The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 56

“Monkey Madness” - Sonic the Hedgehog #55  

OK, so this is the story that introduces Monkey Khan. 

But more importantly it’s the story where Antoine and Sonic finally have a heart to heart conversion about their issues. 

The story starts off with Sonic, Sally and Antoine tracking down some of Snively’s Eggbots. Antoine’s tired cause he can’t keep up, but Sonic’s a jerk and leaves him behind anyways. No doubt because Ant found out his real name last review…..

Yeah, it’s easy to giggle about it, princess, when your the one being carried!  

They come across the Eggbots digging for something. While Sally wonders off with Nicole to hunt down some energy readings, Ant and Sonic try to devise a plan of attack. 

Alright, so what we have here, beyond just their petty teasing, is the core of their relationship issues. Remember way back in issue 25, when I said Ant and Sonic are rivals because they are fundamentally opposites? Well this scene highlights this properly. 

Even though they’ve buried the hatchet and are no longer competing with one another, they still find it hard to see eye to eye on important matters. Sonic always rushes head long into action and thinks on his feet. Antoine prefers to use careful strategy and, as we’ll see later, diplomacy.      

However, what Sonic now needs to learn is that what worked for him in the past is longer a viable default course of action in a post-Robotnik world. Mindless robot’s can’t reason nor be hurt, but cyborgs, robians, and wizards can…  

For instance when Monkey Khan is freed, the first thing he does is to attack the Eggbots. But as soon as Sonic finds out he was built by Robotnik, he attacks  the newly found cyborg. 

Monkey Khan leaves in a huff and takes Sally with him. Now leaving Sonic and ‘Twan to defend themselves from the rest of the robots. Leading to this exchange….     

I know, that’s a lot of un-edited pages, but I couldn’t bring myself to cut out this brilliant conversation. 

Antoine isn’t just talking about his personal problems with Sonic anymore, but about something that’s been going on with Sonic for a while now. Ever since “Brave New World” , after finding out about his parents, Sonic’s been on edge lately. Acting out, being rude to everyone, angry, resentful, and frustrated at the changing world around him.

 Afraid that he no longer has a place in a time of peace. All he knows is how to fight, but he’s grown ever more worried that he’s no longer needed. And being presented with new problems that he can’t just punch or run away from has knock him for a loop. And he’s taken that frustration out on everyone and everything lately.  

Tails tried to get him see the bright side of the situation. Sally tried to reason with him, using logic and diplomacy. Uncle Chuck lent him a sympathetic ear and had a heart to heart with him. Explaining how he understood Sonic’s feelings. Even Rosie, you know that woman that’s raised Sonic for the past ten years, tried to help by giving him sagely advice. 

Yet, it is Antoine, of all people, that finally gets through to him. By stating the harsh truth.

It’s ok to feel hurt, angry, and frustrated at the way your life is going. But the moment you start to take your rage out on others. The moment you ignore the feelings of those around you, cause you’re too wrapped up in your own pity party to notice them. Is the moment you need a metaphorical kick in the arse, and for someone to remind you how your selfish behavior effects others. 

And who better to remind Sonic of this than Antoine? The man who knows all too well about how letting resentment get the better of you can hurt the people you care about the most. 

 But as sweet as this interaction is , they still need to take care of the Eggbots. 

Well, maybe not the first time, but certainly the first time they had to work together without anyone else helping. It’s just another small step in the road to recovery for their friendship. 

Sally talks to Khan, and they both come back to help defeat the rest of the robots. Sonic also apologizes, hopefully he’ll start to make amends with his friends and family next. 

The rest of the comic covers the growing troubles between Robians and Mobians, while also showcasing how much of a dick Max is, and then leads into a crossover with Knuckles for the next issue.

The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 55

“Unfinished Business” - Sonic the Hedgehog #53 

As much as I enjoy this era with all of it’s change and world building, it’s sadly also the point the where all of the Freedom Fighters (minus Sally and Sonic) officially become background characters. We’ve seen the signs of it for a while now as book tried to juggle it’s ever expanding cast. But with Robotnik officially out of the picture, it leaves our heroes with little to do.

