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Ken Penders Reveals New Lara-Su Chronicles Character

Tristan Oliver
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Not long after his settlement with Archie Comics in the highly covered and impactful legal case over copyrights he filed, Ken Penders is now spending the 4th of July holiday at the Florida Super Con promoting The Lara-Su Chronicles.On Twitter, Penders says he has received positive reaction to the series. On there and at the expo, he also revealed a new character:

Since this morning’s reveal, many community critics have blasted Penders for making the Praetorian appear too much like Knuckles’s likeness, specifically his likeness as seen in the Japanese Sonic OVA. But the polarizing author says he’s signing prints of various LSC characters at the show–so they are selling.

Much of the Sonic community groaned at the sight of the debut of The Praetorian, a new character coming to ex-Archie Sonic writer Ken Penders’s latest work, The Lara-Su Chronicles. The design looked remarkably similar to the original Knuckles design, which Sega still uses.
For our latest @Issue poll, we asked if you thought Sega should pursue a lawsuit against Penders over the work. 

Out of 563 votes, 81 percent voted Yes, while 19 percent voted No.

Penders hasn’t said much on the similarities, in response to the wave of criticism.
A new poll is now available to vote on. You can discuss the above poll results below in the comments.

This post was originally written for TSSZ News.

Tags ComicsHoly Crap - Echidnas!Ken PendersKnuckles The EchidnaSEGASonic The Hedgehog (Series)TSSZ News
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  2. “Positive reaction” my foot. The man is as tone-deaf as Mitt Romney.

  3. That’s Knuckles, just with a goatee, and no spiky knuckles.
    And I’m not at all surprised.

  8. Well…unless Penders is pulling a “Rotor’s new dad” manuever with the Praetorian, and there’s something in the settlement preventing legal action against this, this isn’t going to end well for him…

  11. Ok, how is Sega not taking everything out of this windbags wallet? I don’t think anyone is even the least bit interested in all this shit with how creepy he keeps making the characters look.

  12. Penders has nothing to lose here. If SEGA/ Archie sues him, what are they gonna take? His pony tail?

    1. They could just sue the rights to his non-Sonic characters in lieu of money and call it even, letting him keep Mykhal Taelor…although I’m not sure if it’s possible to do that.

      1. Never mind- Archie and SEGA probably could do it, since that’s what Ken tried and partially succeeded at doing, and I meant to say “sue for the rights to his Sonic-related characters”.
        …or at the very least, they could convince him to add a moustache to the Praetorian.

  13. *raises finger, thinks about it, then lets it drop*
    I’m not even going to bother. This degenerate isn’t worth my rage.
    I want Sega to sue him so hard his ORIGINAL CHARACTERS DON’T STEAL !! will feel it.

    1. Lara Su…
      Lara Sue….
      “Su” has two letters…and to make “Sue”, you have to add one more letter…
      2+1=3
      …
      HALF LIFE 3 CONFIRMED

    1. That would be great! I don’t think that’s how the system works but I seriously hope Penders doesn’t have any right about Sonic Chronicles.
      I will absoulutely love Shade and other characters from Chronicles appearing in the comic as well as a sequel to the game but with a different, more action oriented gameplay (wishfully some combination of Sonic Chronicle with the battle system of Sonic Battle for GBA but with more moves and customization).

      1. Vincent meant the Lara Su Chronicles. (Although I agree, a Sonic Chronicles sequel would be good.)

        1. Oops you’re right, for some reason when I read Chronicles and Penders the first thing that comes to my mind is that awful lawsuit against Sega/Bioware’s Sonic Chronicles and not his stupid series lol

  17. Remember when Penders said that Archie couldn’t use characters like Scourge because they were “derivations” of his own characters?
    Ahem.

      1. A while ago, he say they couldn’t use Scourge since he was originally Evil Sonic and Penders “created” Evil Sonic, he also said they couldn’t use Robo Robotnik even if it was basically Robotnik from another dimension, the guy is an hypocrite.

        1. I think he later relented and decided he wasn’t all that bothered about Archie using Scourge. And it’d be kinda difficult for Archie to get rid of Robo-Robotnik, since that character is the current Eggman 🙂

        3. This looks like a pretty good summary of the whole Archie vs. Penders case, as well as having stuff about the Penders vs. EA/BioWare case.
          Basically, Archie can use Penders characters if they so choose, under licence.

