#21 [Apr 1995]:
"3 Phases of E.V.E"
/Spaziante
Robotnik unleashes E.V.E. ["exceptionally versatile
evolvoid"] to capture Sonic. As Sonic manages to outsmart
E.V.E., it simply adapts to another form to compensate. Sonic
lures it to Robotnik's headquarters where, assuming a
self-conscious form, E.V.E. determines that it is being held back
by its biological inheritance from Sonic and Robotnik [i.e.,
individual cells used in E.V.E.'s creation]. E.V.E. toasts
Robotnik, but thanks to some quick thinking by Sonic--apparently,
Sally's influence is rubbing off on him ;-) -- E.V.E. spares
Sonic and travels out into space on a journey of
self-actualization. Is Robotnik really history? That's the
tease--stay tuned.
Sonicgram: announcement of the delay in rolling out the
Sally miniseries; another special issue (48pp) due out in May.
Princess Sally Mini-series #1 [April 1995]
Summary by Ron Bauerle
"Deadliest of the Species!" written by Mike Kanterovich &
Ken Penders, art by Art Mawhinney & Rich Koslowski.
Opens with a nice splash page summarizing the struggle so
far and describes the main characters (get this: "Antoine is
renouned for his military skills" - okayyyy...). Next it recaps
Sally's meeting Geoffrey St. John...in StH #20. Sally & Geoffrey
are attacked by SWATbots after destroying the facility and manage
to beat them off [hey, Ron, let's leave their private lives out
of this ;-) ] and exchange some banter in the process (I can't
call it friendly but it's not really sarcastic either). They
then head back to the camp where some young trainee freedom
fighters are waiting for Sally. Geoffrey mistakes them for
enemies and jumps a pig (Hamlin) but they're separated by Sally.
This establishes some bad blood between Hamlin and Geoffrey that
continues all issue. The team proceeds to its next target (an
energy substation) and after battling SWATbots and ORBbots manage
to destroy it. During the battle Geoffrey saves Hamlin's life
but Hamlin still doesn't trust him. That night, when everyone
else is asleep, Geoffrey slips away, activates a teleportal,
enters some kind of building and descends to its basement where
he speaks to a figure in a glass case: Sally!?
Also some fan art: two pics of Sally & Bunnie (both NBD),
and one of Sally as a dominatrix (!).
#22 [May 1995]
"The Return"
Penders/Spaziante & Harvey M.
The story opens with Sonic & Sally MCW (Married with
Children; cf. the end of "Sally's Quest" in _In Your Face #1_).
Sonic & Sally are out with the kids when, during a lightning
storm, an apparition of Robotnik appears and just as suddenly
disappears. Have your pencils and scorecards ready to try and
follow the remainder of the plot: Robotnik is actually on a
satellite talking with Robo-Robotnik from "Night of a Thousand
Sonics," (#19), only in this case only the consciousness of
Robo-Robotnik (hereinafter "R-R") remains resident. Robotnik
convinces R-R to teleport him back to Mobius, where it turns out
Snively has activated an alternative Doomesday device which would
go off if Robotnik was ever defeated. Robotnik actually
deactivates "Operation Wasteland" himself to keep from being
ruler over nothing and to have the pleasure of saying to Sonic:
"You owe me!" Robotnik and Sonic MWC are declared to be at a
stalemate. What about R-R? Who knows? Muddled story saved by
Spaziante artwork.
"Tails Knighttime Story,"
Decesare/Manak & John Dagostino
As Tails grumps about "get[ting] baby-sat" while Sonic has
all the fun and adventures, Sally tells him a bedtime story
wherein Sonic is Sir Runalot and Tails is his page who "borrows"
his armour one day and who, mistaken for the aforementioned
knight, ends up doing battle with Sir Knightmare of Robotannia
(guess who?) until the real Sir Runalot saves his...er...tails.
Sonicgram: the comics should get a FAQ File, since two
letters pepper them with questions (most are answered: "Keep
reading." Translation: "we're working on it!"). The cover of
Princess Sally #2 in an ad on the same page differs from one
which appears on p. 17 of the same issue(!), thus bolstering the
"creative differences" theory in Q7.
Princess Sally Miniseries #2 [May 1995]
"Deadliest of the Species": Part 2
Kanterovich & Penders/Mawhinney
(Summary by Erich Schulman): The story opens with a fight
between St. John and Hamlin, and Sally gives Hamlin a scolding.
