INFO BURST

Format: Comic strip
Initial Release Date: 30/10/93
Feature character: Sonic the Hedgehog
Villain: Doctor Ivo Robotnik
Other Characters: Steve Owl, Badniks (Caterkiller, Splats, Spikes, Ball Hog, Newtron, Roller, various unnamed Badniks, Moto Bug), Animal Friends (various, unnamed)
Locations: Mobius, West Side Island, Hidden Zone, Sky Fortress, Emerald Hull Zone
Items: Flying Egg
Continuity: Sonic the Comic
Synopsis: In the Hidden Zone, a pair of friends spot a shooting star in the sky. However, the meteorite lands and reveals it’s no shooting star, but Sonic the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, Sonic has no memory of who he is, but recalls being aboard Doctor Robotnik’s new Sky Fortress. The Hidden Zone’s leader, Steve Owl, assures the amnesiac hedgehog that Robotnik has no idea where the Hidden Zone is. However, up on the Sky Fortress, Robotnik delights in the fact Sonic, having fallen from the flying platform, has led him directly to the Hidden Zone. Robotnik sends in Badniks to attack and plunder the Hidden Zone and the assault rages until a Moto Bug calls Sonic by name, snapping him back to normal. Sonic defeats the Badniks in no time at all. With the Hidden Zone no longer hidden, Steve Owl and his fellows follow Sonic to the Emerald Hill Zone, where Sonic encourages them to take a more active role in freeing Mobius from Robotnik.

CREDITS

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Carl Flint
Letterer: Ellie de Ville

Review

There are plenty of classic comic clichés that are well-worn but still get plenty of use. The amnesiac main character is most assuredly one of these. However, when done well, a cliché doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, this story uses that very same cliché to pretty reasonable effect for most of its length.

The trick to using a familiar story beat well in a comic such as Sonic the Comic is to use it to raise the stakes effectively. That’s actually precisely what Hidden Danger! manages to begin with. Sonic has lost his memory and that in itself isn’t particularly interesting – but having Robotnik strike while the iron is hot and attack the Zone Sonic has landed in while he has no memory raises the stakes quite significantly. Tails is not present in this story because, naturally, he would be able to remind Sonic of his identity immediately. What this means is Sonic is the only hero on the scene capable of stopping Robotnik. But, of course, he can’t do that if he can’t remember he’s Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s not a particularly original basic concept, but it’s applied pretty well here!

Unfortunately, where the story falls down is in its resolution of that amnesiac plot. Obviously, Sonic was always going to get his memory back, but the method by which it happens – a Badnik identifies him – feels contrived and unimaginative. The confused Sonic remarks early into the tale that he doesn’t remember who he is, but he does remember he was cool. Perhaps the awakening for his memory returning could have been him seeing the denizens of the Hidden Zone in peril and remembering that he is cool because he helps save people. As it is, the Moto Bug merely flicks a metaphorical switch and returns Sonic to normal because that’s what the plot requires. It’s a real shame because while the basic idea was hardly ground-breaking, there was room to make a point about Sonic’s character.

We do get a little bit of fun character stuff, to Mark Millar’s credit, however. When Sonic returns to normal, so too does his cockiness and self-confidence and one of the Hidden Zoners remarks that they preferred Sonic when before when he was less obnoxious. This is followed up by another animal replying that Sonic still saved them. There’s definitely an important point to be made about Sonic there – he’s sometimes a little abrasive, but he’s still a good guy and he will always help those in need.

Steve Owl and the other Hidden Zoners moving to the Emerald Hill Zone to join the fight against Robotnik is also a nice idea, but it again could have just done with a little more, perhaps directly addressing the fact the Hidden Zoners can’t make a difference if they keep hiding away. It’s also very funny how clearly rushed this wrinkle is because Sonic simply “finds” a bridge from the Hidden Zone to the Emerald Hill Zone, which means it can’t have been that hidden to begin with and Robotnik’s obviously a bit inattentive to have not spotted it beforehand.

Carl Flint’s art in this issue has received a little flak over the years, but I think it’s fine. It’s far from his best work on the comic and it’s definitely interesting to think he’d become one of STC’s main regular artists when his first showing looks so radically different to his later work, but it’s bold and vibrant and overall just rather fun to look at, with Flint’s signature messing around with visuals and perspective tricks, not to mention his delightful penchant to put a spin on a location – the Hidden Zone is locked away from the world, so keys feature in décor all throughout the location.

Hidden Danger! is not groundbreaking stuff and it doesn’t stick the landing all that well, but it’s definitely a step up for Millar’s Sonic scripts into “harmless” territory.