I'm surprised... Posted by BobR no one's caught the big blooper in Sonic #89. Page 10, first panel, Sonic says, "Uncle Chuck seemed like his old self again when Sally pointed the Sword of Acorns at him, huh, Tails?" Maybe someone should clue Sonic in that Sally was back in Knothole at the time, and it was "Sally's Dad" that was emphasizing the point. :) I don't think Karl would make that big a blooper...I think I'll chalk it up to the letterer misreading the script. Ooops! :) --- I'm Not Posted by Ken Penders It seemed like Justin, Pat and I were left holding the bag and having to pick up after everyone else on that issue. Considering how rushed we were to get that book out, it's amazing there weren't more mistakes than what I saw in the finished project. For the record, even though Andrew Pepoy is credited as the inker, I actually inked the complete Sonic story due to Andrew having to bail out because he needed to work on other deadlines. Justin contacted me just before I was about to head off to San Diego, which resulted in several sleepless nights before, during and after that trip in order to complete it. NOTE: In the latest issue of Previews, Steven Butler and Pam Eklund are listed as the artists on the Knuckles story. Due to Steven's departure, I'm now handling the art chores solo on that one. ------ Astal caught it.... Posted by Double‡Cross Here's what he said in his message One picky thing in the issue I found... : "was that Karl Bollers made the mistake of having Sonic say that Sally pointed the sword at Chuck, not Maximillion (sp?). " Unfortunately, I haven't seen this myself, as my subscription hasn't arrived yet. I'm getting the feeling that it won't... O.O ~Double‡Cross~ --- Ohhhh, thanky for noticin'. :) (n.t.) Astal --- I didn't. My apologies, Astal. Sharp eyes! :) -BobR- --- There's some other stuff.... Posted by Crazy Such as Gala-Na now being red with purple eyes (instead of violet with blue eyes) and Yanar being brown rather than red. Small things, but still.... Heck, no one seemed to notice that in #88, Mari-An's sentence "Is somewhat amiss?" made no sense. --- It was caught... Posted by True Red : Heck, no one seemed to notice that in #88, Mari-An's sentence :"Is somewhat amiss?" made no sense. I talked about that at Angel Island (The MBs for Knuckles Haven) when Rob's overuse of Old English was discussed. --- You're the greatest!! Posted by Lady Laguna In Reply to: I'm Not posted by Ken Penders You and Freddy have done so much for Sonic and Knuckles. And you continue to do more!! I can only hope, when I get into the industry (not IF--WHEN... I don't do pessimistic), that I can be as dedicated as you... Then I'll probably end up losing all my hair by the time I'm forty. 0,0 Um, just so you think I'm not just sucking up, I'll say--Uh, Oh! I have one! Your hair smells funny. Take that, Mr. Penders!! ::Runs Away:: ~LL --- Posted by BobR But at least this time they got the credits in for the Knuckle's story...even if they did credit PAN Eklund as the inker. :) --- I noticed something from #88! Posted by Emerald Ah! Pan?! Lemme see dat!! I didn't see noth'n! Y'talking about the O Hallow's Even iss er what? Anyway, I came upon a mistake in iss #88. No one gave out any credits for the Knuckles solo side! Say, Ken. If you did a Halloween special, wuzabout Christmas, Eh? --- Nope Posted by True Red Talking about Sonic #89 which came out in comic shops on Wednesday in the US anyway. There's a delay depending on where you get your comics. Back at home I'd have another week to wait since I get my comics from Genovese. ------ ------ Sonic #89 Comments And Review And Stuff Posted by WB on October 01, 2000 Well -I got Sonic 89 a couple of days ago (Wednesday to be exact) and I thought I'd comment on it while I'm sitting here bored and cursing the life that has left me temporarily with a 14.4 speed modem >:| This is long as are my usual posts, so bare with me. I liked it. :) A lot. Wasnt as nice as the one before it in some areas, and there were some points of contention but it was definetely a step up from the rest of the issues. I still found some things kinda lacking a bit, but here we go.... ^_^ The Cover: One thing people are forgetting is that the cover is supposed to act as one large teaser for the inside story. Some are gags, some are misleading to draw you in, and some reflect scenes in the book. It IS the first thing you see when you pick up the book after all and its purpose is supposed to draw you into it. I dunno what Spaz was thinking on this cover in particular, but its kinda messy and due to things that AREN'T all his fault. :P I do like Sonic's pose (considering he's the foreground) and Princess