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]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 93

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 93
Publication Date: January 2001

Sometimes, it’s just a matter of focus. Archie’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” has been floundering for a few issues, a number of lame subplots bouncing off of each other, the reader having difficulty caring. With issue 93, Karl Bollers decides to turn away form stuff for a minute. Instead, he builds a story about Sonic and how he feels about the last few issues’ events.

After racing back to Knothole, Sonic is immediately apprehended by Geoffrey St. John’s secret police. He pleads with Prince Elias, who agrees not to punish him too severely. Royal bureaucracy keeps him from seeing Sally. It takes a heart-to-heart with Nate Morgan, Antoine, and Bunnie for Sonic to forgive himself for his mistakes. Meanwhile, Mina, Elias, St. John, Antoine, and Bunnie have events going on in their own lives.

After several lame issues, the book finds a little more emotional footing in an unexpected place. Sonic, as the titular speedster, isn’t usually the one for self-reflection. In “Crime N’ Punishment,” the hedgehog hero finds himself feeling guilty for his actions. He feels partially responsible for King Acorn’s injury. He feels like an asshole for loosing the Sword of Acorn. Moreover, he feels isolated from Sally. This is fantastically illustrated in a great panel, where Sonic’s imagined reunion with Sally is cut short by reality. In other words, Sonic is surrounded by problems he can’t run away from. Realizing this, he accepts responsibility for his actions at the end. Considering we’re more use to seeing Sonic crack wise and smash robots, it’s a surprising – and surprisingly touching – turn of events.

This dovetails with another simmering plot point. While wandering around, feeling bad for himself, Sonic and Mina literally run into each other. She’s so excited to see him that she barrels towards him, super speed activated. As the two sit on the ground together, they have a sweet moment. They share a laugh followed by a meaningful glance. I’ve never really bought the Sonic/Mina romance but it sort of makes sense here. The hedgehog is in a vulnerable place, feeling rejected by his friends and love ones. When a cute mongoose is the only one happy to see him, who could blame the guy for noticing? (Then again, I’m not sure Karl needed to introduce a new character to accomplish this. I can’t believe I’m saying this but Amy Rose could have just as easily, and maybe more naturally, filled this role.)

By re-focusing on Sonic, Karl manages to rediscover the story’s heart. Yet he still feels the need to check in on the other subplots. Antoine and Bunnie are back in town, Antoine’s robot dad in tow. This only takes up a few panels though. Nate Morgan stops in to fill a mentor role that would’ve otherwise been occupied by Uncle Chuck. Sally is shocked to learn of Sonic’s thievery. In a very lame move, instead of letting her react, her mom insists on taking her clothing shopping instead. The crown continues to weigh heavily on Elias’ head while Geoffrey St. John attempts to grab more power for himself. The least interesting of all of these points involves Kodos. While he’s napping, Uma Arachnus snatches the Sword of Acorn for herself. It’s only been going on for three months but I’m already sick of this MacGuffin getting passed around.

Which brings us to the business in Robotropolis. For all the elements worth liking about issue 93, Karl struggles to justify the role of Eggman’s human relatives. The tyrant welcomes them with warm arms. Colin Kintobor is initially impressed with the set-up, still pissed about Sonic and Monkey Khan’s theatrics last time. However, he quickly notices how odd Robotnik acts. Truthfully, the purpose of these scenes is to clarify who these people are. Colin is Snively’s dad, Julian Kintobor’s brother. The old woman is Colin’s mother-in-law and the little girl, Hope, is his stepdaughter from a second marriage. This explains who they are but doesn’t get the reader to care.

In the back pages, Knuckles’ story continues in “Bagging the Big One.” With all the other Chaotix zapped into a pocket dimension, Knuckles seeks out the last member still on the Floating Island. That would be Charmy Bee, who is enjoying wedded bliss with Saffron. The reunion between green glowing Knuckles and his buzzing pal is interrupted when Nack and Nic the Weasel crash the party. The mercenaries talk the echidna into being taken prisoner by the echidnas of Albion.

As the cover story cut through the bullshit to an emotional center we care about, Penders is attempting something similar. Knuckles is finally back on track towards the goal of saving his friends. Seeing Charmy again, whom he hasn’t seen since the early days of his own title, should’ve been touching. Instead, Knuckles simply informs Charmy of his latest objective. Before they can go any further, Nack marches in, awkwardly talks Knuckles into coming with him. Far too much time is devoted to these negotiations, making the reunion with Charmy seem totally superfluous in the grand scheme of things.