Bunnie and Antoine are still present and together they provide the book with some delightful interactions and bring some general color to the proceedings. However they’ve become less important to the on going story.  Which makes my job a little harder.

I can’t just keep spamming you guys with Buntwan pics, but at the same time I don’t want to skip over issues and issues worth of important story arc stuff that’ll come into play later, either, so…….

I don’t know. For right now I’m going to play it by ear and if I find some noteworthy, unique, or “too cute to ignore” interactions than I’ll cover it. 

Such as in today’s story….

   We pick up right where a “Brave New World” left off. With the gang trying to rebuild Robopolis (now renamed to Motropolis) when a mysterious air craft arrives.   

And Antoine slips back into some old habits…

Awwww, he’s still over protective of Sally, guys. They’re still the best of bros even after all that’s happened between them and that messy love triangle? square-angle? pentagon…. Whatever; with all of the relationship drama that went down in the past. 

However there’s no need to worry, it’s just Knuckles visiting with his new girlfriend Julie-Su.   

Turns out the sword of acorn is a fake. (Mammoth Mongol pulled a switch-a-roo on them back in “Battle Royal”)  However, before they can all go searching for it again. Knuckles decides to catch up with Sonic and have a heart to heart. 

Antoine has finally gotten his revenge for his lost hair. 

The story ends with Knuckles seeking advice from Sonic’s dad, Jules. 

The next story in the comic features the introduction of a new and important villain to the book, Ixis Naugus.The would-be wizard king of Motropolis.

The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 54

“Brave New World” - Sonic Super Special #2

I’ll be honest. While both Bunnie and Ant are present in this story, they don’t really contribute anything to the plot nor do we learn anything new about them. But I wanted to still cover this story for two reasons. 

   

First this issue has a lot of set up for the up coming arcs and world-building. All of which you need to be slightly familiar with before we progress deeper into our main character’s personal stories.  Just to provide some background info and texture.

Second….I just really, really love this story guys. Along with issues #8 and #37, this special is one of my favorites.  

  

And I can already see my fellow fans and followers foaming at the mouth and sputtering right now…”But it’s written and drawn by PENDERS! Robotnik’s gone! It marks the beginning of the Dark Ages! Geoffrey! There’s not even any focus on Bunnie and Antoine! How can you even like it, let alone be one of your favs?!!!”

The answer to that dear viewers is simple…… Change.

One of the things I prize this comic for, along with it’s large ensemble cast and extensive world building, is it’s ever evolving nature. Either the characters develop and grow, such as Antoine, or the world in which they inhabit evolves and changes around them. For better or for worse, this issue is the one that sets that standard for the rest of the comic to follow.

After 50 issues, 4 miniseries, and several 48 page specials, the old formula of Robtink vs the FF had grown stale. With the evil doctor out the way for what seemed like for good, this issue provided some interesting consequences and conflicts in its wake. It takes the defeat of the main villain and the ending of a long war and says; “Not everything is magically ok now.” “There’s still crap to deal with.“ That is refreshing to read. And all of those consequences and conflicts are believable and logical.

But enough analyzing. Lets get into the main need to know points…..

• Rebuilding the war torn city to make it habitable once more, looks like it’ll take a lot of work. So much so, that everyone may be better off still living in Knothole. 
• Seeing their former childhood homes in disarray, really hits the gang hard.  
• Snively is still a threat, but has been captured for now.
• Sally tells Geoffrey up front that she’s no longer interested. Firmly ending the triangle. Surprisingly old Geoff is mature and respectful of her decision.  Unsurprisingly, he and Sonic still hate each other.
• Sonic’s parents are still alive but robotized. However the effects of Robotnik’s last weapon blowing up has given them back their free will.
• In fact all of the Robians have their fee will back, but there’s no known cure for being a robot. Growing tensions rise between them and the Mobians.
• Eventually, Uncle Chuck, leads them out of the city to colonize Knothole. Separate from the rest of the citizenry.
• King Max is now conscious, but still a living crystal. It’s also been confirmed that he’s a colossal dick.

