Sonic Universe: Issue 32

Sonic Universe: Issue 32
Publication Date: September 2011

I'm just going to step back and give myself a little perspective. Back when first conceived, Evil Sonic or Anti-Sonic – whatever you want to call the character that would become Scourge – was little more than a gimmick. Dressed like an out-dated perception of what a bad boy thug looked like, he was never taken very seriously as a character and was quickly dealt with every time he appeared. Who would've thought that, seventeen years later, we'd still be reading about that character? Moreover, that he would be compelling enough to carry an entire arc by himself! That's what I mean when I talk about how Ian Flynn completely saved this comic book.

The last part of “Scourge: Lockdown” begins with the Zone Police prison in turmoil. The prison riot that ends every prison movie is in full effect. In the chaos, the Destructix hope to make their escape. Scourge goes about getting revenge on those that wronged him while Fiona and the other Destructix searches for the plot device that will give them their freedom. In the chaos, reveals and betrayals go down.

As I mentioned in my review of “Sonic Universe: Issue 29,” “Inside Job” has been an arc partially about making Scourge sympathetic. By getting dunked on by everyone else in supervillain jail, Scourge gained a humility previously beyond the ego-tastic baddie. From a writing perspective, it makes sense. This also puts Scourge back at zero, giving him an identifiable character arc for this story: Trying to regain his confidence and evil zeal. Which finally comes to pass here. By the end, Scourge is re-proclaiming his superiority over everyone. And just so you know he isn't that sympathetic, that he's still a bad guy, Flynn also has him cruelly screw over Al and Cal.

All of that is well and good, from a narrative level. But it's not the reason I liked this issue so much. At the issue's beginning, Scourge goes on a rampage through the prison, his evil mojo thoroughly reclaimed. He spin-dashes the buff Knuckles that tormented him earlier right in the guy. He tosses the Anti-Lupe that hassled him earlier off a bridge. He kicks a zone cop – possibly based off of Monkey Khan – right in the face. There's an awesome page half-way through entirely devoted to him kicking ass and taking names, both guards and prisoners alike. I enjoy this for the same reason I like to watch “Friday the 13th” movies. Sometimes, it's just fun to watch the bad guy make mince-meat of everyone around him, regardless of whether or not they're decent people.

Flynn probably could've devoted a whole issue to Scourge taking revenge and generally being an amoral bad-ass. However, he does pay off on several lingering plot points set up here. Some nice tension is inserted into the last act, when the Warp Ring Fiona counted on getting the gang out of here is stolen by Jeffrey St. Croix. This allows the not-entirely-interesting subplot about the evil King Maxx trying to escape space-jail a decent conclusion. We also get a justification as to why Horzonti-Al and Verti-Cal had to be in this story. Scourge removes their inhibitor collars, unleashing the robo-death-god versions of the imps last seen in issue 59 of “Sonic.” Which actually makes the annoying duo kind of intimidating, in addition to being a decent pay-off.

After spending the last two issues finally giving the Destructix a back story, Flynn partially devotes this issue to seeing them act as a team. It's surprisingly effective. Lighting's highly effective hearing comes in handy. Fiona's brains helps the whole operation work. Predator Hawk's flight and predatory instinct prove useful. Even Scourge shows himself to be a good leader. At one point, he rushes into danger to insure the escape plan works. Yes, he's doing it so he can reek more havoc and because he really wants to escape. But this also shows that maybe there's a molecule of honor among these thieves as well.

It's a really fun issue that also, unintentionally, ends up being rather bittersweet. Flynn ends the story by setting up future confrontations. The Zone Cops, Zonic especially, are dismayed by the break-out and name-drop all the threats they are juggling right now. Scourge and his boys return to Mobius. Fiona wants to work with Dr. Finnitevus but Scourge is more interested in regaining some serious power. Sadly, none of these events would come to fruition. This is the last time Flynn would write about Scourge before the Pendering forced a hard reboot on Archie's "Sonic" books, wiping out the entire multi-verse and Scourge's existence. At the very least, Scourge's final appearance would be a good one.

By the way, Flynn and Yardley continue to sneak in those fun little in-jokes I enjoy. What appears to be a purple kraken sticks its tentacles out in the bitchin' two-age spread that opens the book. In addition to the possible Zone Cop version of Monkey Khan, we also briefly see possible Zone Cop versions of Duck Bill and Mighty. In the evidence locker, we see Dark Enerjak's brass knuckles, Rosy the Rascal's hammer, and Knuckles' infamous hat from the OVA. Most bizarrely, a mob scene features an appearance from what appears to be a red Angry Bird and the snail from “Spongebob.” Which certainly raises some interesting questions about the multi-verse here.

This story does what a good story is suppose to do: It makes me want to see more. Scourge and his bandits may not be long for this four-colored world but at least their final adventure was a lot of fun. The whole arc was very good, probably one of my favorite “Sonic Universe” plots. [7/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 31

Sonic Universe: Issue 31
Publication Date: August 2011

Looking at this cover reminded me of a little anecdote concerning this particular issue of “Sonic Universe.” Usually, I keep my pile of to-read comic books on the corner of my coffee table. Back in 2011, when the issue was new, my sister was visiting with my then-six year old nephew in tow.  I recall the kid picked up my “Sonic” comics, this issue specifically, and started leafing through it. My sister then asked me if the comic's content was appropriate for him, to which I said it was probably fine. I had completely forgotten about this until I saw the cover image just now. Anyway, on with the review.

Part three of “Inside Job,” subtitled “Inside Job,” follows Scourge as he continues to put together a team, for is upcoming escape from space jail. In this issue, he re-connects with Lightning Lynx and Flying Frog, allowing Flynn to expand on both characters' non-existent back story. After successfully convincing both of them, the escape leaps into action.

