Even if deep down I knew KV was gonna be destroyed, I was taken back by the whole vaporization thing. I thought he killed everyone. Major kudos to everyone, specially to Ian. Hopefully my copy will be here tomorrow.

If I'm lucky, the comic shop might have a copy I can flick through when I head over that way to sign on for my unemployment benefit tomorrow morning.

If not, I'll be waiting for scans or for another couple of weeks.

Yeah, didn't think he'd actually kill anyone with the Power Glove.

Well, just going by the description, it's certainly what I'd thought at first (and seriously, why not, the Power Glove's so BAD!)... until Ian started vaporizing active Sega-created characters like Rouge and Vector.

i thought the same thing SH, but who knows? btw who does the art in this issue? is it tracy or spaz?

I really want this comic now... sigh... ill get it next week maybe... i hope... but is there any possible way we could see some scans if this isnt possible then thats ok I was just being curious if i could see sniv's mech and the sonic vs eggman fight... thanks in advance regardless of scans or not!

hs77, Tracy did the art for the story. Nack, I'll see if I can get the scans on as soon as I can unless someone beats me to it. I guess I got this issue eariler than alot of people it seems.

edit: Ian posted preview pics on his board so I guess I won't upload the pics (for now) since my plan was to scan the first 5 pages. Someone else can upload pics if they want. I think it's best to see for yourself! I'll post the links to the preview pics in the preview topic.

I got this issue today and oh my God was it just insanely badazz! This is what I've been waiting for ever since the SOnic Adventure story arc ended (and the comic spiraled into a massive abyss of crap!) Ian certainly deserves props for creating something borh old and new fans alike can enjoy! What makes me love this issue even more is the fact that Robotnik is so merciless when fighting Sonic talking about that he could have done destroyed Knothle long before he did! It makes me wonder what Ian has in store for us next!

I'm not going to read the spoilers...But I would like to say that I haven't been this excited for an issue of Sonic since I was in Elementary School -- maybe not even since Issue #50 itself, if I were to pinpoint an exact issue. This is a pleasant feeling to experience again.

ok wtf...i ordered a subscription. why hasnt my comic came in yet???

Relax. Most people won't have gotten it yet. It's not even in stores until the 16th.

I got the issue today. I'm... shocked. That is all I could say at Bumbleking. That is all I can say here.

I have some spoilers in here also... be warned those who want to stay away from evil spoilers...

WOW I got share today and I was really impressed. I can't say anything for Dr. R 'cept "It's about time". I mean, it is a war afterall. Ian set the right stage and delivered a good story. One thing, I never knew KV was so big and could be seen from the air. It took Robotnik a long time to device an actual plan or just to find the location? He's know it for quite the while now, I guess it was just a matter of time before he destroyed everything.

Tails has that mature aura around him. I think he might be in on his old man's plans for the monarchy. Please, let it come down to a senate style democracy of some sort and not some type of communistic thing. Nothing against that but after listening to the Chinese at work telling their take on government...yeah best not go there.

On with my review. He vaporized everyone! I still can't believe it but he made me feel better after he said they were teleported. In fact, the scene were Sonic makes it to the castle just in time to see it exploding is memorable. So is the Sonic/Robotnik exchange. Eggy played with his emotions in unthinkable ways and I believed every word he said. Good writing from Ian's part. Robotnik's words that got me were:

"I will concede you all have won my little war games more times than not. But so what? Is Mobius any more free now than it was years ago? That is why King Maximillia's attempt to rally support failed. The rest of the world knows I own and control them."

IMO that's deep... That's my two cents for now. I'll leave to finish writing lab reports and stuff.

BTW, I love Spaz's cover art. Robotnik looks so evil.

The way Ian wrote it out was that this entire time of bumbling has only been to set Sonic and the monarchy off gaurd. As he said, he could have gone through with the attack at any time.

I particularly want to read this story about Snivelly's downright gritty attack on the Freedom Fighters. He'd be the one who leads the coup to Knothole and he sounded very hardcore, the little twerp. That's what amazed me in this story.