  19. Hey! Its my old fan character (before I knew Archie existed), Cyborg-Cowboy Knuckles! I never knew he would ever make it this far in life!
    Do you think they could put in Ninja-samurai Tails too? That would make my day….to see my old fan characters…*sniffle*…excuse me :’3….its just…so wonderful to know…that somebody still cares about them…

  22. every one meet wuckles a new fan charicter..wait…
    ok seriusly if sega dosent sue ken over this then something is wrong

  25. Pffft…. HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA! xD Oh lord. This made my day. Lol! This is just TOO HILARIOUS!!! He can’t be this oblivious, can h–
    …Never mind. We all know the answer to that question. Oh, boy. If SEGA and/or Archie don’t get on this… smh.

  26. Florida Supercon?.. How in the world can he afford to be there? Wasn’t this guy on verge of being homeless last I heard from this site? How do you go in a couple of months, from being that financially in trouble, to being able to afford to travel down there, and be an exhibitor at a convention? The guy has got to be moonlighting for something…
    Also, positive reaction, really? At an anime convention? I’m not saying that anime fans are stupid or anything, but, seriously? Is he really trying to broaden his audience that much? Seems to me, he can’t get the Sonic fans who are making their own conventions to let him in or something. Or he has no confidence in the Sonic fans, the very people he wants to be into his junk. Given that Sonic sites have very poor reaction to his antics these day, by going to an anime convention where you get all kinds of fandoms, he’s legitimized us fans who are still upset with him. Few Sonic fans would actually support him after what he’s done. Especially those who read the comics. Even fewer are going to support him if he does something like what’s shown up there. So what does he do? Go to the masses who have only a passing interest in Sonic, or those who don’t read the comics, never have read the comics, and have never heard of the comics. (Hey, it’s possible in this day and age.) I’m sure he’ll find enough of a crowd to support the LSC series though… Huh? LSC? Wow, that’s a bit too close to LSD… What an unfortunate acronym… Anyways, the crowd at an anime convention though… I’m not sure if that’s the best crowd a person wants to support their works… Especially with the way anime conventions have been going as of late, and less family friendly to boot. The series will be a flop with Sonic fans, but as long as Penders gets ANYONE in large enough numbers to support his work, he’ll probably self confirm the success by equating anime fans with Sonic fans. (Wasn’t he the one who pushed for the manga style in the comic originally with Archie and Sega’s blessing?)
    As for the design for Not-Knuckles… (Man, never thought I’d actually use that terminology for anything outside of Transformers.) 3rd party toy makers can get away with things like Not-Megatrons, Not-Optimus Primes, Not-Starscreams, etc. and still make money… I guess he could too, but for only so long… I said it once, and I’ll say it again, you’re fine if you keep things relatively small, but go big, and the big fish will bite down. Still, I may have insulted the 3rd party toy makers. They at least make products that look good. Penders… Eh… I’m personally glad his stuff is gone from the comics now. Ironic, isn’t it? His somewhat abandoned plans for the comic to be closer to the game’s world starting with issue #47 are finally fulfilled now with the conclusion of the case, and the removal of anything he did, and the contributions of his associates. And here’s the irony, his most hated action is the best thing he ever did for the comics, and he’s not involved with the comics anymore. I guess we owe him thanks for how he got his stuff out of there. (Granted, it was actions that forced Archie to sue him, but still.) Gotta love that irony.

