especially awful in Lim's style. Al Bigley draws “Training Day.” He draws the story as static images of Sonic and friends, Robotnik's floating head narrating over them. It's not an uninspired look. Dawn Best returns for “Harbinger.” It's not her best work as Sonic looks overly round and cutesy. Best has a bad habit of not drawing necks, characters' heads just floating on their shoulders. Yet it's still, clearly, the best artwork in this particular issue.

2005 wasn't off to the best start. “Shadows of Hope” and “Harbinger” both have potentially interesting elements but neither work entirely. “Training Day” is utterly useless. Seems like the previous year's slump isn't intending on ending any time soon. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 143

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 143
Publication Date: December 2004

Before getting to the heart of the review, let's talk about that cover. Last time, it made sense for Sonic and Hope to be seated before a scroll depicting the Original Freedom Fighters. This time, Sonic is shown gasping in front of another scroll showing the Original Freedom Fighters' final mission. There's a disconnect between the two images and, for once, I really have to question Patrick Spaziante's design decisions. Text says Sonic will be in danger, which is hugely misleading. Sonic doesn't see any action in this story. So I'm really not sure what's up with that. Anyway, on with the review.

The previous comic ended on a cliffhanger, revealing that the Original Freedom Fighters were betrayed by one of their own. We see this betrayal play out. While journeying into Robotnik's fortress, hoping to pull the King from the Void, Robotnik corners them. He robotocizes the heroes and tosses them into the Void as well. Uncle Chuck records the events, making sure others – including little Hope, born years afterwards – know what happened to Col. Stripe and his men.

One of the reasons I regarded this story arc with such disdain, originally, is because of the identity of the traitor. As previously discussed, the Original Freedom Fighters have barely been developed, meaning any betrayal would barely affected the reader. Yet Romy Chacon finds a way to drain any power from this reveal, by going with the most obvious answer. Trey Scales, the snake, sold the group out to Robotnik. Why? Because he's a snake and treachery is in his nature. What the fuck? That's the lamest justification possible.

Moreover, the comic has to bend over backwards to justify how the Original Freedom Fighters disappeared. The five get robotocized – even Scales, because Robotnik is a bastard without honor – which is a natural decision. He then blows the Original Freedom Fighters into the Void. Which is obviously a messy way to justify why Stripe and the others weren't turned organic along with the other Robians. It also explains why the Freedom Fighters never attempted to rescue Stripe and his friends, why they've never been mentioned before. Yet other characters had to learn of their sacrifice somehow. So Uncle Chuck is awkwardly inserted into this scenario, recording their deaths. Considering he was still brainwashed at the time, I don't how he was able to do this.

Even while dealing with these issues, Chacon does manage to sneak in a few likable moments. A young Sally is visiting Stripe when Sir Peckers gives him news concerning the King's disappearance. This upsets little Sally, causing Stripe to chastise Peckers some. That's a mildly interesting moment. After news of the Original Freedom Fighters' passing, we see a few panels devoted to characters mourning. Such as Julayla and Rosie crying among themselves or others standing around tombstones.

Sonic brings us back around, his re-telling concluding with Sally's decision to form their own Freedom Fighter team. Yet, weirdly, Sonic isn't the one framing this particular story. Instead, it's an off-panel character that, at the end, is revealed to be Hope's history teacher. The teacher is also, apparently, Col. Stripe's widow. Which is a real random decision that comes out of nowhere and doesn't build on anything we saw prior.

Instead of squeezing in three stories, the entire second half of issue 143 is devoted to a new “Mobius: 25 Years Later,” entitled “Father's Day.” Knuckles disappears into the forest without telling his wife and daughter. It turns out, this day is the anniversary of his father's death. Knuckles kneels before Locke's grave, reflecting on the sickness that took his dad's life and how it affected him. Afterwards, he makes the decision to agree to Lara-Su's request, to begin her training as a Guardian.