Now, since this is still a Bunnie and Antoine retrospective, I present you with a collection of Buntwan moments.

They’re holding hands while walking together! Squee!

They’re already very protective of one another.

Well, ok, Bunnie does do one thing that is plot important this issue. She  electrocutes the giant transforming robot Snively sics on everyone.

And Ant gets to break up the fight between Geoffrey and Sonic. I think he’s secretly wanted to do that to both of them for a while.

Wait! Are they sharing a tent together? Are they all ready sleeping together this early in their relationship? Why is it considered improper to live together when not married but perfectly fine to spend the night together, Twan? You’re not fooling anyone Antoine, we all know what ya’ll are up to in there!

And last off some more hand holding.

I think that pretty much coves today’s review, be sure to tune in next time for some more wonderful buntwan moments. ;)

The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 53

“Reality Bites” - Sonic the Hedgehog #51

So after the victory party, Sonic is given a medal by his friends and then has a nightmare where all of his friends become robots and turn on him. 

Turns out its more than just a nightmare though. He’s mind is trapped in a virtually reality similar to the one in issue 16. But this time it’s his worse fears coming to life rather than his dearest wishes. 

Fortunately Uncle Chuck builds a machine to reach his subconscious and rescue him. 

And then we get this exchange. 

Antoine was worried about him and said so! Guys, just a few months ago Ant was willing to throw Sonic in jail. He was vindictive and jealous. Even when worried for his safety back in issue 38 , he would immediately go back to resenting him afterwards. 

But here, after the all of the humiliation, coming to terms with his insecurities, and finally finding where he belongs on the team, Antoine finally considers Sonic to be friend not a rival. And more immortally he lets Sonic know that he cares.    

The story ends with an ominous prediction over who set the trap for Sonic. 

I can’t remember if the comic ever answers this question outright, but my bet is that it was Snively.

The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 52

“Down and Out In Downunda” - Sonic Super Special #4

So once again I’m going out of order for this retrospective. I don’t know what it is about the Endgame story arc but for some reason a lot of story material was published way later after the story was officially over. 

Well, ok, I actually do know why. Apparently Penders originally wrote the story for a 48 page special only to have the executives at Archie/Sega cut the final issue down to 27 pages. Eventually, Penders finally got his original wish with a director’s cut years later.

One of the major edits in the original was to cut Bunnie and Antoine’s role in the story down. They were haphazardly re-edited back in SSS #6, with some good expansions and some others that were not so good. One plot point that was still skipped over, was where they got the bomb to blow up Robotnik’s weapon. 

And I have a feeling it was skimmed over again in the director’s cut because of this story. In between the original edit and the special remastered version, Micheal Gallagher wrote a flashback story to cover over the missing plot points in issue #50.  

It’s really weird.Not the story itself per-say but how this story came into being. Apparently, Penders didn’t write all of Endgame himself. In addition to his usual collaborators, Bollers and Taylor, Gallgher was brought on broad to write as well.

The reason for this is twofold. First, as is with the various artists in the book, issue 50 was meant to be a last final hurrah. Everyone who was active in the book at the time got a chance to contribute and Gallgher was a pivotal writer for the series for years.

The second is because of Pender’s obsessive hang-ups with sharing characters. Even before the copyrights and trials, Penders expressed the view that he hated people writing for his original characters and working with other’s OCs in kind. Since Gallgher created Crocbot and the D.F.F. he was tasked to write those parts of the story and this story. 

