“Mobian Idol” oddly didn’t last long.
Sonic The Hedgehog #201
Archie Comic Publications (August 2009)
“Change In Management” & “Devotion”
WRITER: Ian Flynn
PENCILER: Tracy Yardley
INKER: Terry Austin
COLORIST: Matt Herms
LETTERERS: John Workman (main story) & Teresa Davidson (back-story)
EDITOR: Mike Pellerito
From the original review: Everyone is celebrating Robotnik’s defeat, except Sonic–who actually feels sorry for the twig-snapped Robotnik. Just as Mina begins her concert, Monkey Khan arrives and denounces the celebration, informing the Freedom Fighters that his nemesis, the Iron Queen, has seized control of the Eggman Empire. Sonic’s defeated her and the Iron King before and thinks doing so again will be easy, so he runs off with Khan right behind him. Sonic informs Monkey Khan that he and Sally are no longer together, which Khan seems to find good news.
Added notes: The Queen and her new boytoy Snively (which doesn’t make the Iron King happy, though I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s playing them both) tell Enerjak that Robotnik’s explosives in their cybernetics aren’t removable but she gives them chips that allegedly inhibits the detonation signal. Spoilers: she’s lying.
In the second story, Lightning appears to tell Espio that the Shinobi are all now under the control of the Iron Queen, including Espio and Lightning’s clans. Espio leaves with Lightning, and leaves Nicole confused. (And me as well, as I haven’t been reading this series again until recently.)
More added notes: apparently at some point Nicole became a hologram with her own talking animal form. I seem to recall the village now being nanobots or something but it’s been a long time. Also, in both the original review and this mildly updated version I reviewed the two stories together because they have the same writer and artists (only the letterer is different) and is part of the same events.
What they got right: A satisfying beginning to the new arc. It sets up the new dynamic for all parties involved. Otherwise…
What they got wrong: It’s really too soon to tell anything. Everything is all set-up, so I can’t get a proper read. I’m a little concerned about Espio potentially joining the enemy and Khan’s interest in Sally when he learns she and Sonic are no longer a romantic couple.
Recommendation: Until a few more issues under the new arc comes out, I really can’t say if I can recommend anything beyond the fact that there’s a good reason this is called a “way past cool comic” after 201 issues. Still, going by memory I don’t think I’m going to hold on to the rest of the main series beyond the occasional story and the Mega Man crossovers. I just can’t get into it anymore for various reasons and recollections of what’s coming and why I kept dropping the title, but I did like the previous Sonic Universe story and will be judging on a full story arc.
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