“Father's Day” was clearly a personal story for Ken Penders. The story is devoted to his father's memory. (Though weirdly, this dedication is cropped out of the digital version.) Perhaps due to this, Ken draws this one by himself. His work is still very stiff but more serviceable than usual. I suspect Locke's death was heavily inspired by how Ken's own father passed. Locke doesn't die via magical shenanigans or from a super villain attack. He instead succumbs to a sick pancreas. On his death bed, Locke does something I would never expect of him. He apologizes. He admits to his son and ex-wife that he made mistakes, that he wasn't the best father and husband he could've been. Considering Locke's staunch refusal to own up to his asshole decisions, this is a surprising turn of events.

Ken being Ken, the story doesn't progress without some obnoxious moments. Knuckles' flashback begins with a superfluous scene where he parts ways with Archimedes. Locke's doctor repeatedly clarifies how strong Locke is, how unusual his illness is. Because Ken's self-insert can't even die humbly. A random explanation of “Ascension Day” - an echidnan holiday – is tossed in. Knuckles and Lara-Le forgive Locke for his mistakes a little too easily, glossing over how complicated their relationships truly are. It also bothers me that Lara-Su has such a small role in a story concerning her. The story also ends on the hilariously overwrought image of Locke and Aurora looking down from heaven on Knuckles.

But it's clear a lot of feeling went into “Father's Day,” that this was an important story for Penders. That sincerity comes through in the final product, even with its flaws. The back-up is, at least, more interesting than the cover story. Still, I came away from this re-read with a little more appreciation for what happened in these two issues. Things weren't all shitty – just mostly shitty – in 2004. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 142

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 142
Publication Date: November 2004

Around November of 2004, my fandom for Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series was not burning so bright. For the first time, I was actually considering not reading the book anymore. I'd like to say this was because I was in high school at the time and had more important things to worry about then cartoon hedgehogs. (I didn't.) Rather, it seemed to me the book had hit a terminally lame spot. The Original Freedom Fighters two-parter, running in issue 142 and 143, was just the latest in a long line of weak stories for the book. At least, that's what I thought back then.

The issue focuses, at first, on Hope, a character we haven't seen in a few months. While working on a book report about the history of the Acorn Kingdom – there's your once-every-six-months reminder the characters still go to school – she comes upon the Original Freedom Fighters. A chance encounter with Sonic has the hedgehog explaining who these previously unheard of characters were and how they inspired Sonic, Sally, and the others to fight Robotnik's tyranny.

The Original Freedom Fighters are, admittedly, an awkward insertion into Sonic history. In-between the “Sonic Kids” one-shots and the “Tales of the Great War” arc, the fall of the Kingdom of Acorn, Robotnik seizing power, and the formation of the Freedom Fighters is seemingly well trotted ground. At the very least, you would've expected the Original Freedom Fighters' names and faces to have been mentioned before. The five characters that make up the team don't strike the reader as especially inspired. They all have ridiculous names inductive of their species. Tig Stripe is a tiger, Bull Bones is a bull dog, Trey Scales is a pink snake, Spot Long is a purple giraffe, and Sir Peckers – jeezus – is a robin. It combines to give the impression that the Original Freedom Fighters, and their corresponding story line, where thought up on the spot by writer Romy Chacon.

And, no, the Original Freedom Fighters are not well developed. Trey, Peckers, and Spot barely get any dialogue. The only glimpse we get at Bones' personality is his interest in striking back at Robotnik. Tig Stripe does make something of an impression. Chacon writes him as a cross between Abraham Lincoln and Optimus Prime. He cares more about saving lives than saving face. During a flashback to the fall of Mobotropolis, he makes a conscious decision to get as many people out of the city as possible, after realizing regaining the city is a lost battle. Around a table, he delivers a speech about how it's a moral duty to fight evil. How they will do everything possible to fight for freedom. It's... Genuinely kind of stirring? At the very least, you can see why Stripe would be so inspiring to Sonic.

Which brings us back to the framing device. Sonic inserts himself into his own story. He and Sally, still youngsters, eavesdropped on the aforementioned speech. In other words, Sonic and Sally were there when the Freedom Fighters were born, an interesting idea. There's even an anecdote about the original quartet rescuing Sonic once. The story telling device allows Chacon to cover a long stretch of history in only a few pages. Moreover, I like it whenever Sonic sits down and tells a story. We're so used to seeing other characters fanboy/girl over Sonic – Tails and Amy have both served that purpose in the past – that it's refreshing to see Sonic have a similar reaction.

