Sonic X: Issue 37

Sonic X: Issue 37
Publication Date: September 2008

Ian Flynn's work on Archie's main “Sonic the Hedgehog” book was clearly a passion project for him. He obviously cared about the comic and its world. He wrote fan fiction before becoming the book's main writer, so clearly this was a dream project for him. But what about “Sonic X?” I have no insight into how Archie's editorial department approached the “Sonic X” book. Maybe they, or somebody in Sega's licensing sector, demanded the book be more childish and simplistic. However, as the series nears it conclusion, it seems to me that Ian's “Sonic X” scripts were last minute, late night ideas.

With that in mind, it's easy to imagine Flynn sitting at his word processors, at a blank document, and saying “We haven't tried a body-swap premise yet!” “Switcharoo!” begins with Eggman attacking the President. He's wielding a mind changing ray, hoping to put his mind into the President's body. (In 2018, if Eggman really wanted to be president, he'd just have to campaign.) Sonic intervenes and the hero and villain end up switching bodies. Both are content to enjoy their enemies' homes... Until S.O.N.I.C.X. attempts to kidnap the President, forcing both characters to leap into action.

This is not the first time an Archie “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic handled the mind swap premise. You may remember – I totally had to look it up – but Ken Penders did something similar in “Sonic Super Special: Issue 12.” Of course, the kids reading “Sonic X” in 2008 probably hadn't read that book. However, the odds that they had seen “Freak Friday,” “Like Father, Like Son” or any number of similarly themed movies or television episodes seems likely. The popular remake of “Freaky Friday” had come out five whole years earlier. The point is: Even the youngsters reading this comic probably realized this was a derivative, worn-out premise.

I'll say something about Flynn's script. Issue 12 of “Sonic Super Special” revolved around Sonic and Knuckles switching places. This times, it's the hero and the villain trading places. This does lead to some cute moments. Neither Sonic nor Eggman are able to handle each other's various gifts. Seemingly ignoring all those hilarious game mods, Eggman's attempts to run in Sonic's body leads to him bouncing off all surfaces. Sonic, meanwhile, has to get used to Eggman's slower, fatter body. I know I say this every time but it's mildly amusing.

In the grand tradition of body switch comedies, this experience also causes the characters to appreciate each other more. Considering his escapades as El Gran Gordo, we already know that Eggman yearns to be heroic. As Sonic, he decides to rescue the President ostensibly because he's annoyed another villain is edging in on his territory. Yet we can tell he secretly wants to be the good guy. Sonic as Eggman, meanwhile, realizes he doesn't have the skills to operate the sci-fi technology Eggman regularly utilizes. It's not a lot – it's really a little, truthfully – but it adds some depth to the script.

A while ago, Ian Flynn introduced S.O.N.I.C.X., that cabal of anti-Sonic haters hoping to defeat him through subterfuge and trickery. It seemed like Flynn was building towards something with that but, after two appearances, S.O.N.I.C.X. disappeared from the book. Well, they're back. Their master plan is as incompetent as ever. They kidnap the President and try to convince him to declare Sonic and friends illegal aliens. That's it. Wouldn't a better plan have been to, I don't know, infiltrate the government and use federal resources to capture Sonic and friends? Kidnapping the President in a very public display of villainy seems to undermine their own goals. But S.O.N.I.C.X. have always sucked at planning, despite their obvious resources.

Flynn also remembers another forgotten plot point: Eggman's lust for Ella, which the villain references while inside Sonic's body. So now that old, fat romance also includes an element of bestiality and furry fetishism. Thanks for finding a way to make that gross plot point even weirder, Flynn. Thankfully, a fairly underwhelming conclusion, that features Sonic and Eggman slamming  into each other and switching back, saves us the awful sight of Sonic attempting to bed Ella.

James Fry's artwork is pretty good, I'll say. There's actually some cool, moody panels devoted to Decoe and Bocoe. Of course, Fry also draws Sonic looking extremely creepy in a few other panels. Maybe that was intentional, since Eggman is inside his body at that point. But it's still an odd sight. Anyway, as the uninspiring premise might make you expect, issue 37 is another soundly middle-of-the-road edition of “Sonic X.” Only three remain and thank Aurora for that. [5/10]