To reach the third, undestroyed substation, the freedom fighters
use a new (!?) technology: hang gliders. Arlo's hang glider is
hit by the defenses and he is wounded in action; Penelope
volunteers to stay with him.
Once inside, Sally and St. John are attacked by an octopod,
and everyone barely manages to escape the explosions. Upon
leaving, they find that Arlo and Penelope are gone. Sally says
they will return to camp without them (to which Hamlin is
opposed).
Did you have your doubts about St. John? That night, St.
John replaces Sally with a lookalike robot and delivers the real
Sally to Robotnik.
Fan mail (singular; only one letter appears): Will Sonic and
Sally marry? "Could be." Has Sally met Knuckles? She will in a
forthcoming 48-page S&K special. Does Sally have a mother, and
if so what does she look like? "Of course...her origin may yet be
told." Or [shameless plug] you can read about it in "Bloodlines"
in the fanfic section of Rotor's homepage.
#23 [Jun 1995]
"Ivo Robotnik, Freedom Fighter"
Decesare/Manak
Sonic, Sally, Rotor, Tails, Robotnik and Snively are all
captured by Car-Heem, a giant alien who wants to study them. In
order to save Robotnik from "disposal," Sonic convinces Car-Heem
that they are interdependent species, a novelty to the autonomous
Car-Heem. Thanks to a diversion by Sonic, the others escape
their confinement in a craft of Robotnik's design. Although
Robotnik blows Car-Heem and Sonic out of Car-Heem's spacecraft's
airlock, Rotor retrieves them. In gratitude, Car-Heem returns
everyone to Mobius and Rotor, inspired, releases the inhabitants
of his ant farm [Heavy Message]. There's also a really bad pun
which I'm not going to reveal.
Do-It-Yourself Sonic Contest winners announced.
"Vol-ANT-teer"
Decesare/Manak
Antoine ventures into Robotropolis alone to retrieve Tails'
lost backpack with a power ring in it. Bunnie shadows him just
in case. Surprising last panel gives the impression that Antoine
isn't exactly clueless.
Sonicgram: Further indication that Knuckles will put in an
appearance in the next Sonic special, though no hint as to his
allegiance; look for an appearance by Knack the Weasel [c.f., the
Triple Trouble game] in the same issue.
Sally Miniseries #3 [June 1995]
"Deadliest of the Species, Part III"
Kanterovich & Penders/Mawhinney
(Summary: James Firmiss)
(Recap of parts 0, 1 and 2 omitted)
Sally, Hamlin and Dylan are fighting their way into
Robotropolis with paint guns and grenades (blinding SWATbots).
Dylan believes that attacking at half strength isn't wise, yet
they press on. Hamlin nearly falls from a collapsing catwalk but
Sally rescues him. They eventually reach their objective, break
down the doors and find...Robotnik, St. John and Sally (in the
container). Hamlin believes Geoffrey to be a traitor so he jumps
him. Sally breaks it up and says she and St. John are on the
same side. Robotnic reveals that Sally is an auto-automaton, a
perfect robot duplicate, and that there was no weakness in the
defense system. His master plan is to replace key members of the
freedom fighters--we see auto-automatons of Sonic and Tails being
built. Robotnik also plans to roboticize the Sally delivered to
him by St. John. Robotnik begins the roboticization process but
the chamber blows up because a "feedback loop" has occurred.
Something which is impossible unless...he were trying to
roboticize a robot! The real Sally was with Dylan and Hamlin.
Sally tries to 'arrest' Robotnik, but large StealthBots
emerge from the walls and capture the freedom fighters. Note:
you could see the outlines of the StealthBots 5 pages back. St.
John pushes a button on a remote control and a vehicle burrows
its way up through the floor. Out pop Penelope, Arlo and three
"moles". They help free Sally, Dylan and Hamlin (more paint
guns). Robotnik manages to activate a 30-second self-destruct
and disappears down an escape chute. Sally and the others all
head for the vehicle maintenance area and grab saucer-shaped air
cars (from Hanger 18! X-P ) and get out with no time to spare.
With everyone back at the base, Hamlin, Penelope, Arlo and Dylan
are promoted to full-fledged freedom fighters. Sally tries to
convince Geoffrey to come to Knothole but he declines in order to
rejoin the Rebel Underground. He does engage Sally in some
serious lip-locking before they part.
