Sonic #104 Posted by Dr. Robotnik on November 28, 2001 Here's my review summary thingy. While both stories in Sonic #103 were mostly exposition, maybe 1 and a half stories in Sonic #104 were all follow through. Sonic #103's part of the Freedom Fighters of the Galaxy story was all talk and seemed to try to tell the whole history of Jim Valentino's source material. Sonic #104 saw Jim Valentino's absence filled with shtick. It actually was fun to read the lead story because it was kind of silly. Hawkhawk's overwritten dialogue in Sonic #103 was toned down in 104 to basically reminding the readers that he "is the one whose nose knows". The art was great and fit the silly mood a bit better than Jim V's darker art would have. However, the ending didn't work for me. It reminded me of the weak ending "don't eat this, eat these instead" way Robotnicus was defeated by the Fantastic Four parody Freedom Fighters in "Bedtime Tails"(Sonic #38 by Ken Penders and Mike Kanterovitch). Meanwhile, Mike Gallagher and Dave Manak's old school Downunda Freedom Fighters story isn't too thrilling, but it does remind me of the older Sonic comics in terms of both writing and art and that's a good thing. The bunyip looks kind of like Godzilla from "Godzilla 1998" though. While we don't have answers to the Knuckles family tree puzzle from #103, we do have a guess the Sonic page. Here are the answers clockwise from the top: Evil Sonic from issues #11, 19, 24, 44 and Super Special #10. MetalSonic from issues #25, 86, 87 and the Knuckles Chaotix special. Zonic the Zone Cop from Super Specials #8, 10, 12, 14 and Sonic #103 and 104. Solar Sonic from Sonic #71. CyberSonic from issue #19. Since I do want this to be printed I'll include my name Dr. Big Robotnik ------ ------ Big ol' Boo-boo in S#104 Posted by Ian Potto If I were in a more vindictive mood, I'd take time to tear S#104 to shreds. However, I will only point out a error on the letter's page. I have been credited with writting the third letter featured. I know this wasn't my letter simply because it had good things to say about S#101. There were a few redeeming points in the Knuckles story, and I can see the reasoning of whoever wrote the letter, but I did not write that. While it might be a pain in the tush, it would mean alot to me, and perhaps the writer of the letter, if credit was given where it was due. ------ Posted by True Red I went through my mailing list archives and found that !! wrote it. I thought it was him when I read it, too. ------ ------ About Issue #104... Posted by Snoopy Cubed on November 28,2001 Hm... The story was okay, not good but not bad! It's nice to take break from regular rat raceand do something innovative in the STH comics... Oh wait, THAT"S WHAT THE SPECIALS WERE FOR!!!" And they had to go out on a sournote like SSS #15...makes me wonder why I even care... As for the art in STH #104...I like it. There is a nice amount of style. Nice gesturestoo...only ONE thing bothered me. At the bottom of page 10...Robolactus's hand in themonitor...I think the hand is WAY too square. It's okay to genralize the hand sometimes...but when it is open like that, you have not other choice but to make it lookreal...unless the character's hands really like that. Sad ------ Well, Ken did say... Posted by Lady Laguna ...That the stories being used were actually Super Special fodder. They were used because the staff had things keeping them from running the stories on a regular schedule. ...La, but it doesn't matter to me anyway, because I didn't even read them ^^;; That's how interested I was 0_o ~jenn ------ Re: About Issue #104... Posted by Highliter I'm still waiting for my book store to get 103... ------ ------ Sonic 104 Rant - brought to you by Turkey Spam! Posted by MB on December 01, 2001 Sonic The Hedgehog No. 104 Rant Cover Tailon, Saleta, Sonic and Rotor-27 flee from the EEEEVIL grasp of Robolactus, the planet glutton. As a bonus, Sonic is holding Saleta’s hand. Sure, it’s not in an affectionate way, but it’s as close as we might get to Sonic holding Sally’s hand these days. Thank you Sega censorship. Spaz makes this cover a bit more complex than his previous efforts, but it’s not as complicated others, such as SSS14. I enjoy what I see though; in particular Josh’s coloring. I really like how Josh colored Sonic. Body parts such as the ankle and the ears can be seen without any problem. Either Ken Penders or Nelson Ribeiro inked this one. Depends on who believe: the cover or Sonic Grams. Freedom Fighters of the Galaxy – Part 2 After a one-page recap of last’s issues events, Silver Snively attacks the Freedom Fighters, Sonic … I mean Sonik and Tailon. However, some time between this issue and the last, the setting changed from the post-apocalyptic city to outside the planet. After pretty much whipping everyone’s butt, Sonik takes care of the silver messenger of doom with a whirlwind / psycho-kinetic blast combo. As the Freedom Fighters observe the limp form of Silver Snively, Hawkhawk’s superior nose sniffs “something” and he takes off. ‘Twan-Du beams everyone else to the ship and follow the possessor of the “nose that knows.” After