"Take this job and shovel it"

Written by Joe "the ummm...shmoe?" Edkins. (Sorry, bad with nicknames)
Art by David "The new guy" Hutchison.

We start out in the sewers where two sewer workers notice a glow coming from an area that's not on any of the sewer maps. They investigate a little further and find some high tech stuff, but are spooked by some noises they hear around. They leave and give the case over to the goverment, but not before we see the silouette of a robot that looks....familiar.

The Guardian Units of the Nations (G.U.N.) are given the case. The president hands the assignment to Topaz and Rouge. This ticks off thier Captain (Westwood), who feels he's being held back from the big missions cuz he doesn't have some 3-foot talking animal on assingnments with him. (THERE'S some logic!) A report comes into Westwoods' hands that is supposed to be given to the president. He decides to handle it himself.

Meanwhile, at the mansion, Chris, Sonic and the gang are getting ready for Chris' birthday party. Doc Brown (A.K.A. Chuck) informs Chris that his parents won't be able to come due to thier being in Paris preparing for the worlds fair. (SARCASTIC AWWWWWW! Sorry, but I can't get with this "pity on Chris for not having his super-rich parents around" bit. He has Sonic and the gang, Ella, Dr. Emmet Brown, and the butler who's name I forget. Plus, lives in a big, friggin' mansion. He has enough support and love from others. Plus, his folks come as often as they can. So if his folks can't make it sometimes, boo-freakin'-hoo.)

Captain Westwood comes by, and asks Sonic to help him in his assignment. Telling him that the president asked for his help. Reluctantly, Sonic agrees to it. Meanwhile Topaz and Rouge investigate the mysterious room in the sewers. While they find some high technology, they agree it's not Eggman's as the technology seems to have been there for decades. As they leave the room, the mysterious Robot also leaves, quickly and silently following them. It's Emerl, and it looks like this story happens before he meets with Cream in the anime series.

Sonic and Captain Westwood start digging in the dessert. Sonic basically takes a shovel and spins in a huge circle while digging. Westwood asks why he hangs around Chris. Sonic gives a simple explination basically saying that Chris is a good kid, and even though he makes mistakes sometimes, he always comes through, and has given him and his friends a home while on earth. They unearth a huge robot unlike anything Eggman's designed. It comes to life and attacks Sonic and Westwood. After a good amount of dodging, Sonic manages to subdue it with a shovel hit to the noggin. Westwood is elated that the robot was not hevily damaged so the goverment can eximine it and use it for thier purposes. Westwood tells Sonic he's glad he decided to bring him along. Sonic tells Westwood "Didn't you say the PRESIDENT asked for my help?" Sonic realizes he's been used and re-buries the giant robot. He leaves Westwood stranded in the desert with a junked plane (thanks to the rampaging robot) saying that at least Chris has never lied to him the way he did.

Topaz and Rouge are informed to go to Paris as Eggman is expected to be there. They head off with Emerl secretly in tow. Sonic arrives back at the mansion only to find out that Chris parents are sending him, and the others to Paris for a birthday party at the Worlds Fair! (AWWWWWW Poor Chris might get jet lag! Stupid rich kid.) To be continued next issue.

The Pro's:

For a kids comic, this was fairly plot heavy. What with mysterious robots and technology that have nothing to do with Eggman.

While not quite as good as Tracy Yardly's, David does a solid job. Better than Tim Smith IMO.

I liked the fact that it strayed from the typical "Eggman's plot of the month" story and offered something different. I'm interested in finding out more about the technology, the giant robot, and thier connection to Emerl.

Rouge's line to Topaz: "Someone has been in here recently, and he has smaller feet than you. (Which isn't saying much. Most people do.)

Topaz: HEY!

Haha! Burn.

Sonic's explination of why he hangs with Chris. It's both simple and sweet.

The Con's:

The cop that's learning different accents for plays he's involved in? I don't get it. I just don't see the joke.

As I explained before, I can't pity Chris for numerous reasons.

Neither Tails, Amy or Cream have any lines. (Of course, the less lines Cream has, the better.)

Not as good as good as 5 or 6, but it'll probably be awhile before I see a story that is.

OVERALL 8/10