Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 207

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 207
Publication Date: December 2009

2009 was nearly over and the Iron Dominion super-arc was heading into its last third. If I remember correctly, this was right around the time when fans were beginning to tire of the story. (Excluding those who thought it was a terrible idea to begin with, anyway.) However, it's hard to replicate how I felt about this story being dragged out for a year, when I'm reading one or two issues a day. Honestly, the only problem I have with issue 207 is that it feels like a mostly unnecessary plot point while pushing a new romance I'm not a fan of.

Issue 207's cover story, “Blackout,” begins with the Iron King about to attack Old Mobotropolis. No, not Robotnik's former base. Robotnik's former-former base. As in the radioactive remains of the original capitol, which powers New Mobotropolis generator and is surrounded by a bubble. Sonic and Monkey Khan immediately fly off to stop the villain before he can burst the force field, polluting the area and draining the Freedom Fighters' home of energy. Meanwhile, Sally asks Bunnie for advice concerning her growing infatuation with Monkey Khan.

So does anybody else remember this business about a fort being built in front of the irradiated remains of Robotropolis? Okay, I'm sure Ian has covered this information before. I vaguely remember something about Nicole using the still radioactive ruins to power New Mobotropolis. Is this new information? Or did I just forget everything? You know, it says a lot about how convoluted this comic's universe can get, when even a faithful reader like me regularly forgets shit like this.

In truth, this is mostly set-up up for another fight with the Iron King. Just a few months ago, Sonic was marveling at how the Iron King is nearly physically unstoppable. Now he rushes back into battle with the guy, more-or-less making the same mistakes. Even when aided by Monkey Khan, there's only so much the hedgehog can do to the goat man. However, if you're a fan of seeing the hedgehog bounce off a bad guy, well, this issue does provide that. There's one or two clever moments, like when he digs the guy into the ground, a gag Sonic's been using since the original mini-series.

However, all the fighting and pinging builds up towards a very underwhelming conclusion. Sonic outsmarts the Iron King. Which is fine. (Even if he should've realized that sooner, since he already knows he can't beat the King into submission.) It's the method I have trouble with. After a few pages of fighting, Sonic tells Monkey Khan that Nicole will rebuild the generator underground. That they'll tell the King they're retreating, that he's won this one. Which is a seriously disappointing conclusion. The heroes fooling the bad guy off-panel and then just walking away is anticlimactic, to say the least.

The battle scene ends on a lame note. Yet this is not what I truly dislike about “Blackout.” The issue begins with Sally and Monkey Khan at lunch, The two participate in some pretty obvious flirting. While the men are away fighting, Sally visits Bunnie. The cyborg rabbit essentially tells the Princess what she already knows, that she wouldn't be attracted to the guy if he wasn't a good person, if slightly irresponsible. (Considering what we'll soon learn about Geoffrey St. John, I'm not sure Sally's judgment is so great.) It's all set-up for the last two pages of the story. After Sonic and Monkey Khan return to Knothole, the Princess walks away with the simian, arm in arm, giving him some serious bedroom eyes.

Just... Why? Flynn has brought Monkey Khan a long way with the last few issues, taking him from a totally obnoxious character to someone that's at least sort of likable. But why ship him with Sally? What do they have in common? Moreover, what purpose does teasing a romance with the monkey serve? Beside attempting to disrupt a love story that is practically preordained at this point? I mean, “Sonic Universe” just finished an arc set in the future where Sonic and Sally are married and have two kids. I know, that's an alternate time line. But come on. The Sally/Ken ship sank before leaving the dock. It's not offensively done or anything but why bother?

The back-up story, “The Iron Queen,” continues to fill out Regina's back story. After learning of the Iron King's failure, the villainess storms off, seriously pissed. This segues into a conversation between Snively and the Iron King, where the monarch explains how he first met Regina and how they came to rule the Dragon Kingdom together

On one hand, expanding on the Iron Queen's origin is a good idea. However, “The iron Queen” goes about it a bit awkwardly. 202's “A Lonely Girl's Story” had the conqueror explaining her history in her own words. This story is told by someone else, causing the explanation to smack deeply of flat exposition. While that story gave us a peak at Regina's personality, “The Iron Queen” just lays down the facts about how she assumed power. Which is not as interesting. It also tosses more ninjas at us, which I still barely care about.

On the art front, issue 202 brings back some names we haven't seen in a while. James Fry illustrates the cover story. Like many other artist, Fry alters his anime-influenced artwork so it's more in line with Tracy Yardley's work, which is more-or-less the book's default look now. Fry still has some of that energy though. You can see it in the character's facial expressions and some of the action scenes. The back-up features the second appearance of Renae de Liz, after her impressive debut in issue 198. de Liz' weaknesses are more apparent here. Her Snively continues to look seriously weird. Her composition is still relatively dramatic and eye-catching though, I'll give her that.

I guess I just wasn't feeling this one much. The cover story's central action chases the reader around before coming to a sudden stop. Meanwhile, the romantic subplot simply has no reason for existing, other then generating more unneeded shipping drama. The back-up has a solid idea but the execution feels a bit rushed and underdeveloped. It's a fairly flat issue to wrap 2009 up with. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 198

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 198
Publication Date: March 2009

Ever since Enerjak flew over Megaopolis and royally fucked up Robotnik's shit, Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” has been hinting that the Freedom Fighters are closer to victory then ever before. Robotnik's forces are depleted and his sanity is slipping. Honestly, aside from showing the doctor getting a little nutty, Ian Flynn could've maybe done a better job of showing this change. Well, that element becomes the main point of issue 198. As the book neared its 200th issue, the Freedom Fighters neared the chance to defeat the Eggman Empire once and for all.