A weak script is still the story’s least offensive mistake. Ken, sadly, draws as well as writes this one. His character art is as weak as usual. Saffron looks completely different from the last time we saw her. Nack and Nic are also off-model. Knuckles is weirdly muscular. Everybody’s mouths lob open in ugly ways while their eyes stare ahead blankly.

As mediocre as the art is, what’s far worst is Ken’s decision to use nature photographs instead of drawn background. So the character stand in front of pictures of trees, skies, or the ocean. It’s a frankly lazy decision that is greatly distracting and visually displeasing. Jesus, Ken, we know your artwork sucks but you really couldn’t be bothered to draw some waves or trees?

It’s a step back in the right direction, though it remains to be seen if this is a long term correction or merely a temporary upswing. James Fry coming back to draw the issue, letting Ron Lim rest his doodling hand for a month, is surely a contributing factor. It’s a decent story, albeit one still surrounded by the problems plaguing the book lately. The back-up is pretty lame but at least Knuckles’ story line is starting to move again. You take what you can get, you know? [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 91

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 91
Publication Date: November 2000

After the exhausting lows of “Naugus Games,” even a marginally shitty story comes off as a lot better. I’ve previously lauded Karl Boller’s ability to mix action and character beats. As the comic creeps closer to issue 100, the writer’s balance was off. Issue 91 is too slow, the characters stuck in stasis thanks to a plot that seems to be moving towards no particular goal.

Rotor waddles back into Mobotropolis, after his failed attempt to rescue his family. He find the city taken by evil once more and currently being shook by meteors falling on it. He runs into Mina and Sonic, who easily survived the impact. Inside, Dr. Robotnik plays with the Sword of Acorn before loosing the MacGuffin to Uma Arachnis, who takes it back to Kodos. Meanwhile, Sonic’s trip back towards Eggman’s stronghold is interrupted by what was hiding inside those meteors.

Issue 91’s cover story, unimaginatively entitled “Crash!,” develops the series’ plot lines just enough to classify as a plot. The biggest deal is that Rotor returns to Knothole. His arrival is greeted with little fanfare. He waddles into town, runs into Sonic and Mina, and is escorted back to Knothole. The guy has been gone so long that he doesn’t even know Eggman has taken up residence in Robotropolis. His reaction isn’t horror or shock but bored resignation. You’d think he’d be a little more upset. Then again, maybe loosing his family again has made him numb.

For a comic bearing his name, Sonic does very little in this issue. He reveals how he survived last month’s seemingly final cliffhanger. He simply spun fast enough to burrow under the ground, safely escaping the blast. That’s an underwhelming conclusion, one that’s a little cheesy. He decides he’s going to get the Sword of Acorn back before Eggman uses Uncle Chuck and other Robians as a shield. He then races back out of the city, making no further attempt to get the sword back. It’s lame.

The reader reacts to the other plot developments as unenthusiastic as Rotor does. Eggman, stupidly, drops the Sword of Acorn and leaves the room. This allows Uma Arachanis to swoop down and pick it up, taking it to Kodos. The shuttles Bollers foreshadowed all the way back in issue 78 finally arrive in Mobius. Who cares about any of this shit, these desperate attempts to set up future stories? What’s mildly interesting is that Uncle Chuck has regained his freedom of choice. He’s hiding as a subservient Robian, acting as a spy within Robotropolis. In other words, Bollers has reinstated the status qua from “SatAM,” a plot outline the comic outgrew long ago.

Even the attempts at emotional pathos, which Karl is usually better at, hit like a wet fart. Sally and Elias spend a few panels angsting over their dad’s newly gained paralysis. Nate Morgan makes a dramatic entrance, for some reason. Dr. Quack and Nate suggests Sally and the Queen have some mother/daughter time. Honestly, there’s been so much drama among the Acorns lately that it’s hard for the reader to care. The Queen is barely a character and the King’s ill health doesn’t register.

