Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 177

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 177
Publication Date: July 2007

With issue 177, the first major story arc of 2007 wraps up. Sonic began this story totally defeated at his enemy's hands. He would end it victorious. While it may seemed like Flynn planned it that way, apparently the corporate overlords intervene. As previously discussed, one of Sega's brain dead mandates on the book was that Sonic could never loose. This would seem to limit the series' plotting potential, since the hero potentially loosing his fights is kind of what causes dramatic tension in actions series like this. Sega would only allow the crushing defeat in 175 if it had turned around by 177. But it all worked out okay, because Flynn was once really good at working around the dumb mandates.

Having escaped Robotnik's Egg Grapes last issue, the Freedom Fighters are happily hanging out in the New Mobotropolis Nicole has built for them from the Nanite City. The surrounding force field is strong enough to protect against the Eggman Empire's constant bombardment. Inside the dome, Sonic and his friends tend to the wounded and realize the magnitude of what they have won. Eventually, Robotnik comes calling for another personal showdown.

Despite what the cover promises, this is not an action packed story. In fact, it's almost an entirely character-centric conclusion. That's a pretty interesting idea, ending an event story line with an extended resolution like this. Maybe that's fitting, considering what Ian has pulled off here. “Home, New Home” finishes the reconstruction he's been putting the comic through for the last year and a half. The new status quo is set up with this one. The heroes have a new base, a new line of defense against their greatest enemy. The changes aren't exactly done but all the debris that was laying around when Flynn first came on the book has been swept away, the useful pieces built into something more orderly and focused.

That this story is given such an affectionate title as “Home, New Home” is very fitting. One of the things I loved so much about SatAM and the comic's early days is how homey and comfortable Knothole Village felt. Yes, Sonic and his friends were fighting a guerrilla war against a dictator with a humanity draining weapon. That has been lost for quite some time, since King Elias and Karl Bollers rebuilt the tiny village into a growing city. With “Home, New Home,” Flynn has recaptured that early feeling of safety, of comfort. New Mobotropolis is a lot more then just simple grass huts. Yet it maintains the comfort, the familiarity of the old location. It also has an nigh-impenetrable laser shield and the city can even come alive to protect people, confirming that safe feeling.

Issue 177 is also about examining the losses that have occurred. Nobody has died during the Eggman Empire arc. Maybe somebody should've. Maybe Ian got his blood lust out of the way during “The Darkest Storm.” Yet the Freedom Fighters didn't come away from this fight without some injuries. Rotor's back is in a sling, after being buried in some rubble during Snively's attack on Freedom HQ. Charmy is still acting very peculiar, following his exposure to the Egg Grapes. Sonic... Well, he's mostly okay, according to Dr. Quack. It's not a huge deal but, when mainstream comics toss major injuries and deaths aside with such ease, it's nice to focus on the recovery a bit.

A major goal of Flynn's, that has been very apparent for the last few issues, was to de-bitch-ify Princess Sally. He's had her back on the battle field more often. He's had her apologizing for the grossly out-of-character writing she suffered under Boller's pen. He's had the People's Princess interacting with the commoners more, realizing an important part of her royal duty is to serve the public. In other words, Flynn has given Sally her agency back, so that she's no longer at the whims of the plot. This comes full circle in “Home, New Home.” Sally gets a significant haircut. She looses the long red hair she's been sporting since the “Home” arc. She's back to the tomboy-ish bob she wore in the SatAM days. This visual cue makes something all too clear: The Sally we fell in love with is back. Thank god for that.

Through all of this character work, Ian is still finding time to squirrel away older, lingering plot points. This speaks to either his strengths as an organized writer or just how much bullshit was left by the old crew. Probably both. Anyway, Robotnik sends the team of B-list villains – Mogul, Naugus, Nack, Bean and Bark – to intimidate the Freedom Fighters. Instead, Nicole uses the city's new built in defenses to immediately teleport them into jail cells. This leaves these guys alive but indisposed, until Ian finds a place for them again. We also see Hope Kintobor for the first time in a while. Pissed at Snively for lying to her, she flies off. This also allows Ian to some breathing room, to use Hope at a later date.