Speaking of Amy Rose! Issue 143's second story, “I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter,” is devoted to that character. Beginning with a flash back to Amy's childish early days, Sally tells an audience about Rose's recent victories. How she played a huge role in the Freedom Fighters' most recent success. Amy is given a medal while also being offered official membership into the Freedom Fighters.

Beginning with that flashback is a smart idea, as it shows how far Amy has come. Amy's transition from fawning fangirl to hammer-swinging warrior certainly made her more interesting. I've never been a huge fan of the character. (And I'll certainly never understood while some are so passionate about pairing her with Sonic, considering the entire point of their relationship is that Amy's feelings are one sided.) However, “I Wanna Be a Freedom Fighter” makes a strong case for her. She's still young and girly, such as when she corrects Sally about what her hammer is called. She's not above embarrassment, when reminded of her youthful behavior. Yet she's certainly has earned her place among the Freedom Fighters. In other words, Karl does more for Amy's character over this brief five pager then the comic has done in 118 issues.

The final story in the issue takes us back to the future. In “Moment of Truth,” the latest “Mobius: 25 Years Later” installment, Cobar and Rotor finally give Sonic and Knuckles some grim news. The only solution they've been able to cook up involves flinging King Sonic into the past, in order to prevent the events leading up to the forthcoming disaster. This means using some of Robotnik's old technology, which takes some asking. Sonic, still feeling some anxiety about being King, agrees to go on this adventure, heading out immediately.

The stuff concerning Ken's latest apocalypse, time travel, and all that stuff doesn't interest me very much. Instead, it's the character interactions that draw my attention. Lara-Su corners her dad on the stairs, further attempting to convince him to train her in the ways of being a Guardian. This strikes me as realistic. As a teenager, I can certainly recall not letting specific debates go, even after my mom told me no. Later, Sonic and Sally have a heart-to-heart. The hedgehog admits he's been acting like a dick because he's still insecure about being king. How he feels like this latest mission is a job better suited to Sally, who has always been more of a leader. It's a little moment, grounding Sonic's character some and reinforcing his bond with Sally, but helps elevate a story otherwise dominated by exposition.

Turns out issue 142 isn't too bad after all. Compared to what's around it, this one actually comes off pretty well. The cover story and the final back-up have some serious weaknesses but are both propped up by a few, stray good moments. The story in the center is actually decent! Art Mawhineny and Steven Butler provide some fantastic artwork for the whole issue. During the Dork Age, even a relatively subpar issue can seem above average. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 108

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 108
Publication Date: March 2002

Issue 108 of Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” series would see two new names being added to the creative staff. The first of which is writer Benny Lee. It’s long been suspected that Lee was a pseudonym for one of the book’s established writers – either Bollers or Penders – choosing an assumed name to circumvent contractual obligations. The other new addition is Jay Axer, the second fan artist Archie would recruit. Like Dawn Best, Axer would contribute some great work to the series but be badly utilized by Archie. So the book was changing without really changing at all.

In Lee’s cover story, the awkwardly entitled “Robotnik x2 = Trouble!,” Eggman is concerned that Knuckles’ god-like powers are messing with the different zones. Evidence of this soon pops out of one of the doctor’s devices. The original Dr. Robotnik – the one that died during “Endgame” – appears. This Robotnik considers the newer one too cruel and flees to Knothole Village. There, the monarchy cautiously invites him into the city. Sonic isn’t too sure. Soon, his suspicions that this Robotnik is just as bad as the other one are confirmed.

It’s very rare that bad guys stay dead in comic books. (Well, it’s very rare that anyone stays dead in comics but you get my point.) Archie had already sort of resurrected Dr. Robotnik, by transforming Robo-Robotnik into the Sega-version of Eggman. Yet it was somewhat inevitable that the original version of Robotnik – the one resembling the portrayal of the character on SatAM – would also eventually return. “Robotnik x2” utilizes this comic book premise in a typical manner. The old Robotnik appears terrified of the new one and attempts to defect. Yet anyone could guess the truth, that the two versions of the villain are in cahoots.