If nothing else, “Inside Job” has been a fun story line just for all the silly in-jokes Flynn has thrown in. He has frequently filled the margins with interesting sights. Last issue, Void and Mephilies the Dark showed up briefly. This issue introduces the Zero Zone equivalent of Rouge, who works as the prison's behavioral psychologist. Which is cute. Her therapy class features a robotic Tails, a entity composed entirely of fire, seemingly the Moebius version of Ray the Squirrel, and a bulky version of Amy Rose. (Maybe she's from the same realm as Hulk Sonic.) And if that wasn't fucking nerdy enough for you, there's also a blink-and-miss-it cameo from Silver Snively and Robolactus, the villains from that ill-conceived “Guardians of the Galaxy” parody, last seen a thousand years ago in issue 104 of “Sonic the Hedgehog.” I like this goofy shit.

As I said last time, one of the driving forces behind “Inside Job” was to finally expand on the Destructix's origins. Part three focuses on Lighting Lynx and Flying Frog. However, Flynn has already developed Lightning's back story a little bit. We know he's affiliated with the Raiju Clan ninjas from Monkey Khan's corner of the globe, that he has some connection with the Bride of Conquering Storm. The issue expounds on that a little bit more. Confirming what was hinted at previously, we find out that the lynx had a crush on Conquering Storm. Like some weird Red Sonja shit, courting rituals in the Raiju Clan dictate that a suitor must defeat his potential mate in combat. Lightning failed to do that, being rejected from the ninja brood. In other words: Lightning got friend-zoned and freaked the fuck out, as too often happens. Sort of sad but makes him look like a big creep.

Next comes Flying Frog's origin story. Turns out he was a court jester in that quasi-Arthurian area of Mobius, where Rob O' the Hedge hangs out. He's also a totally deranged murderer, who killed several people back in Murcia. That kind of came out of nowhere, didn't it? Flynn writes Flying very similarly to Bean and Rosy the Rascal, showing that his unhinged characters more-or-less come in one variety. Turning Flying into a straight-up serial killer, when he's only previously been shown to be a little goofy, was a fairly extreme change. It's the only character expansion Flynn goes through here that really bugs me. It seems like he had no idea what to do with Flying and just threw some random shit at the wall.

Once all of that is out of the way, the plot can start to move forward. To paraphrase George Pappard, it is satisfying to watch a plan come together. Within the last few pages, the break-out begins. Watching Lighting and Flying scale the side of the building, seeing Fiona break out, is gratifying to see. As the issue reaches its conclusion, Scourge gets his revenge on Smalls the Cat. Instead of straight up killing the dude, like would happen in an actual prison movie, he simply spin-dashes him into a wall. But the intent is clear. Scourge is done being anyone's butt monkey.

Artwork wise, issue 31 of “Sonic Universe” continues to show good work from Tracy Yardley. How he depicts the flashback are probably my favorite thing about this issue. Lightning's flashback is ringed in purple and green, seemingly the colors most associated with the Raiju clan. A painting of a dragon watches as he gets the shit kicked out of him. Flying's flashback, meanwhile, is depicted in a slightly shakier, more expressionistic fashion. Which invokes his more unstable personality, I suppose. Both are neat touches.

While not quite as strong as the previous two issues, “Inside Job” continues to be a pretty good story arc. I like the setting. I like getting a little more info on these obscure supporting characters, even if some of it gives me pause. I like seeing Scourge transform into a bad ass, reminding all of us why we liked him in the first place. It's a pretty good issue. [7/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 30

Sonic Universe: Issue 30
Publication Date: July 2011

When it comes to Best/Worst list, which I do whenever I wrap a year's worth of reviews up, I more-or-less make shit up at the last minute. However, I've got to say that issue 30 of “Sonic Universe” is definitely a front runner for my favorite cover art of 2011. It's such a fun image, isn't it? Seeing Scourge and the Destrutix in a police line-up, showing lots of personality and attitude, says so much about their characters. These guys stand as a team and you don't want to mess with them.

Part two of “Inside Job,” “Any Port in the Storm,” begins with Scourge in much the same place as before: Getting his ass beat. However, this time, the hedgehog villain has a purpose. After his encounter with the Destrutrix last time, he realizes he has a chance to finally get out of this hellhole. So he proceeds to win the loyalty of the different Destrutrix, biding his time until he can take revenge on those who have wronged him.

“Any Port in the Storm” is clearly the middle part of the story. Issue 30 is devoted to moving plot points into place, so that the rest of the adventure can happen. There's a long series of panels devoted to Warden Zobotnik meeting with Scourge, expressing concern about what the Destrutix have planned for him. It's an issue about Scourge meeting his teammates, winning them over to his side. There's other plot points sprinkled throughout, like Anti-St. John overhearing Fiona Fox's conversation, suggesting King Maxx's role in this arc isn't quite over yet. It's not super smooth but there is something satisfying about seeing a plan come together.

Yet these events serve another purpose as well. Yes, Scourge gets a beating at the beginning of the issue. However, the evil hedgehog is starting to get his mojo back. He's scheming more, plotting his eventual escape from the prison. He's not wallowing in his misery, taking beatings because he has nothing better to do. He's beginning to show why he was such a formidable villain in the first place. So our villain antagonist has got a character arc, which is nice.

However, even this isn't the primarily purpose of this issue. Instead, it's about one of Flynn's favorite things: Fixing bullshit previously writers introduced. He finally gives the Destrutrix a definitive origin. This issue is devoted to exploring the back stories of Fiona Fox, Sgt. Simian, and Predator Hawk. (Lighting Lynx and Flying Frog get their share next time.) Fiona was introduced in 1995 while the other two joined the comic in 1996. That's fifteen or sixteen years in-between introduction and actually learning about these characters. That just goes to show you how fast and loose this comic was with its cast in the early years!