He also uses this slower paced issue to set up more future plot points. During the siege on new Mobotropolis, we catch up with what Dr. Finitevus is up to. Something sinister, it turns out. He's prepping the return of Enerjak or, more accurately, the unveiling of a new Enerjak. This also reminds us that Scourge is still out there, being an asshole. Lastly, Tails' parents continue to hint at their plans for the royalty. At the times, this was probably meant to suggest something more severe. Maybe their time in outer space scrambled their brains, making them evil? Flynn would go in a different direction with that, something a little less trite. Setting up the new blocks after knocking down the old ones is smart writing.

The token action sequence this issue includes also has its purpose. When Robotnik lands in front of New Mobotropolis, still wearing the Egg Beater armor, he demands to face Sonic again. The hedgehog marches outside to fight. And he brings all his friends along with him. This makes two points. That the Freedom Fighters are the greatest assets Sonic has, that they won't be going anywhere in Flynn's brave new world. It also serves to humiliate Robotnik the way he humiliate Sonic two issues ago. Which is fair and fitting.

In conclusion, “Home, New Home” is a pretty great conclusion to a pretty great story arc. It's a deeply satisfying read, promising exciting new adventures to come while giving our heroes a victory they can be proud of. It also returns some really important elements, and feelings too, that have been absent for a while. Which is really important to me, an old school Sonic fan who likes things done a certain way. [8/10]

Sonic X: Issue 21

Sonic X: Issue 21
Publication Date: June 2007

Issue 21 is around the time Archie's original “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book started to get good. While it would take quite a few years for the series to reach anything resembling a consistent tone – even the more serious stories were often followed up by goofy ones – no. 21 was when more serialized elements starting creeping into the comic. That's when life and death stakes became apparent, when relationships started becoming something important. I was hoping “Sonic X” would undergo a similar transformation around the same time. The series would reach its halfway point with this issue, after all. If the goofiness contained in this comic is any indication, a similar tonal change is unlikely.

Issue 21 would feature yet another new writer taking a crack at this series. “Sub Sonic” was written by somebody named Mike Bullock. The story details Grandpa Chuck reading news that an old lab partner of his has successfully invented a matter shifting machine. The guy's lab is right next to a toy store, where Chris hopes to buy some new action figures. Naturally, Eggman and his cronies attack around this time. Sonic, Tails, and the villains get struck by the ray, shrinking to small size. The chase ends up in the toy store, where further shenanigans ensue.

Mike Bullock at least doesn't stick to the “Sonic X” formula as closely as James McDonough and Adam Patyk did last time. Instead, Bullock seems to follow a trend Joe Edkin employed from time to time: Mash up Sonic with a classic genre story. “Sub Sonic” is essentially “The Incredible Shrinking Hedgehog,” while also drawing some probable inspiration from the toy store scenes in “Toy Story 2.” Sadly, bullock doesn't bring the same manic energy that Edkin added to his “Gremlins” and “Evil Dead” riffs. “Sub Sonic” is, instead, a standard action comedy story with low stakes, goofy slapstick, and very little tension.

Sadly, the story doesn't even utilize the goofy potential that idea has. Sonic and friends going on a rampage through a giant toy store could've featured all sorts of endearing silliness. What about Sonic fighting among the action figure shelves, as the cover teases? Using a teddy bear as a shield or crafting weapons from all sorts of plastic doodads? Instead, the toy store is merely used as set dressing. Eggman jumps in a remote controlled monster truck. Sonic briefly utilizes slinkies to protect himself. In another possible riff on “Gremlins” – maybe I just see “Gremlins” everywhere – Tails drives a pink sports car around at one point. That's pretty much it. This could've been way more fun.

It must be said that Eggman and his henchmen are still total buffoons. For what feels like the one hundred time, Eggman's evil scheme is spurned on after watching a TV news report. This time, his anger is activated by somebody taking attention away from the line of toys he's designed or something. While exploring the toy store, Bocoe and Decoe pause to fight over a Barbie doll, apparently mistaking her for a sexy fem-bot that they both desire. I guess I'm just not a fan of this interpretation of the character. I like my Robotnik to be a devious, ruthless villain, not a bungling man-child who somehow manages to build giant death machines every month.

