“Home, New Home” Eggman Empire III - Sonic the Hedgehog #177
This issue is something of a “cool down” story. It resolves the arc but it also functions as a slow character piece almost like a bookend to “Union”. The story hints at future plot points, reiterates where certain characters are in their development, while also establishing the new stat quo and where characters will progress from here.
Sally is one of these characters. She makes a resolve to take back control of her life and Bunnie and Antoine help her along on this road to recovery.
It’s no “telling Max to shove it where the sun don’t shine” moment. (Sadly we’ll never get to see that) But it is still an important step forward, one that’s been building up since Antoine’s return.
It’s pretty significant that Sally comes to this revelation with both Bunnie and Ant present and not just because they’re two of her best friends. As Antoine states himself here, he’s made no shortage of mistakes in the past. But not only has he overcome his previous shortcomings and is now a respected hero in his own right, his love ones have always supported him and believed in him even before that. Bunnie for her part, has faced no shortage of hardship and trauma and yet has still found happiness and purpose in her life. They’re inspirational, and if they can do all that then Sally can do it to.
So after everyone gets together to kick Eggman’s ass.
Sally shows off her new ‘do to signify her return to her roots, letting the audience know of Ian’s plans to progress Sally beyond her submissive abusive relationship with her dad.
also let’s end this awesome arc with a awesome panel because I love the artwork from this era.
“Cracking the Empire”Eggman Empire II - Sonic the Hedgehog #176
We start right where we left off last issue. Eggman has destroyed Knothole and captured everyone. Sonic’s been beaten to a pulp but fortunately Tails, Amy, Knux, and Nicole manged to escape and they formulate a plan.
While Eggman is gloating they bust in and free everyone while Nicole reprograms the transporter. Which takes them all to New Mobotropolis, rebuilt useing ADAM’s old nanite tech.
Like last issue this story is important to everyone and the over all story, however Bunnie and Ant themselves get very little to do. Fortunately this will change in the next part.
But before I close out for this week I wanted to point out just a few things.
Nicole now can keep her Mobian form within the city making her a fully fledged member of the cast and not just a fancy tool.
Charmy Bee is injured by the egg grapes, (a plot device that’s been simmering in the background since the Return to Angel Island arc two era’s ago) He’s been permanently disabled since then.
On the one hand consequences and showing that Eggman’s plan is dangerous is a good thing. On the other hand this tragic development is treated to comedic effect as an excuse to bring the character closer to his game’s counterpart, who isn’t nero-divergent but just a literal child in that continuity. It feels off and unintentionally insulting. Like the comic doesn’t even bother to give a name to his disorder. I think they’re going for something similar to dementia, but instead of showcasing serious symptoms they just make him sillier and slightly dumber to mirror his cloud-cuckoo-lander personality from the games.
oh and the art work is gorgeous. I love all the little details thrown in, like Bunnie’s and Mighty’s shells being cracked cause they both tried to bust out or Elias grasping his wife and child as they escape.
It’s little background touches like that that make this comic sing.
Sonic X 1-20 (not actually covered in the retrospective, but it’s there)
A lot of changes happen during this era, both behind the scenes and on the page. A lot of long running plot points come to fruition, a lot of fundamental alterations to the world happen, and a lot of character deaths occur. Nearly every issue is important setting up these big and bold transitions. In fact “transition” is perhaps the best word to describe this era, as we make switch from Penders/Bollers to Ian Flynn.
Major events of the era are….
(There’s probably too many to name but let’s give it a try)
Nicole constructs her mobian form for the first time - StH 151
The nanites are introduced and Snively joins the FFs - StH 152
Armand and Max get sick - StH 153
Tommy Turtle is infected by the Nanites - StH 154
Patch is outed and Antoine is returned home - StH 155 & 156
Elias becomes king - StH 156
The nanites infect other citizens of Knothole - StH 159
Sonic’s birthday - StH 160 & 161
Bean and Bark are introduced - StH 160
Scourge gets an upgrade - StH 160 & 161
Blaze shows up - StH 160 & StH 161
Snively betrays the FFs and tricks Hope into leaving Knothole - StH 162
The Babylon Rogues appear - StH 163
The Sword and Crown of Acorns is destroyed for good, Sir Connrey dies, the Ancient Walkers die, Eggman’s “daughter” Mecha dies, and Natagus returns - StH 162 - 164
Mobius 25YL comes back - StH 166 & 167
Flashback to another birthday - StH 167
Armand dies - StH 168
A.D.A.M. uses the infected nanites to try in conquer the universe, merges all the chaos emeralds into seven super emeralds, and Tommy Turtle dies to stop him StH 168 - 169
The seven super emeralds wind up in the zone of silence transforming it into the special zone and Tails’ parents return - StH 170
Fiona pulls a face heel turn - StH 172
Chao are introduced - StH 172
Bunnie and Ant get engaged - StH 173
Bunnie and Antoine get married - StH 174
Knothole is destroyed - StH 175
Rotor brakes his back - StH 175
Favorite thing about the era: Closure
Not only do we wrap up a whole lot of lingering sub-plots and villain schemes, but we also get a lot of character resolvement as well. Bunnie and Ant are reunited and move forward in their relationship. Elias accepts the responsibly he’s denied for so long. Antoine finds closure in his father’s passing. Shadow makes peace with his past. Snively shows some humanity and comes to care for his sister. Fiona gives into temptation. Tails is reunited with his family. Sally admits that she’s was acting out and takes steps to mend her relationships and take control of her life more. Even Eggman loses his “children”, making him even colder and harder then he was before. There’s just a lot of satisfying character beats that hold everything together.
