“Yesterday’s” Comic> Knuckles The Echidna #8

Enerjak spends time with his Chaotix Amiibos.

Knuckles #8

Archie Comics Publications (January, 1998)

“Dark Vengeance” part 2

WRITER: Ken Penders

PENCILER: Manny Galan

INKER: Andrew Pepoy

COLORIST: Barry Grossman

LETTERER: Vickie Williams

EDITOR: J. Freddy Gabrie

Lara-Le goes to Remington to make contact with Locke, who is trying to deal with saving Hawking and all the other trouble Enerjak is causing. Julie-Su returns to the Dark Legion and even foils the Chaotix’s escape attempt to prove her loyalty. The Legion also buries the ants in a box they can’t teleport from. While all of this goes on Enerjak has been bouncing Knuckles all over and even off the planet to show his power. When Knuckles refuses to submit he just starts tearing him apart on the atomic level.

I’m sorry, but there are way too many subplots going on at the same time. It’s like reading a Simon Furman story and I think they both studied writing from watching soap operas. The focus should be Knuckles dealing with Enerjak, with the Dark Legion stuff as a subplot. The whole bit about saving Hawking’s life (when he’s willing to finally let old age take him) and Lara-Le’s mother issues (as in trying to be a mother after all this time) and Remington struggling with not getting personally involved is a distraction and taking up page time.

Outside of the artwork and seeing Enerjak’s power (hopefully not making him so overpowered that beating him will seem ridiculous) I don’t have a lot to praise for this story. There’s too much going on to really connect to the story. Hopefully the conclusion will make up for this.