For the most part, the origins are pretty satisfying too. We learn that Fiona is an orphan, abandoned by her parents and enslaved by Robotnik early in her life. Flynn has always been fond of connecting seemingly unrelated plot points – what TV Tropes calls Arc Wielding – and utilizes that here. Predator Hawk's back story is connected to both the Battle Bird Armada and the Babylon Rogues. Connecting such an old character to more recent introductions bugs me slightly. Sgt. Simian's back story is fucking great though. His origin is connected with the Gorilla Army, introduced way back in issue 45 of “Sonic,” which is a very natural tie-in. He's a self-made soldier, defying his society's pacifist ways to take the fight to Robotnik. (We also find out that he's literally a Sergeant, so it's not just a catchy name.) Moreover, we find out their motivations. Predator is motivated by a need to find worthy adversaries. Sgt. Simian is motivated by a need to prove his strength. Just like that, these guys go from thin sketches to fleshed out characters.

You know the most surprising part of this issue? Flynn actually makes me like Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al a little! I know, this is a shocking revelation. The obnoxious twins are basically the story's comic relief. Why Scourge is getting roughed up, the two little guys stand back and talk about how happy they are someone besides them are getting beaten up. They even get a really funny line about how the prison guards like to beat people up! Holy shit, up is down and down is up, you guys. I may be coming around to Cal and Al. It only took nearly two decades.

Tracy Yardley's pencils continue to be strong too, for those that were curious. Though generally not as good as the previous issue, I'm still having a good time with “Scourge: Lockdown.” This is very much an in-between point for the story. However, learning some things about long neglected cast members is perfect for me, a fucking nerd who has been reading this comic book for way too long. [7/10]

Sonic Universe: Issue 29

Sonic Universe: Issue 29
Publication Date: June 2011

“Genesis” was the first time in a while that Archie had set up a big event story arc for their “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic. This would become a more regular thing going forward. The next huge event would play out through both the primary “Sonic” book and “Sonic Universe.” During “Genesis,” however, “Sonic Universe” went about its normal thing, making no attempt to compete with the fan-favorite event happening simultaneously. It devoted a four issue arc to Scourge breaking out of space jail alternate reality jail. I almost feel like Flynn was trying to sneak this one out while nobody was looking. In a weird way, that worked in “Scourge: Lock Down's” favor.

Last time we saw Scourge the Hedgehog, he had been defeated by Sonic, left humiliated on his home planet. The Zone Cops have dragged him away to a prison in their reality. The former king of Moebius is not taking it well. He's bullied and belittled by his fellow in-mates, his only friends being the only bigger losers in the prison, Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al. Soon, a new shipment arrives. It's Fiona and the Destructix. They've devised a plan to bring Scourge out. But the hedgehog isn't so certain...

Scourge, as we've previously seen him, has been Sonic's cockiest enemy. He's all the negative attributes of the hedgehog hero crank up to ten, so naturally his ego is insufferable. With “Inside Job: Part 1,” Flynn brings the villain down to zero. Scourge is routinely humiliated, beaten up by other in-mates, his spines cut short, and intimidated at every turn. This process takes Scourge from lovably wicked bad guy to adorable loser. He's fucking pathetic and you can't help but feel bad for him. It's a clever writing trick on Flynn's behalf, a way to make reader emphasize with one of the comic's most amoral villains, but mostly it's just fun seeing Scourge be the punk for once.

Another purpose of this story is rearranging old characters into new roles. The Destructix, in one form or another, have been floating around the comic for over a decade. Recently, they've been mercenaries, showing up whenever Flynn needed a team of heavies for Sonic to wail on. “Inside Job” re-configures the team as Scourge's flunkies. These guys have worked with Scourge before but now they are exclusively the green hedgehog's henchmen. It's a pretty good idea. In the rest of the arc, Flynn would use this as a chance to explore the team's back stories, which where still mostly untouched on.

Another reason I'm fond of “Inside Job” might just be my love of prison movies. Though less well explored, the prison flick genre has just as stable a collection of rules and tropes as the slasher movie or rom-com. There's always a sadistic warden, various gangs in the prison, abuse among the inmates, and the whole thing usually concludes in a riot. Since this is a kid's book, Flynn can't directly quote this stuff. However, Scourge does have a physically larger cellmate that bosses him around, making him the G-rated equivalent of a prison bitch. The sadistic warden is accounted for, with an alternate version of Robotnik taking a little too much joy in punishing his inmates. There's no skinheads or white supremacist in this prison but gang lines are still apparent. I'm just saying, this is the best possible Sonic the Hedgehog-related version of "Death Warrant."

The alternate universe gimmick also allows Flynn to have some fanboy fun with the premise. The background of the space jail is filled with old and new faces. We get to briefly meet versions of various Sonic stalwarts from Scourge's zone. Scourge's bullies in the prison yard are alternate versions of Lupe, Sleuth Dawg, and Drago. Scourge's aforementioned cell mate is the Anti-Mobius version of Big the Cat, named “Smalls.” (I see what you did there, Flynn.) Evil versions of Geoffrey St. John and King Max put in plot relevant appearances. Seeing Al and Cal in jail is also fitting, considering that's where they belong. We get one-panel cameos from “Sonic '06's” Mephiles the Dark and “Sonic Shuffle's” Void – one of the rare times the comic has acknowledged those games – and Bebop and Rocksteady even show up. As someone who obsessively reads and re-reads Alan Moore's “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and things like that, to catch all the little references in the background, I really appreciate that.

