“Yesterday’s” Comic> Knuckles The Echidna #11

“What do you know? The floor really is lava.”

Knuckles The Echidna #11

Archie Comic Publications (April, 1998)

“The Forgotten Tribe” part 2: “Covenant”

WRITER: Ken Penders

PENCILER: Manny Galan

INKER: Andrew Pepoy

COLORIST: Barry Grossman

LETTERER: Vickie Williams

EDITOR: J. Freddy Gabrie

On the Floating Island, the Chaotix are deputized to handle Knuckles’ duties while he tends to the planet-bound tribe, and Julie-Su is assigned to help them (over Remington’s objections). On the planet, Knuckles and Athair rescue the tribe from the earthquake. While resting, Knuckles learns that Athair was going to be the next Guardian but the Ancient Walkers chose him to watch over the tribe, so his mother came out of retirement to resume her duties. When she passed, Athair believed he needed to stay with the tribe, so his son Sabre went in his place (and still hasn’t spoken to Athair since). When the tribe encountered Robotnik his wife was among the roboticized echidnas. The next day (in present day, not the flashback), Athair is called by the Ancient Walkers, meaning Knuckles must now take over leading the tribe to Albion, the “promised land”. Ending up in a place called Mercia, Knuckles helps a woman named Mari-An find her younger brothers while Yanar is captured by a group of robots working for the High Sheriff. Thrown into a mine, he finds a shackled Sonic and Tails, while a different hedgehog points an arrow at an unsuspecting Knuckles.

What they got right: At least all the explanations make sense and I can follow along. It’s still a lot more lore than the games had at this point and you can have issues with that in hindsight but at the time they weren’t working with much. Knuckles has a healing factor, which isn’t a bad addition to his power set. Apparently being a Guardian isn’t a men only thing, which is okay. Nobody seems to have Knuckles’ knuckles.

What they got wrong: You’re going to see that “Mari-An” is a bit on the nose for what’s coming.

What I think overall: The story continues in Sonic The Hedgehog #58, which seems odd unless it’s also part of the “Forgotten Tribe” storyline. Otherwise it seems an odd time to make this crossover. It’s an okay story thus far, but we’ll be stopping here to get caught up with Sonic before getting to issue #12.