Sally's pose looks cool - but its hard to tell if the exclamation points are just that or very large glorified sweat beads. That and why does Nicole look like a very large Laptop Computer now? She hasn't been that big since her HAM Radio form in that Sonic/Sabrina thing. ^_^ Its everything BEHIND her though that messes this cover up monstrously. Example - that pose on Geoffrey is VERY awkward looking. He looks "bigger" than normal, almost harkening back to the VERY early days when he was first introduced. He's bulky looking and his facial features are appropriate, but drawn really odd looking. Then there's the cameo of Super Magnetic Neo complete with Japanese "Niu Niu" instead. The coloring - by JD and Aimee Ray - is really off on him (he's supposed to be colored a Smurfy Blue and the area where his eyes are a peach skin color). It would have been a cool looking cameo had it not been for that small flub under his left eye that made him look weird. ^^ Geoffrey St. John's beret string - above the left ear - was colored the same color as Neo. I kept looking at his face trying to figure out why he had that huge Eggman nose before I finally figured out that it wasnt a nose at all ^^ Second problem is the typical every issue Astal cameo. I cant tell if thats his arm or a suit he's wearing, and thats sort of my problem overall with Spaz's new look. Its NOT bad - I honestly do like it and on some covers its been VERY good looking (last issues and that one that a Marvel VS Capcom parody being good examples). But it becomes a problem when it becomes TOO loose. In turn, the cover is very messy and its hard to pinpoint what everything is supposed to be and where everything is. But I'm not sure if I can really fault Spaz all the way for this, because if you'll notice - Mega Man makes a cameo behind the title and thats why I think its the colorists fault on this one. Notice that of all the cameos, he's the only one colored like a statue and he's sitting in what would be a groove cut into the castle wall. There is also a groove in the wall above Neo and a groove in the wall above Astal. My guess is that the cover was originally inted to be JUST Sonic, Sally, and Geoff colored. Mega Man, Astal, and Neo were supposed to be statues in the background. Thats the _only_ way this cover really makes full sense. Then it would look a lot less messy and you dont have the distractions of a colored Neo and Astal to take away from Geoff and Sal - who are supposed to be the real background focal points. And from the poses that both characters are doing (Neo w/extended arms, Astal w/folded), fits this theory of them being statues that were colored in due to a colorists booboo. Very cool concept, very screwed up exectution. But its not the first colorist error I found in this issue... Onto the story! ^^ Pretty sweet. I'm getting used to Fry's new artwork, though I still think it looks too Geometric and Pokemon like. I cant decide which I like better though. This style has its flaws and good points and the old style had its flaws and good points. One thing I will credit Fry for though, is that he doesnt seem the type to let one style stale him out. And thats good cause it always keeps him fresh. :) One booboo - King Max had a blow to the head, right? So why is he still wearing his crown, wouldn't that agitate it more? Or am I just looking too much into it? As Doc Quack, Andy Panda (Woody Woodpecker riff ^^), and a nurse that looks like a small furry version of Ling Ling from Steam Detectives cart off Max, we open with Sally crying because on top of her Mom being nill for several issues, now we have Max sans concussion as Geoff and Elias hold her back. Sonic tries to console her and she promptly goes all Steven King's Carrie on him, fires him down with a hose, sets the infirmary on fire, and chops Geoffrey in half with a falling piece of the wall. Well...not really ^__^ - but I think it would have been better if she had a MAD expression on her face while she was crying. That would have given the scene more impact if we're supposed to believe later that she went off on him. Instead it looks like she just sobbed for a minute or two and ran out. ^^ Different interpretation, I just think a mad sobbing Sally would have gone over better. Sonic tries to run after her and a very geometric Elias tells them he'll go see to her himself. We now turn to Robotropolis where we find whom I think are Delta and Gamma from Sonic #75 (those two GIANT Shadow Swatbots that served as Robotnik's guards) ushering in a herd of Robians. Off the page for a second - but I always wondered how primary Robians like Uncle Chuck and General D'Coolette kept thier full or semi color as