If you want to talk about wasted potential, what about that ray gun Chuck's old partner invents? The story begins with the idea that Chuck and this guy worked on the device as a way to teleport matter across dimensions. This conversation is presented along side Sonic and friends wondering if they'll ever make it home. Seems like these two points would connect, right? Nope! It's disappointing that the issue starts in such an ambitious place and just uses it to set up a standard “hero gets shrunk” story line. Similarly underwhelming is the way the issue begins with Sonic having nightmares that foretell the adventure he's about to have. Does this have any deeper significance? Not that I can tell.

Hidden in this issue are also some not so subtle jabs at some of Sonic's competition. The toy line Chris is hoping to collect is called “Robonicles.” Which is, you'll notice, a pretty similar name to “Bionicle,” a Lego action figure line that was very popular around the time this comic book was published. Why did Bullock associate this popular, real life toy line with part of Eggman's evil scheme in this comic book? Once again, I have no idea. There's also a less direct jab later in the story, when Sonic and Tails stumble upon some stuffed toys modeled after them, annoyed by the bad likenesses.

At least the artwork is pretty good. David Hutchinson returns to penciling duties. It's not his best working, lacking the moodiness that characterizes his better issues. Yet it's very solid. The action is smooth. The characters are on models. The faces are expressive. What's frustrating about “Sonic X” isn't that it's so consistently mediocre. What annoys me is that it so clearly could be better, if the writers were willing to put a little more effort into things. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 176
Publication Date: June 2007

Issue 175 of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series would establish new writer Ian Flynn's structure going forward. That issue would start a three part story arc, running through 177. Throughout the next two years, going towards the next anniversary edition, that's how things would function for “Sonic.” Simple, concise storylines that run for three or four issues, taking place in the new order Flynn had built for himself. In retrospect, it might very well be the writer's best period, as he kept up a consistent sense of quality. Considering how the book was floundering only recently, that counts for a lot.

Anyway, “Cracking the Empire” continues where 175's “Eggman Empire” left off. After torching Knothole and leaving Sonic to stew in his defeat, Robotnik heads off to his home city to luxuriate in his victory. Before he can turn on the Egg Grapes, and drain the hedgehog's friends and family of their life sources, a rescue mission bursts in. Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy, working off a plan from Nicole, attack Robotnik's lab and free their captive friends. They find themselves in a new home, one Nicole has built from the ashes of the old. Yet this victory isn't won quite so easily.

I'll admit, “Cracking the Empire” is slightly disappointing. After seeing Dr. Robotnik crush Sonic's home and his spirit so totally last issue, the remaining Freedom Fighter's immediately turning around and attempting a perfect rescue mission seems anticlimactic. It's not an especially complex plan either. The quartet of heroes ride into Robotropolis, bust their way into the Egg Chamber, and free their friends. The only conniving aspect of the plan is how they escape, what with Nicole reprogramming Robotnik's teleportation beams to send them to safety. I don't necessarily want to see our heroes miserable and defeated but maybe they shouldn't have bounced back from their previous defeat so easily.

Instead, Flynn sticks our heroes dealing with being beaten into the beginning of the book. Sonic returns to the ruins of Freedom HQ. Amy is distraught. Knuckles is stunned. Tails, meanwhile, is angry. He gets into an argument with Sonic, incensed that his friend is so casual about the massive defeat they just suffered, mistaking Sonic's resolve for apathy. This continues a plot point Flynn has been playing with from the beginning of his run. That Sonic and Tails' friendship is about to come to blows, years of resentment showing its ugly head. We'll see pay-off on that soon enough. Like I said, I don't necessarily want to see the heroes in-fighting like this forever. But maybe a little more stuff like this would've made that rescue mission more meaningful.

Another reason Sonic and pals can rescue the other Freedom Fighters so easily is because Robotnik takes time to gloat. Instead of immediately turning the captured heroes into living batteries, he humiliates them further by saying mean things to them. On one hand, I totally get this. Watching Robotnik gloat is admittedly fun and in character. He's a sadistic bastard and a bit of a ham. Yet it also shows Ian falling prey to a very old flaw: The Villainous Monologue, such an ubiquitous troupe that mocking it isn't even fun anymore. Again, if Robotnik really wanted to win, he should've just murdered everyone immediately. But that's comic books, I guess.

