“Yesterday’s” Comic> Sonic Universe #9

Chasing off the readers might not be the best option.

Sonic Universe #9

Archie Comics (December 2009)

“Echos Of The Past” part 1

WRITER: Ian Flynn

PENCILER: Tracy Yardley

INKER: Jim Amash

COLORIST: Jason Jensen

LETTERER: Teresa Davidson

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Paul Kaminski

EDITOR: Mike Pellerito

Knuckles, Mighty, and Julie-Su of the Chaotix are summoned by the Dingo leader, Helmut Von Stryker, because a mutual threat, Dr. Finitevus, may have been located. They arrive at an old ruin village where Knuckles makes some interesting discoveries…before ending up in a trap! Meanwhile, as Angel Island floats over its old home in Downunda, Vector and Ray are guarding the Master Emerald when an army of flying dingo robots appear looking to take the Emerald.

Not mentioned in the original review is that the village appears to be older than the Echidna colony that became Echidnaopolis but not built by Echidnas outside of one building where Finitevus is supposed to be hiding out in. That info and some typo fixes are the only additions.

What they got right: Those of us who haven’t been following Knuckles and his friends for a while (I missed when the “Floating Island” was renamed “Angel Island”, although I know that’s what the games call it now–or at least that’s what they called Knuckles’s home on Sonic X) aren’t dropped in the middle of storytelling nowhere. There’s a brief catch-up told during the story itself in a way that feel natural. I may not know the details of Knuckles battles with this Finitevus guy, but I know enough to follow what’s going on. As the first part of a four-part arc, they set up the cast for the story properly. The art is up to the usual heights I’ve come to expect from the Sonic titles, and you sometimes forget your reading about a bunch of talking animals. They just feel like characters.

What they got wrong: The only complaint I could make here is that Knuckles and the gang deserve their own comic back, but it’s nice to see the Chaotix get their own story again.

Recommendation: You’ll have to judge for yourself how it stands as a “jump-on” point, but if your a Knuckles fan (at least the Archie Comics version), it’s not a bad place to return