“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #62

“If you think this is fast, wait until we find Sonic’s shoes.”

Sonic The Hedgehog #62

Archie Comics Publications (September, 1998)

LETTERER: Jeff Powell

EDITOR: Justin Gabrie

“Icon” parts 1 & 2

WRITER: Karl Bollers

PENCILER: Steven Butler

INKER: Pam Eklund

COLORIST: Frank Gagliardo

“Tales Of The Freedom Fighters: On His Majesty’s Secret Service” part 2

WRITER/INKER/COLORIST: Ken Penders

PENCILER: Art Mawhinney

In our main story, something goes wrong with Sonic’s plane, forcing him and Tails to crashland in the desert. They’re rescued by residents of the nearby city of Sandblast by Jack and his Sandblast Freedom Fighters, all huge fans of Sonic. The Robians here don’t appear to have their free will back as they attack our heroes, but Sonic manages to run them off (no pun intended). In the city, Tails finds their room door locked from the outside but manages to use the skylight to get out. He finds Jack bringing in the plane, claiming sand in the instruments caused it to crash. They’re putting it away, convinced Sonic will stay a few weeks, which is fine with him despite Tails’ concern that they still have to find Naugus. Meanwhile, someone has activated a satellite that opens the cells in Devil’s Island Gulag!

What they got right: Setting up for this two (four?) part story goes quite well. We meet all the players and some questions as to what’s going on. Tails is maturing, questioning what he sees while Sonic is still his usual “go with the flow” self.

What they got wrong: Is the Devil’s Island Gulag story going anywhere tied to current events? And if the door was locked how did Sonic get out? He can’t fly through a skylight like Tails.

In the back-up story (that seems to be missing a subtitle given the set-up in Geoffrey’s dialog), Geoffrey is attacked by Heavy and Bomb, who just wanted to show off as they want to be part of his team to find a place in the world. He lets them in and begins to put them, Hershey, Stu, and Valdez through basic training. This involves a surprise drop into the drink for Hershey, who can’t swim (cat stereotype) and has to be saved by the others. This was a test to show their teamwork and that Hershey and Valdez, who isn’t the best in the water, will learn so they can overcome their weaknesses and learn to work together.

I have to give Penders credit for making a more likable, or at least tolerable, Geoffrey St. John. It’s like when he isn’t competing with Sonic for Sally’s attention he can be decent. Maybe it came with the growth spurt he seems to have in this story.

What I think overall: The main story is off to a good start. I partly remember how it ends so I’m curious to see what my current reaction is. The back-up story also seems okay but we’ll see where that’s going as well.