  He continued stating that he avoided using characters “beyond the core characters established in the original games and animated DiC series in the early 90’s, as well as the settings of Robotropolis and Knothole Village, and a character or two like Lupe and Amy Rose” and “didn’t hesitate to push for killing off Robotnik and fighting to keep him dead.” Later he would add “I don’t consider anything Karl or Ian or any other writer do with the character [Locke] to be official. They didn’t create him, and they didn’t do the heavy lifting of establishing him as a pivotal character to the Knuckles saga 

He would later state that “neither Ian [Flynn] or [editor] Mike [Pellerito] know what to do with the characters, which isn’t surprising as I was the only one who really had any idea how everything fit in the total narrative that I was constructing”. He also clarified that he only used new characters from the games when he was ordered to do so, and did not use other writers’ “creations except in rare times when circumstances demanded it,” such as a transition from someone else’s story to his own 

Sonic the Hedgehog, Ken Penders, Bioware, Electronic Arts, Archie Comics, Creator Rights, etc. - A review  by @theamazingsallyhogan​          

While I let you ponder over over the hypocrisy of of those statements, made by someone who’s only known work is with previously created licensed characters in a collaborative medium where he constantly worked with co-writers and co-creators…..  I will now review a story that was (for some unknown reason ) published months after it was relevant. In the interests of presenting a clearer version of our main characters’ development.  

So we open with the victory celebration at Knothole, where everyone is recounting their personal version of the endgame events.  

I spy with my little eye, a Star Wars reference 

Bunnie and Twan tell their side of the story, recapping most of the events in StH 50 and SSS #6. But with little expansions here and there. 

We get a more detailed account of how Bunnie and Ant escaped the cell. Along with some cute dialogue between the two.  

We also see them free the rest of the D.F.F.

Sadly though, we don’t get anymore development for their characters. They are here just to serve the functions of the plot and little more. 

We also, finally, finally, get en explanation for where the bomb comes from. 

We also see how Bunnie and Ant find out about the bomb’s existence. 

Ok two things here. First, Antoine is willing to give up his life to save others. He’s grown so much guys! Look how far we’ve come, from someone who would be the first to jump out of the way of danger to someone who’d knowingly lay his life on the line. 

Second, this scene is so much better presented here than it is the SSS #6. Yeah there’s still a big info dump, but it’s relegated to one panel and only provides the need to know stuff. That Robonik has a big bad weapon to wipe out Knothole with. That is all the audience and the heroes need to know. The rest of the page is spent establishing important plot points and character development.

So Antoine and Bunnie set a trap for the combot that has the bomb on him. 

Sassy Twan is best Twan!

And then the story just kind of stops….

While it’s nice to see Bunnie and Ant receive recognition for how awesome they are, I’m sad the story didn’t go on to show the rest of their adventure in Robopolis. 

Remember this was publish before the director’s cut, so assuming the audience knows what happened to Buns and Ant in issue 50 is terribly misleading cause we never got to see them use the bomb in the original.    

We end with a message from the Downunda Freddom Fighters telling of their victory over Crocbot off screen.  

The rest of the comic features “The Return of the King” an important story for the Nagus/Robians vs Mobians/King Max’s restoration arcs. Arcs that we haven’t started yet. But since the story doesn’t feature Bunnie or Antoine we won’t be coming back to it. Such is the hazards of going out of order. Something I hope to avoid from now on.   

The Antoine and Bunnie Retrospective - 51

The 25 Recap - 2nd era

So it’s that time again. We’ve passed another 25 milestone and now I list my favorite things and some not favorite things about the era.  

The 2nd era of the comic includes

• Sonic the Hedgehog 26-50 
• Sonic & Knuckles 
• Sonic Triple Trouble 
• Tails Miniseries 1-3
• Knuckles’ Chaotix 
• Super Sonic Vs Hyper Knuckles 
• Knuckles Miniseries 1-3
• Sonic & Knuckles: Mecha Madness
• Sonic Quest 1-3
• Sonic Live 
• Sonic Blast 
• Sonic Super Special 1 (& 6) 

