Although intended to be a positive development, the decision Sonic the Hedgehog's people make to go from a monarchy to a pseudo-democracy in Archie's discontinued series culminates in disaster, a satirical critique of a form of government that's generally regarded as the free world's crowning achievement.

The entirety of Archie's series transpires after Dr. Robotnik dissolves the monarchy that Sonic grew up in. Known as the Kingdom of Acorn, this government ruled over the city of Mobotropolis before Robotnik took over and formed the Eggman Empire. Despite never seeing the Kingdom of Acorn at its greatest, the kingdom is portrayed positively, for the overarching goal of Sonic and the Freedom Fighters is to restore the Kingdom of Acorn to its former glory. As such, all of Mobotropolis' former citizens always recall their previous lives fondly as subjects of the kingdom. Ironically, once the kingdom is eventually reinstated in New Mobotropolis, democracy is introduced.

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This leads to the creation of an elected council of six who vote on decisions, with the king presiding as the seventh member, in Sonic the Hedgehog #179 by Ian Flynn, Tracy Yardley,  Jim Amash, John Workman, and Jason Jensen. Although the monarchy remains, the king and the royal family lose a great deal of power. From that point on, horrible things start happening. The first instance occurs after Sonic, Sally, and the Freedom Fighters venture into an upside-down parallel universe to thwart an oncoming invasion from their evil counterparts. The council soon puts Sally on trial for her actions in issue #197 as she led the invasion without the council's permission. Later, a major Sonic villain known as Ixis Naugus who once traveled the globe to form powerful alliances to destroy the Kingdom of Acorn actually convinces the council and the people of New Mobotropolis to crown him king. Then Nicole, an AI program that later assumed physical form and helped recreate Mobotropolis is voted out of the republic. This presents some major complications when Robotnik later attacks their kingdom.

Princess Sally defends herself against the elected council for the Kingdom of Acorn in Sonic the Hedgehog #197.

This isn't to say that living under a monarchy didn't present its own headaches for Sonic. Much earlier before democracy's introduction, the king's son Elias is forced to assume his father's place, and Geoffrey St. John, one of the king's most loyal subjects, takes advantage of Elias' inexperience to disband the Freedom Fighters. Geoffrey also uses his totalitarian powers to separate Princess Sally from Sonic whom Geoffrey always regarded as a bad influence on Sally, forcing Sonic to sneak around like Harry Potter. Of course, this doesn't hold a candle to the numerous hassles the elected councilmembers of New Mobotropolis later cause Sonic and his friends. It's ironic because democracy is presented in the best possible light when introduced to the Kingdom of Acorn, and the king's subjects are even referred to in the most positive way as the free people. But the comic focuses on the negatives. The right to vote and including the council in decisions create bottlenecks for addressing issues that require immediate action. Even when this elected council does act, they make the worst choices imaginable, many of which hurt the heroes protecting them.

Democracy aside, the major presence and influence that various forms of government have on Sonic and his world add varying dynamics to Archie's overall story in ways that no other aspects of the entire franchise have been able to emulate. Hopefully, IDW's ongoing Sonic the Hedgehog comic will introduce a similar type of system.

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