In “Egg Phoenix Down” – which I assumed to be a rather morbid “Black Hawk Down” reference but is apparently some sort of fucking Final Fantasy thing – the Freedom Fighters have dug out a trench for themselves on the outskirts of New Megaopolis. The group completely take apart the Dark Egg Legion soldiers guarding the city, much to Lien-Da's dismay. As a last ditch measure, Robotnik deploys his latest doomsday weapon: The fire-spewing Egg Phoenix. Yet even this device is defeated by the Freedom Fighters' quick thinking. Afterwards, the team set-up a camp outside the city, readying for a pivotal battle the next day.

By far the dumbest of Sega's dumb mandates on the comic was “Sonic can never loose.” “Egg Phoenix Down,” and the story it's the near climax of, would seem to fit into this. Yet, sometimes, it's just nice to see the hero win. How much Sonic and his supporting cast have actually aged in the book's timeline is ambiguous but they've been fighting this war on and off for over a decade. Their victory is far from easily earned. They've struggled, they've had losses, and they are finally coming out on top. This is well illustrated in the opening scene, when the Fighters' individual skills are employed to take down Lien-Da's Legion. Bunnie busts out a cool force field, the Chaotix bust in and wreck stuff, and Tails deploys some EMP mines. It's probably no coincidence on Flynn's behalf that the Freedom Fighters have been gaining ground since Sally became an active field leader again. Her clear-headed leadership and concise planning was clearly a factor in this victory.

Their victory seems secure until Robotnik busts out the Phoenix. I've always found Sega's habit of adding the “egg” suffix to the doctor's various inventions a good way to drain any threatening power they have. Eggs are not scary and comparing random objects to them does not make them scary. Having said that, the Egg-Phoenix is genuinely intimidating. It helps that its main weapon – shooting fire everywhere – is a very visceral threat. Setting everything on fire isn't just a way to eliminate your enemies, it's also a very frightening sight. Strapping two high-powered flamethrower to an aircraft with jet-like capabilities makes for a vehicle that actually seems like it could hurt Sonic and his friends. The panels of fire raining down on the area are quite effective.

The Egg-Phoenix makes an impressive entrance but its exit could've used some work. Sonic essentially tricks Robotnik into flying the jet up into the upper atmosphere, until the Phoenix stalls out. After the Chaotix slip some of Tails' EMP mines on the Phoenix, it's done for. Sonic even lampshades how the Doc should've seen that coming. Then again, Flynn does have the excuse that Eggman is in the process of cracking up right now – not apologizing for that one – and probably isn't making the best decision. It also helps that the series of panels devoted to Sonic leaping higher and higher into the air are incredibly dynamic. Vector provides the initial throw. Knuckles tosses him higher. Tails and Bunnie give him the final boosts that land him above the cloud line. Okay, you may be asking, “Why doesn't Sonic suffocate when the air is that thin?” But it's a baller comic book action sequence. Go with it, hypothetical person.

Providing the dynamic pencils is Renae de Liz. This story is de Liz' first contribution of “Sonic” and she didn't do much art for the book after this, as far as I remember. It took me a few pages to acclimate to de Liz' style. Snively and the echidnas look a little weird at first. The more of her art I saw, the more I liked it. By the end, I fully loved it. There's an anime-esque proportion to de Liz' work that recalls Spaziante. The way she sacrifices strict character model compliance for an incredible sense of motion also brings Sam Maxwell to mind. Renae is really good at action. The scenes of Lien-Da whipping at Sonic or that flight into the upper atmosphere look amazingly fluid. She also nails Sonic's attitude, Sally's sassiness, and Tails' youthful vulnerability. Her Snively needs a little work but, otherwise, everyone looks awesome. Visually, this is a really strong issue.

This isn't just another one Flynn's weaker fight-fests. After defeating Lien-Da and Robotnik, the Freedom Fighters set up camp for the night. What follows is a really touching scene. Sonic and Sally get some flirting in, which I greatly appreciate. After draping a force field over the camp, Sonic and Tails have a talk. The fox is nervous about tomorrow. Not just because it's a dangerous but because of the prospect that they might actually win. Tails is worried about dying but the thought of “what if we succeed?” is also haunting him. It's only a few panels but it's handled so well, emphasizing once again that these characters have feelings, fears, and thoughts.

Another effective moment has Dimitri confronting Snively. He informs the long-time lackey that he knows about his new relationship and his latest plan to usurp Robotnik. The way Dimitri creeps around Snively's chair, slinking like a spider with his weird dreadlock/tentacle things, makes you feel Snively's discomfort. That he's visibly sweating, and that the echidna is right in his face, also helps sells this aspect. The two making an alliance is strictly plot mechanics but it does draw attention to Dimitri's status as a schemer, also thinking of ways to better his people.

Add up some great artwork, some impressive action, and a script that is both really well paced and leaves room for emotions, and you've got probably my favorite issue in a while. I wish Flynn balanced all the above so fantastically all of the time. Time to bust out the rare [9/10.] This one earned it.