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Knuckles the Echidna Publication Details Issue  2 Date Published  February 1997 Publisher  Archie Comics Production Staff Cover Artist Patrick Spaziante Ken Penders Writer Ken Penders Kent Taylor Pencils Manny Galen Inks Andrew Pepoy Letters Jeff Powell Colors Karl Bollers Editor J. Freddy Gabrie Managing Editor Victor Gorelick Editor in Chief Richard Goldwater First Appearances Characters Semper Fidelis

Archie Knuckles the Echidna Issue 2 was the second issue of the spin-off Knuckles the Echidna comic series.

Summary

Story One

"Sins of the Fathers"

Knuckles and the Chaotix awake to find themselves captured by the Dark Legion at their base. Knuckles is escorted through the base to Kragok's tent while Vector, Espio, Charmy and Mighty are left behind in shackles. Kragok welcomes Knuckles to his base and introduces what they desire from him. 

The past is shown at the Fire Ant Council, where Christopheles pleads to the council and the Queen about the situation concerning the echidnas. They eventually settle that the safeguard of the echidnas should have a guide and Christopheles volunteers to serve the Queen and teleports away. Christopheles teleports into Edmund's study, where he is contemplating about creating a disguise to be a positive figure to the citizens. The fire ant states that he already has the light as his weapon and he doesn't need a disguise. Edmund agrees to listen to the fire any when he states that his son is in danger, but refuses to listen to the rest of his advice and sets off into the night.

In the present, Knuckles assaults Kragok, but is beaten down by his guards. Kragok punches Knuckles with his cybernetic hand and demands the location of the chaos chamber. Knuckles responds "beats me" and Kragok agrees with his guards giving Knuckles a beating inside his tent. Knuckles gains the upper hand in the battle and bellows his catchphase "it's crunch time!" He beats up the remaining guards and takes a cloak off one of them to disguise himself. 

In the past, Edmund is watching in the shadows at the site of a crash where two members of the Dark Legion are searching for a body. Edmund strikes both of them down, but is noticed by more Dark Legion echidnasand is shot down by them. The shooters leave knowing that Edmund wouldn't come back as Steppenwolf discovers the echidnas. Steppenwolf clutches onto his father's body crying that it should have been him. Christopheles appears to Steppenwolf offering to help the echidna continue to move forward. 

At the Dark Legion camp, Knuckles arrive back to the Chaotix and takes out the guards to free his teammates. Charmy notices a tank nearby that they plan to use as a diversion. Meanwhile in Haven, Locke is watching fromhis monitoring station when Archimedes appears before him. As Archimedes explains his arrival, the alarm goes off and they find out the intruder is Athair, who Locke bitterly announces. At the Dark Legion's base, the tank heads towards the Dark Legion creating a large explosion. The Chaotix use this chance and escape throug the forest. Meanwhile, Locke and Athair begin to argue about Athair's dissertion from his Guardian duties when Archimedes interrupts them. Suddenly, a vision of the Ancient Walkers appears and takes Athair away with them saying that Locke should consider this a warning. Archimedes is about to teleport back to Knuckles to help him, but Locke begs him to stay with the situation of Athair and the Ancient Walkers being involved. 

Back in the past, Steppenwolf is trained to be a guardian, which wasn't done with Edmund, to develop his body and mind to achieve ultimate discipline being guided by Christopheles. Christopheles eventually shows him the Chaos Emerald and teaches him how to channel the energy from it. Steppenwolf succeeds and manages to fly around the chamber focusing on the energy. Christopheles instructs Steppenwolf to the last step for him to accomplish beforehe assumes the mantle of Guardian. The fire ant takes him to the secret base of Haven, which will become his base of operations as well as the base for future Guardians. 

In the present, Kragok begins tracking down Knuckles and the Chaotix with the Dark Legion using their tanks. Mighty slams a nearby tree to block their path, but the tanks launch their firepower burning the surroundingforest. They stop running as a large group of inhabitants rush towards them fleeing from the burning forest with Knuckles instructing the team to "get outta the way!"

Quotes

• Kragok: For your sake, you just better have answers! To begin with--where is the Chaos Chamber?
• Knuckles: Beats me.
• Kragok: You're a Guardian--of course you know... but I won't waste my time playing your games! I'll do as you suggest! (to the soldiers) Beat him!

(fighting noises)

• Knuckles: You hit like sissies!
• Dark Legionnaire 1: I got 'im!
• Dark Legionnaire 2: That's my leg,idiot!
• Knuckles: (punches a Dark Legionnaire) Know what time it is, fellas? (kicks another Dark Legionnaire) It's Crunch Time! And boy do I mean "crunch"!

Key Events

• Semper Fidelis passes the role of tutoring Guardians to his son, Archimedes.

Background Information

• This issue's cover is the second part of a three-part image.
• Knuckles first used his catchphrase "It's Crunch Time!" in this issue, which is seen again in many other issues after this.