Twas a most awesome comic indeed. I think its the first time that I ever said "Woah" after finishing a Sonic Comic xD It wasn't exactly what I hoped for though, but to be honest, this makes up for it! xD *poor little Enerjak fanboy lol.* Alas, I knew it wouldn't happen then though. And yes, Snively owned. (I can't believe I'm saying that XD)

hopefully i'll be getting mine soon. i would think i'd get it before the 16th since i ordered a subscription 2 weeks ago.

Holy crap! What an awesome action packed issue!!!! The bad guys(Snively and Robotnik)went all out to a point I've never seen before! This is a cannot miss issue.

Okay, I'm trying to get this straight.

After 125, Eggman basically took over completely. When Sonic came back to Mobius in 130, the only places left unconquered were Knothole and Station Square, which he had saved for last (wanting to use his atomics or whatever, but was foiled by Sonic's homecoming).

Does that sound right? So Sonic's return/ADAM's betrayal put off Eggman's attack on Knothole 50 issues? Knothole being pretty much the very last place to be taken over by Eggman.

PS-I wonder how Rob-O is doing... have we even seen the likes of him since 125? I assume Mercia was taken over...

This story is fine so far. I get the feeling that certain people are going to be all right. After what Eggman/Robotnik did this issue, I am thinking that they should not bring back robotization at this point. He was destuctive enough.

Also, I think Tail's father is going to take advantage of this. I lean towards thinking he wants to turn the kingdom into some type of tyrantical government, though maybe not communist. If he wanted more democratic reforms, I believe Elias would suport it, Sally too, and I like to think they might be able to convince their parents. From the previews of issue #178, I get the feeling that is not going to happen.

Rob (and Mari-An) attended Ant/Bun's wedding. Before that he had a cameo when Amy was made an official FF. So he's faring slightly better then other D-Listers *waves g'day to the Downunda cast*

Alright.

This brings up 2 large points.

#1) Robotnik destroyed the lake of Rings {Power Ring Grotto, whatever you wanna call it} This means Sonic has no more ties to Power rings at all. Unless he has his 1 Billionth ring still...

That's huge. Ever since day one, we've known Archie Sonic to at least have some backup with a Power Ring, or with Chaos Emeralds. I'm wondering now if Sonic takes the fight to Robotropolis to the point of going Apecraptastic as Super.

He's gotta up the ante here and now, there's no coming back from that with no piddly Sonic Spin anymore. We NEED hardcore Str8 up love no one take what you need and split Sonic 1 Sonic >>

#2 With only the SegaSonic characters left {Also means Rogue and Shadow are somewhere...} I'm wondering if this LARGE inventory means there's going to be a massive wiping out of EVERY unnessecary character. This would be easily done, well thought out, and as simple as Robotnik hitting a switch-Sonic arriving a bit too late to save all those lives... and saving like..Bunnie and some others -.-

That again, is huge. So huge that I honestly need to see what Issue 200 is going to be. Because 176-180 is going to be Sonic going nuits over this attack, 181-190 is Sonic and Co finding themselves to cope with their enemies relentlessness now.

A gift egg in 192-194 that will haunt our minds

and then 195-199 the lead up to Sonic vs Eggman

With 200 being some crazy off the wall crap that has me thinking...

is this the real end for Sonic the comic? I mean, Ian brung it back to basics, and we can get some real good storytelling in now-but for how much longer. With all these characters gone-even temporarily- Sonic and Co have to go like, in the backwoods to train, prolly find some ancient text that tell them of their super duper Hyper powers they can unleash themselves thanks to the Ancient Walkers forseeing this and leaving behind some spare emeralds that Tails conveniently forgot about in a crisis such as this....

just makes me wonder how much more we have n_n

Like Archie would let a cash cow go quietly into the night...I knew I should have bought a subscription though, this issue sounds very interesting...

And even if Archie had enough artistic integrity to feel that they knew when to quit, Sega wouldn't let them.