Tracy Yardley is pulling pencil duties this time and does a good job, like always. A setting this creative leads to some neat sights. The Zone Cops still occupy vertical space. Yardley depicts them interacting with the prisoners in various interesting ways, via platforms and magnetic boots. Yardley also delights in depicting Scourge's turmoil. The panels devoted to his abuse – his spines shaved, being dunked into like a basketball by a beefy Knuckles look-a-like – were clearly illustrated with a lot of glee. The colorists did a good job on this one too, as it's a moody looking book.

So Scourge's “Sonic Universe” arc is off to a good start. I'm not terribly invested in the plot yet but there are other joys here. Primarily, the amusing setting and high entertainment value of Scourge being in such a predicament. I remember this being an entertaining arc so let's hope my memories don't let me down this time. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 197

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 197
Publication Date: February 2009

In the past, I've noted Ian Flynn's strength for pacing out the big event storylines. The “Eggman Empire,” “Order from Chaos,” and “Enerjak: Reborn” stories were all followed up with slower paced issues. After finally putting Scourge away for a while, you'd think the author would do something similar. Issue 197 is a stopgap issue between the end of “Hedgehog Havoc” and the plot turns Flynn has planned for issue 200. But it's not a character based one.

Our cover story, “Consequences,” is essentially split in two. The first half is set on the Cosmic Interstate between zones. Sonic is escorting Scourge to the No Zone, the intermediate world policed by Zonic and the other Zone Cops. Naturally, Scourge escapes along the way. Upon arriving in the No Zone, Sonic is shocked to see it under fire by outside forces. Meanwhile, in Mobotropolis, Sally is on trial before the Council of Acorn. By allowing Sonic to drive Scourge back to Moebius, she broke a direct order from the Council, putting them at risk for treason.

In the No Zone sequences, Ian Flynn is essentially doing away with the Zone War concept Dan Slott introduced years ago. Sonic outright asks why Zonic never arrived to capture Scourge, considering both hedgehogs were leaping through zones all willy-nilly. Sonic also asks why Scourge has never tried to capture Eggman, since he's technically an escapee from another zone as well. Zonic answers the latter by explaining that Robo-Robotnik is basically the same as the old Robotnik and the universal balance something-or-other dictates that Sonic must fight a version of Robotnik. As for the first question, Zonic explains that the multiverse is under attack by some jack-ass named Dr. Nega, meaning the Zone Cops have been too busy to capture Scourge. These are technical plot holes I never even really thought about and I don't think Flynn really needed to waste page space addressing them.

You'd probably expect that business about Dr. Nega attacking the Zone Cops to be set-up for a future story line, right? Well, maybe Flynn planned it that way but Sega had other ideas. Dr. Nega is a more-evil alternate version of Robotnik, who first appeared in one of Sega's handheld Sonic games. For whatever reason, Sega's corporate stooges would forbade Flynn from using the character in the comic. In short, Dr. Nega is introduced in order to prevent Zonic and his Zone Cop friends from making future appearances in the book. It's an another attempt by Flynn to put a cap on a previous writer's overly ambitious plot lines. Considering I've also liked the multiverse idea, I'm a little annoyed that Flynn would throw this one in the trash can so wantonly.

The comic devoted half of 2008 to Sonic and Scourge beating each other up. You'd think that would be enough. Instead, “Consequences” sneaks in a little more hedgehog-on-hedgehog action. At the very least, Matt Herms and Tracy Yardley have some fun with this. The Cosmic Highway certainly makes a memorable background for a fight scene. Once in the No Zone, Sonic and Scourge are vertical due to the zones wacky gravity. The typical theatrics are provided as well. Your standard amount of kicking, dodging, and spin-dashing. The best part of this scene comes after Scourge is captured, when he continues to claim that he's Sonic at his full potential. Because some people never learn.

The political intrigue in Knothole is a little more interesting. If nothing else, I admire Ian for following through on Sonic and Sally going behind the Council's back. He could have just let that one past and I probably wouldn't have noticed. It's mostly a moment designed to show off Sally's strength once again. Only this time her argument is a little weak. It boils down to “Yeah, I broke the rules but I've spent my entire life saving everybody's ass, so trust my judgment.” Which probably wouldn't hold up in court.

When Ian brought most of Sally's Substitute Freedom Fighters back at Council members – except for Arlo who I guess fell down a fucking hole or something – I assumed it was mostly a callback to an obscure corner of the comic's lair. It might still be but Flynn at least maintains their original characterization. Hamlin the Pig is a still a prick for no reason. He's the guy on the Council interested in persecuting Sally. Sally asks the pig why he's such a prick, apparently having forgotten that he's always been this way. His response can be summed up as being bitter over being forgotten as a Freedom Fighter and wanting more influence in Knothole. You know, conflicts of interest like that usually got someone kicked out of politics once upon a time.

“Consequences” is a little too focused on narrative mechanics. However, Flynn does sneak in one or two of those little moments I like so much. Sometimes, it's all of a panel. Such as Sally looking hurt, hugging herself, as Hamlin walks away and Rotor touches her shoulder. After his adventure in the No Zone, Sonic returns home and bonds with his parents. This only occupies one page but it's a nice page. Bernie gives a big hug. Sonic reclines on the couch with both of them, admitting that he's still not used to coming home to a house with his mom and dad.

Speaking of emotional moments! Ian saves some space at the end of this story devoted to Snively's on-going e-romance with a mysterious character known as “Regina,” whose true identity would be revealed soon enough. In a nice touch, Herms/Yardley draws Snively bidding his girl adieu in a panel shaped like a heart. We get a few panels devoted to his interior monologue, bitching about how bad things are. Not only does this set up future storylines, including Robotnik's latest scheme, but it's just nice to see Snively in a better mood than usual. You know, the universe shits on the guy. Throw him a bone.