Atop all these other indignities, there’s some shitty Ron Lim art. Lim flat out does not know how to draw these characters. Rotor is a pink oval, with a stubby head and floppy flipper arms. Robotnik similarly resembles a rubber bouncy ball. Sonic and Mina has a serious case of noodle arms. Sally and Queen Alicia look identical. Nate Morgan gains a massive head. Geoffrey St. John looks likes like something out of a Sunday comic stripe. Lim, for some reason, regularly zooms in on everyone’s faces… Which only draws more attention to how off-model everyone is. It’s shit.

The back-up story is only marginally better. The echidnas of Albion have recruited Nack and Nic the Weasels to hunt down Knuckles. With his massive chaos powers, the echidna has gone rogue. Fearful of what he may do with his uncontrollable powers, Gala-La hopes the weasels can track him down. The Guardian himself has no idea what the limit of his new abilities are but heads back to the Floating Island anyway.

Jesus Christ, Ken, what the hell is wrong with you? We want to know what happened to Julie-Su and the Chaotix! We want to get back to the Floating Island! Instead, the writer continues to jerk us around. It seems he cares so little about the residents of the Island, about Knuckles’ concern for his friends and loved ones, that the Guardian only appears on one page in this story. Instead, most of the story is spent setting up Nack and Nic, showing off their relationship, her new ship, and the objective Albion sets before them. It’s kind of cute. Nack and Nic have some nice brother/sister interplay. But it’s just another distraction from what we’re really concerned with.

At least the artwork is nice. Steven Butler’s work is handsome, as always. The opening scene, of Nack hanging out in a bar, hitting on a slutty blonde, are nicely colorful. Butler even manages to bring some curves to Nic, a previously shapeless character. Knuckles is miscolored, his natural red instead of radioactive green, but the panels of him meditating and flexing sure look cool. The interior of Albion is detailed. About the only complaint I have is the odd decision concerning Nic’s new ship. It’s the Millennium Falcon, barely redesigned and re-colored. That makes two issues in a row where Archie has stolen a ship design from a well-known sci-fi series. What’s up with that?

In conclusion, issue 91 is an uninspired way to wrap up the year 2000. The plot is getting sloppier, the writers are getting careless, and the artwork is getting shittier. Along with a new millennium, something far darker had dawned. The distinction is clear. The Dork Age has begun. [5/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 28

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 28
Publication Date: July 1999

In the final part of “The First Date” story arc, Ken Penders’ seems intent on wrapping up all the story’s plot threads. Knuckles’ approaches his mom for advice concerning his up-coming date with Julie-Su. Turns out, the date is falling on the same night as a surprise birthday party Lara-Le is throwing her son. She organizes the party with Julie-Su and Locke. Meanwhile, Knuckles makes peace with Vector and his parents.

“The First Date” three-parter is an idea I like more conceptually then in actuality. Considering how constantly insane Knuckles’ life is, slowing things down for an arc and focusing on character relationship was a great idea. Moreover, the story line finally allows Knuckles and Julie-Su to get serious, putting aside that stupid “soul touch” concept in favor of actually developing their attraction.

And it sort of did that, in a way that was slightly jumbled if relatively amiable throughout. For example, this issue turns the focus from Knuckles and Julie-Su’s upcoming date – the event we’re really invested in – towards Knuckles’ surprise birthday party. Feels slightly like a cheat, since there’s been so much build-up towards the Guardian and his would-be girlfriend finally having some personal time together.

How many times has the book drudged up Locke and Lien-Da’s failed marriage for extra drama? Issue 28 seems to bury that plot point once and for all. While Locke is spying on Knuckles and his friends like a total creep, Lien-Da gives him a call. She asks him to come to their son’s birthday party, the two assuring each other they can put their problems behind them for the sake of their child. At the party, Knuckles’ parents tell him they have a big announcement. His reaction is one of the story’s most unnoticed and saddest moments. He wonders if his mom and dad are getting back together. Hope springs eternal for this child of divorce, apparently. Lien-Da and Locke assure him that will never happen but they’ll continue loving him. It’s a potentially strong emotional beat that probably deserved a little more attention then it got.

That’s not the only instance of forgiveness in this story. After nearly tearing his stupid head off last time, Knuckles and Vector make up. Both basically admit they acted too rashly, deciding to forgive and forget. This seems to dismiss the serial asshole behavior Vector has been displaying from the beginning. The book even acknowledges that, with a hilarious exchange where Espio flat-out admits that people wonder why they hang out with Vector. See?! Everyone knows he’s useless! Still, the Chaotix are back together again. That’s good, I guess.