If you're not confused yet, here's a run-down of the plot-
twists, as Sally explains them at the end:
The FIRST Sally switch occurred right at the beginning of
Part 1 shortly after meeting St. John. St. John really was the
leader of the "Rebel Underground" and acted as a double agent in
order to gain Robotnik's trust and activate the robot double
prematurely in order to find out what its plans were. It was the
auto-automaton Sally that helped attack the 2d and 3d
substations. It was such a good copy that it could give orders,
make hard choices, and even grieve for missing comrades. But did
you notice the two clues that would have tipped you off that this
was an automated Sally:
1. "Auto" Sally wore a purple vest instead of a blue one.
2. "Auto" Sally referred to Geoffrey by his first name,
while the real Sally always called him "Mr. St. John."
The SECOND Sally switch occurred in Part II, when Robotnik
(and the reader) was supposed to think that Sally was being
replaced by a robot double.
And what about Arlo and Penelope? They were taken away by
the moles from the literal Rebel UNDERGROUND. The Rebel
Underground was also supposed to be backup in case anything
unexpected happened.
"This is definitely one of the most complicated stories Archie's
Sonic group has ever come up with. Congrats...." JF
SallyGram: Horace Hawkins (14) wishes Sally a Happy Valentine's
Day, and expresses the desire to be her boyfriend.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
Scott Fulop (Editor) asks if there is interest in a MONTHLY Sally
comic. If so, send a postcard with the following:
Give me Princess Sally.
Monthly.
NOW!!!
to: SallyGrams
c/o Archie Comic Publishing
325 Fayette Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
#24 [Jul 1995]
"When Hedgehogs Collide" (in 4 parts)
Script: Mike Kanterovich & Ken Penders
Art: Dave Manak (Parts 1 and 2); Art Mawhinney & Rich
Koslowski (Parts 3 and 4)
Part 1 is taken up witnessing antisocial behavior on the
part of Sonic, Sally, Tails, Antoine and Rotor. Part 2 is the
exposition as to what's happening: Evil Sonic from "The Good, The
Bad and the Hedgehog" [Sonic #11] (hereinafter referred to as
"the Antisonic," as in "the Antichrist") is looking for some
action, so he rounds up the "gang" consisting of the Antisally,
the Antitails, the Antirotor and the Antiantoine. They take the
Cosmic Interstate to Mobius, dress like their counterparts and
begin doing some damage. So where have the Good Guys been all
this time? Sonic, Tails and Antoine had been sent by Rotor into
"negative reality" though they were unable to penetrate "the Zone
of Silence" (aka, The Void) where Sally's father is being held.
Sally's been out on a mission with the trainees (cf. the Sally
miniseries). Everyone arrives back in time to incur the wrath of
their fellow Mobians. In disguise, they come upon the gang about
to terrorize some more Mobians. The first fight turns into a
draw until Sally realizes that there's no way they can defeat
their other selves, who would be able to anticipate their
strategies. So it's "Change partners!" as play is resumed: Sonic
punches out the Antisally (this frame alone is worth the price of
admission!), Sally defeats the Antiantoine, Antoine stops the
Antirotor, Rotor defeats the Antitails, and Tails gets the better
of the Antisonic. Since the Antisonic got what he came to Mobius
for (a fight), the gang agrees to return to their homeworld
peacefully.
I guess the ol' doppelganger plot device worked so well in
Sonic #11 they decided to dust it off and run it past us again.
A valiant effort marred by two Plot Holes and a Serious Omission:
PH#1: If Sally could figure out that fighting themselves
would get them nowhere, wouldn't the Antisally have reached the
same conclusion? Then again they might have spent the entire
issue second-guessing each other.... ;-)
PH#2: On the homeworld of the Antisonic the SWATbots do all
the work and "kindly ol' Robotnik is a grade-A wimp!" At least,
according to an exposition by the Antisonic. This then leads us
to...
SO: Where's Bunnie? Despite a "Sonic + Bunnie" graffiti
carved into the desk of the Antisonic [along with "Sonic +
Sally," "Sonic + Nicole"--THAT I'd like to see!--and "Sonic +
Sonic"], Bunnie's legion of fanboys will be disappointed to learn
that she doesn't put in an appearance in this comic, either as
Bunnie or as the Antibunnie. If indeed Robotnik is more
benevolent on the Antisonic's homeworld, does that mean that
Bunnie would be intact (i.e., not partially roboticized) there?
Interesting question but one that Kanterovich and Penders
conveniently sidestepped for the moment.
