BumbleKing Comics

Ian Flynn · BumbleKing Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 2913

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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #174

“Union”: It's the biggest event in Knothole yet as two Freedom Fighters make the ultimate commitment! Which two long-time lovers will finally tie the knot? More importantly, will the secret Espio learns undo the happy matrimony? It's wedding bells and warning bells in the lead-in to the big issue #175 special event! SCRIPT: Ian Flynn. ART: Tracy Yardley (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks). Colossal cover courtesy of the power invested in Tracy Yardley!

Shipping April 4th, 2007
On sale DCD April 18th, 2007
On sale Newsstand April 24th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.
UPC #: 62816-46977-17411

Tonberry2k · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

Loving it so far. I guess WE don't get to see the bride before the wedding either...

lonewolf23k · BumbleFan Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 181

Para · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

Hmmm.. so IS that big heart concealing a spoiler? If so, then I guess it's not just the happy couple up there center stage.

Hey look, Mighty in a tux jacket! And here I thought armadillos probably had a hard time buying shirts! Very Happy

(You know, what with the shell and all..)

nuckles87 · BumbleBaroness Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 795

I have to say Ian, I love the cameo you and Crazy Lee got in the wedding scene. Was it scripted or did Tracy do it of his own free will?
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Para · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject:

Woo, and check out the dress on Bernie! I can see it now at the reception as some casual, doesn't make it into Knothole that often acquaintance elbows Sonic:

Guy: Hey Sonic, mind introducing me to the babe with the great legs over there?
Sonic: Dude... that's my MOM. Confused

Mauser KAR98K · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:47 pm Post subject:

So what style is Knuckles wearing? Is it Aztec or Eygptian? Figured him after seeing the M25YL that he would wear a tux...or pinstrips. Cool

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Mauser mit Dem Mauser

EHH123 · BumbleBaroness Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 634

Radz the Hedgehog · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject:

Wow! This was amazing. The contrast between the weddings and Espio's secret mission is great. A scene of action and then a scene of romance.

I really like how you have Sonic and Sally just...so awkward around each other. It lets us know that something's going on between them. I especially like Sonic's line, "It's borderline treason, otherwise." I really liked how he comes sliding in at the last minute. One question though, did they really say all that before he came to a stop or did he do a power slide to show off after he had already stopped?
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nuckles87 · BumbleBaroness Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 795

Well Ian, I can't get over how well written 174 was. Some of your stories in the past have been some of Archie's best, but...the narrative of 174 takes the Sonic comic to a level it has rarely, if ever been before. The way you transitioned from the wedding story to Espio's little sub plot was flawless, and placed in the perfect places to keep a certain amount of tension going throughout the story. The wedding portions where extremely well written, with a solid dose of your usual great characterization and off beat humor. The character chemistry presented throughout this story is easily the best Archie Sonic has ever seen, from Antoine's panic attack with the chaotix, to Sonic and Sally's small hints of a mending friendship/possible relationship (although I'm perfectly happy with either outcome. I'm not a shipper), to the little nuances between Julie-Su and Knuckles. All the characters just felt so human, something this comic, even in it's best moments, rarely manages to obtain.

And then finally, we have the final two pages. After a happy marriage scene, we get to see Espio yelling at Robotnik (I do NOT support your name change) in clear desperation. It's been made obvious he found something bad: really bad. I don't believe I have EVER seen a character in this comic look as frightened as Espio did (naturally, props to Tracy for that) on that page. And then to see him "vaporized"....

The way you mixed the happy wedding scenes and dire Espio scenes was expertly done, and added a whole new level of atmosphere to the story that I wasn't even expecting. Pacing has always been my biggest beef with your Archie writing. Stories like Darkest Storm and #170 had their hearts ripped out as a result. What could have been well written stories that pulled on your heart strings where turned into quick plot resolvers so that you could sort some of the comic's convuluted continuity out as quickly as possible, and get the meat of your stories. I call this phenomenon "X-Men 3 Syndrome", which used 2-3 movies worth of stories in one crammed, conviluted mess. None of your stories where THAT bad, but they did suffer from a similar problem.

174, however, has proven to me that you have expertly mastered pacing. You got two seperate plot points out of the way instantaneously without ruining the heart, emotion, atmosphere, or characterization of either. Absolutely flawless pacing, and a great start to a great year.

It's good to see you've finally finished sorting through Archie's mess of a continuity. 175-177 are going to be issues to remember, I think. I look forward to them.

Your next on the props giving Tracy Wink

.
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sonicforever · BumbleFan Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 175

Found a mistake on the one page. The one where it shows the entire ceremony after Ant and Bunnie kiss, if look in the front frow clear to the left you have Ash and Mina sitting there when it was clearly stated that Mina was on tour last issue. Did she just come back for the wedding or was this a mistake?

ChaosJam · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject:

i havent gotten the issue yet but i just remembered something...from what i've read from all u guys something clicked in the back of my mind and i havent seen anyone mention it yet....back in "The Darkest Storm" arch, wasn't Robotnik using the egg grapes to siphon power from the Zone of Silence (now the Special Zone)? I mean its still a plot point right? Cause he still had egg grapes from all the villians even after he lost everyone else.....so u think he is finally using this power? and thanks to the chaos emeralds now in that zone, that the power he was siphoning has been amplified beyond belief? Just thought it would be something to think about...

Radz the Hedgehog · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:09 pm Post subject:

Galvatron · BumbleFan Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 102 Location: Space.

Just got it today.

....

Mr. Flynn, you are amazing. You have singlehandedly succeeded in combining both the oldschool Sega game elements with the more modern comic storyline, all the while managing to keep a constant line of excellently written stories that manage to keep all ages of readers interested and anticipating for the next issue. I'm also glad that you're keeping true with your plans to make a steady recovery for Sally's character; every issue seems to be a small but needed level of improvement. If I had any complaint at all about this issue, it would have to be....

jgoreham · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject:

What? Already? Didn't I just get 173? Anyhow, don't have the issue yet, desperately trying to not read spoilers (as I'm apparently in for a good read, if the glowing reviews here are any indication)...