Defense of the ofy-flamed Knuckles comic character, Locke.
Many people believe that Locke is a prime candidate for the biggest deadbeat dad in history. Before anyone can really say that though, we mustdiscover if Locke is a deadbeat dad in the first place.
A deadbeat dad is a man who had a child or children with a woman and then leaves them all without supporting the woman or their child(ren). The man also doesn't care about the fact that he's done this.
Here are the facts:
1) Lara-Le divorced Locke, Locke did not leave her. (re: Knuckles #20 pp. 1 & 2)
2) Locke raised Knux on the Floating Island until Knux was nine. Locke then preceded to watch Knux all the time, and he lent a hand only when Knux really needed it. Locke gave Knux the chance to learn from his experiences and become independent. (re: Knuckles: Rites of Passage Series and Sonic #56 page 18)
3) Locke always defends Knux no matter what anyone says, including his own father Sabre. (re: Knuckles #15 page 15 and Knuckles #16 page 20)
4) Locke followed the traditions set for raising Guardians that was established more than 200 years ago and did to Knux what was done to him. (re: Knuckles #16 pages 9-11 and Knuckles #25 pages 14-18)
5) Locke cares about Knuckles!!! (ex: Knuckles #13 pages 14-16, Knuckles #24 pages 1-2 and Knuckles #25 pages 24-25)
Based on these facts, Locke doesn't even rate a deadbeat dad, much less the biggest deadbeat dad in history. If Locke is a deadbeat dad, then just about all of the Guardians in the Brotherhood are just as guilty. Locke hasn't been a more “normal” father to Knuckles, but Guardians aren't “normal.” Locke has been very good to Knuckles, a little slow at times, but he's been a pretty good dad.