I just got my issue today...it may very well be the best story Ian has ever written...it still leaves me feeling lukewarm. My three major problems with the issue were the use of the Sonic Heroes-esque boss robots (Robotnik's vehicle was basically the Egg Emperor with a new paint job). To Ian and Tracey: If you want to use Sega-designed enemies, Sonic Heroes probably isn't the best place to turn. So get rid of the Emperors and PLEASE ice those ridiculous Egg-Pawns. I instead suggest using those 'bots from STH 2006...the game may stink, but the robot designs weren't half bad, and they would probably fit better in a series that's supposed to be darker in setting. Secondly, it seems Ian has finally shown his true colors by leaving Sonic with only his core Sega cast as survivors...but at any rate, if all goes as I predict, everyone will soon be liberated when Sonic, Tails, Knux, and Amy team up and... uh, "Show that creep the REAL SUPER POWER OF TEAMWORK." Lastly...I still don't much care for Tracey Yardley's artwork. Not only are the character designs disturbingly reminiscant of Sonic X, but now characters like Sally, Rotor and Bunnie seem to have sprouted an extra finger on their hands.

First, I would think that those blobs of metal that were passed off as robots in S'06 would be extremly hard to draw consistantly panel after panel. I know that if I pencilled for the comic, there's no way in hell I'd draw those things. I'd as soon quit.

Secondly, Eggman's Egg Fleet did more damage to Knothole than any of Old Robotnik's giant death weapons could ever dream of. Who on earth cares that they look like fish, Robotnik made a giant space station shaped like an egg.

Third, so what if only Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy are left to save the day? I'm kinda glad that the actual mainstraem characters are getting a little spotlight, considereing that happens so little.

And last, at least the characters actually look on model, and it's easier to draw everyone with five fingers, than to remember which characters has four, or five, or whatever. It also looks nicer as we are'nt left with six or seven characters who have an extra finger more than everyone else.

First...so those "metal blobs" you speak of are a little hard to draw...if the artist can't draw them, then they should find an artist who can. Those robots fit better.

Second...giant fish in the sky just don't scream "impending doom". They scream "Tacky bad guy". The Death Egg was shaped the way it was, because Robotnik had an obsession with putting his image on everything.

It happens too little? To me it seems like Tails and Knuckles are the only ones Sonic ever works with anymore. Why am I suddenly hearing the Sonic Heroes theme in my head?

Seems to me like you're just an Ian Flynn fanboy, willing to defend all his stories to the death.

Lastly...the fingers aren't the only problem I have with Yardley. Yardley's art coupled with Jensen's coloring remind me too much of Sonic X. I turn each page, and fear that in the next panel, Chris Thorndyke will jump out at Sonic and scream "Sonic! I know it's not socially acceptable yet in more ways than one...but I LOVE YOU!"

We should be thankful that Ron Lim isn't drawing.

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Seems to me like you're just an Ian Flynn fanboy, willing to defend all his stories to the death.

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seems to me that you're an satam fanboy willing to defend the show to it's death.....oh wait that already happened.

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It happens too little? To me it seems like Tails and Knuckles are the only ones Sonic ever works with anymore. Why am I suddenly hearing the Sonic Heroes theme in my head?

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oh go cry me a freaking river. knux hasn't gotten nearly as much spotlight as you're precious satam specific characters (i love the characters, but still) lately. and all's you guys can do is whine about how the core FF's aren't getting page time. remember that knux was so popular that he actually got his own comic?

erinaceus if you are so dead set on having the comic the way you want it, then go write fanfiction. nobody will read it, but go write it anyway.

sorry if this seems harsh, but you turn every topic into "well ian's not doing things this way, he should do it this way" or "the comic should have more satam influence." "sega sucks" " sega sonic is for sonic X" "ian should bring back concepts that are totally plot resolved." (ie roboticization topic)

"My three major problems with the issue were the use of the Sonic Heroes-esque boss robots (Robotnik's vehicle was basically the Egg Emperor with a new paint job)."