With everything else the issue is handling, the eponymous first date gets sidelined. It basically comprises two pages. Knuckles shows up as Julie-Su’s apartment. She slips on a slinky, little black dress. (This isn’t the only example of blatant fan service for us Julie-Su fans. Earlier, she appears wearing only a big t-shirt.) The two walk to their destination, exchanging some mildly flirtatious dialogue. That’s when this story line collides with the birthday party plot thread. At the party, they dance a little, which is a cute moment, before locking lips. That’s a moment I wish the story spent a little more time building up to.

Chris Allan continues to do the artwork for this story arc. His work in the last two issues was frequently off-model and overall a bad fit for the book. In issue 28, Allan looses his fucking mind. In several panels, Knuckles, his parents, and his girlfriend become lankier. Sometimes, Knuckles appears to grow several pounds of muscle. Allan apparently previously did work for Archie’s Ninja Turtles comic. It seems he thought he was drawing Raphael and Leonardo at times. Near the end, Vector suddenly becomes a muscled monstrosity. It’s ugly as hell. Once again, Archie reached out to artist who clearly had no attitude for drawing these characters.

Luckily, series regular Manny Galan is back to draw the back-up story. (Save for Andrew Papoy drawing a single page, for some reason.) Unluckily, the story arc devoted to Mighty, Nic, and Fiona searching for Ray continues to be a jumbled mess. Mighty throws open a vault and discovers Ray clinging to a magical crystal. In flashback, it’s revealed that Robotnik originally powered the prison camp with this stone. When Sonic and Mighty escaped, Ray grabbed the crystal and blinked out of reality. Apparently, he’s been floating between dimensions for the last decade. Also, Fiona reveals that she sneaked out of the camp on her own.

If I had to guess, I’d assume that Ken really wanted to tell this story. Perhaps he had trouble justifying devoting three cover stories to a quartet of minor supporting characters. So this plot got shoved into the back of the “Knuckles” book. You can tell this was a bigger idea that the writer clipped down. The page devoted to Ray disappearing while Sonic and Mighty escaped the camp borders on incoherent. How Nic rescues Ray from his trans-dimensional fate is a total narrative shrug. Throughout it all, the script never provides a reason why Mighty cares about Ray so much. The stuttering squirrel is a thin sketch, with little personality. Meanwhile, the entire business with Fiona seems shoved in for no reason. It’s a mess... Which is a shame, as the concept showed some promise. A story devoted to a young Sonic and Mighty wrecking Robotnik’s shit probably could’ve been a lot of fun.

To say issue 28 is a disappointing conclusion betrays the intentionally low stakes this story had. It could’ve been great but some pretty awful artwork and a script that leaps around too much brings it down. The back-up story, meanwhile, feels seriously abbreviated. Oh well. [6/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 27

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 27
Publication Date: June 1999

As I mentioned last time, the promise of focusing on Knuckles and Julie-Su’s relationship made me eager to check out issue 26. I enjoyed that comic book but never picked up the other two parts. This was less an intentional choice and more because I don’t think I made it to the comic shop that month. So now, eighteen years later, I finally get to read the rest of the “First Date” story arc. This is a momentous occasion, I’m sure you agree.

The second half of “The First Date,” which is verbosely subtitled “Who Wrote the Book of Love?,” does not satisfyingly follow-up on the first part’s cliffhanger. Yeah, Knuckles has walked in on Julie-Su having brunch with some other echidna. Instead of confronting her, he looses his cool and has Archimedes teleport him back out of there. Of course, Julie-Su has no feelings for this Raynor dork. After both Knuckles and Julie-Su angst about the relationship – and Knuckles nearly beats up Vector – he finally gets up the cajones to asks her out on a date.

On paper, issue 27 unnecessarily stretches the storyline out further. The entire cover story is, more or less, based around the two teens wondering anxiously if their feelings are reciprocated. And, yeah, some times the story feels like its dragging its feet. When Knuckles is having slapstick antics inside the restaurant, nothing is added to the story. Knuckles bumping into the Chaotix at an arcade, and nearly giving Vector the beating he has long deserved, is mostly unneeded. However, I go to bat for Knuckles agonizing over his asking Julie-Su out. We can’t forget that the Guardian is 16 years old. Agonizing over whether or not a girl likes them is exactly what sixteen year olds do. Yes, Penders’ writing is as inelegant as always. However, I think he handles this particular plot turn alright.