Major events in this era are…

• First new international FF team - StH 26
• Introduction of both Nack the Weasel and Vector the Crocodile - Sonic Triple Trouble
• First appearance of Fiona Fox - StH 28
• Dulcy’s first story - StH 29 
• Crocbot, the Downunda FFs, and the Walkers are introduced - Tails Miniseries 
• Uncle Chuck regains his free will - StH 30 
• The Chaotix is formed - Knuckles Chaotix 
• The origins of the Floating Island are revealed - StH 34 
• The 1,000,000 ring is collected - StH 35
• The introduction of Enerjak/ Dimitri - StH 35
• Archimedes and Locke come forward - Knuckles Miniseries 
• Mecha Sonic arc - StH 39 ; Mecha Madness; and StH 40 
• Mammoth Mogul and the Destructix intro - Mecha Madness 
• The return of King Acorn - StH 41 
• The Death Egg arc - Sonic Quest 
• How Robotnik came into power is explained - StH 43 
• Bunnie and Antoine confess their love - StH 46
• The first appearance of the Wolf Pack - StH 46
• Geoffrey is first hinted at being a traitor - StH 46
• The Sword of Acorn is found - SSS 1 
• Hershey’s first appearance - StH 47 
• Robotnik’s death - StH 50 (or SSS 6)        

The second era of the book sees a shift from comedic stories to more action oriented ones. All while expanding upon the comic’s mythology and placing greater focus on continuity and story arcs. A wave a new characters are introduced and an effort is made to give old characters more individual focus. Unfortunately, the balance between the old and new isn’t always even and smooth. 

Favorite thing about the era:  World-building

Say what you want about Archie’s take on the blue blur, but the old continuity had one of the most expansive mythologies and fleshed out worlds that the hedgehog has ever inhabited. Nearly all of the ground work for that is set down here in this era.

  

Least favorite thing about the era: Less camaraderie between the core FFs 

As more characters are introduced and as more plot heavy arcs take precedence; so then the original FFs must sometimes take the back seat. They’re still there and active, but there’s no longer any focus given to their group dynamic. It’s all either stories focusing on only one or two characters at a time.Or everybody is there doing action/plot stuff but no longer interacting as a group of close friends.

Favorite Antoine Story: “The Map” SSS 1 by Tom Rolston 

The only story to ever feature Antoine on a solo mission. It’s a thing to be treasured actually. It also highlights the character development he’s gone through in this era. 

Favorite Bunnie Story: “Bunnie’s Worst Nightmare” StH 37 by Rich Koslowski 

The first story to really address Bunnie’s flaws as a character and to set up her character development for the rest of the book.

Favorite Buntwan Story or Moment: Bunnie confesses her love for Antoine in “Countdown to Armageddon” StH 46 by Ken Penders & Kent Taylor 

And thus the greatest ship that has ever existed sets sail. 

Favorite Single Story: “ The Day Robotropolis Fell “ StH 37 by Angelo DeCesare 

I didn’t want to just choose “The Map” again. Therefore it was hard to narrow down to just one story. But “The Day Robotropolis Fell “ is just a very well constructed story that has great tension, real stakes, and near perfect pacing. It’s also one of the best stories to feature Sonic and Sally as a couple for those of you that ship them. 

Favorite Story Arc: Sonic the Hedgehog Goes Hog Wild StH 27 & StH 28 by Ken Penders 

Sorry Mecha Madness fans, but the ending of that story just was too much of an anti-climatic let down to give it the award. Even though they both share a similar “main hero betrays the team” theme. In the end Sonic the Hedgehog Goes Hog Wild does a better job of juggling the various characters and presenting them all as intelligent, capable, and respected beings. No jumping to conclusions and holding kangaroo trails based off of flimsy circumstantial evidence here folks. 

Favorite Artist: Rich Koslowski 

While Mawhinney is still my all time fav on the book right now; I want to take this opportunity to highlight a different artist in each era. 

Koslowski is mainly an inker on the book, but his pencils on “Bunnie’s Nightmare”impressed me so much that I had to give it to him. In fact I almost mistook him for Mawhinney at first, that’s how good he is. Sometimes it’s the quality someone produces not the quantity.

  

And that wraps up this wrap up. Be sure to come back next time when we start in on the next era.