I SAW the Egg Emperor, and that thing was not the Egg Emperor, nor the Egg General from Sonic 2 nor the Eggman armor from Sonic 3/Sonic and Knucles.

" To Ian and Tracey: If you want to use Sega-designed enemies, Sonic Heroes probably isn't the best place to turn. So get rid of the Emperors and PLEASE ice those ridiculous Egg-Pawns."

Eggman uses them because they have his face, it's an ego thing.

" I instead suggest using those 'bots from STH 2006...the game may stink, but the robot designs weren't half bad, and they would probably fit better in a series that's supposed to be darker in setting."

I felt the grunt robots Eggman used in Sonic 2006 were too generic, save for the bosses of course, they could have been anyone's evil robot troopers.

"Secondly, it seems Ian has finally shown his true colors by leaving Sonic with only his core Sega cast as survivors...but at any rate, if all goes as I predict, everyone will soon be liberated when Sonic, Tails, Knux, and Amy team up and... uh, "Show that creep the REAL SUPER POWER OF TEAMWORK." "

If this was so, then only the Archie original and SatAM characters would have gotten zapped. Yes Ian is giving the core Sega characters a chance to shine (though MANY would argue that Amy is not sega core and thus proves this theory wrong). And I think you're drawing one too many parallel in this story to Sonic Heroes.

"Lastly...I still don't much care for Tracey Yardley's artwork. Not only are the character designs disturbingly reminiscant of Sonic X, but now characters like Sally, Rotor and Bunnie seem to have sprouted an extra finger on their hands."

At first I agreed with you, but I've come to realize that his characters have the most expression of any of the artists IMHO. Even the extra fingerness aside.

oh go cry me a freaking river. knux hasn't gotten nearly as much spotlight as you're precious satam specific characters (i love the characters, but still) lately. and all's you guys can do is whine about how the core FF's aren't getting page time. remember that knux was so popular that he actually got his own comic?

As a matter of fact...I do remember that comic book. I still want them to bring it back...it was more interesting than Sonic.

erinaceus if you are so dead set on having the comic the way you want it, then go write fanfiction. nobody will read it, but go write it anyway.

I do write a fan-comic as a matter of fact...52 issues and still going. I don't have the ability to publish it online...but I do make it...and my circle of friends do read it...I send a copy to them via snail-mail and direct delivery. It's a fun way to keep in touch with college-attending friends from childhood. They say I should major in creative writing if and when I finally get into college myself (grades are there, but no $$$), and I may just take their advice.

sorry if this seems harsh, but you turn every topic into "well ian's not doing things this way, he should do it this way" or "the comic should have more satam influence." "sega sucks" " sega sonic is for sonic X" "ian should bring back concepts that are totally plot resolved." (ie roboticization topic)

It's my opinion...feel free to ignore it if you'd like. But someone around here has to counter the somewhat misguided consensus that "Oohhh...everything is all fine and dandy with the comic now with the great Ian Flynn in charge." He may be a step up from the bumbling duo of Ken and Karl, and I've tried to give him a chance...but may patience is wearing thin.

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First, I would think that those blobs of metal that were passed off as robots in S'06 would be extremly hard to draw consistantly panel after panel.

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There are comic artists drawing the movie-design Transformers in all their spiky fiddly-bits glory. I think dull grey blobs could be handled, even if it'd be a dull job.

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Who on earth cares that they look like fish, Robotnik made a giant space station shaped like an egg.

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Which means Eggman is doing it old-skool! Respect!

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It happens too little? To me it seems like Tails and Knuckles are the only ones Sonic ever works with anymore.

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IIRC, they teamed up exclusively - i.e. without anyone else - in the Sonic Riders adaptation, the FCBD release, and just now if you don't count Amy.

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I don't have the ability to publish it online...

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You mean you lack a scanner? Depending on what host you go for, the website costs can be quite affordable - I've got a good annual rate from Streamline for Sonic The Comic Online, I can give you a link to them if you're interested.

Purely an initial reaction:

I should've known from Spaz's Frank Milleresque cover that this wasn't going to be a fun ride.