opposed to other Robians which are all gray. I suppose its just the colorists way of not coloring them all in and being lazy, but in a way it works much better. Gives the impact of Robotization a more "conforming" angle while those that are given color - like Sonics parents - are obviously more important and "special" Robians. Just something to think about. Anyways Robotnik is now back and upon finding that Sonic has now destroyed his science labis kinda ticked ^^ Artwork wise I liked this scene - Fry does VERY VERY good robotics. Angular and detailed without just throwing in random bolts and nuts to make things look metally. Look at the third panel on Page 4. Notice that spiral twister robot-like thing thats hanging from the wall? Thats some darn good prespective shot. We then cut to Sonic and Tails overlooking Geoff handing the SOA to a guard to take to the Reliquary. Its at this point that he and Rosie walk away upon meeting Mina. I sorta like her already. She's honestly not that bad. People have already been saying what if Archie tries to make her Sonic's new girlfreind and all that junk, but I find that preposterous. I think what we may see in her eventually is her becoming more of a new friend to Sonic. Which is good. A confidante of sorts whom he can relate to in ways that he can't with Tails or Sally - especially considering that she's been so distant and Tails is like a little brother figure. Just cause she's a girl and has similar feelings as Sonic doesnt mean they have to be girlfriend/boyfriend. :P A friend relationship would be agood addition IMO. I also like the fact that thier teasing her slowly. A friend of mine (True red) said it best on SHQ's forum: I know it's a matter of writing style, but I don't want a writer to reveal everything about someone right off the bat. I prefer teasers. Mina hasn't really been in the comic that long. People tend to forget that the SA adaptation took 6 months (half a year) and add to the fact that Archie had to get the FFs back to Knothole (another 3 months), which put ALL developments in the comic's real storyline (such as Mina, the Queen, etc.) on hold for almost a year. Considering this and the fact that we're 10 issues from 100 now, I think thier making very good time with what they have. Anyways this is where I think Karl Bollers has REALLY improved as of late - the talk between Sally and Elias. That really read like a good brother/sister conversation. It wasnt forced or dopey, but sounded like things a sister would say to a sort-of-distant brother when family becomes complicated. That final panel on Page 6 was really nice looking too. The art in general flowed with scene from the looks on Sally's face as she talked, to Elias leaning back on the bridge and listening to that really good profile shot of Sally on Page 7, third panel where her eyes are looking distant and Elias isnt so much as looking at her, but sort of "through" her, if you follow me. I like how Mr. Bollers noted the fact that Sally felt that both Elias and the King were keeping things from her. And that bit with the "Hidden City of The Old Ones/Ancients" really accented the conversation and its meaning of how much better Sally is in leadership while Elias is more of an adventurer type of character that wants to see the world and take risks - hence his jaunt into Robotnik's castle last issue. The problem that Mr. Bollers is accenting is the fact that roles have been switched now and its hard for both characters to cope with what thier not used to. VERY good dialogue and that says a lot coming from a guy that is known to litter his passages with "Word" ^____^ My only problem with this whole conversation - "Oh, Sonic! I could hug you!" I believe the phrase is "I could kiss you!" Bleah. Stupid Sega of America and thier stupid policies. That better not have been intentionally written like that. ^_^ We open then with Bernie hugging Sonic and them trying to act more like a family. But Sonic's too busy questioning himself and whether he really does act too much on impulse as opposed to thinking. That bit where Jules was covered in black shadow and he didnt even get a word out before Sonic wished for Uncle Chuck was GREAT while Jules said nothing and just frowned. It showed that Jules sort of cant relate to his own son, or it gives the impression that he realizes that he never really raised him and he feels Sonic cant come to him with his problems. Very good exececution. After Robotnik makes the order to get the Sword Of Acorns, we cut to MAJOR FLUB #2 - King Acorn pointed the sword, not Sally. I understand from reading KP's message that it was an error that slipped by - but considering that theres usually