Knuckles’ story is natural if bumpy. Julie-Su’s part of the story seems a little more compelling. Being a hot and bad ass young woman, it’s totally expected that she would attract male attention. While Knuckles stumbles into his feelings, like the awkward bruiser he’s always been, Julie-Su gives it more thought. She’s got a guy making goo-goo eyes at her but he’s not the one she wants. Poor girl. You really feel for her. A panel devoted to Julie-Su sitting in her apartment, distraught, is definitely my favorite moment from this issue. Naturally, Knuckles does eventually ask Julie-Su out, ending this story on a triumphant moment. Of course, now the anxiety about the actual date begins.

The script for issue 27 is pretty good, all things considered, but it wouldn’t be an issue of “Knuckles” without some obnoxious business with the Brotherhood of Guardiands. The various Fire Ants and Knuckles’ granddads seem way too invested in Knuckles and Julie-Su’s romance. They all basically demand to spy on the boy. Locke, in an unexpected moment of clearheadness, decides to protect his son’s privacy.

Naturally, that ridiculous “Soul Touch” business crops up again. Archimedes explains that particular plot contrivances thusly: Echidnas suck at romance as a species. Therefore, sexual attraction is attributed to magic. Is it just me or does all of this feel like a big excuse to justify Locke and Lara-Le’s dysfunctional relationship? No, Ken, Locke and Lara-Se broke up because Locke is an asshole. Anyway, it’s dumb and puts a damper on a story I otherwise enjoy.

Oh yeah, the artwork kind of sucks too. Once again, this Chris Allen guy handles the pencils. Allen doesn’t really have a grasp on the characters’ proportions. His Knuckles – and other echidnas, for that matter – often bend into shapeless blob. Archimedes shifts in size randomly. Julie-Su remains weirdly short and squat. Vector and the other Chaotix are obviously off-model. He doesn’t even seem to understand were the character’s heads and limbs are in relation to their necks and bodies. Why did Archie keep letting people like this to draw the book?

The back-up story continues Mighty’s quest to relocate Ray the Squriel. Along with Nic the Weasel and Fiona Fox, he explores the Robotnik work camp where he met Sonic years before. Fiona shows some resentment towards Mighty but goes along on the mission anyway. Mighty remembers rescuing the girl years earlier and later teaming up with Sonic to escape the place. In the present, the trio discovers deactivated Auto-Automatons of the Freedom Fighters. Then the story ends suddenly.

The story is called “Those Were the Days…,” which must be an ironic title. It has so much potential. Mighty feels guilt over abandoning his friend years before. Robotnik's recruiting organics to work in a mine, when he has plenty of robots at his disposals, seems like an odd story. Yet it provides an interesting set-up, of a young Sonic and Mighty having bad ass adventures before either became associated with their teams. Sadly, the story rushes through all these points, draining them of their emotions. Flesh-and-blood Fiona and Nic continue to be thinly sketched characters. Nic is mostly defined by her greed and Fiona is mostly defined by her anger. At the very least, the artwork is better then the cover story. Manny Galan draws the flashback sequences while Andrew Pepoy draws the present day scenes. Galan’s artwork is typically solid. Pepoy’s work is a bit too angular but he gets the job done.

The back-up story is fairly weak. Even the cover story has some serious problems. Still, I continue to like the emotional, comedic, and laid-back stakes of “The First Date” story arc. Let’s hope Ken doesn’t fuck it up in the third act. [7/10]

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 26

Knuckles the Echidna: Issue 26
Publication Date: May 1999

As a kid, I was unusually invested in Knuckles and Julie-Su’s relationship. Which is weird since, as I’ve previously pointed out, I barely read “Knuckles” solo comic at the time. Even from the few issues I had read, I became unusually attached to Julie-Su. I guess a tough, pink, cyborg echidna chick was a character I had been looking for. Or maybe I deeply desired Knuckles to have a love interest equal to what Sonic and Sally had. Either way, when I saw that issue 26 of “Knuckles” would revolve around his relationship with Julie-Su, I had to pick it up.