What ultimately makes “Robotnik x2” mildly interesting, instead of totally tedious, is how the displaced Robotnik interacts with the Freedom Fighters. Sonic is immediately suspicious of the guy but he appears so pathetic, that the monarchs take pity on him. (This marks the second time King Max has allowed a genocidal dictator into his kingdom. The same dictator, even.) This results in a one page montage of Robotnik and Sonic having sitcom-like interactions. He smashes a window in Sonic’s hut while playing golf. The hedgehog trips on a banana peel Robotnik just threw on the ground. He ruins a pool party with an ill-timed cannonball. It’s super hacky but Sonic’s frustration is admittedly amusing.

The hedgehog is right, of course. The new/old Robotnik is evil and the entire scheme has been a rather obvious trap. In a double-twist, the Freedom Fighters realized the doctor’s treachery. They play his own plan against him, destroying the machine that brought old Robotnik back and allowing the copy to crumble apart, due to unstable molecules or something. It doesn’t make for the most satisfying ending but Lee at least seems aware of how trite the plot is. I also like the casual interactions between the Freedom Fighters he creates. Such as an early scene where the team plays hide and seek with Tails.

It’s a nearly good story that features some truly hideous artwork. I know I’ve continuously shit on Ron Lim’s artwork every chance I get but the guy keeps finding new ways to disappoint me. His rendition of Classic Robotnik is completely ugly. He’s overly rotund, even by Robotnik’s standards. His face looks like a melting candle, his chin doubling to tumor-like sizes. In one especially unforgivable panel, his head looks like a pile of mashed potatoes. Robotnik isn’t the only one who gets it bad though. In one panel, Dr. Quack morphs into a Cronenbergian horror, with a massive head, an all-consuming bill, and stumpy little hands. Everyone else, of course, has huge heads, big eyes, blank expressions, and noodle limbs.

Benny Lee’s debut is pretty short, allowing Archie to squeeze two other stories into the book. The second story, “A Girl Name Hope,” has Sally presenting a letter to her parents. It’s written by Hope Kintobor, who explains her origin. She discusses how she felt while living in Robotropolis, frightened by Robotnik’s eventual treachery. She then details how happy she’s been in Knothole and requests a chance to stay. When the King approves her request, Hope gives Sally a big hug.

 “A Girl Named Hope” has about two elements in equal helpings. The first recaps the parts of Hope’s history that we already know. Her initial fear of the Mobians, eventual rejection of Robotnik’s evil, and fleeing his city. It moves on to more interesting stuff after that. Such as how accepted she feels in Knothole. She grew up in a space ship so Knothole’s forested location is the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. We get a peak into her early life, about living on a ship, learning an Overlander skewered history of Mobius. Yet living in Knothole, seeing the love and companionship of the residences, has made her realize how wrong this lesson was. Bollers’ text is simple but touching, making hope’s eventual acceptance all the more poignant.

The story’s good but what really elevates “A Girl Named Hope” is Jay Axer’s artwork. The amount of detail and expression Axer brings to the table is comparable to Spaz. The amount of detail in the panel of Hope looking over Knothole is impressive. Yet he also brings some unique, personable elements that I like. In Hope’s memories, her first encounter with Sonic shows him as a fanged monster. (Not unlike the Werehog Sega would one day inflict on us.) The scenes of the Mobians living among themselves – Antoine and Bunnie enjoying a romantic meal, Tails repairing the Tornado – are nicely conveyed. It’s an impressive debut. Axer also contributes the eye-batching frontispiece, which would’ve made a nice cover.

The final story continues the “Reunification” story Ken has been telling. Knuckles’ reunites with his mother, who is alarmed by both his greenness and his new political views. Knuckles also learns that his mom is pregnant, that he’ll have a half-brother soon. Meanwhile, Dimitri makes his case before Echidnopolis’ council of elders, who aren’t quite convinced. Lara-Su continues to observe her teenage father, uncertain what he’ll do next.