Least favorite thing about the era: Stories aren’t allowed to breathe
So much happens in this era at such a break neck pace. No less then five characters die in story arc that spans only two issues, and those parts don’t even take up the whole book. Major plot revelations are sometimes compressed into a handful of exposition heavy panels. Pages are wasted on nothing “stories” like extended off-panel parodies or unnecessary backstories on irrelevant secondary characters. Frankly it’s a minor miracle that we get any meaningful character reflection or insight at all.
Favorite Antoine Story: “Courage and Honor” - StH 168 by Ian Flynn
This is the accumulation of Antoine’s character arc thus far. The point where he comes to terms with himself and who he is and what he once was. It’s beautiful.
Favorite Bunnie Story: “Sonic’s Angels” - StH 152 by Ken Penders
Wait! Here me out.
Are there better stories in this era featuring Bunnie? Yes, absolutely. But merely featuring isn’t the same thing as focusing. Every other story this era that brings Bunnie to the fore doesn’t give her any individualist focus. She is presented either as a background supporting character or as half of greater whole, with equal if not more focus given to Antoine. “Sonic’s Angels” is the only story that gives Bunnie a unique personal dilemma to overcome and puts focus on it. Now it could have better handled and nothing of worth came from it but I’ll still give credit where it’s due. Bunnie versus the nanaties plot is her story, not Antoine’s, not hers and Ant’s together, not Sonic’s (though the comic tries to make it that) but hers alone.
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Favorite Buntwan Story or Moment: Their engagement and wedding in both “Round-Up” and “Union” - StH 173 & 174 by Ian Flynn
Both these stories are equally important and so interconnect that there isn’t any reason not to include both. The ultimate Buntwan moments.
Favorite Single Story: “Union” - StH 174 by Ian Flynn
Yeah, I know I don’t like to repeat stories when handing out these “awards” but honestly it’s “Union”. This isn’t just my favorite story for the era it’s my favorite single story out of the entire comic period. Not just because my OTP gets married either. This is the best of the those slow down and focus on the characters stories that love so much. Everyone gets a moment and it’s perfect.
Favorite Story Arc:Line of Succession - StH 155 & 156
Look this is a favorite list not a best of. I’ll be the first to concede that this is the most flawed arc during the 7th era. I won’t deny that it has problems or that numerous other arcs are technically better written. But they’re not as fun to read. Not to me at least. Patch is a delight to through out. Seeing Sonic take him other down is a punch the air moment.The thrill of seeing Buns and Ant united is only out matched by their engagement and wedding. And all of the romantic melodrama is actually more memorable then most of A.D.A.M.’s Machiavellian’s scheme’s that all start to blend together after a time.
But if it makes you feel better Birthday Bash was a close second.
Favorite Artist: Tracy Yardley
Fan favorite Tracy Yardley makes his debut during this era and he knocks it right out of the park. Now given that he’s replacing the likes of Ron Lim there’s not a whole lot of competition right now but with Yardley comes a turning point in the art direction of the book. One that’s more consistent and of higher quality then what’s came before. And I honestly think we have him to thank for that.
Next week we start in on what is quite possibly my favorite era.
“Eggman Empire” Eggman Empire I - Sonic the Hedgehog #175
So for this event issue Eggman finally attacks Knothole and blows it to kingdom come. Kicking off a story arc that would irreparably change the course of the comic.
So what purpose does Bunnie and Ant serve to this story?
Not much. Other then to get capture the same as everyone else.
The whole point of this first act to the story arc is to isolate Sonic from, well literally everyone, so that Eggman can not only beat on him physically but psychologically and emotionally as well. It’s one of those “bring the hero to his lowest breaking point and then build him back up” types of stories, only it doesn’t fully work because well Sonic never quits or even considers it, he’s too much a fundamental optimist. Also, because the book can’t go too far and actually kill everyone off.
