Skye Prower

"So what nasty monsters are on this planet?" asked Miles

"No problem Sarah.  See you later Ziona, Zoe," said Stacey waving.   -----------   "And you expect me to spill my guts after you refused to?"

"Okay, we'll head home then," said Stacey.   ----------   The Legionnaire raised an eyebrow.

Have a link to it then!    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1OnQ104_Xc

"Do you want to go with Ziona and Zoe or back home?" Stacey asked.   ---------   "What's so funny?"

"Sarah?" asked Stacey gently.   -----------   "Me?" asked the Legionare surprised.

"Would you rather I went home?" asked Stacey.  Ziona looked on curiously.   ----------   "Then we should talk," said the Legionare. 

"Quite the opposite in fact!" said Miles.   ------   Stacey almost looked disappointed for a second.   ---------   "Got a better way to pass the time?"

"I can still watch," said Stacey.   ----------   "Hmph!"

"What's wrong Sarah?" asked Stacey.   ----------   "Kinda?"

"They did?  Cool!  Can we come?" asked Stacey.   -------   "How can you even understand the concept?"

"They're bad luck had to take at least a short break!" said Miles

"Zoe and Dominic caught someone summigiling Star Post tech," said Ziona, after a slight jump when Stacey appeared.  "I going to try and resolve the situation."   ----------   "Aren't you too young to worry about honour," said the Legionare.   ---------   "Looks like everyones gonna end up stuck on the planet," said Miles.

Stacey ran through the trees then suddenly halted.  "Zoe?  Ziona?  Why are you out here?" he asked curiously.   -----------   "What if you said I overpowered you?"

"It sounds a bit like..." Stacey began, the he grinned and started running forward.   ---------   "Why not.  You keep the device and let me go!"

"Not at this rate," said Miles

"Lucky for the pirates, that could have been much worse!" said Miles.   ------------   "Yeah it... wait, someones coming," said Stacey.   -------------   "You could just release me!"

"Great!" smiled Stacey   -----------   "Not making me feel more confident!"