one-two mistakes every issue thats not good. If thats the case, perhaps if they get into crunches like that he should suggest to Justin to hire a Copy Editor when they next meet. That way they can avoid BIG GLARING errors like this one and that huge cover screw up. Archie REALLY needs one as that would save them a LOT of problems and they'd have more editing help in the long run. I dont think it destroy's the story for what it is, but its a BAD error because if people that DIDNT read last issue and pick this up straight out of the blue, it sort of destroys Sally's comments about taking her anger out on Sonic. BIG BOO BOO. The Sword Of Acorns has always been shown as a talisman of sorts and its about time that they linked it to MAYBE showing some hope of helping free the long imprisoned robians - after all - it DID free King Acorns mind when he was possesed by Naugus. One thing I like now, and maybe this was mentioned and I cant remember, but I like how Tails is living with Sonic and his family now. I think this makes a whole lot more sense than shacking up Nate Morgan with Sonic's family, considering Tails doesnt have anyone to take care of him BUT Sonic. However, on the opposite spectrum - BOTH letting Tails and Nate live with them says a lot of the generosity of Sonic's mom and pop. They not only let a stranger into thier home to stay, but Tails who is an orphan at that. It speaks volumes character wise. The hedgehog family sits down to a breakfast of Chili Dogs and the look in his mothers eyes says a lot while Sonic isnt even paying attention - thinking only back to Chuck's simple chili dog stand and chuck looking happily at Kid Sonic. Good scene, while Mina passes by and reminisces about her lost Mother setting up her jaunt with Sonic next issue. Its nice that thier showing more and more how she seemingly relates to Sonic's issues. Later on, Sonic then pulls a fast one that night as he rushes into the reliquary to steal the Sword Of Acorns and test his theory once and for all. :) Thats gonna have some MAJOR repercussions... Then we come to the climax of the story, as Howard The Duck announces to a racing Sally and Elias (liked how they held hands as they walked in) that both Max and Alicia are OK. And then after AAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL these issues - the lady finally wakes up ^___^ Good use of the Photoshop blur on that slow motion eye opening by the way. One time where it ENHANCES the scene rather than take away. Subtlety and less is more. :) the use of holding hands was accentuated 4 times - and each time it really helps the story. :) And the thing ends as Sonic races into the Great Forest with a stolen sword and a shadowy Mina trailing him... I REALLY liked this story - minus that super obvious flub with Sally holding the sword, I didnt find anything remotely bad that it destroyed the whole story. And it proves that there doesnt ALWAYS have to be action. Character driven stories are just as good and provide a good break. :) VERY cool - Sonic questions if he really acts on impulse - and then does it next instant. I think thats the most IN CHARACTER I've seen Karl Bollers write Sonic. One problem - I know Ken Penders inked this issue - but why were the inks all colored dark grey from the Sally and Elias conversation on up? Printing error? Lastly we close on the Knuckles story - Antione has conveniently lost his broken leg by the way. >;) We open with a scene of washington crossing the Delaware with furries, as Rob O The Hedge no longer sounds like a bad Shakespeare play actor. He's still using thee's and thous's but at least he doesnt sound like Rob Roy on crack and making up illegible words ^^ My personal complaint to Ken Penders - Bunnie is southern. I understand that. her accent is vital to her caracter - BUT STOP WITH THE "BEFOAH" talk!!! ^__^ Southerners may have a drawl but ye gads - talk like that down here and you'd get laughed at. :D Gala-na is no longer her lovely lavender too. Barry Grossman colored Knuckles in his comics and now that he and the book are gone Frank Gagliardo is coloring now. hence - considering Archie doesnt have style sheets - my guess is her just colored her typical Echidna red. YET AGAIN I SAY TO ARCHIE - GET A COPY EDITOR !!!!!!!! Gala-Na is a minor character so I can excuse that at least, but find SOMEBODY to do style sheets of at least the MAJOR ones at first. It will ONLY benefit your future artists. And you dont have to do style sheets on minor ones, but at least list the coloring schemes on them for your colorists. That will ONLY help and not hinder. Mistakes like these are really unnecesary and you'd avoid getting in such tight spots and not