      1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-ALICON-TRNS-03-G1-MOVIE-TROOP-BUILDER-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-SHARKTICON-/360973804542?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item540bb723fe
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-CUSTOM-G1-MOVIE-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-QUINTESSON-SCIENTIST-QUINT-02-MIB-/360974620240?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item540bc39650
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-CUSTOM-G1-MOVIE-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-QUINTESSON-PROSECUTOR-QUINT-03-MIB-/161351606977?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item25914e22c1
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-CUSTOM-G1-MOVIE-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-QUINTESSON-BAILIFF-QUINT-05-MIB-/171371939191?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item27e6904577
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-Impossible-Toys-Quint-01-Quintesson-Judge-/201122876463?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item2ed3db8c2f
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-TFCON-EXCLUSIVE-NIGHTBIRD-TRNS-EX1-MIB-/181445744506?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item2a3f02577a
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-THIRD-PARTY-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-NIGHTBIRD-CUSTOM-FIGURE-/271480789039?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3f3584182f
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-G1-KREMZEEK-KREMZEAK-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-3-LIGHT-UP-ACTION-FIGURE-TOY-/360974613245?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item540bc37afd
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-TRNS-TS-05-Tetra-Squadron-booster-by-Impossible-Toys-INSTOCK-/231263589080?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item35d86252d8
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-G1-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-CUSTOM-SPIKE-SPARKPLUG-SET-DIACLONE-DRIVERS-1-/171371935150?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item27e69035ae
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-IMPOSSIBLE-TOYS-PRANKSTOR-SKYWARP-/171378104121?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item27e6ee5739
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-Impossible-Toys-TRNS-TS-04-Tetra-Squadron-Smashor-Thrust-In-US-/221261788512?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item33843af560
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-Impossible-Toys-Requiem-Tetra-Jet-TRNS-TS-06-Dirge-Cybertron-Mode-/261522578046?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3ce3f5da7e
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-TS-07-Tetra-Squadron-Solarblast-by-Impossible-Toys-INSTOCK-/370866544078?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item56595e5dce
        http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-Animated-Impossible-Toys-Isaac-Sumdac-Cpt-Fanzone-TFA-/271331612811?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3f2c9fd88b
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-08-bee-bite/
        http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/1816/
        http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/7813/
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-09-wasper/
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-07-tapper/
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-06-glypher/
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-05-gold/
        http://tfsource.com/impossible-toys/mc-04-hub/
        http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6726/
        http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/6725/
        http://tfsource.com/products/view/product_id/1815/
        Anymore questions? (If the design source is ugly, I can see how plastic form translation would be too. But Impossible Toys does good translations of designs into plastic form.)
        And one more, why focus on that single aspect when there’s a wealth of other things in my post you could have gone after?

        1. “Gone after”? Strike Carson, I can assure you that there was never any intention to criticize or pick a target with your comments and/or opinions. You mentioned 3rd Party Transformers, and I wanted to bring up Impossible Toys. Initially the only contribution I intended to make to the discussion (and Mr. Penders ‘ project in general) was for you not to forget the “Not-Predaking” flood (which may be replaced by “Not Masterpiece Dinobots” in the future, providing the 3rd Party Bubble doesn’t burst beforehand).

  27. This is just Penders flopping his weiner at us, cause he thinks he’s hot stuff and untouchable just because he won a lawsuit against Archie. Not really bragging rights, now if he did that to Marvel or DC, that would be a different story altogether kiddies.

  28. This is probably his best Lara-Su Chronicles art he ever released by best I mean the least worst. If the writing won’t make this book flop, the art will add the nail to the coffin of Ken’s project.

  29. I really don’t even care anymore, I’m too drained from these proceedings to even react to these “redesigns” anymore.
    As for SEGA, I feel confident the reason they haven’t taken action yet is because there’s nothing to take action over yet. Until Penders actually tries to sell this story as an original concept, its just another online fan-work. To take any action now leaves them open to the question of “Why they haven’t acted against everyone else whose made a fan character online?”. Just saying he intends to sell the story isn’t as legally damning as actually putting a price on it and selling it as your own.

  30. @Justin Greene
    Penders is currently selling prints of the “Praetorian” at the convention. So he’s already trying to make money on his Knuckles knock-off.

    1. It’s not a mass profit though. Selling things at conventions is still about the same as anybody selling prints of their fan art.
      Ironically, I’m pretty sure the few saps who do support this are under the impression that it’s a fan project. It’s the only way any of this could be taken seriously.

  32. @ Justin Greene
    Yeah but Ken is doing isn’t an art commission. He created a derivative of Knuckles without Sega’s permission, and is selling prints of it for profit.

    1. Most companies allow limited print runs of fanart to be sold at conventions without permission. I mean most prints sold at Expo’s are fanart.
      It still doesn’t excuse Penders from thinking he can claim this is an oh-so-original character design though.

      1. @ProjectZuel
        Let me repeat what I said before. What Ken is selling is not considered fanart or commissioned work.
        He created a derivative of Knuckles and claiming it is an original work. The irony is Ken is basically doing the same thing that tried to sue Sega for.

        1. Yeah, but the difference is SEGA is big and they already made a mass-profit product that sold around the world. Penders is small and has only managed to make small profits at local gatherings. Double and triple digits are not nearly enough to even register on the “this somehow threatens my financial success” radar, at least, as far as I understand it. Penders only got to make a case because SEGA was a big company selling millions off of admittedly derivative work from his own. Would there really be much point to SEGA making such a huge scene by trying to sue a financially unstable middle-aged man trying to make a profit over the same thing, especially when that profit so pathetically meager in comparison?