What really saves “Cracking the Empire” from just being a collection of cliches is the touching conclusion. Like I said, bombing Knothole to the ground was Flynn rather literally portraying in the comic what he's spent the last year doing. And, in 176, he continues this literal streak. Now, Knothole has been rebuilt. Nicole has taken the still remaining Nanite City, left over from so many issues back, and remade it into a New Mobotropolis. As in, a new capitol city of the Kingdom of Acorn and Mobius. Years before, after Endgame, the Freedom Fighters reclaiming the old Mobotropolis was a mixed victory. They got their city back but it had been ruined by Robotnik's abuse. The heroes rebuilding their city totally from scratch, into something new and pure, is way more touching. New Mobotropolis represents hope for the resistance. Which is hope for the reader too.
New Mobotropolis also allows for another hopeful reveal. Flynn has referenced Nicole's holographic lynx form a few times over his run. By building a city for her friends, Nicole has created a place where she can keep her lynx avatar active at all times. This begins another serious change the writer has been pushing for since he came on. Nicole's personality has grown a lot over the last year or so. Now, her growth into an actual character can really begin. Sally greeting the Holo-Lynx with a big hug is even more touching.

Tracy Yardley's artwork really gets a workout on this one. His strength for big emotions, maybe even overdone emotions, comes through in the earliest scenes, when Amy is crying and Sonic and Tails are arguing. The faces are really vivid, almost comically so. This comes up again when Sally believes Sonic has led them into a dead end. She makes a face so anguished, it's actually sort of painful to look at. The panels of Robotnik villainously gloating about his victory are framed by shots of Sonic and the others sneaking into his city. It's also fun to look at the Egg Grapes and spot some obscure characters, like Sally's team of Substitute Freedom Fighters, making an appearance.

We're not done yet. The last page promises another conflict behind the Freedom Fighters and Robotnik. They've earned their new city but they won't get to keep it without a fight. I have some problems with issue 176. It's not as good, not as big of a gut punch, as the proceeding issue. However, there are enough decent moments – fun ones, like the action, or emotional ones, like the reveal of the new city – to redeem this one in my eyes. Hopefully this is just a slightly flubbed middle act on the way to an awesome conclusion. [7/10]

Sonic X: Issue 20

Sonic X: Issue 20
Publication Date: May 2007

Most of Archie's “Sonic X” series has been written by Joe Edkin, with Ian Flynn subbing in for a handful of issues. With issue 20, Archie would invite a new duo of writers onto the book. James McDonough and Adam Patyk would write this issue. Since I have no experience with the “Sonic X” comic, I have no idea if McDonough and Patyk would stick with the book or if this is just a temporary stop-off for the team. Yet it certainly seems like Edkin would contribute less and less to “Sonic X” from this point on.

In “Speed Lines,” Sonic is going about his heroic business, saving lives and stopping Eggman's wicked plans. He continues to show up Sam Speed, formerly Station Square's number one superhero. In a moment of desperation, Sam Speed is picked up by a mysterious mechanic calling himself Robbie Nick. This guy provides Speed with a fancy new race car, one that can fly and is actually capable of outrunning Sonic. Of course, “Robbie Nick” is Dr. Eggman. Sam's car turns into a giant robot and immediately attempts to murderize Sonic and his friends.
The team of McDonough and Patyk do not deviate very much from the “Sonic X” formula that has been established up to this point. As in many of Joe Edkin's issues, Eggman is inspired by something he sees on TV to build a new giant robot. This ridiculous new robot, based on some sort of pre-existing idea, attacks Station Square or Sonic directly. Sonic then trumps Eggman's plan without too much effort. About the only seemingly required element McDonough and Patyk skip is Sonic getting a plot resolving power up from a Power Ring. I don't know if somebody at Sega or Archie demanded the comic follow these story set-ups or if the new writers were just following the previous one's lead. It's a little disappointing, either way.