Instead of focusing on action or mythological grand-standing, the third part of “Reunification” focuses on ideological differences. We finally learn why Knuckles doesn’t use his god-like ability to escape the Dark Legion. Apparently, at some point, Knuckles began to agree with Dimitri. There’s been no prior evidence of this change but, sure, let’s go with it. When Knuckles explains this to his mom, she’s upset. However, both sides have validity. Knuckles claims Echidna history is full of self-serving assholes eager to rewrite the truth, which it is. Lara-Le counters by pointing out that Dimitri is a known terrorist who has attacked the island multiple times, which is also true.

Maybe Dimitri is turning over a new leaf, since he makes a reasonable, peaceful presentation to the echidna politicians. Knowing Ken, this is probably just a smoke screen for Dimitri’s next, easily foiled scheme. For the time being, it’s playing up the villain’s already existent sympathetic side. It’s still a bit more interesting then what Lara-Su is up to, which is mostly observing from afar and being vague about her mission. She has magical powers now, it seems.

Aside from Ron Lim’s stinky pencils in the beginning, 108 is a good looking issue. Jay Axer and Dawn Best both do some fine work. Story wise, it’s probably the best comic in quite some time. The cover story doesn’t quite work but is okay. The first back-up story is quite good. The second one presents some interesting opportunities, which likely won’t be followed up on. I’ll take it! [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 105

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 105
Publication Date: December 2001

2001 wasn’t a great year for Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. After taking a two month break, so Mike Gallagher and Jim Valentino could indulge their in-joke, Karl Bollers was allowed to pick up where he left off. And, I don’t know, maybe the two month break gave the writer a little time to recharge. “You Say You Want a Revelation” isn’t a great story but, in a lackluster year, it still stands out as one of the better stories.

Karl continues to chop through the mishmash of story lines he’s thrown out in the last year. Sonic and the Freedom Fighters let the loss of Nate Morgan weigh on their minds. That’s when the hedgehog gets an idea. If the Sword of Acorn can restore the free will of robotocized Mobians, why can’t it restore the free will of robotocized Overlanders? Only Sally can wield the sword in this manner and talks her dad into allowing her to go on this mission. Meanwhile, in Robotropolis, Robotnik reveals his master plan – to poison the organic beings with radiation, forcing them to become his robotic slaves in order to survive – to Colin Kintobor and all the other Overlanders in the city.

How do you like your Robotnik? The villain comes in several different flavors. Some of the video games portray him as a stereotypical mad scientist. The “Adventures of” cartoon and other games draw him as a cartoonish buffoon. SatAM and “Sonic Underground” illustrated him as a cold-blooded tyrant. The comic version of Robotnik has fluctuated wildly between the three poles. My favorite version, if you couldn’t guess, is the genocidal dictator, eager to inflict his mad will on the world. This version of Robotnik returns to Archie’s pages with a vengeance in issue 105. After Hope informs her parents that Robotnik intends to roboticize them, the doctor reveals she’s right. He relishes the opportunity, actually. He happily states that he’s a robot and that every fleshy person in the city is poisoned. He joyfully robotocizes Hope’s grandmother before her eyes. I’m not sure why Robotnik waited until now to gloat evilly. But he sure is having fun doing it.

Ever since they returned to Mobius, the Kintobor family hasn’t contributed much to the book. It’s been a plot point that hasn’t gone much of anywhere. After writing Nate Morgan out last time, Karl decides to clip the rest of the Overlanders from the book this time. Hope gets away, as the book had bigger plans for her, but the rest of the family? Turned to robotic statues. About the only important detail rising from this resolution is Snively revealing how much he hates his dad. As much as we pile on the little twerp, he’s truly just as evil as Robotnik is. As for the Kintobors? Who’s going to miss them?