In the back pages, Flynn throws in another one of those contractually obligated Sega game adaptations. “Knight Time” adapts “Sonic and the Black Knight,” otherwise known as the “Sonic with a Sword” game. Some elf wizard or something summons Sonic out of the sky so he can fight some intimidating knight dude. When the villain wrecks Sonic's chili dog, he gets really annoyed. The bad guy then assembles a trio of warriors, which are obviously Knuckles, Shadow, and Blaze in some vaguely medieval looking armor. By that point, the story abruptly ends by informing the reader they should just buy the damn video game already.

By 2009, I wasn't following Sega's “Sonic” games very closely, having been burned too many times before. I was especially disinterested in the so-called “story book” series, which seemed to move the Sonic series even further away from the aspects that endeared it to me in the first place. So, no, I've never played “Sonic and the Black Knight.” This comic appears to be a fairly close adaptation of the game's inciting incident. Out of context, it comes off as incredibly bizarre. You have these random fantasy elements that are totally at odds with the Sonic universe we know. For some reason, Knuckles, Shadow, and Blaze are knights aligned with the bad guy. I suspect even Yardley was a bit baffled by this, as his artwork is slightly off-model. About the only thing that makes sense to me about “Knight Time” is Sonic's nonchalant response to getting summoned to some other world to help fight evil. He continues to munch on his chili dog and tells the wizard lady that this kind of shit happens to him all the time. That seems in character.

Flynn's scripts are still far from bad but the comic is still in a slight slump at the start of the new year. I seem to recall the next big event knocking the book back on its feet. Devoting an entire issue to wrapping up some plot holes and shifting the mythology around wasn't a terrible idea but it was not executed in the best manner. And just forget about that back-up story, which I can barely make heads or tails off. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 196

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 196
Publication Date: January 2009

In retrospect, Ian Flynn devoting nearly half of 2008 to Scourge and the Suppression Squad was probably not a great idea. By the time the first part of “Hedgehog Havoc” rolled around, readers were pretty sick of the rivalry between the parallel Sonics. And, keep in mind, we actually liked Scourge. So I'm happy to see Flynn was wrapping that shit up in 2009's first month. It wouldn't be the last time a storyline overstayed its welcome. Anyway, on with the review.

“Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2” begins with Sally talking the Suppression Squad into heading back to Moebius to rescue Sonic and Amy. What they find is Super Scourge standing over his defeated foes. The Freedom Fighters and their evil counterparts do their best to defeat the tyrant but it's not enough. Even the combined strength of Sonic, Shadow, and Silver fails to put down the super powerful villain. Sonic then realizes the secret needed to win the day...

Issue 196 proves something fans probably could've guessed. Super Scourge is a super asshole. That opening image of Super Scourge floating above all the fighters from the last issue is a decent shock. Of course, none of them are dead. In fact, most of them get right back up. But that's still a startling panel to start a story with. That Scourge immediately swoops down and beats the shit out of the Freedom Fighters and the Suppression Squad in only a few panels further proves how strong and ruthless he is. That he takes such pleasure in thrashing the good guys really sells this scene.

Just watching the bad guy whoop the heroes isn't quite entertaining enough. Flynn continues his characterization of Sally as a shrewd tactician. After everyone gets back on their feet, Sally immediately formulates a plan. Silver pauses Scourge with his telekinesis while Bunnie and Boomer blast him. She has the entire cast dog pile on Scourge, hoping they can hold him still until his super form runs out of juice. None of these plans work but it's nice to see Sally thinking so clearly even after getting tossed across the room by a super powerful hedgehog.

At his best, Flynn has an ability to sneak in cute, small moments between the characters that really beef up the story. We get a few of these in “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2.” The seething distrust between Antoine and Patch is a nice touch, as the two have the biggest reason to hate each other. Miles – as in Anti-Tails – immediately makes a run for it. It says a lot about Miles' personality that he's a cunning little schemer until the shit hits the fan, at which point he skedaddles. Probably my favorite little moment in this issue occurs after Scourge knocks Rosy unconscious. Rob o' Hedge then ties the girl up, taking the time to apologize to Amy first. Ostensibly, he's restraining the unhinged girl. Yet this also shows how much concern Rob shows for his niece.

Of course, there's still a lot of dangling threads to deal with from the last story. Early on, Metal Sonic attacks Sonic, picking the hero as his priority now that Scourge is too powerful. Shadow zips over and immediately Chaos Controls them out of this dimension and into the crossover in the last issue of “Sonic X.” Silver contributes to the fight but, otherwise, has no personal reason to be here. I'm glad Flynn cleans up these plot points as quickly as possible but it proves that Shadow, Metal Sonic, and Silver were thrown into the fight last issue just because it was cool, not because it made sense.

I don't know about you guys but I read comic books because I like to see heroes fighting bad guys. Issue 196 of “Sonic the Hedgehog” really features a stand-out moment. Sonic puts his own life on the line, running out of the castle so Scourge will chase him, keeping his friends safe. An often overlooked aspect is that his thinking is often as fast as his feet. Sonic realizes he can't outrun, outfight, or outlast Super Scourge. Instead, he targets Scourge's ego, getting the villain to power down. Afterwards, he gives the now powerless Scourge a nice speech about the difference between them. He tosses his crown aside and pushes him to the ground. After Scourge has been such a massive asshole for the last few issues, it's satisfying to see Sonic give him such a total beat down.