Throughout the series, Sonic and Sam Speed's rivalry has come up from time to time. Speed isn't a bad guy. However, the jealousy he feels for Sonic's heroic has caused him to make some poor decisions in the past. In “Speed Lines,” Sam once again ends up aligned with Eggman due to his inability to recognize an obvious trap. Sadly, the book never comments on this ambiguity. Sonic forgives Speed at the end, promising it'll never happen again. I honestly wish the book would just make Speed a real villain, instead of leaving this lingering tension between the two heroes, never to be resolved or built on properly.

However, “Speed Lines” did make me laugh once. Eggman's “Robbie Nick” disguise got a couple of chuckles out of me. First off, I like that “Sonic X” actually acknowledged what Eggman's American/True and Honest name is for once. Secondly, the villain throwing on an easily seen-through disguise, dressing up as some goofy profession, positively reminds me of the cartoon absurdity of “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.” Or maybe I just like seeing Eggman in trucker clothes and his robot henchmen in Evel Knieval gear. It's the only real gag in the book that made me smile.

The back cover of issue 20 features an advertisement for Michael Bay's “Transformer” movie, which would hit theaters a few weeks after this comic book came out. Perhaps not coincidentally, “Speed Lines” also features a giant, transforming robot at the center of its story. The robot that Sam Speed's new car changes into is obviously inspired by Hasbro's wildly profitable toy franchise. The robot has the same vaguely Japanese head design that countless Transformers share. Having Sonic go up against a transforming robot doesn't shake things up very much. The machine shoots a couple of missiles at the hedgehog, throws some electric bolts around, and punches and kicks at him. If this was meant as a direct parody or homage of “Transformers,” very little thought was put into it.

The final fight does bring Knuckles into the story. The echidna just happens to spot one of the big explosions the robot causes from his perch on Angel Island. Convenient how that worked out, wasn't it? In classical buddy cop fashion, Sonic and Knuckles bicker as they fight an enemy together. Instead of appreciating how each other's skills helped save the day, they argue about which direction to run in or which pun to use. It's not very much but it ends up being one of the more interesting things about the story. By the way, Knuckles is the only “Sonic X” supporting cast member to really play a serious role in this issue. Tails, Amy, Cream, Chris, and Grandpa Chuck only appear briefly.

You know, Sonic being bested by Sam Speed might've lead to an interesting character moment. What happens when the fastest hedgehog's confidence in his speed is shaken? Instead, this is quickly bypassed for more goofy shenanigans. I'll bump this issue's rating up one strictly for that lovably goofy gag of Eggman dressing up as a trucker. Otherwise, “Sonic X” is another formulaic, forgettable comic book of a series that too often could be describe that way. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 175

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 175
Publication Date: May 2007

Archie had always made a big deal about the anniversary issues of “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Every twenty-five issues – every two years – the book would throw some fancy graphics on the cover, drawing attention to that number in the corner box. Most comics only trot out this kind of treatment every 100 issues. The reason I suspect that Archie brought out the bells and whistles every twenty-five issues is because the company never thought “Sonic” would run very long. “Sonic's” seventh anniversary issue would be the first such issue Ian Flynn would write, the first of several.

 
Sonic and friends relax at Freedom HQ. When Sally asks about his good mood, Sonic calmly states that he believes the Freedom Fighters have Robotnik on the run, that it's only a matter of time before they win. His optimism is misplaced. Snively, wearing a specialized robotic suit, tears the roof off Freedom HQ. He uses handheld teleporters to capture most of Sonic's friends. An air fleet bombs Knothole Village to the ground. Robotnik appears wearing battle armor specifically designed to combat Sonic's abilities. Sonic fights him but he can't win. Robotnik flies away, the hedgehog's will crushed.

The central point of “Eggman Empire” is something that Sega's notorious corporate mandates wouldn't have allowed a few years later. This is an issue asking what would happen if Sonic lost. Flynn was going to take this comic book's hero to his lowest point. Sonic getting his ass whooped and getting his home burned down wasn't just about the shock value. It was symbolic of what Flynn was doing to the book. Ian spent most of his first year disposing of extraneous elements left over by the previous writers, about putting the mess the comic had become back in order. He was blasting stuff away. After this issue, Sonic would have to reinvent his world. After this issue, Flynn would begin to truly make the comic his own.