catching stuff like this if you had one. Justin cant do everything himself and he cant expect the artists to catch flubs that colorists and writers do and you cant expect writers to catch flubs the artists do. Its only beneficial to them. On another side note - Notice also how Mr. Penders likes to use a lot of politics and councils? In Knucklescontinuity so far - we have: The Council of Ants, The Brotherhood of Guardians, The Dark Legion Operatives, and now The High Council of Albion. Why dont you just get a mayor and be done with it. ^___^ Too many characters used too many times bogs down stuff (not all the time, but sometimes) and if you expect people to remember whom the characters are, and what council thier on and who does what and who works where it just becomes cumbersome and too much for new readers to digest. They all act for themselves in the name of the greater good and use policies here and there bla bla bla. Its the same thing that happened in the book and I'd hate for it to happen to the backstories. I mean - why should I care about 5 lookalike echidna councils that act alike and all have the same beauracratic stance. Know what I mean? You cant tell them apart after a while cause they all act and look and are formed alike. I had to go back and see who Rita Li was cause I had read over it too fast and didnt catch her. :P Ah well - I guess its sort of those one guy against the beauracrcy thing that has made Knux work somewhat. Yanar got a color change too - he's now doodoo brown. ^___^ He either didnt wash himself after all his time on Albion and royally stinks to high heaven or a certain colorist didnt bother to research the old books to see color schemes... >;) Anyways the group pulls up to the beaches of Albion as Kncukles is shocked to see Gala Na. As the group rests for the night (how is it that its dark when they pull up, but when everyone goes to sleep, its dusk, or is it dawn now?) Also note that Albion is now completely gray....For a city that was touted as a lost beautiful homeland it sure is dull looking ^__^ To make a long story short Yanar then tells Knuckles that theres a more important thing than having an Island with over half of your own people blow up and trapped in an alternate zone out of time - and that is killing an out of commision robot General that probably never even KNEW about your society in the first place until you brought him there. And all out of "the greater good" >:| Echidna proirities _STINK_. You have Pachacamac that would rather war than look at the way of his own people, you have a secret society that operates by abandoning its children and maintaining things from the background, and now you have a holier than thou city that INSTEAD of helping or mourning thier lost people, they want to kill a General for because he may pose a threat that didnt exist really until they created it. Thier so bright too - rather than killing him OUTSIDE of the city, they bring him in so that when he wakes up and breaks free of the silly bonds they put on him, he can destroy it. Ken Penders and Yuji Naka (in SA) have shown quite frankly that Echidnas and thier society that they swear is the best thing since holy sliced bread, are the biggest hypocrites since Jim Jones and Guiana. If the council told thier citizens to drink posioned Kool Aid for the greater good of the people saying that it would take them to nirvana, they'd be stupid enough to believe it and have 73 councils of Echidana's each named Shangri-La and Falalala-la ratify it in red tape. What a pack of idiots. ^_^ Anyways - the general wakes up (Now who didnt see that one coming? Raise your hand so I can promptly whack you upside the head with my large Cosmic Icky Stick.), Knuckles prepares to spar, things blow up, and Antione wakes up from his dream of beautiful naked coyote women with bad accents showering him with gifts of frankinsence and myrrh while Rob O the Hedge waxes poetic about villiany and thier vile putrid lot. ^__^ Next issue: ONE LAST CHANCE! Will Goku defeat Frieza? Will Perfect Cell destroy Krillin? Will Ayeka survive the massive beating she got from Ryoko? Will Tenchi EVER decide on a girl? Will Serena ever stop making up silly attack names? Does anyone else think Sailor Moon Super S is POSITIVELY WEIRD? Be here for Episode 90 of No Need For Sailor Dragonball Muyo Sonic Z! Its unquestionably stupid !!! ^__^ Jonathan H. Gray Who is still cursing life under a 14.4 modem and no computer. I hate Alabama.... ^^ --- Actually... Posted by Ellie-Za The 'leaving the young echidna alone in the wild to fend for itself' bit is accurate...that's what echidnas do...mum gives bub one last belly-full of milk and wanders off... ---