“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic The Hedgehog #200

“Quick, someone come over here and do the zeroes. I’m a hand short.”

Sonic the Hedgehog #200

Archie Comics (July 2009)

WRITER: Ian Flynn

PENCILER: Tracy Yardley!

INKER: Terry Austin

COLORIST: Matt Herms

LETTERER: John Workman

COVER: Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante

EDITOR: Mike Pellerito

reposted review from the old “This Week’s Reviews“…review:

Last issue, Eggman/Robotnik had lured Sonic into a trap to finally finish their battle. In his giant spider-robot, Eggman is determined to destroy Sonic once and for all. In a longer battle than this synopsis makes it appear to be, Robotnik loses both the battle and his last link to sanity. (Even Sonic feels a bit sorry for him.) Snively puts the dastardly Doctor in a padded room, and the Freedom Fighters have won. How long, however, is yet to be determined, as Snively and the Dark Egg Legion welcome their new boss: the Iron Queen!

What they got right: Each 50th issue is the big Sonic/Robotnik battle, so here it is again. Now I’ve been out of the Sonic loop for quite a few years, ever since Archie tried shoehorning three separate stories into one normal-sized comic. (At the time, there was a story for Sonic, Knuckles, and the “Tales of the Freedom Fighters” stories.) Now that they’ve seemed to both drop that nonsense and created a new jump-on point for the readers, I may well be making my return to Mobius. I wonder if my old place is still up for rent?

What they got wrong: To be honest, this battle didn’t seem as epic as early Sonic/Robotnik big battles. Sure, there’s no “Ultimate Annihilator” here, but the fight seems to end rather quickly, and just ends with Dr. R.’s mind snapping off. I don’t know, it just feels lacking.

Special note: It’s been a long time since I’ve gone through my Sonic comics, but while I do recognize the Iron Queen, I’m hoping next issue gives older and returning readers a refresher course while giving new readers a proper introduction.

Updated thoughts: Reading it again I wonder if the feeling of a lower climax comes from having missed so many issues waiting for it to be good again. Even in these rereads and catching up on comics I didn’t review because I didn’t have a site at the time, the Iron Queen isn’t that memorable to me. I’m also guessing this isn’t Robo-Robotnik but the original Robotnik of this reality, as we did see him trying to comeback from wherever he shunted off to. “Eggman” is listed as his nickname in the credits, though. In my initial review I was let down by the end but found that this might be a good time to attempt a return. While my negative opinion has softened it does seem to be fun again, so I may take the hole in my collection and keep going, at least for now. Whether I keep these comics in the future is up to the future.