Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 156
Talk0this wiki
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 156 was the one hundred and fifty-sixth issue of the main Sonic the Hedgehog comic series.
Contents |
Summary
Story One
- "Line of Succession" Part 2
With the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, Sally still feels horrible about her choice, unaware that Antoine is feeling quite pleased over the nearness of his plan's completion. Planning to kill King Max and claim the throne, he then encourages Sally as they greet their people as husband and wife. Elsewhere, Sonic speaks with a shadowy figure, begging him to help save Sally from what is taking place. His host refuses, replying that Sally deserves to be queen and that it would not be right for him to step in. He then asks Sonic to leave, and the angry Hedgehog does so, wondering why Knuckles thinks so highly of him. He then overhears an older couple talking about the wedding, and learns from them that the couple are at the banquet hall with guests. Sonic rushes off to see Sally, wondering at the same time why she would go through with it, and whether he would be the groom instead if they hadn't split up. Finding the entire situation wrong, he tries to make his way into the hall, but is halted by the royal guards and Antoine himself.
Sonic pleads with Sally to listen to him, but she sides with her husband, and the guards take Sonic away with no objection from him. Antoine then takes leave of her to give King Max a final dose of poison, unaware that a cloaked and hooded figure is making his way to the castle on horseback. He is stopped at the gate by the guards, but removes his hood to their utter surprise, questioning why there is so much security. As Antoine prepares to kill the king, the visitor has the guards open Sonic's cell, and Sonic is stunned to recognize the previous object of his pleas for help: Prince Elias Acorn, Sally's brother. Sonic questions his arrival given his refusal to help previously, and Elias replies that his wife Megan Acorn reminded him of the dangerous circumstances surrounding the event, particularly as the wedding will mean a transference of power. As Elias discards his obscuring cloak for his royal attire, Sonic questions why Elias is concerned, as Sally is willing to become queen. Elias states that he is concerned about Antoine, and though Sonic is unconvinced Elias decides that his best option is to claim the throne himself.
Elias and Sonic then enter the King's bedchamber and find Antoine, immediately questioning his presence. Antoine hides the needle carrying Max's final dose of poison, claiming that he still has duties to his king. Elias then remarks that he hopes Antoine will show the same loyalty when Elias claims the throne, infuriating Antoine as he realizes that this could ruin all his plans. He then decides that he has to get Elias out of the way, following the prince back to the banquet hall where Elias claims the crown as first-born male in the House of Acorn. While Sonic observes Antoine closely for any signs of disloyalty, Alicia reminds Elias that his step-child Alexis Acorn cannot qualify as his successor. Sally also questions Elias' decision, but Elias is firm in accepting the responsibility he has so long turned away. As such, Alicia has him kneel, and placing a sword on his shoulder proclaims him King. She then proudly places the crown on his head, while Antoine decides that he will have to get rid of Elias' wife and daughter to secure his own claim on the throne at a later time. He then decides to eliminate Elias with the poison intended for his father, planning to hide it in his sleeve as he shakes Elias' hand. Sally embraces her brother happily, and Antoine makes his move, only for Sonic to spot the needle in Antoine's hand and tackle him to the floor.
The needle falls out on the floor, and Antoine immediately attempts to distract attention by accusing Sonic of treachery. He goes for the needle, but Sonic prevents him from retrieving it by engaging him in a fight. He then reveals that he has discovered the truth about Antoine, based on the fact that the real Antoine lacked this one's killer instinct and fighting ability. Furthermore, no one could ever tell Sonic where Antoine had gotten his scar, leading Sonic to identify his enemy as Patch before knocking him to the floor. He then pulls out the Zone-Link Generator he used to return to Mobius after being impersonated by his own duplicate, and soon arrives on the Anti-Mobius to deposit the impostor and recover the long absent Antoine Prime. Antoine is overjoyed to the point of disbelief, while back on Mobius Elias presents Sally with his first royal decree: the annulment of her marriage to the fake Antoine. Elias then tells her that she now has "something to look forward to with the true love of your life!"