Following their reconciliation last issue, Knuckles and Locke are spending some father/son time together. Despite reconnecting with his long, lost dad, Knuckles’ mind is on another subject: Julie-Su. Locke explains the Soultouch to Knuckles, the bullshit psychic connection thing that draws echidnas to their mates. Meanwhile, Julie-Su is also wondering about her feelings with Knuckles. Even further meanwhile, Vector and the other Chaotix shoot the shit in a mall.

My biggest complaint about the “Knuckles” series is Ken’s self-involved, ridiculous, obnoxious mythology rail-roading any honest character interaction or development. “The First Date” story arc was a refreshing change of pace. There was no arch villains, convoluted plots, or stupid mythology to explain. It was just a story about Knuckles and Julie-Su coming to a decision about their feelings for each other, a way overdue development.

Okay, there’s no stupid myth-building… Except for one thing. For a while now, Ken has been hinting that Knuckles and Julie-Su’s connection isn’t so simple. Apparently, having them both be young, hot, tough, and relating over shitty parents wasn’t enough. Instead, Julie-Su has been compelled to pursue Knuckles for some reason. Now, we know that reason: The Soultouch. Yeah, there’s some stupid, psychic juju that goes on when echidnas give each other boners. It’s dumb. Why did you have to be so dumb, Ken?

Knuckles and Julie-Su wondering out loud about their feelings for each other is way more compelling. The two teens handle their emotions in very different ways. Used to having old people explain shit to him, Knuckles asks his dad. Per the average, Locke explains some vague spiritual nonsense and then disappears. Julie-Su, meanwhile, shoots a picture of Knuckles with a motherfucking gun. That seems pretty reasonable, considering Knuckles abandoned her in the middle of the city last time. After that, Julie-Su goes shopping. If this was Tumblr, I would accuse Penders of being sexist, by assuming all women love shopping or something. Instead, I’ll point out that retail therapy works for any gender. Moreover, both teens are kind of confused about their feelings. Which is accurate. Love does that to you.

Of course, there’s got to be a sting in the scorpion's tail. After his dad fucks off, Knuckles is left to brood in some Haven waiting room. Archimedes appears and teleports Knuckles to wherever Julie-Su is. The problem is Julie-Su decided to get coffee with some rando. Some fucking echidna in a Chewbacca bandolier who bought her a hat. It’s not smooth writing but Knuckles popping in on Julie-Su making goo-goo eyes with some dipshit makes for a hell of a cliffhanger.

Oh yeah, there’s more. The Chaotix are dealing with Charmy leaving the group. While hanging out at the mall, Espio reveals that he knows more about Charmy then the others. Somehow, this segues into a conversation about Vector’s ability to attract females. I don’t think Ken wrote it this way on purpose, but this is how it plays out: Vector is gay. That would explain why he hates Julie-Su so much. That would explain why he’s so terrified when he hears that Charmy is engaged. That would explain why his attempts to seduce women are so facile and shallow. Vector the Crocodile is deeply closeted, his internalized homosexuality manifesting as misogyny. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself, since it makes this stupid subplot more compelling.

Someone named Chris Allan provides the pencils for the cover story. The artwork is pretty off. Luckily, Manny Galan returns for the back-up story. Mighty the Armadillo teams up with Nic the Weasel, Nack’s previously unmentioned female sister. The weasel promises that she’s gotten a lead on Ray the Squirrel, Mighty’s long lost childhood best friend. On the way to their destination, Mighty flashbacks to his childhood adventure with Ray and Sonic... Before the last panel reveals the return of Fiona the Fox. But not the one you think it is.

Considering the Chaotix are kind of important characters, it’s good that Ken is finally filling their back stories in a bit. In “Friend in Need,” he even does a sort of clever thing. The obscure SegaSonic arcade game was the first appearance of Mighty the Armadillo, where he co-stared along side Sonic and Ray. So integrating both of these characters into Mighty’s origin is a neat idea. Ray’s stutter marks him as a different character, even if we get no other development on him. Showing that he let a friend down at some point explains Mighty’s deeper attributes. As for Nic the Weasal and not-robot Fiona, neither have proven compelling just yet. Maybe that’ll get better maybe.

I’ve given issue 26 a lot of shit but it’s not a bad issue. It might honestly be one of the better issues, considering Ken puts a leash on one or two of his ten thousand annoying quirks. The story has some emotional heft to it which counts for something. The backstory is short but not terrible. That pays off to a [7/10,] I guess.