Back in the ’90s Sonic the Hedgehog’s friendly nemesis Knuckles had his own comic and it was insane.

Knuckles the Echnidahas become a meme.

The once arch rival toSonic the Hedgehogis now a punch line not only to fans but the franchise itself.

Look at Knuckles in the recentSonic Boomcartoon.

The whole joke is that hes an idiot.

I have no problem with that.

Everything surrounding Knuckles meme status is comedy gold.

I regularly jam to remixes of Knuckles theme fromSonic Adventure.

Ive said, Oh no to my friends so often I think Ive ruined theSonicfranchise forever to them.

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I lost my mind.

I had these comics when I was a kid!

Back before the memes I legit thought Knuckles was kinda cool.

Okay, so I was six but still!

Maybe there was something deeper to be found in Knuckles expanded universe back-story.

Maybe these comics held the key to Knuckles salvation from the dregs of internet meme hell.

Knucklescomics are some of the most insane stories for children Ive ever read in my life.

I know that sounds like an over exaggeration but trust me, it isnt.

Take these bits from Issue 3.

You just read a goddamn Franklin D. Roosevelt reference in aKnucklescomic.

(Et tu, Garek?)

Lines like, The Citizen Council of Echidnaopolis did have a vote abound.

In fact that particular line happens just before a dude nearly gets assassinated in the Echidna senate.

Man, I just came here for Knuckles not wanting to chuckle, I didnt expect all this!

Okay, so that doesnt sound all bad actually.

Yeah its kinda dense but it has some unexpected depth for a kids comic.

And then you get lines like, You picked the wrong Croc to step to, bro.

(This is objectively the greatest comic panel of all time.)

Say, pal, know what time it is?

The dope is strictly Looney Tunes!

These comics are incredibly confused about who theyre made for.

These tones clash too intensely against one other.

I will admit, that was legit a funny line but it all just leaves me so confused.

What age group were these comics written for?

The writer or editor didnt answer the letters from fans that were printed in every issue.

They were answered by Knuckles.

Each issue contains fan art from kids who were usually around 8 or 9 years old.

Now Im not saying these comics should have been stupid tales filled with fart jokes.

I regularly advocate on this very website that childrens entertainment shouldnt talk down to kids.

Theyre too complicated for a kid to follow.

I certainly couldnt when I was six and buying these comics.

In fact I think theres really only one audience for these comics.

Edgy middle school kids.

Yeah, those kids who take their favorite comic/show a little too seriously.

(NOT MY VCR!

How will I tape reruns of Pretty Soldier Sally Moon with that hunk Tuxedo Knucks?!)

I know that sounds like a dig but thats the element I found most charming.

The comic takes their subject matter so seriously and without irony that I have to give them props.

I could also see tweens identifying with Knuckles.

When youre 12 youre just angry with your parents for being too strict, man!

you might handle anything!

If youre not in that age group though, these comics are just a chuckle inducing oddity.

Theyre weird as hell and definitely not what you expect but that doesnt exactly make them good.

They certainly cant save Knuckles from his current punchline/meme status.