Sonic then stops by Bunnie's place, asking her if she can join him outside. She comes out, wondering what he has to tell her, and is overjoyed when he presents a smiling Antoine. The long separated couple meet with an embrace and kiss, any ill-feelings caused by Patch's efforts forgotten or put aside. Later, Sally watches from her window as Sonic speaks with his current girlfriend Fiona, explaining to her that Bunnie had never fallen out of love with Antoine. Fiona questions this, given that Bunnie had previously made romantic advances towards Sonic, but he replies that it was all in the hope of getting Antoine back. She then questions the status of their relationship, with Sonic implying that they're in no hurry as Tails looks on from a distance with tears in his eyes.
Story Two
- Dulcy the Dragon in "Price of Flame" Part Two
The Dragons of Vesuvio scatter and panic as Robotnik's Mecha-Dragons invade, Roboticizing Dragons one-by-one as they attempt to form a response. Dulcy, having been knocked out by Robotnik's forces, awakens groggily in a remembered conversation with her former mate Zan. Hearing sounds of battle, she then remembers what is going on, and rushes to the aid of the Dragons just in time to save a young Dragon from Roboticization. The Dragon defenders then lay down a line of fire to drive back their Robian enemies, while Dulcy runs into the Dragon elder Glint, who accuses her of betraying them by leading the Mecha-Dragons to Vesuvio. She is then taken away and chained up, and is forced to watch as her people and the Mecha-Dragons do battle, with the Dragons losing ground. A falling Mecha-Dragon then lands on top of her, freeing her from the chain and removing the gold ring that inhibited her fire-breathing abilities. Throwing off the immobile Robian, she cauterizes her wound before joining the battle with a vengeance, earning even Glint's admiration as she leads the other Dragons in a final attack on the Mecha-Dragons, reducing them all to molten slag. Despite the victory, Dulcy laments that they were unable to restore the Mecha-Dragons to normal, fearing that it means the end of them. Glint then explains to her that the spirits of Dragons cannot be extinguished, and that those lost will one day be reborn. Later, the Vesuvio Council votes unanimously to restore Dulcy's citizenship and singe ring, appointing her ambassador to the surface. Overjoyed, Dulcy flies into the air, unleashing a stream of fire.
Quotes
- Sonic: "Sally! Don't let them do this! Not after all we've been through!"
- Sally: "I'm sorry Sonic but I must be supportive of my husband! Guards! Take him away"!
- Guard: But the commander said no visitors.
- Prince Elias: "And since when does a Commander outrank a memeber of the Royal Familly? Open the cell door at ONCE!"
- Sonic: "I don't believe it! Prince Elias!!! But how? Or more to the point--why? I thought you said there wasn't any reason you to get involved!
- Prince Elias: I thought so too but as my wife Meg pointed out these are dangerous times! And there is nothing more dangererous then an exchange of power
Key Events
- Anti Antoine and Sally get married.
- Sonic is imprisoned for the first time in 116 issues, this time for trespassing and crashing Anti-Antoine's and Sally's wedding reception.
- Elias assumes the mantle as King.
- Anti-Antoine is discovered to be a fraud and his plans foiled when he's thrown back to Anti-Mobius.
- Antoine is returned to Mobius Prime and resumes his relationship with Bunnie.
- Sally and Anti-Antoine's marriage is annulled by King Elias.
- Dulcy is briefly imprisoned in Vesuvio by the other Dragons during the battle with Robotnik's Mecha-Dragons.
- Dulcy's golden inhibitor ring is destroyed allowing her to regain her ability to breathe fire.
- Dulcy helps her people destroy all of the Mecha-Dragons.
- Glint explains that Dragons spirits cannot be extinguished and that the Mecha-Dragons will one day be reborn.
- Dulcy is appointed ambassador to the surface world and her black singe ring is restored to her.
Background Information
- This is (so far) the last issue to feature Art Mawhinney as artist.
- When Sonic first arrives at the reception, he bangs on the glass shouting Sally's name for all to hear and see, a clear homage to the climatic scene in The Graduate.