A plot point dragging the series down since issue 99 has been the romantic drama between Sonic and Sally. Issue 105 doesn’t resolve this, as the tiresome Sonic/Sally/Mina love triangle would stretch on for a while longer. The book finally addresses how dumb this is though. Before leaving on the mission, Sonic outright asks Sally if she’s pissed at him. Before she can respond, Mina zooms in and gives her a big hug, thanking the Princess for restoring her mom’s free will. It’s a cute moment. If it doesn’t outright negate the ridiculous love triangle, it at least goes a way towards deflating it.

We even get some action too. Sonic smashes some ShadowBots and has a face-to-face confrontation with Robotnik, something we haven’t gotten in a while. However, the issue pulls back on the action maybe when it was most important. Instead of a big exciting conclusion, the story ends with talking. Robotnik reveals another truth – that only willinging robotocized Overlanders don’t become statues – and let’s the good guys go. Moreover, the Freedom Fighters leave the Overlanders in Robotropolis, allowing themselves to become robots if they want too. It’s kind of a downer ending to what was otherwise a decent story.

In the back pages, Mike Gallagher concludes the Downunda Freedom Fighter story he’s been telling for three months. Guru Emu scales the dam he discovered last time, confirming the suspicions that it’s a leftover from CrocBot’s take-over of the continent. Below the waves, the bunyip has… Safely carried the other Freedom Fighters to an oxygen filled area? Turns out, Barby speaks the Bunyip's language. She levels with the creature, who is just angry CrocBot took away his billabong. Everyone agrees the dam has to go. The Freedom Fighters blow it up, restoring the lake, and making everyone happy.

Here’s a win for empathy, civil conversation, and peaceful resolution. Instead of another fight ensuing with the mythical animal, the Downunda Freedom Fighters instead communicate with their captor. No, it’s not a very satisfying conclusion. Barby’s ability to speak bunyip is the purest of ass pulls. Yes, Gallgher still loads his story with ungainly dialogue. As he enters the dam, Guru Emu takes the time to recap the events so far.

Still, there’s a certain novelty to the story concluding with everyone talking things out, without punching somebody in the face. It’s rare for this book, even if it doesn’t entirely work in this instance. As expected, Gallagher ends the story with another plea for the readers to request more Downunda Freedom Fighter adventures. Considering we wouldn’t see them again for a while, I’m going to say Archie didn’t get too many letters.

Ron Lim drew the cover story. Typically, it looks lousy. His robots look utterly ridiculous. Characters bend wildly off-model during the action scenes. He also has this weird habit of drawing Sally so that she always looks surprised. As for the back-up, Nelson Ribeiro takes over for Dave Manak. Ribeiro is an uneven artist. On the first page, Guru Emu’s hand twists out of shape. All the characters look slightly odd. But nobody is hideously ugly. I also like his decision to surround the first page of panels with wooden frames.

Issue 105 isn’t an A+ book but, compared to what we’ve been getting lately, still feels like a breath of fresh air. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 95

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 95
Publication Date: March 2001

After stopping a month to focus on Sonic’s exciting adventures in high school, Karl Bollers remembers that he’s writing an action comic. Just as soon as Knothole High is introduced, the book passes it by. I’m not sure the school mandate would even show up much after this. Kind of makes you wonder what the point was in the first place? Then again, lots of things with the comic is making me wonder that lately. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Hey, what about issue 95?

Sonic races out of school, eager to be out of the building. Even if Prince Elias is ignoring that he’s a crime fighter, Sonic remembers a tyrant is attempting to wipe them out. As night falls, he sneaks out of his room and goes on a late night run towards Robotropolis. Bunnie, similarly eager to get out, joins him. The two discover that Overlanders are now living in the city, seemingly in peace. Meanwhile, Kodos the Warlord has gone mad, insanely screaming about the Sword of Acorn. In the woods, the two heroes encounter the crazy lion where Uma Arachnis, the spider ninja, proves an unlikely ally.

Sonic and Bunnie don’t normally act as a duo. Usually, the hedgehog is too busy hanging out with Tails. Currently, the two-tailed fox is off on some other adventure. So the cyborg rabbit and Sonic fly over Robotropolis together. I wish there was a little more dialogue and interaction between the two. We mostly get a panel or two, Bunnie commenting on Sonic’s sass or the two wondering about the situation in Robotnik’s city.

