“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #88

“I shouldn’t have had the last five chilli dogs.”

Sonic The Hedgehog #88

Archie Comics Publications (November, 2000)

“Family Matters” & “Picking Up The Pieces”

WRITER: Karl Bollers

PENCILER: Fry

INKER: Andrew Pepoy

COLORIST: Frank Gagliardo

LETTERER: Jeff Powell/LIP

EDITOR: J.F. Gabrie

Only the first story has credits so I assume they did both the main and back-up tales. I’m reviewing both stories together because of that and because part of the first story leads into the second. Besides, at this point I’m used to multiple storylines going on at the same time like some attempt at emulating soap operas. The summaries will be in separate paragraphs, though.

The Freedom Fighters return to Knothole to see everyone ready for war. Elias is captured while getting some kind of liquid that can help stabilize the Queen’s condition for surgery, but gets the chemical to a girl hedgehog. (Looks like Mina but she’s not in proper color due to being a flashback.) Sonic and Tails join in the rescue (Geoffrey St. John actually saying they’re needed–times have changed) while Sally stays behind to see to her mother. The injured Antoine, unable to go, plans to go to Mercia to see to his dad, with Bunnie going with him for support and Amy Rose going because Rob O’ The Hedge is his cousin. At the battle our heroes manage to stop Uncle Chuck from robotizing Elias and the Sword Of Acorns’ power awakens Chuck and Muttski’s mind before a rotating panel takes them away. The king is also injured so the group has to race him back home just as the queen’s surgery is done.

Meanwhile, Knuckles wakes up from the Dark Legion’s attack, floating on a piece of debris. Athair tells him to go to Albion, which means he’s also off to Mercia to visit Rob. Good thing since he needs to convince the Robin Hood ripoff that Antoine and Bunnie are on the level, and Amy Rose really did have a magical growth spurt. Now the five prepare to journey to Albion in search of answers. Also, Rob and Milian have a child now. (I’m guessing it’s a daughter given that when this series has mixed breeds the daughters match the mom and the sons the dad. Not sure that’s how that would work, but this is an alien planet.)

What they got right: There’s a lot of good action and set-up for later encounters.

What they got wrong: That’s all it has going for it. For all there is to summarize there’s new plots, with the possible return of the queen and who knows what’s going to happen to the king. Elias is okay, but Knuckles is still in trouble while three of Sonic’s group is with Knuckles and Rob instead of the Freedom Fighters. It continues the contained universe but this is all set-up for the next batch of stories and there’s still too many plots and subplots going on at the same time for my personal taste.

What I think overall: The big issue with set-up stories like this is that it only works if what they’re setting up turns out to be interesting. I’m only invested because I already like the characters and this continuity. It’s not an issue to come in on unless you already care about them.