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Knuckles the Echidna Publication Details Issue  28 Date Published  July 1999 Publisher  Archie Comics Production Staff Cover Artist Manny Galan Writer Ken Penders Pencils Chris Allen (first story) Manny Galan (second story) Andrew Pepoy (single page) Inks Andrew Pepoy Letters Vickie Williams Colors Frank Gargliado Editor Justin Freddy Gabrie Managing Editor Victor Gorelick Editor in Chief Richard Goldwater First Appearances

Archie Knuckles the Echidna Issue 28 was the twenty-eighth issue of the spin-off Knuckles the Echidna comic series.

SummaryEdit

Story OneEdit

"The First Date" Part Three of Three: "It Could Be Love (I Should Have Known Better)"

Hearing the doorbell ring, Lara-Le finds that Knuckles has come to visit. She invites him in for lunch and attempts to ask him why he's there; sitting at the counter, Knuckles says it might just be easier to ask what she and his father did on their dates. Surprised, she said that that was "another lifetime" and wonders why he asked. Knuckles tells his mom that he asked out Julie-Su but then realized he didn't know what to do on a date. Setting up food, Lara-Le answers that a date is a chance to get to know each other; she explains that Locke took her on a picnic and read her poetry, which earns a dubious response from Knuckles. Lara-Le asks Knuckles when the date will be; he replies they'll be going out on Friday... which, Lara-Le realizes, may cause a conflict with plans of her own. Then she figures she may be able to turn this to her advantage.

Later, Lara-Le arrives at Julie-Su's apartment, much to the younger girl's surprise; still in a nightshirt, a flustered Julie apologizes for the messy state of the room, but Lara is unconcerned, saying she wishes to discuss Julie's plans to go out with her son. Julie assumes that Lara is referring to a discussion they'd had previously, but Lara replies that she isn't there to discourage their relationship but rather to see if they had any specific plans; when Julie replies that they don't, Lara then offers a suggestion...

Later, at a food court, Vector the Crocodile is moping; Mighty the Armadillo assumes he's upset because Charmy Bee, who had returned to the Golden Hive Colony, won't be able to show up for Knuckles' "big day." Vector replies that that's not why he's down; rather, he still can't believe that Knuckles told him off earlier. Espio the Chameleon frankly replies that he was lucky Knuckles didn't do worse and that he'd have deserved it. Mighty doesn't understand why there's such tension between Julie and Vector in the first place. Vector simply replies that they're a "bad combination" and that she rubs him the wrong way. Espio points out that Vector isn't the easiest person to get along with to begin with, adding that he has other friends who don't understand why he hangs out with the crocodile at all. Mighty simply states that he just wants them all to get along, meaning that Vector should stop being so abrasive towards Julie. Vector finally concedes that he doesn't want to end up breaking up the Chaotix. Suddenly, Knuckles shows up; Vector tells him that his comments about Julie and their relationship were out of line, and Knuckles replies that he may have overreacted himself. They decide things are square between them, and, happy that the fighting's been averted, Mighty lifts the two into the air. Espio points out that Julie isn't present but should still be considered one of the group; Knuckles agrees and, with a little prodding, so does Vector.

In Haven, Locke watches the whole event, pleased that his son is getting along with his friends. Suddenly, Deo Volente announces that Locke has an incoming call - from Lara-Le. While the conversation is somewhat tense, Lara explains that she's arranging a party for Knuckles' sixteenth birthday and thought that their son would appreciate his father attending. Locke eventually offers to help.