SonicGram: information on two upcoming "special" issues: the
48-page Sonic & Knuckles special will include a solo Knuckles
effort and a lead story involving Knuckles' floating island; and
the "Silver Anniversary" issue #25 featuring Mecha Sonic from the
CD game (artwork by Spaziante). There's a list of "Do-It-
Yourself Sonic Contest" winners who have moved and left no
forwarding address. Two fan letters to Knuckles, plus word that
Tails will have his own miniseries coming out in the fall.
Sonic & Knuckles 48 page special [1995]
(based on summaries by James Firmiss)
"Panic in the Sky!"
Kanterovich & Penders/Mawhinney (Part 1), Manak (Part 2)
The Mobians living on the western shore of "the Great
Continent" [you'd think that Mobians would have come up with
another adjective besides "Great": viz.: the Great Forest, the
Great Swamp, the Great Unknown, etc. See also the "all-purpose"
use of the word _hrair_, or "thousands" by rabbits in Richard
Adams' _Watership Down_. But I digress....] are alarmed by the
approach of a floating island. Sally and the gang realize that
the island is on course for Knothole; Sonic explains to the group
(for the first time!?) that he and Tails were on the island a
while back and met Knuckles. Antoine flies Sonic and Tails in
the turboprop, dodging antiaircraft fire from the underside of
the island. After landing on the island, seeing giant mushrooms
and avoiding some traps, Sonic falls into one trap and again
meets Knuckles. Since this is the second time Sonic has been
caught trespassing, Knuckles is about to send him over the edge
of the island. Tails tries dropping a rock on Knuckles from
above to avoid this from happening, but it ends up that Tails has
to rescue both Sonic and Knuckles by airlifting them to safety.
It appears that Robotnik is "hijacking" the island by somehow
draining the energy from the Chaos Emerald which keeps the island
afloat. Already having established a presence on the island,
Robotnik has installed weapons on the underside and plans to use
the island as a flying fortress to attack Knothole. Knuckles
won't allow the island to be used this way; he smashes the Chaos
Emerald. With the island losing altitude, Robotnik abandons it,
expecting that it'll still smash into Knothole (though how he
suddenly knows of Knothole's location is unclear). But Knuckles
replaces the "real" Chaos Emerald just in time--I'd tell you how
he switched it with a phony one which was the one he broke, but I
don't understand it either. Knuckles turns down an invitation to
join the Knothole gang; part of his stewardship of the island now
involves disarming it since Robotnik is gone.
"Fire Drill"
Penders/Art: Jon D'Agostino
Knuckles investigates an explosion on the island, suspecting
that it's Sonic. Catching just a glimpse of an intruder, he
follows him to places unfamiliar even to him(!). As the trail
leads off the edge of the island, he still thinks it's Sonic;
however, we catch a glimpse of a shadowy presence still on the
island. Must be Nack the Weasel -- check out the SonicGram in
issue #23 for a hint.
"Lord of the Floating Island"
Penders/Harvey Mercadoocasio
While patroling the island on a windy day, he spots a lost
joey (baby kangaroo) names Bengy. The kid asks Knuckles to bring
back the sky; Knuckles explains that there's an eclipse in
progress and that's what's causing the winds. They avoid a pack
of (biped) dingoes as Knuckles goes into further exposition about
the island-- how it's a paradise which some parties (Sonic and
Robotnik) want to change. They eventually find Bengy's mom.
Knuckles' exit line: "This is my island! And I live to protect
and serve!" The entire story appears to exist to supply needed
exposition and to nudge Knuckles closer to the Good Guy category.
No SonicGrams, but announcements: Sonic #25 will have a
silver ink cover and feature Mecha Sonic; dated August '95. Also
slated for that month: a Sonic Triple Trouble 48-page special
featuring Nack the Weasel; it will also include a Sonic v.
Knuckles story, a Knuckles solo story, and a Tails solo story.
Another 48-page special -- Knuckles Chaotix -- is schedules for
November '95. Solo Knuckles stories will appear in Sonics #31-33
(Feb-Apr '96) and a Knuckles 3-parter will begin Jan '96.
#25 [Aug 1995]
"Go Ahead...Mecha My Day" (the only story in this issue)
Story: Mike Gallagher
Art: Pat Spaziante
based on summary by James Firmiss
In a bow to the CD game, the story focuses on the freedom
fighters' discovery of the Collision Chaos Zone, a "zone portal."
Robotnik tries to lure Sonic into the zome portal by kidnapping
his #1 fan: Amy Rose, the pink hedgehog (remember her?). Based
on her dialogue on page 14, I'd describe her in Foghorn Leghorn
terms: "Nice kid, but about as sharp as a sack full of wet mice."