Just blowing Knothole up and beating the shit out of Sonic wouldn't have been any different from the shock value stuff the big two pull all the time. Ian makes this stuff matter by opening the issue with the Freedom Fighters being themselves. The Chaotix play a video game, casually competing with each other. One of my favorite moments shows Rouge's attempts to flirt with Knuckles, much to Julie-Su's chagrin. Tails, cloistered into a computer room with Rotor, wonders about his relationship with Sonic and parents, not totally at peace with either. It's such a nice series of scenes, showing the joys and concerns of everyday life in Knothole, among characters we've grown to love over a ten year period.

And then it all gets torn away. Ever since Karl Bollers made the decision to have Robotnik discover Knothole's location, I've often wondered why the tyrant just didn't flatten the entire village with bombs or nukes. In “Eggman Empire,” Flynn has Robotnik essentially do just that. Snively tears the roof off Freedom HQ, grabbing most of the Freedom Fighters. Sonic then races through Knothole, seeing locations that mean a lot to him – Uncle Chuck's dinner, his parent's home – ablaze. The lake of rings is a crater. The entire city has been razed to the ground. This is still technically a kid's comic. Seeing images like this is surprising, if not startling.

As an anniversary issue, this one features some big action. Snively's attack on Freedom HQ features an awesome bit of Mighty ripping the mech's arm off and smashing it over the robot's head. But the big action arrives when Robotnik touches down in the ruined Knothole, wearing an impressive mechanized battle armor. Some cool moments that follow have Sonic surfing on the missiles Robotnik launches. Or Sonic dodging the Green Hill style wrecking ball or laser beams the suit is outfitted with. Tracy Yardley really makes these sequences come to life.

Yet that's not what's truly impressive about this fight scene. While blasting and beating Sonic, Robotnik gives him an earful. He reminds him of his failures: Tommy Turtle's death, Jules still being robotocized, Princess Sally dumping him. He brings up the not unbelievable fact that the Freedom Fighters' petty resistance has never had much of a chance against his heavily armed empire anyway. (That Robotnik brought Knothole to its knees within the span of an issue certainly supports that theory.) What stings the most is the hardest bit of truth the villain lays on our hero: That, after fighting him for so long, the planet isn't any more free than before. He's not just crushing his body. He's attempting to crush his spirit. This level of psychological warfare isn't something we're used to seeing from the bad guy. It's the most intimidating Robotnik has been in a long time.

Flynn knows how to write the Eggman as a competent villain. He also knows how to write Sonic as an endearing hero. The hedgehog's spirit is not so easily crushed. He keeps on fighting and fighting. One of the issue's most notorious moments has Sonic showing off the full extent of his speed. After Robotnik claims Sonic has reached his limit, he launches off on a run. He runs from the location of Knothole – which, as we all know, is deep in the heart of modern day Georgia – and up the entire East Coast, before returning to hit Robotnik's mech with a super speed punch. All within the span of a few seconds. That's, you know, really fucking fast. Even then, Robotnik's armor survives with just a dent.

I've always felt that Yardley's artwork is slightly goofy, even on his best day. But the guy knows what he's doing. The artwork in “Eggman Empire” is fittingly moody. The sight of Knothole, ablaze, is conveyed with the proper amount of power. Shadows are utilized excellently, making Eggman's entrance especially impressive. The design work is solid too. Robotnik's armored suit – which we would later find out is named the Egg Beater, an excellent pun – is actually one of the cooler looking designs. Obviously based off the final boss from “Sonic 2,” the potentially unwieldy weapons of a shield and a wrecking ball are actually incorporated smoothly into the overall design.