The only problem with this is how Sonic bests Scourge. Out of nowhere, he comes to a realization. When Sonic powers down from Super Sonic, he's in a euphoric state at the peak of his normal abilities. He figures out that, since everything is backwards on Moebius, when Scourge powers down from a superstate, he'll be drained. Okay, did I miss that this is a plot point? In what previous appearance of Super Sonic did this info come up? Maybe I'm not remembering something but it feels like Flynn really pulled that one out of his ass.

Flynn wraps up by setting up some future story lines, promising that Silver is still out there and that the Suppression Squad still have some wicked plans up their sleeves. Sure. Anyway, “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2” hinges on a pretty bullshit plot point but, otherwise, it's a big improvement over the first part. The action is solid, it's cool to see Sally thinking on her feet, and Sonic gets a strong hero moment. Even as a Scourge fan, I'm happy to see Flynn going easy on that character for a while. I guess 2009 is off to a solid start. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 195

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 195
Publication Date: December 2008

Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book would wrap up 2008 with the first part of “Hedgehog Havoc.” Sonic, Scourge, and Amy are now stuck in Moebius Castle, at the mercy of crazy Rosy and her fatal hammer. This inevitable confrontation is interrupted by a number of outside forces. A hedgehog from the future, calling himself Silver, zaps into the castle, looking for a traitor to the crown. Rob O' the Hedge, who first encountered Silver, is dragged along. Robotnik builds a new Metal Sonic, equipped with an engine that can leap through dimensions, who immediately sets off to find Sonic. Shadow, meanwhile, also teleports into the castle seemingly because he took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. In other words, it's the “Destroy All Monsters” of hedgehog comics.

Let me begin with a rambling anecdote that is barely related to the subject of this review. I promise I'll circle back around to the point eventually. In the seventh grade, a friend and I attempted to write a screenplay. Being young horror fans, we were both obsessed with the classic Universal Monster movies. The project, which we quickly named “Monstrous,” was designed to bring as many as these classic creatures together as possible. Being twelve year old boys, we intended to ram in as much gore and sex as possible. As we wrote the script, it became apparent to me that it's really difficult to juggle all these characters. Monsters would weave in and out of the story, sometimes fighting each other, occasionally murdering or fucking random civilians. Somehow, I managed to assemble something resembling a full screenplay but the titular word described the content. “Monstrous” was, of course, a complete mess. “The Monster Squad” did it way better, obviously.

What the fuck does any of this have to do with “Hedgehog Havoc?” Even though the aim and content are radically different, this story and the deranged scribblings of twelve year old me have some things in common. Both intend on bringing as many similarly themed characters together for a massive fight scene, logic and coherence be damned. Yet to get all these pins lined up, it means juggling a number of plot points. Characters that have no need to be in this story are brought in, the script cooking up shaky justifications for their inclusion. The short version: It's a mess.

For some reason, Ian Flynn chose this chaotic story to introduce Silver the Hedgehog. When introduced in the infamous “Sonic '06,” Silver received a mixed reaction from fans. Sonic fans being who they are, some immediately latched onto him and declared their ever-lasting love. More nuanced observers noted that this franchise really didn't need another superpowered hedgehog. Flynn would eventually form Silver into an entertaining character, writing him as a good-intentioned but inexperienced bumbler. In this first appearance, he just makes grand statements about the world, screams about finding a hero, and zaps Sonic with his psychic powers. He doesn't get very much page space in an overcrowded plot.

As rushed as the explanation is, at least Silver has a reason for being there. Shadow and Metal Sonic are lumped into “Hedgehog Havoc” just so Flynn can achieved his goal of cramming in as many hedgehogs as possible. Metal Sonic at least gets an introduction, being quickly rebuild by Robotnik and hastily setting off on his objective. Shadow teleports into the eight-way fight totally by accident. He grumbles a few lines about attempting to locate the Special Zone before Sonic talks him into fighting Scourge. Shadow has absolutely no reason to be in this issue.

With such a stacked cast, somebody is inevitably going to get left out. Amy Rose and Rob O' the Hedge get the short end of the stick. Amy was basically Sonic's co-lead on this plot up until now. In 195, she asks Buns to get assistance, runs from Rosy, and then gets recruited into the battle royale. She doesn't even have time to say hi to her uncle. She's essentially just there to add another warm body to the fight scene. Rob, being one of the more modestly empowered characters, has even less to do. He escorts Silver to Moebius before he gets drafted to start firing arrows. His only stand-out moment is when he questions Silver's loyalties, by putting a bow upside his head. Which is a question he probably should have asked sooner.

But I get it. This is a fight issue. This is the WrestleMania of Sonic comics, getting as many hedgehogs in the ring as possible and letting them all wail on each other. Yet the inevitable side effect of having so many characters in a fight is that the audience doesn't know who to focus on. There's so much going on, the battle collapses into disorganized sparring pretty much immediately. Sonic, Scourge, and Shadow are spin-dashing all over the place. Amy and Rosy provide excessive hammer swinging. Rob's arrows bounce harmlessly off of everyone. Metal Sonic rushes around and can't get a damn thing done. Silver's reaction to this melee – wide-eyed bafflement – more-or-less matches the reading. And then he joins the fray, throwing psychic lightning bolts around. It's just too much to take in.

The big rumble touted on the cover doesn't crystallize into something sturdy until Flynn has the character reach an important realization: They all hate Scourge. In the final few panels, they surround Sonic's evil clone and chase after him. We already know Scourge can handle multiple aggressors in a fight. This is the place Flynn should've started with, everyone uniting against a greater foe. Instead, Scourge's status as the biggest bastard in the room doesn't come up until the very end, leaving the proceeding twenty pages a grabastic mess.