It also explains the previous two issues where Ian shined off so much Heart potential: he was basically marking time until #175 to launch the attack. Honestly, the Bunnie-Antoine nuptial ended up contributing jack to the continuity, and "Round-up!" can be seen as an exercise in tidying up loose ends ahead of the invasion. And since there are no bodies cluttering up the landscape, everyone aside from the franchise players was obviously zapped somewhere else. So that blunted the emotional force for me right there.

I'll be rereading it to see if I missed anything worthwhile, but Archie may finally have decided to give this book a Sega-dictated continuity. I don't know yet whether that's good or bad.

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And since there are no bodies cluttering up the landscape, everyone aside from the franchise players was obviously zapped somewhere else.

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Well, yeah, Eggman says they're in his Egg Grapes and "everyone you've cared for will be turned into fuel for my city".

He's not a nice man. Or egg.

It doesn't matter if the SatAM folks were amongst those captured. Dollars to donuts, they'll be rescued soon anyway.
I see nothing wrong with Sonic having a bunch of friends but pairing up only w/ certain ones depending on the situation. So now he's with Knux, Tails, and Amy. They're strong fighters and he needs their support. Notice that when talking strategy he's usually with Rote, Sally, Tails, Chuck, et all. Whatever he's doing, Sonic is with the folks that would be a.) most helpful or b.) make for a good narrative. I'm not saying that Sal can't hold her own in battle or that Vector will never come up w/ a decent plan, just that people tend to play to their strenghts.
PS Ant/Bun's marriage made them happy. Isn't that purpose enough?

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I should've known from Spaz's Frank Milleresque cover that this wasn't going to be a fun ride.

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Could have been worse!

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It's my opinion...feel free to ignore it if you'd like. But someone around here has to counter the somewhat misguided consensus

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Oh yes, please save us ignorant masses from our misguided opinions with... your opinion. We'd all be much better off if we carefully ignore anything SatAM-centric and then complain about trivial game-elements overshadowing the former. Anyone able to like different aspects of the Sonic franchise together equally is obviously misguided.

Or... you could just take your own advice and ignore the opinions of others instead of taking up the much-needed(?) cause of countering them.

So what if we have Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy acting as a unit? Suddenly they're completely overshadowing the usual FF (nevermind that Amy, who's been around since #25, has until recently barely ever done anything)? I don't remember any of the latter three taking part in Round-Up's mission (in fact, that was the first time in a long time we'd seen the core FFs out on a mission together as they used to do) and I don't recall anyone complaining how that overshadowed the game characters.

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And since there are no bodies cluttering up the landscape, everyone aside from the franchise players was obviously zapped somewhere else. So that blunted the emotional force for me right there.

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Did the past Robotnik leave bodies all over? Usually anyone who crossed his path suffered the fate of "captured" (time for another break-in!) or "roboticized" (time to rescue/return free will/deroboticize!)... but apparently that carried more emotional force? Or did you complain about that back then, too?

Also, I found Bunnie and Antoine's wedding nice - how could one say it contributed nothing? Their relationship finally came to a point instead of just doing a melodramatic dance for all of eternity (or do we want more person-isn't-really-person love triangles that never reach closure?). Antoine's come a long way - from a jittery, cowardly, jealous flirt to a somewhat-jittery, brave, supporting partner who made his father proud. He's grown up. It was also nice seeing Sally and Bunnie actually act like close friends again - especially with the touch of mentioning how Bunnie wanted to be Sally's hairstylist back when they first met.

Oh, but hey, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy are left to work together for once. Obviously the SatAM cast is being thrown aside and ignored.

You mean you lack a scanner? Depending on what host you go for, the website costs can be quite affordable - I've got a good annual rate from Streamline for Sonic The Comic Online, I can give you a link to them if you're interested.

Yeah...I lack a scanner, a host I can afford, and the necessary computer knowledge to pull it off (I'm kind of a dunce when it comes to computers, though I suppose I have friends who could help me out there). But thanks for the offer...

