“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic Super Special #2

“The cleaning lady just retired. She’s only 32.”

Sonic Super Special #2

Archie Comic Publications (1997)

“Brave New World”

WRITER/ARTIST: Ken Penders

COLORIST: Barry Grossman

COVER ART: Patrick Spaziante & Ken Penders

LETTERER: Sam Maxwell & Harvey Mercadoocasio

EDITOR: J. Freddy Gabrie

Well apparently this takes place before the last Sonic issue I reviewed. It would have been nice to know that, Sonic The Hedgehog #53, as this addresses parts of the problems I had with that issue. Our heroes arrive in the remains of Robotropolis to see if there’s any chance of restoring Mobotropolis. SWAT Bots on cargo duty continue to load trains going nowhere, a Dynamac controlled by Snively tries to attack our heroes but instead the former lackey gets captured, and that’s all for starters. Uncle Chuck reveals that the roboticized Mobians gained free will after the accident but that Sonic’s parents were apparently already clear minded thanks to the magic rings. Sonic is not happy with this news but Tails manages to calm him down and see reason just before Sonic misunderstands seeing Sally and Geoffrey together and goes off on the skunk. (He’s literally a skunk. I’m not insulting him because I don’t like him. Even though I don’t.) Sally forces them to call a truce. What nobody knows is that Sally isn’t in charge but her father, and she doesn’t know he’s ordered St. John to not trust Uncle Chuck. The robot Mobians feel they’re still looked negatively at by the normal Mobians and decide to form their own colony. Meanwhile, Snively joins the prisoners at Devil’s Gulag but he doesn’t plan to stay there long.

What they got right: Well, this does answer some of my questions from #53. It shows Tails is perceptive, and as my favorite Sonic character I like seeing that. It does take stock of what’s happened and prepares for where the main series is going.

What they got wrong: The poetic catch-up page is rather useless if the comic itself already gives you that information through narration and conversation. I’m not going to like where King Acorn’s character goes, though I know now why he did having read later issues years ago…though not why after those events. We’ll get there. Point is I like King Acorn less than Geoffrey St. John, and I already went over my thoughts on him.

What I think overall: While this is becoming less and less of a proper adaptation there are interesting and annoying story elements that are more personal preference than critical issues.