#issue 16 stcb

[sonicthecomicblog]

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Why

During the “rave”, Sonic finds out about the bomb scheme through a Trooper who got too fucking pissed. Never mind, this issue is awesome

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And here’s the REAL reason why Issue 16 is important. This is our first Tails solo story, and for fans who are only used to post-Adventure media, or even fans of Archie, Tails’ stories in STC can come off as quite shocking really. This was of course way before Tails became a genius in the west. In fact, if you’ve been keeping up with this blog, Tails has been depicted more as a dim bulb than anything. In Millar’s stories, Tails’ only role is as a punching bag for Sonic and/or someone to be rescued. Even in Kitching’s stuff Tails has been largely unremarkable, basically just being a wingman who occasionally is helpful. This story even starts with Sonic telling Tails to fuck off. But here is the turning point where we start to get some real depth to the character.

So, it turns out that Tails isn’t even from Mobius in this continuity. He comes from another dimension called the “Nameless Zone”, which as you can see is largely Mediaeval themed, with special enchanter kings and scrolls and armour and all of that fun stuff. Tails (as we’ll learn later) was bullied and decided to leave his old life behind and go to Mobius. Rather interestingly, Tails created an unintentional lie that grew over time.

To impress his family, he started writing letters talking of his adventures of Mobius, but he stretched the truth, giving the impression that he was the leader, and Sonic his “assistant”. These letters catch the attention of the Enchanter Kings, who have summoned Tails to help him with their big problem. So, Tails ended up screwing himself over by making himself look more capable than he really is, and I like this element of the plot a lot. This is the kind of thing that a little kid would really do when they think there are no repercussions to making up some tall tales. All Tails wants to do is just impress his family and friends, and he gets into some hot water over it.

The whole Mediaeval theme is a really strange one for Tails, and kinda ironic considering his schtick in Japan and later in the west would be as a technological genius coming up with all sorts of futuristic tech. But I can see why Kitching went with it, since the whole Tails arc is somewhat a coming-of-age type story, and a super-manly settling like this was a common trope of those. I mean, Tails doesn’t actually age, but by the very last solo story, he was a hell of a lot more confident in himself and a much more capable fighter, and we’ll see Tails fending for himself by the end of the magazine’s run in a way we never would have expected at this point. Plus, it’s an interesting image to put cute little Tails in a way more ambitious and less friendly setting, where he’s expected to fight against all sorts of monsters.

Speaking of monsters…

This horse demon thing named Trogg has come from the neighbouring kingdom and wants a duel, and Tails has been brought as the Nameless Zone’s most fearless fighter. So yeah, Tails is in quite a lot of trouble. I can state the obvious, that Trogg doesn’t match the Sonic style whatsoever, but I think that’s sorta the point. Tails has been removed from the world that we’re familiar with in the Sonic strips to fight this horrific creature which contrasts that as much as possible. But you can’t deny that he is fucking ugly, and maybe he could have streamlined a bit to the extent that he’s clearly a creature from another world but doesn’t look quite as jarring.

And…wow, I covered the whole Tails thing in a single post. But that’s fine, because there was quite a lot to explain and there’s only four pages after all. Most of the story is exposition, but it’s done in a good way in my opinion. This is Tails’ first time back to the Nameless Zone in a very long time, so it makes sense that the Enchanter Kings feel the need to explain what they’re doing and why they’ve summoned Tails. We understand that Tails has been fibbing from the start and he’s gotten himself into a lot of trouble. And I rather like the choice of instead taking up the fourth page with more explanation from the Enchanter Kings, we straight up see Tails’ opponent for himself and know he’s no pushover. This is the kind of strip where Kitching’s talents as a children’s storyteller really shines.

The art by Dave Windett is okay. It’s not amazing or anything, but the characters look okay (apart from Trogg). The Enchanter Kings and other warrior foxes have the exact same faces at Tails placed on adult bodies. Their designs fall into the trap of looking a bit too busy with all sorts of superfluous designs on their outfits to hide the fact they’re basically just Tails but tall.

So, even though it’s bizarre premise, I do like these Nameless Zone stories. Tune in for more next issue!

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Robotnik looks like a fucking ape

And that’s the Sonic story for Issue 16. It doesn’t really deserve much comment, apart from “BLEAUGHHH!!”. To be fair though, there are a few funny moments in this one, like the pissed Trooper. The art takes it the extra step from being an unremarkable Christmas strip into something unusually and wonderfully horrible. It’s one of those ones you just to read for yourself. However, we can only go up from here. Next issue is both written and illustrated by Ed Hillyer, and it’s actually a pretty good, if very unusual story. And after that, Nigel Kitching and Richard Elson are coming back and they’re essentially here to stay. So things are about to really pick up.

So Happy Christmas everyone, even though it’s June!!!

However, this issue isn’t over. We still have something very interesting in store. Something that's been built up over some time, through ads and Speedlines teasers, so keep reading…

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Mark Millar started the awful trend of Sonic telling us to have a “Cool Yule” every Christmas issue.

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This is unironically one of my favourite panels in STC

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And as you’d guess, the nice Robotnik is all just a big sham. The nice Robotnik is really a bomb set to blow the Emerald Hill Zone into smithereens. As stupid as it is, I find it funny. Instead of a whimsical “Robotnik ruined all our presents” type thing, or a Christmas Carol parody like in Archie, or any other shenanigans you may expect, in STC Robotnik’s Christmas plan is “fuck it, I’ll just make your home a crater”

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Maybe I’d trust Robotnik more if he wasn’t making that face at me constantly