I’m not saying this a determent to the story but rather a cleaver subversion of the usual tropes. Eggman’s failing here is that he arrogantly assumes Sonic would behave in this conventional manner.
However all of this does beg one question. Why are Bunnie and Ant hanging out at Freedom HQ instead of going on they’re honeymoon? The wedding was just like a day ago. Even if they didn’t have any travel plans wouldn’t they at least want some alone time with one another and spend the next few days at home?
My best guess was that they did have plans to leave on a romantic trip and was there packing for it.
That pretty much concludes this era and we’ll come back for a recap soon. However before closing out I wanted to note a few quick things.
One, it turns out that I misremembered and that the Rouge/Knuckles/Julie-Su triangle isn’t quite dead and buried yet.
Please let this die soon. I’m so tired of love triangles.
And two, Rotor breaks his back while saving Tails.
It’s a plot point that, for better or worse, comes to affect the character all the way up until the reboot.
Finally three, Eggman knew the location of Knothole since before the lost in space arc. Why has it taken this long to attack in force? What line of defense was there besides the FFs?
Anyways enough semantics let’s get to the story proper.
We actually open with Sonic and Tails getting ready for the festivities first, but we come to our heroes soon enough and we find Antoine with cold feet. Not because he has doubts about marring Bunnie or anything, he’s just worried about tripping or fainting or doing something else embarrassing during the ceremony. Fortunately the Chaotix are there to cheer him up.
Oh how I love it when Ant interacts with Chaotix. It’s always hilarious.
Next we check in on Bunnie.
All of this is so fucking perfect! Bunnie and Sally just hanging out and interacting as actual best friends, something we haven’t seen in ages it feels like. Call backs to Bunnie’s other life goals, awesome. Sally acknowledging Antoine as good catch even he personally wasn’t the right one for her. Bunnie’s spot on description of her and Ant’s relationship. Rosie!!! Antoine’s adoptive mother is rightfully front and center during the proceedings and for once not completely forgotten about.
After we check in on a few others, have some more sonally teasing, and see some ominous hints towards the future; we come to the cemony itself and it’s as wonderful as you could imagine.
Also fun fact, but from this point on Ant and Bunnie are always shown with those wedding rings. Barring the occasional coloring error or art mistake, they’re officially incorporated into their designs now.
It’s been a wild ride; 15 years, over a 174 issues, and 145 reviews. From not even knowing each other, to allies in a war, to friends, to lovers, through heart ache, troubling trials, and personal character growth. This is perhaps the most satisfying thing to read ever. A near pitch perfect story, plenty of time spent on the titular protagonists while also delving deeper into the world and letting the character justexist. All while still setting up plot points and throwing in just a little bit of action but not enough to distract. It’s the perfect pay-off for what is perhaps the longest running sub-plot in the series, and best of all? It’s only the beginning for whole new story lines, not the end of one.
Of course we’ve expected Antoine would propose since issue 168, but it took awhile for him to work up the courage to do it and he wanted Sonic and Amy to be present and provide support which is sweet.
However celebrations are short as this a action comic and we have to shoehorn some fighting in somewhere.
The Master Emerald has been stolen supposedly and Sally offers to track it down for Knuckles as he’s currently occupied elsewhere. She sets up a sting operation with Bunnie, Ant and Sonic in tow.
I have to commend Flynn for finally getting both Sonic and Sally to open up and talk about their issues. It’s just a shame that, A. it’s cut short and B. for such an important development in their relationship Bunnie and Ant sure take the back seat in this story. But still it’s a step in the right direction and more then we’ve seen in the last, what 3 eras, now? Geesh!
Anyways Team Hooligan, (that’s Nack, Bean, and Bark) show up and a decent fight ensues, though it’s more comedic then anything exciting or ground breaking. However I am amused that once again it’s Antoine to defeat Bark just like he did the Birthday Basharc.
I’m liking their little semi-rivalry. I would totally have loved it if this was some running gag that popped up in the background from time to time but sadly I think this is the last time they face off against one another.
Some more big bads show up and some more comedy commences. The villains are easily disposed of while Rouge is revealed to be the real culprit; only not really.
Lets step aside for a moment and forget Rouge’s obvious lapse in logic here and talk about the real problem. Rouge is by far the most ill served Sega character in the pre-reboot Archie comic. From her lame introduction to her ill conceived moral ambiguity the Archie version of Rouge is nothing like her game counterpart. Gone is the compassion, the empathy, and the insight that made the character stand out from other Femme Fatale stereotypes. And the lowest point for the her is the misjudged Knuckles/Julie-Su/Rouge triangle.