Hmm, maybe I should give this review topic a snazzy name, like Jest’s review have…   Issue 17   Despite the incredibly warped biplane on the cover, Issue 17 is a very significant issue.  Both stories introduce elements that will have repercussions for the comics, for good and for ill.    Story 1: Gorilla Warfare   Let’s start with the ill first!    As the cover may indicate, this story is ‘inspired’ by King Kong.  Well, when I say inspired, I think shameless rip off might be closer to the truth.  While there have been shout outs or references to other films, comics and the like before, most of the time it’s just short jokes (issue 8 notwithstanding).  But this is the first one that the whole story is clearly based on another work.  And not the last.  At least they’re uncommon.   Well let’s get started with this cloned adventure.  A quick rec room scene establishes that Robotnik has been away for a while, Sonic hogs the ping pong table, and Rotor needs to get more sleep.  Turns out Robotnik is on Skoal Island.  And with that you can tell exactly how subtle this story is gonna be.  Or, more accurately, unsubtle!   Robotnik then tells the story of the first ever robot he made, and the story moves away from a retelling of King Kong.  Yay.  To a parody of Frankenstein.  Boo.  So, Robotnik’s first ever ever robot was a massive titan.  Seriously?  No smaller prototypes first?  Even after you complained it would be easier to have robots to help you.  And how the heck is a gargantuan robot gonna be able to help you with your chores?  It’s too big for that to be practical.   To no one’s surprise but Robotnik, because the robot is a prototype, it doesn’t obey commands and smashes its way out of the lab and to freedom.  According to Robotnik, the trail he took wandering the world was very noticeable.   Then, in the VERY NEXT panel, Robotnik said he searched everywhere and couldn’t find him.   Er… what?  Just…. WHAT?  HOW?  Even if the giant robot walked along the sea floor, you would have a pretty good idea the direction he’d have set off in.   And now satellite photos have only now revealed its location.  Only now…. No wonder some kids living in the woods are giving you so much trouble Robotnik.  But then, we get to see the massive robot in all it’s glory.   King… Gong… cause it has a clock in its chest…   …   …   …   *groans*   Okay, okay, despite this, I’ll press on.  Robotnik gives the robot bananas and ships it back, intending for it to squish Sonic.  And the Freedom Fiighters are off on a picnic while commenting Robotnik’s been missing for weeks.   So…. Riddle me this… why aren’t you blowing up Robotropiolis while Robotnik has been gone?  (note to self: don’t have Batman film’s on in the background while writing reviews)  Darn, everyone is incompetent this story.    The robots attacks the party, the heroes dive for cover, then Sally yells at it and kicks it in the shins.  Guess some of her fur is still pink somewhere for that hot tempered outburst.  Probably her feet under her boots.  And King Gong spots her and instantly falls in love, because King Kong rip-off.   Sonic gets knocked away and Sally grabbed, so the hero’s follow in the Tornado.  Well… I guess I should be thankful the didn’t shoe-horn in a biplane from now where.   And King Gong starts climbing… the Trans-Mobian Trade Centre…. WHERE DID THAT CITY COME FROM?!  It’s not Robotropolis… so… unless it’s the ruins of some human city… but it’s too well maintained for that.   Sally meanwhile… well, her character has been a little inconstant between stories.  Here, like the Robotnik searching example above, it’s inconstant between panels.   Whenever she’s in the distance (or on the cover), she’s doing the screaming damsel in distress thing.  But when focused on she’s taking the tough-girl approach, arguing and trying to talk down the robot.  Does she know when the camera is on her so acts up accordingly? Sonic, Tails and Antione arrive, with the Tornado equipped with a tank of banana oil for…. Because… uh… *cough* Look, over there!   Tails grabs Sally, Sonic sprays the robot with the oil, causing him to fall from the tower with predicable results.  Robotnik makes a pop-culture reference (one I thought was late nineties, not early nineties, but oh well) Sonic makes another reference to being in love with Sally, and it’s over.  Finally.   I think it’s pretty clear what I make of this tale, but in all honestly, aside from the logical hiccups, it’s merely below average.  Like or dislike of this story depends on how much you are willing to forgive, or if you like, parodies of other works.  As I mentioned before, it is far from the last of the parody/homage stories, merely the first.    But introducing new elements is not limited to the first story only.   Story 2: First Star I See Tonight   Sally sits pondering the past, then a shooting star lands.  The Freedom Fighters find a strange orb in the middle of a crater where it landed.   That’s it.  Really.   This story is utterly different from any that have come before.   There is no humour, no jokes or puns.  There’s no action whatsoever.  There is genuine emotion and character on display.  And it doesn’t end in a single issue.  The end makes it clear more is to come.   This little innocuous story might just be the most significant in the whole series.  It is the first story to be serious and an ongoing tale, essentially, the comic has started maturing.  Even the artwork seems to indicate this.  While it is still drawn in the same way, the colours seem to make it appear less flat and cartoony compared to normal.    It is the beginning of the comic as a proper, ongoing narrative.  Combine this with the short summary of Sally’s history, and seeing the robotised Uncle Chuck and Muttski last issue, the comic seems to be aware of this, and restating everyone ready for this new direction.   Alas, this new direction will take a while to arrive fully into the comic, as many of the sillier/light-hearted elements will be retained for a while.  And as for this story itself, it may introduce this new direction, and bring up the orb from the sky, but does little else aside from repeating backstory we already know, and which will be repeated again later.  In essence, read it for the start of the story proper, not for itself.   Overall   Issue 17 is a signifant issue for the direction of the comic, but that doesn’t magically make the stories great.  The first can be avoided with no consequences.  The second is worth reading as it marks the start of a proper ongoing plot in the comics, but has little in itself as a story.   If you wish to avoid most of the silliness of the early comics, the second story of Issue 17 is the best place to start.

"You did have fun, right?" asked Stacey.   -----------   "One push of a button and I blow up.  I doubt her Mom can stop that."   ----------   "Should have put a better guard on them!" said Miles

"It's been a fun evening!" said Stacey.   --------   "Eggman will kill me," said the Legionare with certainly.

Miles giggled.  "Serves the pirates right!"

Stacey smiled as Sarah took the hand.   ---------   "And killing is fair?"

"I can imagine not!" said Miles

"We're the crew of the captured ship okay?" asked Miles.