Birthday Bash Part II: Birthday Boys
Opens with Sonic and Scourge almost mirroring each other as they recap last issue from their POVs. Cut to the action, where outside the refurbished base, Sonic is threatened with doom "at the hands and tentacles of... Croctobot!" Like all good heroes, Sonic laughs in the face of danger. Literally. Tails isn't worried either as he already beat both Croc and Oc in his mini-series.
Meanwhile, Rouge is digging Scourge's new look. Locke tries to tackle Scourge again, but is no match for the hedgie's new emerald-induced powers.
Back to Sonic's battle with Croctobot. Fiona watches from a distance, duly impressed. Bean appears and asks Fiona to join the ol' gang. She refuses, saying she's with the FF's now. Bean shrugs this off, and continues on his merry way.
Continuing with Scourge's storyline, we find the neon hedgie about to finish off Locke. Rouge shows some conscience by saying she'll do was she has to, but she won't kill. Scourge reluctantly agrees to leave the echidna alone and decides to take his aggression out on Sonic instead. Placing a hand on the ME he uses CHAOS CONTROL to transport both him and Rouge to Sonic and co.(meaning the story won't shuffle between two locations for awhile).
Shadow takes note of Scourge's use of CHAOS CONTROL, but Sonic couldn't care less. Scourge is eager to show off his mad skillz but before he can so, Croctobot whines about being ignored and grabs all three hedgies. Sonic calls a temp. truce and the trio trash the 'bot in record time. While Sonic's busy gloating over the easy victory, Scourge sucker-punches him and now the REAL battle begins.
Lot of Spindashing and high-speed dodging occurs before a high-kick from Scourge connects. Shadow tries to ask Scourge a question and instead of an answer, Scourge flips him onto his back. Annoyed, Shadow enters the fray. Rouge and the FFs can only look on as the fast-paced fighting unfurls, with Scourge ultimately emerging on top.
Bored, Rouge suggests they get back to the ME but Scourge won't quit while he's ahead. Shadow & Sonic team up to take him down. But since Scourge still refuses to give up, the FF's join the fight as well. With the tables turning, Scourge finally decides to beat a hasty retreat. Rouge asks him to teleport, but since he lacks an emerald at the moment, running is their only option.
Sonic remains with his friends, but Shadow gives chase. Rouge worries that the angsty hedgehog is gaining ground when a portal suddenly appears. Shadow and Rouge leap inside and the portal vanishes, leaving Shadow to sulk.
King Elias and Rotor discuss repairing the base, and Fiona is bummed Sonic's b-day was a bust. Sonic however feels it's all for the best- he'd rathed Robotnik attack a base than Knothole Village, and he's glad his friends are all okay. After all, they're Freedom Fighters and "there's nothing they can't handle!"
One final scene change has Rouge and Scourge inside a weird room with an Egyptian theme. Turns out they were telported there by none other Doctor Finitevus, who somehow survived his brush with Hunter in RTAI. Rouge thanks Fin for his help, but Scourge wants to know why they're here. Fin asks Scourge to join him in his plot... which he won't reveal but since he hints that Sonic will be made miserable, Scourge is all for it. The End.
Pros: Bean mentions Fiona's friendship with Nic. Bout time that was brought up again.
Tails remembers Crocbot and Octobot. Good use of continuity there as well.
Scourge refering to Rouge as dead weight amused me.
Cons: FF's didn't get to see much action.
The back-and-forth scene changes slow the pace a bit in the first half.
Minor coloring errors- Rouge's eyes change from green to blue, Tail's muzzle is orange in one panel, etc.
Musings: I have an awful feeling there will be more discussion about Fiona calling Sonic her boyfriend than there will be about Fin's plot, Scourge's new abilities, or anything else featured in this two-parter.
Sonic Rush, Part II
Continuing from last issue, Blaze the Cat glares menancingly at Sonic who she addresses simply as "YOU!". Confused, Sonic asks if he knows her. She responds by shooting fireballs at him. Sonic punches her a few times but she blocks his every attack. Sonic briefly wonders if Blaze is in cohoots with Robotnik but then concludes that she's too skilled to be one of his lackeys. He decides that since Blaze's firepower gives her an advantage in close corners he should move to the open, so he runs off down the corridor with Blaze in hot pursuit.
They arrive in a large room of some sort, where Blaze decides to kick it up a notch and engulfs herself in flames. Sonic realizes he can't get close to her without getting burned, so he runs around in circles, theorizing that "the vortex in the center will run out of oxygen". Sure enough, Blaze can't keep the fire burning. Not only that but she can't breathe either! Oops. Sonic screeches to a halt, and asks Blaze if wants to introduce herself. Blaze remains cryptic, only telling Sonic that she's been looking for him and will return when she has need of him. Then with a foosh! sound effect she disappears and the story ends.
Pros: I like the way Blaze is drawn during the action sequences and her dialogue isn't half bad either.
Cons: It's a little on the short side, and I don't think it quite qualifies as a "game adaption" despite being billed as one.
Musings: Sonic is a lot smarter in this story than he usually is. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, but I was impressed by his idea to put out the flames.
Extras: Data-Files on Dr. Fin and Scourge are included in this issue. Mike asks readers to voice their opinion on Scourge. Previews for #162-164's linking covers are shown.
Shameless Plug: Need scans from this issue? I got 'em!