The newer version
And the original.
Sonic The Hedgehog #1
Archie Comics (July, 1993/[May] 2008)
“Meet Me At The Corner Of Hedgehog & Vine!”
and “You Bet My Life!”
WRITER: Michael Gallagher
PENCILER: Dave Manak
INKER: Bill White
COLORIST: Lyrad Namlede
LETTERER: Bill Yoshida
EDITOR: Daryl Edelman
In the first of the two actual stories, Robotnik tries to use a mechanical plant called a Krudzu (which actually makes a return in later stories) to smother the Great Forest. However, someone forgot to make it waterproof. The only thing lamer than how it’s beaten are all the jokes we suffer through getting through this point. I’ve said it before…I do not track with Gallagher’s humor style.
After some bumper “stickers” with the same level of humor we get to our other story. Robotik is giving a speech in the Casino Night Zone, so points for including stuff from the games, and Sonic goes to attend to learn what new scheme he has…and just sits right in the front row. Not surprising Sonic is captured and put in a glass ball to be shot into Robotnik’s giant pinball machine. Eventually he gets out and blows the place up. Again, Gallagher’s humor style and mine do not mesh. Plus seeing the serious character in a comedic story is just confusing. This mashup of the game and both shows do not go well together.
Followed by a few lame gag strips and I just am really not into this issue. It doesn’t link together well and it’s not my style of comedy. Your mileage may vary. Some of the word balloons are in alternate colors which is fine when it doesn’t make the text hard to read. I also think they “improved” the coloring in the reprint and it feels slightly off, though I’ve seen worse and I don’t have the original to compare it to. I could be wrong on this. Overall it is interesting for the history, or nostalgia if you grew up with the comic, but to me that’s all this has going for it in either printing.
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