“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #59

Mobian UFC isn’t as interesting as you’d think.

Sonic The Hedgehog #59

Archie Comic Publications (Jnue, 1996)

LETTERER: Jeff Powell

“Opposites Detract”

WRITER: Mike Gallagher

PENCILER: Art Mawhinney

INKER: Jim Amash

COLORIST: Lisa Ieraci

EDITOR: J. Freddy Gabrie

Tales From The Freedom Fighters: Princess Sally: “The People’s Princess”

WRITER/COLORIST: Ken Penders

ARTISTS: Manny Galan & Jim Amash

EDITOR: Justin Gabrie (might be the same guy but I’m not sure)

Finding another weak point between zones, Sonic and Tails are dragged into the dimension of Horizont-Al and Vertic-Al, two beings in a weird dimension Sonic met back in his second issue (it doesn’t say if it’s the miniseries or the ongoing). They used to be friends, but the Ultimate Annihilator messed up their dimension and now they’re robots at war. They attempt enslaving Sonic and Tails to use as their pawns but their own friendship allows them to fight it off. Too bad the Als can’t say the same as our heroes manage to escape.

The only positive I have for this story is the depictions of Sonic and Tails when they’re under the Als’ control as their armor and position match the robot forms of the one who has them under their control. It’s a nice visual touch. It’s the story that lets me down. First of all, Horizont-Al and Vertic-Al reveal their origins in an exposition dump…to each other! There’s even a perfect opening to explain it to Sonic, who made friends with them before and will never know what happened, and they put it at the beginning anyway to have them tell each other what they already know, when filling in the audience by telling Sonic and Tails would make more sense. My other disappointment is why this story even exists. They’re not exactly big names in the comic (maybe two appearances total by this point, one being a cameo and one being really old) and not from the games, so why even bring them back only to darken their story?

Overall this is a letdown and unnecessary. On to the back-up story.

Not much to really say about this one. Sally and some of her friends go skydiving, parachute near a farm, and are invited to dinner once everyone is found. Once returning home, the King orders the guard to escort the princess to him so they can talk. It’s a nice little story, especially after the main story’s downer ending, and it’s good seeing a happy moment for Sally, Rotor, Lupe, Hershey, and some of the Princess’s personal team, but then we get the cryptic ending and not much really happens.

So, basically the same thing I said before. Overall, this is a letdown and unnecessary. The back-up story is better only because it’s more upbeat and doesn’t damage previous characters almost nobody would remember unless they’ve been around a long time. I just wasn’t into this one.