On Friday, Archimedes finds Knuckles on the street and offers some words of encouragement, though he also teasingly adds that dating may be more trouble than it's worth. Shortly after, Knuckles arrives at Julie's apartment; she announces she'll be down in a few minutes. She nervously puts on a black jacket and rushes downstairs, telling Knuckles she has a suggestion. She tells him a friend of hers will be reciting poetry at the commons' hall; Knuckles is surprised, but the two head off anyway. Taking the bus, Knuckles muses that he should have had Archimedes teleport them, and Julie teases him about needing a chaperone. Arriving at the commons' hall, Knuckles admits that it doesn't seem like the kind of event that would interest Julie, but as he opens the door, he's met with a cry of "Surprise!" Inside, Lara-Le, Wynmacher, Locke, the Chaotix and Remington wish him a happy birthday. Lara congratulates Julie on getting Knuckles to the party without him suspecting the surprise; while the guests sing and dance (Vector having finally succeeded in getting a date with a swan girl), Locke pulls Knuckles aside a moment, saying he and Lara wished to speak with him before he returned to partying with his friends. Knuckles wonders if the two are planning to get back together, but Lara frankly replies that that's not the case; however, she insists that they can still be civil around each other and that despite all their differences, they won't allow their failed relationship to interfere with their love for their son. Locke says that while they may not be a complete family, they are still his family and will always be there for him - including Wyn, Lara adds. The three embrace and then Knuckles decides he better return to his own party while his parents admire how he's grown.

Knuckles finds Julie-Su dancing with Remington and asks to butt in. As Julie removes her jacket, revealing her black dress, Knuckles comments on how special it is for him to have family and friends around like this. She tells him to enjoy the evening; when he asks about their date, she replies there's always next weekend. Knuckles embraces and kisses her, saying it's a date.

Story TwoEdit

Mighty the Armadillo in "Below the Belt"

In the abandoned prison camp, Mighty finally opens the sealed door that had thwarted Nic the Weasel and Fiona Fox in their treasure hunt; they are shocked to find not only a Power Gem, but Ray the Flying Squirrel, alive and clinging to the stone. Ray is equally surprised; to him, it seems it was only minutes ago that he, Mighty and Sonic the Hedgehog had been trying to disable Robotnik's device and rescue Fiona.

In the past, Robotnik had had Fiona strapped to a machine powered by a Power Gem; while Sonic and Mighty provided a distraction, Ray made his way over to remove the gem. Robotnik mused that the young Sonic reminded him of one of his roboticized victims, Sir Charles Hedgehog, and ordered SWATbot to fire upon the two. Meanwhile, Ray approached the gem; however, upon touching it, he began to disappear. Seeing this, Sonic grabbed Mighty and rushed over to Ray; to Robotnik's delight it seemed all three vanished, but they reappeared a moment later, Mighty and Sonic commenting on the Zone they'd just visited. While they had left and returned in a matter of seconds, it seemed that they'd experienced a short adventure in another gem. However, Mighty suddenly realized that Ray had not returned with them. Thinking that Ray was dead, Mighty went berserk, using his incredible strength to destroy the lab. Frightened, Robotnik fled with Fiona. The young Mighty was left distraught, though Sonic attempted to reassure him, saying that strange things could happen when objects like Power Gems were involved.

In the present, Fiona explains that Robotnik had relocated her to another lab, using her to create a robot duplicate. He then left her in a cell. Eventually, Fiona decided that no one would come to save her, and began to dig her way out over a period of roughly two years. Upon finally freeing herself, she encountered Nic the Weasel and went on to work with her. Interrupting, Ray asks if they plan to help him escape being trapped between zones; in response, Nic aims her gun at the gem. Ray is freed, but, to Nic's annoyance, the gem is destroyed; she angrily tells the young squirrel that the shot was only meant to neutralize the gem's power, and that he now owes her. Mighty says it's on him, as he's finally glad to have his friend back.

QuotesEdit

• Vector: (of Julie-Su) We're like water and oil, Mighty -- a baaaaaad combination!

• Nic: What's he doing with my treasure?!!
• Fiona: Don't you mean our treasure?

• Locke: Lara! Now this is a surprise! So what did I do now?

Key EventsEdit

• Knuckles and Vector patch things up.
• Vector agrees to try to be less confrontational about Julie-Su.
• Lara-Le and Julie-Su turn the date into a surprise party for Knuckles' sixteenth birthday.
• The creation of Auto-Fiona is explained.
• Mighty, Nic and Fiona find and rescue Ray.
• Knuckles and Julie-Su become an official couple.

Background InformationEdit

• All of the story titles in the First Date arc are references to songs by The Beatles.
• This issue's cover is the third part of a three-part image.
• Mighty's shell is miscolored on the cover.
• Spectre appears on the cover, despite having no part in the story.