“This guy has surprisingly sweaty hands.”
Knuckles The Echidna #9
Archie Comics Publication (February, 1998)
“Dark Vengeance” finale
WRITER: Ken Penders
PENCILER: Manny Galan
INKER: Andrew Pepoy
COLORIST: Barry Grossman
LETTERER: Vickie Williams
EDITOR: J. Freddy Gabrie
Also, here’s all three covers from issues #7-9 collected into one image.
I don’t mind when these poster covers happen over consecutive issues. Just not as variant covers for the same issue, which I’ve seen at least twice and it’s twice too many!
Enerjak leads the Dark Legion on an attack on Echidnaopolis, with Remington told to go to the dingos for backup. The group holds out until Enerjak zaps their weapons, but he ends up being zapped by Mammoth Mogul, the one responsible for Enerjak’s return so he could use the Sword Of Acorns to steal his power. Meanwhile, the Ancient Walkers reconstitute Knuckles and sends him to rescue the Chaotix. With Enerjak down Julie-Su breaks away from the Legion but is captured along with Kragok. By this point Locke sends a call for help from the Freedom Fighters pretending to be Knuckles. When they arrive, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails are zapped away and Mogul declares himself the new ruler of the planet.
The story continues in Sonic The Hedgehog #56, but the last one I reviewed is #53, so it’s going to be a while before I get there. Sorry, I wasn’t sure where this should be in the timeline.
What they got right: Seeing enemies unite against a common foe is usually interesting. Mammoth Mogul finally reveals himself. (He’s not from the games but a threat from an earlier Sonic story.) He may make an interesting threat to our heroes.
What they got wrong: Then again, his appearance makes the whole thing with Enerjak and the Dark Legion wrap up a bit too fast, making that threat seem rather meaningless. Knuckles gets deus exed by the Walkers and the villains are just stopped by the other villain.
What I think overall: It’s a somewhat anticlimactic end to this story arc but we’ll have to see in a few reviews how this leads into the next one.
BW Media Spotlight 
Personally I always liked Enerjak as a villain more than Mammoth Mogul. (Enerjak felt more original while Mogul was pretty obviously a Vandall Savage ripoff.) I never did like him getting upstaged by the big elephant.
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I don’t get Mammoth Mogul. He never really seemed like that much of a threat outside of being overpowered. I don’t even think he was needed once Ixis enter the comic.
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