“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #44

“Spider-Man and Batman both warned me there’d be days like this.”

Sonic The Hedgehog #44

Archie Comics (March, 1997)

“Black And Blue And Red All Over”

WRITER: Ken Penders

PENCILER: Manny Galan

INKER: Andrew Pepoy

COLORIST: Barry Grossman

LETTERER: Vickie Williams

EDITOR: Justin “Freddy” Gabrie

The Sonic from the “mirror universe” attacks Knuckles along with a version of Knuckles from his world, where he’s guardian not of the Floating Island but the Sunken Island. Also, he’s Irish instead of Australian. Our Sonic and friends joins Knuckles in tracking them back to the other dimension over the Cosmic Interstate and learn that “evil Sonic” was actually working with Robotnik for a piece of the action, that action being the use of the Sunken Island’s Chaos Emerald, which keeps an air bubble around the island, as well as alt Mobius for testing. Robotnik betrays him (of course) but the others work together to send Robotnik away.

What they got right: No back-up stories, the admittedly unnecessary lore bits don’t take time away from the story (I’d almost suspect putting the story of how Sally met Knuckles in the past and retconning why she didn’t say anything was filler because there wasn’t enough space for the full story), it’s just the one story from start to finish. The halted search for the crown is mentioned. The ending is satisfactory for the tale.

What they got wrong: I guess Chekov forgot his gun because Rotor shows off a huge portable cannon and then it never comes up again. Rotor making stuff has no bearing on the story itself. And no, I don’t care that it’s a mirror universe type story, making an Australian animal’s counterpart into a Irishman for no reason isn’t funny. Yes, the cultural references from other countries they can be found (Tanzania and New Guinea from a few minutes research) aren’t as well know but this is a change just to have a change.

What I think overall: This is actually kind of bland in the long run. The Sally and Knuckles meeting would be fleshed out later, I don’t remember Irish Knuckles showing up again though we’ll see more of Evil Sonic/Scourge down the line. There really isn’t anything important enough in this story unless you want the full collection.