Oh yes, please save us ignorant masses from our misguided opinions with... your opinion. We'd all be much better off if we carefully ignore anything SatAM-centric and then complain about trivial game-elements overshadowing the former. Anyone able to like different aspects of the Sonic franchise together equally is obviously misguided.

So what if we have Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy acting as a unit? Suddenly they're completely overshadowing the usual FF (nevermind that Amy, who's been around since #25, has until recently barely ever done anything)? I don't remember any of the latter three taking part in Round-Up's mission (in fact, that was the first time in a long time we'd seen the core FFs out on a mission together as they used to do) and I don't recall anyone complaining how that overshadowed the game characters.

Like I said, Archie has Sonic X to do all the excessive game shilling for now...look, I'm not against using some game elements, just as long as they are able to blend in well with the established continuity. Otherwise, it just makes the story focus more blurry.

Like I said, Archie has Sonic X to do all the excessive game shilling for now...look, I'm not against using some game elements, just as long as they are able to blend in well with the established continuity. Otherwise, it just makes the story focus more blurry.

This has been pointed out in the past, but perhaps coming from me it'll stick.

Sonic X is exclusively Sonic X. There can be no extra game material in Sonic X. Sega has made it implicitly clear that no major character or game elements may be used in Sonic X except which was shown in the anime. Since the show covered its game tie-ins pretty thoroughly, there's no point in retreading old ground.

Sonic X is not a SegaSonic "life raft" option.

The Judge Dredd cover actually looked pretty impressive in a monochrome sort of way. But any cover featuring downlighting -- always a bad sign.

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I should've known from Spaz's Frank Milleresque cover that this wasn't going to be a fun ride.

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yeah i got the "elektra is dead" vibe from the cover myself.

overall, i liked the issue. tracy's art really was bad for the most part, it's not his best work. but again we've had so much worse that this is hardly worth mentioning.

I thought Tracey did a great job. I don't think so much that his art is "bad" per se, as much as we've been seeing his art none stop for several issues now.

Some variation would be nice, ya know? Too much of a good thing and all.

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as much as we've been seeing his art none stop for several issues now.

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you misunderstand, i just meant that his art isn't at it's usual consistency, an off day if you will.

like i said though, we've had worse. even for a landmark issue, *cough* 100 *cough* and to some extent 125 (until the end when axer and butler made it awesome.) and 150 wasn't great. so yeah 175 was ok.

Sonic X is exclusively Sonic X. There can be no extra game material in Sonic X. Sega has made it implicitly clear that no major character or game elements may be used in Sonic X except which was shown in the anime. Since the show covered its game tie-ins pretty thoroughly, there's no point in retreading old ground.

Sonic X is not a SegaSonic "life raft" option.

Well just because Sega forbids any extra game material from appearing in Sonic X doesn't mean that the material has to instead appear in Sonic the Hedgehog. You may be better off just ignoring the material, unless of course Sega power trips and demands it be put in there. If that's the case, then good luck finding a way to get it in there without mucking things up.

Do you think maybe he WANTS to put game material into the comic? After all, it is'nt just YOU he's writing for. The majority of the readership thinks he's doing a fine job, at that's who you often try to please in this kind of business. The majority.

Majorities can be wrong. It was a "majority" who got President Bush re-elected, and look how swell that's turning out.

Sorry friend, you seem to be getting politics mixed up with a comic book about a fictional blue rodent. I'll wait til you've gotten your head straight to let you make your point.

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like i said though, we've had worse. even for a landmark issue, *cough* 100 *cough* and to some extent 125 (until the end when axer and butler made it awesome.) and 150 wasn't great. so yeah 175 was ok.

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Can't forget 50, the "all-star" train-wreck-of-an-issue.

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Majorities can be wrong. It was a "majority" who got President Bush re-elected, and look how swell that's turning out.

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Wow. Just...wow.

"Sorry friend, you seem to be getting politics mixed up with a comic book about a fictional blue rodent. I'll wait til you've gotten your head straight to let you make your point."

I full heartedly agree.