Of course, this is a comic book. Robotnik doesn't kill Sonic when he has the chance. Instead, he chooses to live him alive and humiliated. The Freedom Fighters aren't murdered, blasted to bits by some sort of super ray. Instead, they've been teleported into Robotnik's Egg Grape prisons, his “Matrix” style organic battery system. Tails, Knuckles and Amy, three of his most powerful allies, are still around and kicking. Naturally, the heroes are left alive to make a comeback next issue. That doesn't drain issue 175 of its power. It's an impressive bit of action, full of several genuinely effective shocks, and gives us some decent insight into Sonic and Robotnik's psychology. Good job, Flynn. [8/10]

Sonic Free Comic Book Day 2007

Sonic Free Comic Book Day 2007
Publication Date: May 2007

Before 2007, Archie rarely acknowledged Free Comic Book Day. A nation wide event that occurs every May, primarily to give people an incentive to visit their local comic shops, I don't think Archie participated in the event before that year. I don't know if this was Ian Flynn's idea or, more likely, someone in editorial making this decision. Either way, “Sonic the Hedgehog” would regularly get Free Comic Book Day stories from this point on, many of them original stories created especially for the day.

In “Unburying the Hatchet,” Sonic has been captured by Eggman, thanks to some help from his latest Metal Sonic model. Instead of just killing the hedgehog when he has the chance, Robotnik plans something a little more devious. Next we see Sonic, he's running into Knothole and wailing on all his friends. It turns out Robotnik has inserted a mind control chip into Sonic's ear and is now controlling him via remote. Sally has prepared for this. Knuckles and the Chaotix are sent in to beat the shit out of Sonic until the device is dislodged.

Sonic turning against this friends isn't exactly a new story. Archie first took a stab at the story in a two-parter published in issue 27 and 28, when an amnesic Sonic was tricked by Robotnik into attacking his friends. A little while later, the “Mecha Madness” story line would run with a similar premise. That time, Sonic would be robotocized, literally loosing his free will to his greatest enemy. “Unburying the Hatchet” tells a story halfway between these two extremes. Sonic has lost control of his body but can still see, feel, and think about everything that happens to him. Sadly, Flynn doesn't explore how this weighs on Sonic's mind very much. He feels bad about it but that's about the only insight we get.

Having said that, there's a reason those earlier story arcs worked as well as they did. There's a certain amount of drama inherent in seeing Sonic turn against his friends. There's also a degree of comic book-y fun derived from watching heroes fight heroes. Sonic knocks his fellow Freedom Fighters out with ease, taking down the entire team with one spin-dash. The Chaotix fall just as easily, with a few well placed punches and kicks. The image isn't exactly shocking – we've seen it before – but it still counts for something.

Knuckles, on the other hand, is a more of an even match for the hedgehog. Sonic and Knuckles fought so much in the book's early days that a fight like this wouldn't have been very exciting in 1996. But that was a long time ago. Seeing the two, long since established as friends at this point, wail on each other has a certain fun factor. It's a good fight too, the two crashing through walls. The blow that takes Sonic down is a head kick from Tails and an undercut from Knuckles, vividly illustrated by Tracy Yardley.

The resolution to the fight is a bit disappointing though. After Sonic gets punched hard enough that Robotnik's mind control device gets crushed, Robotnik and Metal Sonic fly into the castle, determined to take care of business themselves. Instead, Sonic points out that he's surrounded by all of the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles destroy Metal Sonic in seconds and Robotnik high-tails it out of there. That's underwhelming. I get there's only so many pages here to explore but the bad guy just being scared off is a bit of a bummer.

Probably my favorite moment in the first “Sonic” FCBD special doesn't involve Sonic at all. While Robotnik controls Sonic with a handheld controller, Snively gets pissed at him. He believes the doctor is wasting his time and resources. He then attempts to sabotage some of Robotnik's other robots but he's quickly interrupted. Once again, Snively's uncle has foreseen his treachery and planned accordingly. But it's fun to see Snively up to his old tricks again, always power hungry but too incompetent to ever succeed in his plans.

