268. Sonic the Hedgehog #198
Phoenix-Down!
Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Tracy Yardley! and Renae Deliz Colors: Jason Jensen
I have to wonder if the title of today's story is meant to be a Final Fantasy reference. I actually read these comics long before I knew anything about Final Fantasy, so the first time I was exposed to one of the games I somehow thought "phoenix down" was meant to be a full sentence - as in, "that phoenix has gone down." It took me a while to realize it was referring to a literal down feather from a bird, precisely because this issue is about taking the Egg Phoenix… well, down.
Anyway, today's issue has very little plot, it's mostly just one big action sequence. Rotor is back on the field with the other Freedom Fighters, driving a truck with their equipment as they make their advance towards the Eggdome. They stop a short distance away from the waiting Dark Egg Legion, and Lien-Da is confused about why they would stop when they had the advantage, thinking perhaps the Legion has actually managed to intimidate them into halting their advance. She shouts to rally her troops, but her speech is almost immediately interrupted by the Chaotix, who have quietly flanked her troops and now leap out to attack them and scatter their forces.
Wow, Lien-Da, where did you get that whip? Trying for a dominatrix vibe now, huh? As the Legion retreats further, in the Eggdome Dimitri rushes to Eggman to request they be supplied with reinforcements, to which Eggman happily replies that he is in fact their reinforcement, much to Dimitri's chagrin. Eggman boards his new Egg Phoenix, while Sally and the other Freedom Fighters stare down at the remnants of the Legion - only a couple dozen members or so by now - and contemplate how best to handle the situation. When Lien-Da calls for her people to fire, Tails hits a button on his remote, which immediately delivers a shock that wipes out all the Legion's electronics.
That's probably not good. Eggman comes roaring onto the battlefield spraying boiling-hot flames everywhere, and both sides scatter for cover as Eggman isn't exactly trying to avoid frying his own troops. Snively, watching from the Eggdome, is shocked to see what he believes is Eggman actually winning for once, but Dimitri angrily points out his lack of care for the members of the Legion. Snively brushes this off, not particularly concerned with the Legion's wellbeing either, but this only makes Dimitri angrier, and he gets up in Snively's face to inform him that he knows about his little secret.
Careful, Dimitri, he's not exactly much better of an ally than his uncle… Sally rallies her lightly-fried team members, looking to cook up a plan. Tails says that his neutralizing mines could theoretically take the thing out, but wouldn't have enough power to do the job properly unless they were actually attached to the phoenix. This gives Sally an idea, and soon she's sent Sonic out to stand in the open, baiting Eggman into coming for him, guns literally blazing. Sonic races away, first towards Vector, who throws him up into the air. Knuckles, gliding by, then catches him and throws him even higher, with the Egg Phoenix in hot pursuit.
Man, who knew it was so easy to reach orbit just by having your friends toss you around? Sonic cheerfully mocks Eggman as they both fall, Eggman becoming incoherent with fury, while Charmy, Saffron, and Ray all quickly attach several of Tails' mines to the phoenix's metal hull. They then catch Sonic and carry him away, just as the phoenix's engines restart and Eggman comes back around for another shot. Tails waits until the phoenix is within range before hitting the button on his remote once again, which immediately disables the Egg Phoenix's controls and sends it crashing into a nearby cliffside. Eggman, ranting disjointedly about how this isn't possible, ejects and flies away back to the Eggdome just before the remnants of the phoenix explode. Sonic is actually disappointed that that's all they have to deal with for the day, while Sally teases him for his bigheadedness, and the team sets up a shield generator so they can sleep in safety for the night.
Well, we're almost there! Honestly, it feels strange - there wasn't as much dramatic lead-up to this milestone as there was for others, such as Endgame and the destruction of Knothole, but as one can easily see from the sheer amount of issues we still have left to go, even if this is the end of this particular war it isn't anywhere near the end of the comic's story. Eggman returns in a fury to the Eggdome and snaps at Snively and Dimitri to prepare the Legion for tomorrow's assault, and the two grin at each other, clearly having reached some kind of agreement behind his back…