So, out of all this chaos, what rises to the surfaces? Truthfully, the handful of moments on Sonic's home world are more meaningful than the big fist fight. The comic opens with Bernie, Jules, and Uncle Chuck expressing concern for Sonic. Nicole has to answer their questions and assuage their worries. The two pages devoted to Meta Sonic's reconstruction continue to illustrate Robotnik's failing mental state and Snively's scheming in an amusing, focused manner. Rob's entrance into the story prompts two cute moments: When his echidna wife assures him she'll be okay without him and when Rob bows to Sally, giving the princess the royal welcome. Little moments of character interactions like this are more valuable than endless fight scenes.

And so 2008 wraps up with Ian Flynn's first real stinker. “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 1” has two competing problems. It has two much on its place, with the huge cast. Yet it's goals – a giant fight – are also far too modest. It's just a messy issue and not very much fun to read. Unlike my seventh grade screenplay, it also doesn't have a sex scene featuring the Bride of Frankenstein, which is probably for the best. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 194

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 194
Publication Date: November 2008

One of Ian Flynn's gifts is the ability to get fans hyped up. Issue 193 concluded by introducing readers to Rosy the Rascal, the crazy anti-universe version of Amy Rose. The cover to issue 194 gives fans an even better look at the character, promising us that she would play a big role in this story. Yardley earns some serious points for making the classic Amy Rose design – by default, a super-cutesy character – and turning it into something genuinely unhinged looking. Anyway, on with the story.

Part two of “Other Side” begins with Sonic, Amy, and Buns attempting to deflect Rosy the Rascal's attacks. When this doesn't work out, Sonic runs back to Mobius through a portal hidden in the castle. What he finds is a three way battle at Freedom HQ. The Suppression Squad has turned against Scourge, bringing the Freedom Fighters around as back-up. The conflict continues until Sonic, Scourge, and Amy end up back on Moebius, right in the path of crazy Rosy's hammer.

Last time, I pointed out how Rosy the Rascal was a really neat concept. I've always considered Amy Rose's normal behavior to border creepy stalker territory. Introducing an alternate version of her that crosses that border was a fruitful prospect. Yes, watching Rosy being a creepy little nut case is fun. She sings weird songs and used incongruously childish language, all while threatening to smash people into paste with her hammer. Yet Ian mostly uses her as another obstacle for his heroes here, without exploring the implications of the character. Which is disappointing but not entirely surprising.

Once again, Flynn falls back on his worst tendency. The issue is primarily devoted to fight scene after fight scene. Yet again, I must preface this statement by saying I'm a fan of fight scenes. Some of the ones here are pretty cool. There's a neat panel of Sonic dodging Rosy's hammer, of the two Amys matching their battering skills. The three way fight that erupts in Freedom HQ is solid, showing Scourge successfully standing against two separate forces. However, I can't help but wonder if character development is being sacrificed for action sequences.

That weakness is emphasized because we do get some interesting glimpses at the cast member's inner lives. As everyone around him turns against him, it becomes clear that Scourge's mental state is deteriorating. He's become obsessed with his past victories, with his newfound status as “king” of Moebius. Yet conquering his own world hasn't made him happy. If anything, it's made him more paranoid and power hungry. The Suppression Squad turned against him because they are duplicitous by nature. On the other hand, you really get the impression that Scourge is starting to crack up to dangerous degrees.

We also get a peek into Fiona's inner life. I've been critical of how Ian's interpretation of Fiona has shifted from someone feeling guilty about their past to an actively amoral pleasure seeker. Flynn doesn't delve into this any more but he does show Fiona is a little more complicated than that. While racing through Freedom HQ, Sonic encounters the fox. She stands up to him, defending Scourge while claiming she has no other loyalties. Sonic points this out, which makes her pause. It certainly suggests that Fiona hasn't fully gone over to the dark side. Instead, she's simply confused and hurt.

The biggest flaw with “Other Side: Part 2” is simply narrative. Luck just has it that the abandoned castle on Moebius features a star post, allowing Sonic and Amy an easy escape back to their home world. The script just throws this out there without much explanation. This is, simply put, cheating. It also opens the door for a story that features a little too much mindless shuffling. By the end of issue 194, not too much has changed. Instead, the characters have just jumped back and forth in location. It's still not a bad story but Flynn better have a satisfying payoff to all this coming soon.

The back-up story continues this issue's habit of giving us little looks into the villains' inner lives. “Sleepless in New Megaopolis” follows Snively. Robotnik's nephew is increasingly dissatisfied with life in New Megaopolis. He feels like Robotnik's grip on sanity is starting to slip. He's annoyed that their army has been depleted, that the city is in ruins. Mostly, he's irritated that the new Dark Legion recruits refuse to respect him. While e-mailing other Eggman Empire employees overseas, Snively wonders if he's made a personal connection.

If anything has defined Snively over the years, it's his desperate need to be feared and respected. This is why he eagerly orchestrated the original Robotnik's death, why he immediately attempted to assume control of the empire. Which made the countless setbacks he's suffered since then hurt even more. Being belittled by the newly mad Eggman and the Dark Legion really infuriates him, furthering a frustration he's already feeling. All of this stuff is handled really well, proving an unusual factoid again: That Snively is one of the characters Flynn writes the best. The budding e-mail relationship with a mysterious somebody in another country is setting up an up-coming plot point but it's easy to see why this appeals to Snively so much. Just finding someone who treats him as an equal, who gives him some positive attention, is a big boost for the little guy.