 
Ultimately, Bollers is focused on action. Kodos cleaves through trees. Sonic gives the lion a super speed bicycle kick. An amusing moment has Kodos grabbing Bunnie by the ears and swinging her around like Mjolnir. James Fry’s action artwork make these moments go down smoothly.

I haven’t had very nice things to say about the on-going story line about the Kintobors. With issue 95, it looks like that storyline may finally be going somewhere. Snively and his dad are reunited, the bald henchman giving Colin a warm welcome. (Or one that appears warm.) Later, Eggman awakens Snively in the middle of the night, showing him something sinister off-screen. Hope, meanwhile, goes to her grandmother. She tells her about how weird she finds the city but, naturally, nobody listens to the kid. Where is this stuff going? Don’t know. Will it make me care about these people and places? Probably not. But at least it’s finally going somewhere.

Of all the book’s many villains, Kodos and Uma Arachnis have never been the most compelling. After all, they began life as just indistinct henchmen of Ixis Naugus. The writer’s continued attempts to make us care about them have yet to succeed. Kodos being driven insane, seemingly by his separation from the Sword of Acorn, has rendered him a totally personality lacking brute. Uma suddenly developing a sense of honor, saving Sonic from the lion, would be interesting if the character had ever displayed any individuality up to this point. Bollers is going somewhere with this but it’s easily the least interesting of his current plots.

For his flaws, at least Karl is answering questions, albeit slowly. Ken Penders, meanwhile, remains up his own ass. Knuckles has teleported himself onto a snowy mountain top, beneath the Floating Island. Athair zaps Tails to the same location. The fox attempts to reason with the echidna but it’s no use, as Knuckles is overwhelmed by his new powers and anger. The two are next teleported to the Floating Island where events repeat themselves. By the end, Knuckles has knocked Tails unconscious, with the fox being taken to his magician Uncle Merlin for care.

Hey, at least we’re back on the Floating Island, right? Other then that development, the Chaos Knuckles arc continues to move at a snail’s pace. Bringing Tails into the story accomplishes nothing. This once again brings up Tails’ status as the Chosen One, a rarely satisfying plot point the comic has forgotten about for long stretches. Honestly, is an eight year old truly the best person to deal with a rampaging demigod? All he does is get smacked around. Instead of focusing on Knuckles’ quest to find his friends, we shift to Merlin Prowers. Because Penders was truly determined to frustrate our expectations and annoy us. Another batch of crappy Ron Lim art helps none at all.

The comic is still in a slump. That’s not going away any time soon. At least Karl seems to be getting at something while Ken continues to jerk us around. As the book slowly lumbers towards issue 100, that’s probably the most we could ask for. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 94

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 94
Publication Date: February 2001

Issue 94 was not a well received issue in 2001. It made some bizarre changes to Sonic’s world, many of which wouldn’t stick very long, likely because of how poorly received they were. I agree that many of these new additions were poorly thought out. However, I’ll admit that I like number 94 a little better then the last few issues. We’re knee-deep in the Dork Age here so I’ll take what I can get.

Six months have passed since Sonic was stripped of his title as a knight and Elias has assumed rule of Knothole. The new King has increased the village’s infrastructure. He’s built a new castle, hospitals, and schools. With this new order, new rules have come. Now, everyone under the age of eighteen has to attend school. This includes Sonic, Tails, and the many other former Freedom Fighters. It’s a change that doesn’t sit well with the hedgehog hero. His continued separation from Sally especially concerns him. Meanwhile, Robotnik, Snively, and Athair continue their own affairs.

I tend to dislike time jumps. Usually, it’s an excuse for writers to mix things up, introducing drastic shake changes to the world, without putting in the work to develop these events. Comic books especially love to do this. How often has the DC Universe jumped weeks or months into the future, introducing readers to a world that’s totally different? (At least until the status quo is inevitably re-introduced?) Karl introduces something similar, if a little less intense, here.

