Sonic Quest: Issue 3

 
Sonic Quest: Issue 3
Publication Date: November 1996

As in the first issue, the second issue of “Sonic Quest” ended on a big ol’ cliffhanger. The Death Egg had squatted itself on the Floating Island and, using its powerful engine, was determined to sink the entire landmass into the sea. And just as it did last time, the book quickly resolves that cliffhanger. Sonic and Tails fight with Robotnik, eventually wrecking the Death Egg’s control panel, sending the war ship higher into the sky. Determined to salvage his evil plan, Robotnik takes the fight straight to Sonic.

Issue 3 is probably the best chapter of the “Death Egg Saga” if only because it’s the one that screws around the least. For one, it’s set mostly within the titular warship. Primarily, the story is focused on heroes wrecking the bad guy’s shit. Sonic and Tails team up to dislodge Robotnik’s scheme, truly working together in what feels like the first time in a while. The mad man and the hero have a one-on-one fight. The bad guy’s evil plot is defeated, his war machine squashed, and the book even remembers to throw some lip service towards the King Acorn subplot. This is easily the smoothest script to emerge from this mini-series.

 
It still has some pretty serious flaws though. Once again, I don’t know what the hell was going on with Mike Gallagher’s dialogue. His work in the other books wasn’t like this. “Sonic Quest” once again features some painfully heavy-handed, bloated dialogue. Robotnik explains what the Death Egg is doing as it does it. Sonic narrates his combat with the SWATBot and later spells out his fight with Silver Sonic in equal detail. Tails recaps the villain’s plot. Robotnik details every step of his scheme, whether it involves Sonic being smothered with poison gas, the Death Egg’s direction shifting, or the introduction of the book’s big robotic enemy. Every single page in this book is filled with overstuffed word bubbles. Was this an editorial decision? Or was Mike really making sure newcomers understood what was going on?

“Sonic Quest” also has the same problem that all of Archie’s three-part mini-series face. Three issues really isn’t enough space to develop this storyline. After only one issue of actually doing anything, the Death Egg is unceremoniously destroyed. Robotnik’s scheme is deflated before it even really begins. Considering how big a deal the Death Egg is supposed to be, Tails has a surprisingly easy time blowing it up. A few stray shots to the control panel send it soaring into space. A few easy steps, done off-panel, begins the ship’s self-destruct sequence. Despite his prominent placement on the cover, Knuckles plays a small role in the book. (The cover lies. He never teams up with Sonic.) The Floating Island business is quickly resolved. If “Sonic Quest” had just one more issue, it probably could have spread its story around in a more satisfying manner.

As was the case last time, action is where this book truly excels. Throughout the book’s history, it has portrayed Sonic and friends escaping Robotnik’s wrath too easily. This time, the mad doctor traps Sonic in a glass trap and pumps in some poison gas. If Tails hadn’t intervened, our hedgehog hero would be dead as dog shit. I also like that “Sonic Quest” gave Tails so much to do. He successfully infiltrates Robotnik’s warship, rescues his idol, and destroys the Death Egg. That’s a far cry from the incompetent kid he was in his own mini-series. Lastly, the book ends on some pretty big rumbles. Sonic battles Silver Sonic, a giant mechanical version of himself. The Archie version of Silver Sonic is far more intimidating then the goofy looking version from “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.”

Afterwards, Sonic crawls inside the mecha-hedgehog and uses it like armor. This is well-timed, since Robotnik had just slipped into his own battle suit, given the punful name of “The Eggs-o-Skeleton.” The battle between hero and villain is too brief but it’s pretty satisfying to see Sonic and Robotnik battle one-on-one. For arch-enemies, they rarely fight head on. This is usually fine, as Sonic is physically gifted and Robotnik is mentally gifted. However, there’s something to be said for the good guy and the bad guy wailing on each other.

The plot has still got some issues and Gallagher’s dialogue is astonishingly bad. However, part three of the “Death Egg Saga” satisfies in a way the previous two issues didn’t. An additional plus is Manny Galan’s artwork, which has gotten more competent with every issue. He’s finally got a solid grasp on Sonic and friend’s anatomy. (He’s also the only person to draw Tails with a neck, I think.) He’s good at action and movement too, which works with this script. I can’t really recommend the “Sonic Quest” series, as its troubled production is all too obvious. Still, it is slightly better then its reputation suggests and wraps up on an okay note. [7/10]