Yeah that’s right, not even Ian Flynn can escape from the forced love triangle bullshit that has plagued this comic since it’s creation. But make no mistake this particular romantic drama is all of his own creation.
I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but the Rouge and Knuckles pairing does not work the same in the pre-reboot comics as it does in other Sonic media. For starters the events of SA2 didn’t happen for Knuckles. He was too busy being green at the time, remember, and the Master Emerald along with Angel Island was sucked into another dimension. So therefore he and Rouge don’t even meet officially until the Home arc. All she does there is offer him a lift. Hardly the stuff to build off a relationship with. The only hint we get that Juile-Su looks annoyed by it but that could easily because she didn’t want Knuckles fighting in the battle without his powers.
Which leads into the second issue with the pairing. Kunckles has been in a committed relationship for years by this point. In the very next issue we see that he and Julie-Su consider themselves to be in a common law marriage. That’s how serious they are. Not only does the Rouge’s out of nowhere attraction cause a forced love triangle. But she knows it. Rouge flat out states to Julie-Su that she doesn’t care about being a homewrecker. That she’ll willing try to break them up just for the challenge. The whole thing is tasteless and tacky and even more insulting when you realize that the game Rouge had a little something called class.
Which leads into into the third problem. By changing Rouge’s base motivations and making her the unrequited love interest you undermine the very dynamic that made the Rouge/Knuckles pairing appealing in the first place. They’re suppose to both mutually like each other but unwilling to admit it due to pride. Half the fun is meant to be their unspoken sexual tension, like with Cheers orLeia and Han before they got together.
Oh and did I mention that she made out with his dad once. (eww)
My only guess as to why Flynn would ever think of adding this ship in the first place is either he’s personally a fan of the pairing and/or Sonic X was running at the time and the ship is pretty obvious there. However since Archie was also currently handling the Sonic X comic at this time fans could have just gone there to get their fix. Making the inclusion into the main continuity all the more pointless; dragging an already much maligned character down ever further.
Thankfully Flynn wises up and realizes this ship isn’t working drops the whole thing after this issue. At least until reboot.
But enough talking about other pairings lets back to the real reason we’re here.
This is pretty big. Sally being the maid of honor was always a given, but Sonic as the best man really showcases how far his and Antoine’s friendship has come over the years. They’re brothers, along with Tails and Rotor, and it’s important to remember that from time to time.
Here’s the official solicitation for this issue…. “ Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we ramp up the romantic intrigue… but don’t worry, as always the stakes are high in the world of Sonic! As more of Fiona Fox’s mysterious past is revealed, Sonic must face shocking secrets that will leave him torn between his new girlfriend and the friends he has loved and fought for all these years. Not only that, but one of her revelations sets off a series of events that will lead to one of the most senses-shattering cliffhangers in years! Which of Sonic’s allies will be pushed to the brink? This is one issue you won’t want to miss!”
Well it is Valentines Day so I can’t think of a better day to get back to this review series. However I think the solicitation over sells the story a bit. Most of the important stuff actually happens next issue. Heck, Bunnie’s not even in the story despite being on the cover.
So what does happen actually?
Well Fiona does a face heel turn and dumps Sonic for Scourge. This is quite possibility the best thing to ever happen to the character. It makes her stand out from other Sonic characters as she’s a good guy turned villain, solely because she enjoys it! Though there’s also enough going on beneath the surface to suggest there’s more facets to her beyond just that.
It’s also leads to one of Scourge’s best scenes.
This scene is the reason why I like Scourge. He’s not solely an “Evil Sonic” who does bad thing’s just cause. He’s a Sonic who makes poor choices. He decided to go down the wrong path. This element of free will means that not only could the main Sonic go down an equally dark path if pressed, but that there could be redemption for Scourge as well.
Now I have no delusions that the comic would ever go in this direction; even if it hadn’t ended. Mandates for one thing and pathetic Scourge receiving comeuppance is too much fun for another, but it’s an element that adds layers to the characters.
Not just to Sonic either. If all of the anti-mobians have free will and aren’t just “born bad” then it calls into question how much of a product of their environment are they. Last review, Antoine mentioned he pitied them. I also discussed how he himself has clanged due to being trapped in that environment.
So is Patch completely irredeemable? If so, then what happened to him to stomp all of the good out of him? Could a similar fate drive our Antoine over the edge? Or has he already faced that trial and over came it?
Questions to think about but sadly stuff that’ll be only explored in fan-fiction.
As for what Antoine contributes to this story, he just shows up at the end to set up the cliff-hanger for the next issue.
And we’ll discuss that issue next time on the retrospective!