2007's Free Comic Book Day adventure is ultimately fairly minor. The story should have high stakes but the approach remains fairly low key. I suspect the story was intentionally designed that way. This one is a treat for long time fans and newcomers. It's not meant to interrupt or contribute to the main book's on-going story arc, though it does nod towards Robotnik's plans for issue 175. It's mostly an excuse to watch Sonic and Knuckles fight, which is fine. However, it's not especially memorable and, if this one isn't in your collection, you're not missing anything important. [6/10]

Sonic X: Issue 19

Sonic X: Issue 19
Publication Date: May 2007

I've talked about this over and over again while reviewing “Sonic X.” If there's nothing else interesting about this comic, it's the way the Sonic characters are shoved into our world. In the past, Sonic and friends have experienced Earthly holidays and traditions. They have, from time to time, visited different famous cities around the world. While “Sonic X's” quality would also come off as somewhat compromised, at least the idea of the blue hedgehog speeding around Earth as we know it is sort of interesting. Issue 19 might as well be “Sonic Goes to Las Vegas.”

The Thorndyke family has its fingers in seemingly everything. I guess that's why they are so rich? The latest venture of Chris' dad is a casino in Vegas, bearing the family name. Even though Chris is too young to gambling, he still tags along with his dad to the grand opening. Naturally, Sonic, Tails, and Amy follow too. Coincidentally, Eggman and his minions are also in the city. He's built – what else? – a giant robot, with the intention of robbing the casinos. I guess its luck that Sonic happen to be there?

I'll give Joe Edkin this much. He often makes the most of what he's given. “Muerta! Las Vegas!” features several loosely disguised Vegas landmarks. Even though this is a kids' book, it's sort of surprising that most of the issue is set in a casino, places where kids aren't always allowed. Then again, this is modern day Vegas we're talking about. It's a candy colored theme park for the whole family. So naturally there's a video arcade in the Thorndyke casino. (And it's not as if “Sonic” is unfamiliar with random gambling references.) Still, Edkin includes pretty much everything the city is associated with except for the surrounding desert, Siegfried and Roy, and the call girl cards littering the sidewalk.

Sadly, Edkin doesn't mine very many laughs from contrasting Sonic and friends with the Vegas location. A large section of the story is devoted to the quartet hanging out in the arcade. Chris and Sonic play a racing game. Sonic is unenthusiastic and unfamiliar with the controls, Chris winning the race. Since he's such a sad, pathetic creature with so few victories in his life, Chris is overjoyed by this. Later, after beating Amy at the same game, Rose smashes the cabinet. Luckily, Eggman attacks the city before the four can get kicked out.

You'll notice I haven't mentioned Sonic much in this review. The blue hedgehog actually removes himself from a long portion of the book. You see, Sonic doesn't like the casino, as it remind him of a previous time when Eggman stuck him inside a giant pinball machine. Okay, fair enough. Yet Sonic turning into such a moody child is definitely surprising. He flees the city and hangs out in a field of flowers for a while. Plot wise, this happens so Sonic won't be around to immediately stop Eggman when he attacks the city. Which is pretty lazy writing, really.

I continue to object to how “Sonic X” characterizes Eggman. He's a big dumb ass, focused on stealing human money so he can build more weapons of mass destruction. That's pretty modest goals for a villain of his intellect. Way too often, this series has fallen back on him building a goofy giant robot that is easily thwarted by Sonic. It's a formula “Sonic X” has relied on pretty much since the beginning. Issue 19 isn't any different. This issue's giant robot is slot machine themed. Instead of getting cash when certain images line up, different forms of attacks are activated. And they're are pretty useless too. What's the combat advantage of shooting lemonade or cherries at someone?

“Sonic X's” writing might be pretty boring but at least the artwork has been consistently nice for the last few issues. Tracy Yardley comes back to draw this one. Out of all the book's regular artists, Yardley adds the most emotion to the stock “Sonic X” designs. Nutty Eggman, grouchy Sonic, and pissed Amy look especially good in Tracy's style. Chris making such a big deal about winning a video game is pretty annoying but Yardley draws his reaction with such energy, that it almost works.

You know, after a slow start, for a while there it seemed like the “Sonic X” comic might actually be getting kind of good. When the series was focused on doing high energy homages to classic genre cinema, it actually became pretty fun. When it falls back on this lazy formula, it's competent but quite boring. At least Ian Flynn's stories tend to be a little more character based. You can really tell when Joe Edkin is phoning it in. Here's hoping for a random “American Werewolf in London” homage. [5/10]