Sonic Quest: Issue 2

 
Sonic Quest (Mini-Series): Issue 2
Publication Date: October 1996

After an underwhelming first issue, “Sonic Quest: The Death Egg Saga” rolls on like some sort of spherical object down a hill. Issue 1 ended on multiple cliffhangers: Sonic had been captured by Condorbot! Tails had been sucked up into the Death Egg! Robotnik had successfully launched his warship! King Acorn’s condition was worsening! Issue two sets about resolving most of those problems. Turns out, Sonic was playing possum with Condorbot. He quickly out-smarts the robot and sneaks aboard the Death Egg. Tails, meanwhile, sneaks inside the remains of a downed SWATBot, piloting the machine like a puppet. He uses this disguise to get closer to Robotnik. The mad scientist has used the Power Rings to form a protective shield around the Death Egg and now targets the necessary fuel to power the ship’s ultimate weapon: A Chaos Emerald. He heads towards the Floating Island, bringing Knuckles the Echidna and the Chaotix into this plot.

The second issue of “Sonic Quest” is fairly notorious among Archie fans. Not because of its plot or artwork. The script is far more focused then the first issue and Manny Galan’s art is mostly okay. No, the comic befell a number of printing errors. About a third of the book’s pages have a washed-out blue coloration overlaying all the art. This unintentionally cast a weird, melancholy, noir-like atmosphere to most of the story. Archie is sometimes noted for cutting corners. That they let an error like this make it to print does not speak well of the company’s overall quality control.

Printing errors aside, “Poached” – all of the “Death Egg Saga” issues have excruciating egg puns for titles – is a big improvement over the first story. Oh, there’s still lots of exposition-heavy dialogue. Robotnik spends many word bubbles describing the Death Egg’s properties and his goals. Tails has an on-going interior monologue from inside the SWATBot suit. He gives lip service towards getting the jump on Robotnik but never does. Sonic breathlessly describes his actions while fighting Condorbot. Knuckles gets the worst of it. Furthering my belief that this mini-series was meant to introduce the characters to new readers, his first appearance here has him explaining his gliding abilities and his duties as guardian of the Floating Island. (Weirdly, the book also has him shouting shit like “By the beads of Athair!” or “By the shadows of Mt. Fate!” or “It cannot be so!” I’m not sure why Mike Gallagher thought he was writing dialogue for a Thor comic book.) Furthermore, the Chaotix and their corresponding super-powers all get pointed out.

Despite these issues, “Poached” isn’t just devoted to laboriously setting out the storyline’s later events. There’s actually some movement to the plot here. Just what the hell Robotnik plans to do with the Death Egg is established. Once he gets a hold of that Chaos Emerald, he’ll robotocize the entire planet. Shit, that’s a big deal! Though disappointingly pushed to the sidelines – our heroes don’t actually know what he’s up to – this at least gives the story some high stakes. It also adds some forward momentum to this plot. Robotnik is on a fetch quest which is more clearly defined then the nebulous evil plot the first issue set up. There’s also some solid action here. I like Sonic’s mid-air battle with Carl Condor and the Chaotix fighting off a pair of giant Burrowbots.

Despite mostly focusing on the plot, issue 2 of “Sonic Quest” also features some okay emotional beats. This story is focused on Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. This disappointingly sidelines Sally and the other Freedom Fighters. (Bunnie and Antoine don’t even put in an appearance in this issue, though they’re mentioned in dialogue.) Still, Sally gets a moment to herself. The stress of Sonic and Tails’ uncertain fate and her father’s worsening condition gets to her. She actually weeps, crying on Rotor’s shoulder. Unnoticed, King Acorn also cries a single tear, feeling his daughter’s pain. It’s a decent emotional moment, somewhat undermined by Gallagher’s dialogue. He actually has Sally say “Boo-hoo-hoo!” To a lesser degree, Robotnik being so wrapped up in his villainous plot that he doesn’t notice Sonic entering the ship or Knuckles’ threating about the fate of the Floating Island are also decent touches.

Well, it’s getting better. “Sonic Quest” got off to a rough start. Though this issue still has its fair share of flaws, such as Gallagher’s wooden dialogue or some production problems, it’s definitely an improvement over part one. Will the series wrap up on a decent note? I guess I’ll find out soon. [6/10]

Sonic Quest: Issue 1

 
Sonic Quest: Issue 1
Publication Date: September 1996

The “Sonic Quest” mini-series has always raised a question in my brain: Why? Unlike the other Sonic-centric mini-series Archie would launch, “Sonic Quest” did not star a member of Sonic’s supporting cast, functioning as a pilot of sorts for a spin-off series. (I imagine Archie already had plans for their much-desired spin-off series, as the “Knuckles” on-going would debut the next year.) There’s nothing about this three issue mini-series that couldn’t have been told in the on-going book. Much of the story’s plot is deeply entrenched in what was happening in the monthly book. The “Sonic Quest” series would be plagued with production problems and printing errors, leaving it with a poor reputation among Sonic fans. For these reasons and more, it would be the second-to-last mini-series Archie would spin off from the main book. As I look back over these three issues, let me continue to try and decipher why they exist.