a crash course on Robolactus’ background, our heroes arrive at the planet Bluto. Sonik organizes the troops as Robolactus setups his “Planet Juicer.” After realizing that a direct attack won’t defeat Robolactus, Sonik changes strategy and targets the Planet Juicer. Rotor-27 goes for the gold but Robolactus takes care of him with his mighty hand. Using Tailon’s “crimson and clover bands of charm-o-rack,” Sonik rescues the powerful walrus from some doom. Just as Robolactus decides to strike the ultimate blow, Silver Snively interrupts. Silver Snively convinces Robolactus to devour the planet of the Sharks instead of consuming Bluto. Afterwards a pleasant dinner, the bad guys leave in search of other galaxies to devour. To quote “Stone Cold” Steve Austin: “WHAT?” So the day is saved no thanks to the Freedom Fighters of the Galaxy. STORY – What can be said about this dud? After a huge buildup last issue, everything bit of potential falls through the cracks of Mike Gallagher’s overwriting and puns. While the resolution is logical, it is not satisfying. Everyone is expecting a huge battle to enfold, but the whole conflicts ends when Robolactus eats the planet of the Sharks? C’mon! The resolution reminded me of the ending of “Tenchi in Tokyo,” which left a sour taste in my mouth. Another thing that I did not liked was the portrayal of Robolactus. If I am not mistaken, Galactus was force to reckon with in the whole Marvel universe. If so, then why was Robolactus portrayed as such a baby? I’m aware that he’s a parody of Galactus, but he should’ve been portrayed as a credible foe. One more thing: the spelling. WHASUPWITDAT? Is there a clause in the comic industry prohibiting someone to correct any spelling errors made by the author? And what in the blue hell was the function of Tailon’s “crimson and clover bands of charm-o-rack?” All in all, I’m just grateful that this arc allowed Karl and Ken to at least try to write material better than this dud. What an appropriate way to end the year. ART – If there was anything good in this saga, it was the art. After illustrating last issue, Jim Valentino and Harvo tag in Dawn “Chordsy” Best and Ken Penders. I liked what I saw, and the inking was far superior to Pam Eklund’s effort in S102. My only complains are that Rotor-27 seems too passive and that Dawn could’ve worked in a bit more emotional range. However, she pretty much makes up for it with her fantastic art. Just thinking of drawing the background that she did in the space segments gives me headaches. Downunda Freedom Fighters in “Myth taken Identity”– Part 2 The Downunda Freedom fighters arrive to the Bunyip’s lair and are taken out of commission without much trouble… except for Guru, who was too busy saying non-sense in the sidelines. Guru weeps for letting his teammates down and discovers a dam. The relevance of it will be revealed in next month’s astonishing conclusion. STORY – Not much to talk about. It felt more like filler material to me. Mike Gallagher proves that he took a course on Australian mythology with the description of the Bunyip. Let’s see if Mike also drops the ball on this story next issue. ART – Is Bunyip a cousin of Godzilla? According to Dave Manak, it is. A far cry from an image I saw in cryptozoology.com. He is on the right track though. The rest of his work is his standard stuff, which you either like or hate. ------ ------ Regarding the spelling of Sonic's name in #104... Posted by Vee-Jay Hedgehog And it DOESN'T bother me in the slightest! In fact, I am surprised at the level of criticism YOU LOT have for it! *shakes head* All of you believe the comic is dying...like hel-lo? I recall hearing that LONG BEFORE Issue #100. And though I one of those people who thought #100 would be the last, I was pleasantly surprised to be WRONG. *sighs* Can't you find it the slightest bit imaginative that Sonic's name is spelled 'Sonik' in #104. It's an ALTERNATE Dimension - what the hell happened to you guys'/gals' imaginations?! The main reason _I_ continue to read and enjoy Sonic's Comic is because it's a lot better than listening to everyone else complain about it. I for one am a Sonic Fan to the last. Sure, some aspects of the comic need work, I'm not saying it doesn't, but I am just so surprised at about the absolute lack of imagination that some people continue to senselessly attack Archie for. At least some of their ideas are better than Disney's and Nickelodeon's ideas of a good show/comic! My two cents on what's currently going on... So flame me already! It seems to be the only good thing that ever happens to me on this board anyway! ~Vee-Jay Hedgehog~ *goes back to lurking mode, as she usually does after posting on this particular MB* ------ Nothing happened to MY imagination Posted by Emerald Echidna Heh... my imagination is just fine..... *Grins* I suppose it IS imaginative of Archie to put rip offs in the comic, turn Sally into a weakling, have Sonic's real name OLGILVIE, Mina taking Sonic's originality away(not to mention his girlfriend), and put any kind of material into it that makes it so soap-operaish that you'd think it was "Days of our lives", or