Mostly, it’s a bad idea. Apparently a large numbers of Overlanders have moved to Robotropolis, where Robotnik enforces strict laws on them. Knothole has suddenly grown from a tiny village to a small city, which seems like an unlikely change. The dumbest addition is forcing teenagers to go to high school. Why would Prince Elias expect former child soldiers like the Freedom Fighters to attend school? As Sonic says early on, why would a hero like him need to learn algebra? Forcing Sonic and friends into a high school setting is especially miscalculated. Why would an action adventure series want to change its focus to high school drama?

Knothole High’s dress code is also questionable. Bunnie dresses like Daisy Duke and Rotor dresses like a Homie, bizarre decisions at odds with their personalities. (And what could a technical genius like Rotor possibly learn from high school-level science classes?)

It’s deeply ill conceived but Karl almost makes it work. He does this by focusing on Sonic’s frustration with this change, an annoyance the reader shares. Physics class drags on for the speedy hedgehog, bored out of his mind. Mostly, he misses Sally. The two have been separated for months and Sonic’s heart is aching. Sally feels similarly shoved into a box that doesn’t suit her. Sadly, Bollers even stumbles with these plot points. He makes it seem like Sally, a proven warrior and tactician, has spent all this time pining for her missing lover. Moreover, I can’t imagine Sonic and Sally – people used to breaking the rules to succeed – would ever put up with such unnecessary laws.

Boller’s handling of the other subplots vary. Athair appears suddenly in the school, whisking Tails away to some undisclosed location. Who knows where that story line is headed. Bunnie seems to resent Mina for reasons that aren’t apparent. At least the Overlander drama in Robotropolis is starting to move. Hope is suspecting that Robotnik is up to something fishy. Her stepdad has his suspicions but mostly just seems happy to be home. Snively has been brought back into the story, a character that has been greatly missed. One of this issue’s best moment has Snively presented with a chance to strike back at his father, a man he greatly resents. But who’s to say if anything of this will build towards something meaningful?

Karl Bollers and Ken Penders have something in common. Both are struggling with balancing their mini-epics. In "The Best Laid Plans," the echidnas of Albion attempt to drain Knuckles of his new found powers. The procedure is painful for the young Guardian. Charmy and Saffron fly in, seeking to rescue their friend. Nack and Nic, meanwhile… Don’t contribute very much, deciding to flee the area after Knuckles starts to go nuclear.

Hey, remember where this story line started? With the Chaotix, Knuckles’ mom, and everyone on the Floating Island getting zapped into another dimension? With Julie-Su getting captured by the Dark Legion? I know I’ve been saying this every time but… Jesus Christ, Ken, please get back to the shit we care about! Instead, the writer wastes our time with more mystic bullshit. Knuckles, with his new green color, has achieved a power potentially greater then Enerjak. This seems to be the dark, horrible destiny the Brotherhood have been referencing for roughly forty thousand issues. Naturally, the Albion echidna’s attempt to control Knuckles’ power goes horribly wrong. After escaping, Knuckles teleports away. Hopefully on the way to resolving the plot point we give a shit about? God, I hope so.

Knuckles’ new found superpowers are obviously so great that I can’t imagine the Albion scientist ever would’ve been able to control them. Making Knux a physical god makes the story’s other plot developments needless. There was probably no reason for Charmy and Saffron to free the Guardian, since he probably would’ve escaped anyway. There was certainly no reason to have Nack and Nic in the story. They share some dialogue and then leave town, deciding this is out of their leagues. Gee, Ken, if you were going to check back in on these characters, maybe you should have had them actually contribute to the fucking narrative?

Issue 94 is a deeply mixed bag. In the cover story, Karl does some things I like while introducing some extremely dumb ideas. The back-up story, meanwhile, remains incredibly frustrating. Ken’s latest arc is just dragging along, refusing to acknowledge the details we’re invested in. Upside: James Fry contributes some solid artwork to the cover story. Downside: Ron Lim draws the back-up, where he totally screws up Nack’s face and draws continues to draw Knuckles like a pencil. But at least he actually bothered to draw the fucking backgrounds. [5/10]