Sonic the Hedgehog #22
Corner Box: No. 22 May $1.50 (No picture.)
Cover: Sonic and Tails see a shadowy figure of Robotnik.
"The Return"
Script: Ken Penders
Pencils: Pat Spaziante
Inks: Harvey M.
Lettering: Mindy Eisman
Coloring: Barry Grossman
Editor: Scott Fulop
Managing Editor: Victor Gorelick
Editor in Chief: Richard Goldwater
Part 1:
Sonic, Sally, and their kids are standing outside. (See Sonic in Your Face #1 for details.)
Suddenly there is a bolt of lightning and Robotnik appears. In another flash
of lightning, Robotnik disappears again. Sally thinks that Robotnik has
returned, but Sonic says that it was nothing.
Meanwhile, aboard a space station, Robotnik appears. He hears a strange
voice and sees a similar version of himself displayed on a monitor. The
image explains that he is a Robotnik from another time line who roboticized himself
to end the battle with Sonic. He had also uploaded his memory into the space
station. Now he exists only on the incomplete space station until his functions
terminate. Robotnik says that the war continues. He thought he was
dead but he was actually sent to this time by E.V.E. (see Sonic the Hedgehog #19 for the time/universe and the previous issue for E.V.E.'s appearance). Robotnik
asks the monitor how to get to the Trans-dimensional Highway (or Cosmic Interstate)
and is soon on his way.
Part 2:
The freedom fighters look through crates of swatbot parts. Sally
thinks that Snively could be continuing Robotnik's work. Rotor says
that the odds of that happening depend on how much information Robotnik
gave Snively. Snively watches them on a monitor and pouts since he
cannot do a think to stop Sonic. Suddenly the image of Robotnik appears.
Rotor thinks that it is a pre-recorded message. Robotnik says that
he is unleashing everything he has to destroy Mobius once and for all:
Operation Wasteland. Sonic destroys some of the swatbots, but there
are too many of them. Antoine calls to Sonic, thinking that he has
found an escape door.
Sonic Art page - 1 page
Part 3:
A swatbot tries to shoot at Snively, who is saved by Robotnik.
Robotnik asks what is going on, and Snively says that it's some operation.
Robotnik realizes that it is Operation Wasteland, which can only be activated
by saying "Sonic has finally won it all." (Which Snively said in
Part 2.) Robotnik looks at a monitor and watches as Sonic tries
to escape from the swatbots. Making a decision that he thinks he
will regret for the rest of his life, he decides to abort the operation.
The freedom fighters are shocked that the swatbots have stopped.
Robotnik appears on a monitor to inform Sonic that he is alive and the
one responsible for saving him. He tells Sonic to leave and whether
Sonic lives next will be of Robotnik's own choosing.
"Tails' Knighttime Story!"
Script: Angelo Decesare
Pencils: Dave Manak
Inks: Jon Dagastino
Letters: Bill Yoshida
Tails flies around his bedroom pretending to be Sonic. Sally
tries to calm Tails down and get him ready for bed. Tails pouts
that Sonic gets all the fun while he gets baby-sat. Sally says that
it only looks like fun. She recalls an old saying that you should
never wish to be someone else until you have fought a battle in his armor.
When Tails is confused, Sally decides to tell a fable.
There was a knight named Sir
Runalot (Sonic) whose armor was constantly polished by a young page named
Mortail (Tails).
Mortail watched as Sir Runalot fought battles, received gifts, and won the hearts
of maidens. One day Sir Runalot decided to go on vacation, leaving Mortail
to polish his armor. Mortail decided to put on the armor and run outside.
Suddenly he was met by a peasant (Uncle Chuck) and a maiden (Sally). They
said they needed a favor, and in return the peasant would give him a gift certificate
and the maiden was going to give kisses. Mortail accepted, and went off
to face Sir Knightmare
(Robotnik). Sir Knightmare, recognizing the armor, attacked Mortail.
Mortail removed the helmet and said that he was not Sir Runalot. Sir Knightmare
did not believe him and charged at Mortail. Out of the blue Sir Runalot
appeared and broke Sir Knightmare's mace. Sir Knightmare ran toward Sir
Runalot but missed and ran into a wall. Mortail decided to give back the
armor, but Sir Runalot did not want it, realizing he could run faster without
it.
Sally concluded her story and then looked to find that Tails was gone.
Tails had stolen Sonic's shoes and was running around outside with them.
He thanked Sally for the good idea.
Sonic-Grams highlights:
~ Keep reading to find out who is Sonic's mother
~ Uncle Chuck made Sonic's sneakers
~ Tails is about 5 years old