194's cover story concludes by officially introducing Silver the Hedgehog into the Archie continuity. Silver is a character I certainly have some thoughts on and I'll save those for next time. I'll just say that, in 2008, his sudden appearance did not encourage me, especially with the current storyline quickly getting jumbled. Still, it's not a bad issue and has a strong backstory, even if some of Flynn's flaws are becoming more and more apparent. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 193

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 193
Publication Date: October 2008

I don't know if it was a conscious decision on Flynn's behalf but most of 2008 was focused on Scourge the Hedgehog. Maybe Ian was hoping to expand on Sonic's rogue gallery in general? Maybe the writer just wanted to explore an underdeveloped part of Sonic's world? Maybe the writer was capitalizing on Scourge's popularity with fans? Either way, that focus would continue with issue 193, the reader getting closer look at the alternate universe Scourge calls home.

While Sonic was out playing fist-tag with Scourge and the Metal Sonics, Rotor and Tails were modifying the Star Posts. They have created a portal to Moebius, the mirror universe that started this mess. Sonic is eager to crossover, hoping to ruin Scourge's world the way Scourge ruined his. For some reason, Sally assigns Amy Rose to be with Sonic on this mission. After arriving, Sonic and Amy meet radically different versions of Dr. Robotnik, Bunnie, and Amy herself. Meanwhile, back at Mobotropolis, a Suppression Squad member appears with an interesting proposal.

In the twenty-some years the Anti-Mobius premise existed in the Archie “Sonic” comic, we've gotten a few looks at the alternate universe. However, these peeks have always been rather brief. We'd see Anti-Sonic lounging in his base, get a fleeting glimpse at the mirror Robotnik, and that's about it. In “Other Side,” Ian finally gives readers a more in-depth look at this strange world. We learn that Dr. Kintobor, the benevolent veteran that exists in Robotnik's place, lies inside a peaceful forest within an invisible force field. This is a neat inversion of the polluted wasteland that Robotnik Prime inhabits.

Out of all the appearances that Moebius has had in the comic, Bunnie Rabbot's evil doppelganger has only appeared once before. I have no idea why Bunnie was overlooked so often. Flynn makes this a plot point. In an inversion of Bunnie's partial roboicization giving her super strength, “Buns” developed a degenerative physical condition. Naturally, Scourge had no use for her after that. Kindly Dr. Kintobor built her a robotic suit, armed with non-lethal weapons. (This robot suit is based on E-123 Omega, a Sega character that still hasn't officially appeared in the comic yet.) It's clever writing, utilizing common sense ideas that were previously unexplored. It's fan service but in the best way.

You'll notice I'm talking a lot about the characters and their world this time. Recently, I've complained about Flynn focusing on the fight scenes too much. The first half of “Other Side” is fairly light on the action, in the best way. Yeah, Sonic and Amy tussle with Buns in the Omega Suit after they first make it to Moebius. Other than that, Flynn is focusing on building up this world. I, personally, appreciate this a lot. Nothing against the fight scenes but the characters and their weirdo universe is why I've been reading this book since I was five years old.

The Mirror Universe versions of Dr. Robotnik and Bunnie have been referenced before. Anti-Amy Rose, meanwhile, has never appeared before. She's called Rosy the Rascal, a reference to Sega deep cut “Sonic the Fighter.” The character essentially deconstructs Amy Rose's personality. I make jokes about Amy Rose having a stalker-esque obsession with Sonic. Rosy, meanwhile, literally is Scourge's stalker. Both characters utilized a magical ring in order to get closer to their object of affection. The same ritual totally broke Rosy's mind, turning her into a complete nutter. Fitting this issue's October publication date, Flynn plays all of this for creepiness. Rosy hangs out in an abandoned castle. She sings spooky songs to herself. It's well done.

Back on Mobius, the intrigue continues. Miles, Tails' evil twin, comes to Mobotropolis with a proposal. He explains that the Suppression Squad hates and fears Scourge. He offers a truce to Sally and the others, teaming up to defeat Scourge. What makes this really interesting is Miles' naturally duplicitous personality. It seems likely that the Anti-Tails really would betray Scourge. Yet it's equally plausible that he's hoping to mislead, trick, and double-cross the heroes. (I guess that would be a double-double cross?) Since I can't remember what happens next, that actually creates some mild tension, keeping the reader invested even though Sonic and Amy's adventure is way more interesting.

In the back pages, Flynn once again utilizes the “Another Time, Another Place” setting to help advertise “Sonic Unleashed,” the then-new Sonic game. The story is also entitled “Sonic Unleashed” and basically adapts the game's opening cut scene. Super Sonic races into Eggman's latest doomsday satellite. The villain drains the Chaos Emeralds powering Sonic and fractures the planet below. Somehow, this process also transforms Sonic into a furry, fearsome being called the Werehog. Robotnik tosses the Werehog out the air lock and... Buy the game to find out what happens next, ya' fuckin' schmucks!

Flynn's “Sonic Unleashed” accomplishes what its suppose to: It makes the reader aware of the video game's existence. The comic adaptation does pretty much nothing else, telling a sequence of events that you could also see after putting the disc in your game system of choice. The comic adaptation does not justify why the Werehog, Sega's worst idea since giving Shadow a gun, needed to exist in the first place. (It also doesn't get into the dumb ass, needlessly convoluted mythology inside “Sonic Unleashed” but that's probably for the best.) Inevitably, this story leaves a bad taste in my mouth, since Flynn would adapt the same source material for the weak sauce post-reboot story. Other than that, it's hard to criticize a story whose whole purpose is to advertise a product.

The cover story is a lot of fun, that dives into unexplored corners of the book's universe that fans are eager to experience. The “Sonic vs. Scourge” story arc was starting to weigh on me but this one got me interested in it again. The back-up is utterly forgettable and disposable but I'm not going to hold that against the issue. When the Sega Corporate Overlords demanded something, Flynn had to obey. Otherwise, this is another good one. [8/10]