INFO BURST

Format: Comic strip
Initial Release Date: December 1992
Feature character: Sonic the Hedgehog
Villain: Doctor Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik
Other Characters: Tails, Sally Acorn, Antoine D’Coolette, Badniks (Buzz Bomber, SWATbots), Rotor Walrus
Locations: The Great Forest, Robotropolis (Robotnik’s factory), Knothole village
Items: Robo-Machine
Continuity: Archie Comics
Synopsis: Sonic and Tails encounter Sally near the edge of the Great Forest. Sonic warns her not to stray out of the forest but Sally tells him to mind his own business and stay out of her way. Sally storms off out of the forest and Sonic suspects Antoine may be the reason for Sally’s mood. However, Antoine is equally fearful for the princess’ safety as he has found a royal proclamation from her stating her intent to meet with Robotnik and bargain for the release of her father. The proclamation states none of the other Freedom Fighters are to interfere. Nevertheless, Sonic, Tails and Antoine attempt to stop Sally, only for her to rebuff them and take a flight with Buzz Bomber to Robotnik’s factory in Robotropolis. As Sally is carried off, a cage rises from beneath the ground and captures the other three Freedom Fighters. Sally is dropped down one of the factory’s smokestacks and into Robonik’s laboratory, whereupon Robotnik makes clear his intent to betray Sally, ordering a pair of SWATbots to put her in the Robo-Machine. Sonic arrives on the scene in time to rescue Sally, cutting through the wall- as he did the bars of the cage- with a spin. Robotnik attempts to fire a concealed atomic ray gun at Sonic but finds he has been pickpocketed by Antoine, aided by Tails. Sonic destroys the Robo-Machine and he, Tails and Antoine return Sally to Knothole. Unfortunately, it is revealed that Rotor and Sally had been working on a plan which required Sally to be captured and thrown into the Robo-Machine. Her boots, designed by Rotor, contained all manner of specialised equipment which would have jammed the Robo-Machine, analysed its effects and allowed for its reversal, which would have freed everyone Robotnik has turned into a robot. Sally fumes and storms off once more while Sonic, Tails and Antoine feel rather sheepish.

CREDITS

Writer: Michael Gallagher
Artists: Scott Shaw, Bill White, Barry Grossman
Letterer: Dan Nakrosis

Review

The early issues of Archie Comics’ Sonic the Hedgehog series are, generally, light-hearted affairs with a greater focus on the comedy than on the plot. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this approach and, in fact, it makes most of these early adventures an absolute delight. Unfortunately, the downside to this is sometimes the stories end up falling into classic comic book cliches to get to a punchline rather than focus on the plot itself. Such is the main failing of this early instalment in the series.

The entire story utilises a tried and tested (or perhaps that should be “worn thin and run into the ground”) comic book archetypal story of the heroes having a misunderstanding that would have been sorted if only they’d taken the time to talk to one another. “How was the hero to know his friend had a great and cunning plan to take down their arch-nemesis? Oh, tsk and tut, I suppose we’ll have to see how they fare next issue instead!” It’s all part and parcel of having to maintain the status quo and, unfortunately, the second issue of the comic is rather too early to be playing that particular card because surely nobody believes Robotnik is about to be overthrown at this point in the story. Ultimately, though the comic is hoping your reaction to Sally and Rotor unveiling their plan will be a laboured slap of the forehead accompanied by a groan, the only logical response to it all is: why on Mobius did they not just tell the others what the plan was? If the entire story hinges on not one but two of the leads behaving so unbelievably foolishly (one of whom being the genius inventor, mind you), then the entire premise is flimsy. The reader is already predisposed to side with Sonic anyway- it’s his book after all- and all the twist in the tale’s end does is make them think Sally is an idiot.

All that aside, even if taken at face value, Sally’s actions are somewhat nonsensical. Even if she absolutely had to stick to her plan, what was the reason for her being so brusque (if not outright rude) with Sonic, Tails and Antoine? Obviously seeing her act out of sorts is precisely the kind of thing that would make them want to press the matter further. You may well say it doesn’t matter because the comic requires certain things to be contrived in order for the story to occur. While it is true that sometimes the plot has to take precedent over other elements, there’s nothing wrong with wanting the story to make sense when held up to even the smallest amount of scrutiny.

The saving grace of this story is the art, with the regular cast once again brought to life in superb fashion by the pencils of Scott Shaw. Everyone is expressive and fun to look at and action sequences are well-rendered and laid out. Ultimately, if you can stomach a story that doesn’t make a great deal of sense, you should at least be able to get a smile out of the art.