Tails investigates from the air and is captured instead. To
rescue both Amy and Tails, Sonic must race through the new zones
and do battle with Robotnik's Mecha-Sonic. Spaziante's artwork
of Sally in this issue is surprising, in that her shape has
gotten...well, more shapely. I don't remember her having that
much of a bustline in issue #21!
Still no SonicGrams; another repeat announcement of the
Triple Trouble and Chaotix specials, as well as the Knuckles and
Tails miniseries. Also staff artwork.
#26 [Sep 1995]
"Way, Way Past Cool"
Script: A. Decesare; Pencil: D. Manak; Ink: J. D'Agostino
Sonic, Tails, Sally, Rotor and Antoine find themselves in a
snowstorm...in the middle of summer. Of course it's a plot by
Dr. Robotnik: after lowering the temperature on Mobius, he will
use infrared heat sensors to locate the warm-blooded freedom
fighters. Sonic and the gang take shelter (such as it is) in a
cave, where they encounter a group of polar Mobians--they were
trapped down south when Robotnik took over and have lived in
hiding ever since. After initially attacking the Weather
Annihilator with a snowball-loaded catapult, the Knothole gang is
captured by Snively. The polar Mobians, however, come to their
aid and Sonic destroys the Annihilator. The polar Mobians return
north to their home, inspired to put up more of a resistance.
This story has inspired renewed argument over species
identification since one of the polar Mobians [Erma, presumably
an ermine] looks something like Sally. However, Erma doesn't
have the white winter coat associated with a true ermine, nor is
her tail long and tipped with black, nor is her body long and
slender. But, hey, we're talking design by Manak here! Wadja
expect?
Additional problems/flamebait: Where did the catapult come
from? If Sally decided not to wear a vest because of the summer
heat, how come she's still got her boots on? [Then again, I'm
convinced that furries are Not Clear On The Concept when it comes
to clothing]. And why is Sonic shown skittering across the
surface of a river in the story's opening when the character
guide to Sonic clearly states that Sonic is a non-swimmer and
would ordinarily avoid water?
Fan art
"Fortified"
Story: A. Decesare; Pencil: A. Mawhinney; Ink: R. Koslowski
The Knothole gang (the cast of the above story PLUS Bunnie!)
are in the mountains, trying to keep ahead of Robotnik--not easy,
since Sonic has a sprained ankle. Bunnie discovers an old fort,
complete with an old muzzle-loading cannon and a blacksmith's
forge. Robotnik's "bus" crashes into the fort, only to confront
Bunnie, suited up in improvised body armour. She takes out
Robotnik's SWATbots and maneuvers the bus to crash through the
fort wall and roll back down the mountain.
FINALLY an appearance by Bunnie! [One has to wonder whether
her (largely out-of-the-way) role in "Vol-Ant-eer" in Sonic #23
even counts as an appearance.] Mawhinney, though, seems to draw
her a little on the "squashed" side. After Spaziante's rendering
of Sally in Sonic #25, I wonder how *he'd* draw Bunnie.
SonicGrams: In-house humor featuring Fulop, Mendez, Pepitone
and Pauley [DJD: Leave it at the water cooler, guys!]. Hint that
the upcoming StH Triple Trouble special issue will feature Tails
in a Sea Fox submarine solo story, by way of warming up for the
Happy Fun Fox miniseries in the fall. Question about why the
SWATbots carrying out Operation Wasteland in Sonic #22 went after
Robotnik and Snively [DJD: What part of "total destruction" don't
you understand?]; a fan from Canada complains about Bunnie's
seldom appearing in the comics [DJD: Hear! Hear!]; fan letter for
Tails from Cleveland. Also cover art for #27 and the Triple
Trouble special.
NOTES FROM THE NET: that's the heading suggested for comix-
related posts to a.f.s-h by none other than Paul Castiglia of
Archie Comics. Seems P.C. thinks that NftN would make a good
subsection of the Sonic Grams, and said so in a recent post. The
idea is that you can post to a.f.s-h, and your post (and e-mail
address if you want) will be reprinted in NftN. But ONLY if you
specify that it's for NftN. Apparently Archie Comics is still
getting a feel for whether they should go ahead with the plan, so
let's see some support for it! Hmmm, wonder if Sally's e-mail
address is princess_at_frdmftrs.org ?
COMIC PUBLISHERS:
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For subscriptions and back issues--United Kingdom (Fleetway
Editions comics):
Sonic The Comic
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Received on Fri Aug 18 1995 - 10:09:45 PDT
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