Other-M, "The Face of Evil"
issue #8, 19 pages
Review written by Matt Johnson, a.k.a. Tergonaut
Summary: A change of pace and place, and we see the unlikely ally
Remmington under interrogation by Guardian Knuckles for the
rebellion's latest act of terrorism.

Credits:
Cover: Abigale Ryder
Story: Ian Potto
Art: Lisa Echidna
Lettering: Lisa Echidna
Other-M logo design: Jeffrey "Z-Kara" Houston

Plot: We find ourselves in a different perspective this time,
away from Sonic and the rebellion, and into the dark confines of
Guardian Knuckles's control center.  And Remmington is summoned
to meet with him.
     Remmington is cautious, and with good reason, but Knuckles'
attitude at first is jovial.  Then he gets to the bad part: the
rebellion has struck again.  And he wants to know, from
Remmington's mouth, exactly what happened.
     Remmington explains that a Commander Brock had been the
leader of the Legionaries sent to handle the rebel attack, but
his incompetent attempts at leadership bungled any chance of
counter attack, and so the warehouse that was the target of the
rebellion was destroyed.
     When Knuckles asks who appointed Brock to his position,
Remmington tells him that while Advisor Kragok nominated him, it
was the Guardian himself who had appointed him.  After thinking
on the matter for a moment, Knuckles swivels his chair around and
admits that he had let Brock pass as a birthday present for
Kragok.
     At this revelation, Remmington is filled with a fury that
overtakes his fear of the Guardian.  Because of that thoughtless
decision, many brave echidnas died, and Remmington is incensed by
such a thought.
     Fortunately, mind-reading is not one of Knuckles' powers (or
at least he doesn't let us know), although he does notice
Remmington's reaction on the outside.  Remmington's answer is far
colder than his thoughts were, and Knuckles then prepares to fix
the problem of Commander Brock's idiocy.
     He presses a button, and the screen activates to show Julie-
su sitting at a desk, drinking some form of beverage and reading
the Echidna News.  When Knuckles addresses her, she's surprised
at his sudden appearance and spills the drink over her uniform. 
Regaining her composure, she is then asked by Knuckles to
assemble the Chaotix for a 'terminal visit' to Commander Brock. 
When she asks where they should begin looking, Knuckles turns
back to Remmington to find the location of Brock.
     Remmington, visibly nervous about the whole business and
fully knowing that he's signing the death warrant of the soon-to-
be EX-commander, informs them that Brock signed out early to go
to his residence, on account of 'mental anxiety'...
     After a demeaning remark from Knuckles about the commander's
mental capacity, he orders Julie-su to get the address of the
commander's apartment from his file and report back from the
apartment right after the job.  Julie-su acknowledges the orders
and the screen winks out.
     Knuckles gets back to business with Remmington, asking what
exactly the rebels were up to with this last attack.  Remmington
states that since they had been inactive for over a week, their
main objective might have been to let the Guardian know that they
weren't quitting yet.  Knuckles, after letting off an insult
about 'non-echidnas', then is informed that the warehouse that
had been attacked also held important machinery designed for the
construction of a new transport.
     Knuckles then ventures to say that there must be a spy
within the elite, for the unstated reason that the rebels knew
exactly where to strike.  Remmington, getting more and more
nervous as this conversation continues, says that he believes
that it was a random attack, and that is was also near Cavern
Canis, which was of course used by the rebellion because there
were many places to hide within.
     Knuckles then brings up the fact that, according to other
reports he had gotten, there were rebels in the attack that were
supposedly dead in a battle a week ago by Remmington's account
(review #4).  With a nervous sweat breaking, Remmington comes up
with excuses for why those rebels might not have been dead. 
Knuckles then makes a remark that perhaps Brock believed he had
things under control as well, and then Remmington leaps to defend
the commander, realizing that his own neck is in the precarious
balance.  Knuckles ponders on Remmington's words, and considers
calling off the Chaotix...
     But is interrupted by the Chaotix reporting back.  Vector is
in the foreground when the screen turns on, and we can see Espio
wiping up a mess on the floor with a mop.  Vector reports that
the commander was found packing his stuff and getting ready to
leave, with the possible intention of joining the rebellion.
     Knuckles then asks where Julie-su is, and Vector responds
that since this has been their first terminal mission in a while,
she had to utilize the ex-commander's facilities to chunk her
cookies.  After being told how to deal with the remains of Brock,
the Chaotix sign off, and the screen blips out.
     Knuckles makes a comment to Remmington which makes the Duze
nearly white from fear from his implied threat.  But Knuckles
turns jovial again as he gives Remmington the rest of the day off
as well as the next day, and Remmington walks out in a stunned
daze.
     From the shadows, a strange figure makes himself known,
remarking on just how insubordinate Remmington's exit was. 
Knuckles shrugs it off and proceeds to raise his command chair
upward.
     Then, we get to see the figure's true identity...it is Miles
"Tails" Prower, dressed up in a similar uniform to Knuckles and
the Chaotix, and during the next few exchanges of dialogue, we
learn that Knuckles has raised the young kit as his own!
     The final panel, however, leaves us with a foreboding
comment from Tails as the issue ends.

Analysis/Opinion: Okay, first things first: Knuckles and his
mitts.  On the cover, I don't see his pointy trademarks, not to
mention he isn't wearing gloves and his hands seemed to be
smaller than they should be.  On the inside of the comic, he has
the knuckles, but at the same time, he's still not wearing the
gloves and his hands are still more normally-sized.
     This viewpoint from the bad guys' side lets us see just how
corrupt Knuckles has become, not to mention the rest of the
society.  The Chaotix are an elite assassin team of thugs for the
Guardian, decisions are made without regard to the eventual
impact (in the case of Commander Brock's appointment to the
position in the first place), and otherwise things are to the
point where the rebellion is completely justified in resisting
his rule.
     The dramatic effect on Remmington of the Chaotix's call from
Brock's apartment was quite nicely done.  The fact is, Remmington
is a traitor, and he's afraid of what might happen to him should
the Guardian find out.  No, he is petrified of being found out. 
Fortunately, either Knuckles doesn't know of his treachery, or he
does but chose to give him a clear demonstration of what happened
to traitors in an attempt to steer him clear of further mistakes.
     And Tails...oi.  That such an innocent should be twisted by
the powers of darkness, to the point where it appears that he
will soon take the general role that Snively took under Robotnik
(i.e., the 'faithful' servant who secretly wants to betray his
master and gain the power)...man.

Final Word: We have seen the other side of the conflict, however 
brief, and we know now why the rebellion is fighting in the first
place.  The purpose is to overthrow this man who has allowed
apathy to overtake his heart, this man who is responsible for the
current state of events in this alternate reality.
     And the revelation of Tails's current state of being brings
up the question: what will Sonic's reaction be when he finds out?
     But the rebellion knows naught of the exchange between
Remmington and Knuckles, and they continue fighting on,
struggling against the odds despite how hopeless their world
seems.  And that is what makes all the difference.