strap the chars in ripped off costumes from other comics, with stories that seem to've been done in but mere 5 minutes of the time that they always had in the past when they did everything ten times better, with Tails not being Tails(What a hoot)..... VERY imaginative *Snicker* It's just not Sonic, man...... I don't see anything Sonic about it anymore.... IT's SONIC THE HEDGEHOG.... (I'm na flame'n ya, just the issues) --- Re: Nothing happened to MY imagination Posted by True Red : with stories that seem to've been done in but mere 5 minutes of the time that they always had in the past when they did everything ten times better I definitely don't consider the past better than anything being done now at all. The past stunk in comparison big time. It's gotten progressively better over time. It has more of its own unique identity, which is something I like. Sonic-wise, save for issue #48, I only re-read issues #69 to the present for enjoyment purposes because I find them to be very good and much better than anything before. Sonic was massively dull with the same exact thing happening all the time. A shake-up was needed and it injected some much need interest for me. I used to read Sonic for Knuckles, even when Knux had his monthly series. That's the only reason I stayed on when I "discovered" it with #37. I can now honestly say I read the Sonic stories for Sonic, which something I didn't think would ever happen. --- Posted by Vee-Jay Hedgehog : I used to read Sonic for Knuckles, even when Knux had his monthly series. That's the only reason I stayed on when I "discovered" it with #37. I can now honestly say I read the Sonic stories for Sonic, which something I didn't think would ever happen. Nice to see at least someone thinks the comic is still a good read. I'm still sitting back and waiting for what's gonna happen about Eggman, Elias (the runaway prince, storyline has potential...), Rouge (thank God she's comin' back), Snively (defect to the FF? Maybe), and Mina (catfight ;p) *shrugs* I'm a fatalist and a Sonic Fan to the last. Comics have their ups and downs and Sonic is no exception. Besides, it's about time there was something GOOD said about the comics. *applauds True Red* ~Vee-Jay Hedgehog~ --- Same here... Posted by Astal : I'm a fatalist and a Sonic Fan to the last. Comics have their ups and downs and Sonic is no exception. Besides, it's about time there was something GOOD said about the comics. Personally, I think people give WAY too harsh of comments to the comics. They're impatient (Robotnik wouldn't show up for an issue and everyone goes nuts, saying Karl trying to push aside his sub-plot) and, at times, unreasonable (it's a crossover, it's supposed to be cheesy fun, not a grand epic story line) and, really, I'm glad Ken and Karl have been making the storylines that they have. I actually find them very interesting. So maybe it's quality isn't as high as, say, Sojourn or Sigil. It's still an enjoyable comic, IMHO. -Astal --- I agree. Posted by Blackbird Yeah, yeah, I know I've bashed some of the things in the comic myself, but I'm still getting some enjoyment out of it. And I do have some hope given what Karl has said here and the last story that took place in the original storyline. And I agree completely about the crossover thing. I'm taking it with a grain of salt cause I know this is just filler so the guys can take a break and come up with some good stories again. I'm just getting tired of peopele saying that this story is the "death of the comics". Seriously, calm down. It's not going to be like this all the time! It's just a small break, so don't take it too seriously! Wait til next month and then go back to judging the stories and such! Sheesh! ------ Here's the thing that doesn't add up Posted by MB In S103, Sonic's name was spelled as is, while in S104 it was spelled with a k in the end. --- : In S103, Sonic's name was spelled as is, while in S104 it was spelled with a k in the end. Possibly the case of an incorrect correction. Throughout S104, JFG left messages within the dialogue saying that he left it alone as he saw it. In S103, thinking it was an error to have a "k" at the end, he changed it (the same way MS Word thinks the first letter of my first name should begin with a P instead of a K and is always warning me to "correct" it). It was too blatant in S104 that Mike wanted this "Sonic" to be called Sonik because I doubt he'd make such a silly error consistently, whereas in S103 the name only came up once--so it was probably incorrectly "corrected." Only a guess. --- We're Talking About The People Who Think "Tical" Is The Correct Spelling! Daniel J. Drazen --- Hmm Posted by True Red When Archie is actually given at least the same amount of information (more would be better though) on Sonic games to write with than I can get on the 'net by the time the issue sees print (but not when the issue is actually being created), then maybe I might actually take shots at the Tical/Tikal thing. However, I still find it to be immensely trivial as it had absolutely no bearing on the story (same with this Sonic/Sonik thing), which is my only concern. ------