Issue 16
Story 1: Sonic Under Glass
The story begins with a shocking reveal. Sally is now in her normal colours! Oh, and Robotnik has been defeated. Off-screen, rather anti-climatically. After a brief bit of celebration, we skip six months later, though the corner box is kind enough to inform that something is ‘not quite right’ TM. Talk about spoilers.
So we’ve fast forwarded to Sonic and Sally’s wedding, a real low-key event, seeing how it’s just the Freedom Fighters around. Oh, but then we see Robotnik watching them on a combination viewing screen/snow globe. Turns out he managed to capture the Freedom Fighters and place them in a Virtual Reality simulation. And considering how easy and transparent the trap he created was, it’s a miracle he hadn’t done so before. It’s also remarkable that he didn’t just robotize the lot of them. His claim is that his plan is ‘more evil’. But frankly, I can’t see how ‘putting you in a virtual paradise where everything you want comes true’ is more evil than ‘turning you in a robot that is still aware of what you are doing’.
Regardless, the Freedom Fighters incarcerated, Robotnik sends his forces off, including massive war machines, off to conquer the rest of Mobius. And with on last glance at his observation fishbowl thing, he leaves the room.
Of course, the moment he leaves is when things start to get messed up in the VR program. Antione swaps himself with Sonic at the wedding, Uncle Chuck shows up de-robotised, and the laws of physics take a holiday. So, overall, not a very subtle program. And then the program informs Sonic all about the situation and what’s going on. Robotnik, you need to work on your programming skills! Sonic then faces the dilemma of should he free his friends or not as they’re so happy. Gotta say, it’s odd to see that Sally seem happy to be married to Antione. And given just how fake this fake reality is, it’s only a matter of time before everyone works it out, so not much of a dilemma.
And… this is where things get weird. Which is pretty remarkable when you consider the whole melting clocks (the universal symbol of ‘stuff not be real’) and physics taking a holiday panels earlier. First Sonic is given an effortless hack machine which he uses to take control of Robotnik’s War Machines, and threatens to destroy Robotropolis unless his friends are freed. So…. He took control of them… while inside the VR. Isf the VR Program connected to the rest of Robotniks computers with no security in between? Is it fitted with wifi? Or does it run on magic pixie dust?
The latter seems the most likely, as after Robotnik frees the Freedom Fighters, Sonic destroys the War Machines and then exits VR himself. By…. and I’m seriously not joking, jumping out of the monitor! So, what…. Did he leave his original body behind or something?
Actually, there is a way to explain all this craziness, as I’m sure you’ve worked out. All the Freedom Fighters are still in VR, just a more ‘realistic’ version. Sonic never hack the tanks in real life, just those in another layer of VR. And not only would this explain away the silliness of this story, but when applied to the rest of the series…
Almost all the Freedom Fighters get their families back. Sonic defeats Robotnik and, after finding out peace doesn’t suit him, another happens to show up. Tails discovers he’s destined to be a hero like Sonic. Sally finds an orb from the sky that contains a computer that will become her BFF. Yeah… these make more sense if you think of them as ‘fantasies becoming real’. And if you go on the assumption that Robotnik adds further heroes to the VR program; Knuckles discovers his entire race is still alive. Amy wishes she was older so she can be a Freedom Fighter, and lo and behold… It explain the hammer from nowhere to!
Now, I don’t hold to that theory, but I’ve brought it up to show the problem with this story. Fake realities can be a really good story device, when handled well. And this story isn’t. When a ‘bad ending’ of still being trapped makes far, far more sense, then you’ve failed. And what happens in the VR program isn’t that interesting easier. There’s no slow build-up to the reveal its fake, and the weirdness make it appear as if the program has some serious bugs.
Despite this, the story does end on a strong note, showing us the robotised Uncle Chuck and Muttski, now in proper robot form unlike before, and Sonic promising that he’ll rescue him. Made the more effective because of Uncle Chuck’s de-robotized appearance in VR.
So, a mishandled chaotic story that nevertheless manages a strong, punchy ending.
Story 2: The Man From H.E.D.G.E.H.O.G.
As the title gives away, this is gonna be a spy parody, though more of James Bond rather than The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Though, I have to wonder how many of our current readers have even heard of that show. I barely had, and I was the target audience for the comics at the time this one was published!
Anyway, Robotnik is mad because he believes there is a spy, and so gets a lateral mole dug up. But on being questioned, the Mole just seems to be babbling. So Robotnik orders in a large spinning wheel with random crimes on it. Reasoning that if he uses the wheel to come up with a quick sudden plan, they’ll be no time for the spy to leak it. But all his plans fail, and almost-cryptic notes are left.
After which, Sonic and Sally visit Casino Night Zone. Considering it’s owned by Robotnik, uh, WHY? But Sonic gets captured, strapped to the wheel, and then shot, even by a Star Trek phaser held by a random arm. But the lights go out allowing Sonic to escape. Er… after being shot… Not the best timing. The lights should go out, THEN the shooting happens in panic. But Sonic is safe, and Robotnik finds the wheel was fitted with a camera, hence why his plans were foiled.
And finally we find out the head of Sonic’s security agency is an owl called Harvey Who, therefore explaining the apparent babbling of the mole and the meaning of the notes. He was seen in a robotic disguise throughout the story.
How much you like this story depends on how much you find James Bond parodies and homages enjoyable. If you do, then it’s worth a look. Oddly, despite looking like the regular stories, and being part of the canon, the whole story feels like it takes place in another continuity. It doesn’t quite match up with the regular situations.
Overall
Issue 16 has its moments, but they are lost in the first story and the second is more subjective.
English