  33. I already said this on Sega Forums, but I want to share my thoughts after seeing that Knuckles ripoff of a character. Anyway…
    In my eyes, it seems that Ken Penders lacks imagination nowadays. Now, not only can this be said with his whole concept of the Praetorian this, which looks like a ripoff of Knuckles, but he gave that not so creative name for Lara-Su’s race. On top of that, you know Penders could have come up with his own original characters, and they did not have to look like the echidnas in Archie Sonic. He could have done all that, and yet, he was too lazy and wanted to sue Archie to get those characters in possession. I understand that Ken may wanted to get those characters so he would not get in any trouble for making such characters being too much like the ones in Archie when he wouldn’t if he made his own, different characters, but from what I have seen or heard, nothing Ken is doing is that original or creative.
    So yeah, that is my stance on Ken’s “creativity” here.

    1. Good Point! However, I seem to recall that there is something in either the copyright or trademark laws that says if you know that someone is infringing on your rights, but you do nothing about it, you could lose the rights.
      If so, then Sega would be legally obligated to protect their rights.

      1. Well, let us just hope that Sega takes action and does something abut this then.

  34. That’s it– Obviously, Ken has learned NOTHING throughout this whole thing. Absolutely nothing. Although… I will at least say this is probably the best art piece that I’ve ever seen him do. And that’s not to say its good– just not as nightmare-inducing,”I want to vomit” ugly.

  35. Even if you hate the Boom redesigns, you got to admit, at least it’s still more creative than giving a character eyebrows, a goatee, and taking away his namesake knuckles. What’s next, is he going to redesign Sonic and rename him “The King”? Or are the so-called “Echid’nyas” supposed to be the only race in this…this, thing. What is it supposed to be anyways? I thought it was supposed to be a graphic novel or comic or something, but from the looks of things he might be planning on turning this into a CG internet thingy…an F-listed one at that (F for “fuck this shit I’m going home!”).

  38. Well technically the design is based on the Mobius 25 Years Later design with the Robot eye moved and his Knuckles took off which Ken says since he came up with that design he totally owns it.
    So it you throw a hat on anyone they automatically beome your regardless of the fact they’re a preexisting character.
    And if that’s not enough to tick you off he’s said there will be sex scenes with teenagers in this abomination.

    1. … teenager sex scenes?..
      ……
      ………
      …………. Uh, could you show where he said that? Not that I’m defending it, and would be VERY unsurprised if that’s the case, but it’s a bit of a stretch for me to believe without a reference and source to confirm what you just said… Sex scenes at all are probably not out of his range of what he’d do, but under age sex scenes are pushing it… If it’s true, then I don’t even want to check the series out for even morbid reasons… Seriously, why does he feel the need for sex scenes if he actually said that? Why?..
      Also, wouldn’t surprise me in the least if that’s how he feels about his derivative designs of existing characters. He said he owns Evil Sonic and Robo Robotnik before, this wouldn’t surprise me in the least, nor should it surprise anyone else. Even though it has been proven before by me and others how he doesn’t actually own Evil Sonic and Robo Robotnik. And the Praetorian… The same arguments for why he doesn’t own the previously two derivative characters I mentioned can again be applied to the Praetorian. More the case with Robo Robotnik, since Robo Robotnik is a future version of Robotnik from another zone that had a VERY similar, if not the exact same history as the Prime Zone. (Star Trek fans who watched a particular Next Generation episode that starred Worf will be familiar with the Multiverse Theory explained in that episode, the same theory Penders used for the Sonic Comics.) In this case, the Praetorian is simply Knux from the future, or rather, a POSSIBLE future pre-Penders departure from the series. Arguing that Praetorian is Penders’ because of that is even weaker than Robo Robotnik and Evil Sonic being his. As debunked being his as they are, a stronger argument can be made, but it’s not saying much. I think I’m with Justin Greene on this one, I’m just tired of seeing this, and am hoping Penders just goes away at this point…

  39. Can someone please tell TrueblueSonic fan that he shouldn’t promote the Lara Su chronicles with the #Sonic or whatever in his twitter feed. Its like pretending it as something its not, such as true sonic the hedgehog. What Ken is creating is not a true SONIC the hedgehog thing at all.

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