Plot-wise, “The Death Egg” saga picks up where Issue 41 left off. After rescuing King Acorn from the Zone of Silence, the King has fallen under a strange condition. Mentally, his mind remains scrambled and unresponsive. Half of his body has crystallized into a Chaos Emerald-like material. Tails gets the idea that Power Rings might effect the King’s condition. Sally sends the Freedom Fighters off in different directions, in order to find these rings. Meanwhile, Dr. Robotnik plans to launch his deadliest weapon yet. The Death Egg, a massive air ship, launches into the sky, interrupting Sonic’s plot to rescue the King.

Off all the various other “Sonic” medias Archie’s comic book tied into, the video games have always been the least important. Look no further then the various direct video game adaptations Archie has done. The “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Sonic & Knuckles” adaptations were extremely loose. The “Triple Trouble” one-shot pushed the video game elements into a two-page spread in the middle of the book. The “Knuckles’ Chaotix” adaptation featured about three elements from the game. The comic has generally been too busy building its own weird mythology to focus on the video games. So, on one hand, that might explain why “Sonic Quest” exists. The series is sort of an adaptation of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.”

Which may reveal the other reason why “Sonic Quest” exist. I suspect this mini-series was meant to introduce new readers to the series. First off, it throws in elements from two of the most popular “Sonic” video games, the product this comic was ostensibly meant to promote. Secondly, the book is packed full of exposition about things regular readers will already know. Sally spends an entire page explaining the events of the last couple issues. There are long word bubbles devoted to explaining King Acorn’s conditions, the function of the Power Rings, the entire purpose of the Pond of Rings, and what the Death Egg is. Then again I may be totally wrong, as this issue is also deeply connected to the other things happening in the universe. So, if it was meant to introduce new readers, it probably didn’t do a very good job of it.

After that previously paragraph suggested, issue 1 of the “Death Egg Saga” features some really heavy-handed dialogue. Mike Gallagher wrote this one but you'd be forgiven for assuming it’s a Penders’ joint. (Though Gallagher still found some room for his trademark puns.) The book is so busy laying down the details of the mythology that it doesn’t have room for natural sounding dialogue. About half of the dialogue here is devoted to blandly explaining the situation. Truthfully, the reveal of the Death Egg is shoved into the back of the book. Otherwise, what does this issue contribute to the mythology? King Acorn’s condition would remain a plot point for a while. Mostly though, it clears up a minor continuity error: That the Pond of Rings shown in “Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles” and Issue 39 aren’t the same place. Gee, thanks for mentioning that.

So what does the first issue, punningly subtitled “Scrambled,” do right? Once all the explaining is out of the way, at least it has a clear plot for the heroes. Sonic and Tails head off to find the Ring Grotto outside Robotropolis, where Tails accidentally ends up sucked inside the Death Egg. Sonic, meanwhile, runs off to meet Carl Condor., the leader of an avian-themed group of Freedom Fighters... A character that has never been mentioned before. I’ve never been entirely convinced that Carl Condor wasn’t meant to be Cyril Eagle, a character introduced back in Issue 12 and rarely mentioned again. Of course, Carl Condor turns out to have been previously robotocized. I’ve always been a fan of the Condorbot, solely because of its pretty neat design. Disappointingly, the robot shows up, catches Sonic off-guard, and yanks him up into the sky. The Death Egg, meanwhile, doesn’t appear until the end of the book.

Manny Galan handles the artwork for this issue. Galan previously did pens for Issue 39 and his work there was pretty terrible. Galan has already shown a lot of improvement. He draws Robotnik, Sally, and Rotor decently. His Sonic and Tails need some work and they occasionally wander off-model. Galan’s Snively just looks weird. His facial expressions are slightly odd too. Still, Galan has a really nice sense of motion and incorporates lots of detail into his work. He’d get better and he’s already not bad as this point.

Maybe “Sonic Quest” will get better? The first issue has a pretty heavy-handed script and pushes the best parts to the margin of the book. Maybe now that the Death Egg has actually shown up, the story will progress from here. [5/10]