Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 23

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 23
Publication Date: November 27, 2019

Well, after rearranging my schedule a bit I have finally caught back up with IDW’s “Sonic” comic. Devoting the last month to reviewing the comic’s most recent issues was not, as you might’ve suspected, part of my plan. However, it got to the point where, if I didn’t do it now, I probably wouldn’t ever do it. Meanwhile, I had fallen so far behind that there wasn't any practical way to put these reviews out as weekend bonus content and get them all out before the end of the year. (Also, real life intervenes: I now work on weekends, making it hard to post stuff on Sundays.) Considering I still often forget IDW “Sonic” is a thing, there’s a strong chance I will similarly fall behind in the future. But, for the time being and at this moment, I am current. Woo-hoo, I guess.

“The Last Minute, Part Three” depicts what Sonic was getting up to while Tails and Amy where getting their asses kicked. While out running across the countryside, trying to burn off the Metal Virus and provide data for Tails, Sonic comes across Barricade Town. It’s infested with Zombots and Eggman and Starline are currently testing various ways to control the zombies. (In-between bickering about their different approaches to supervillainy.) Sonic crashes the party, tangoes with Eggman while Starline silently considers his options. The hedgehog hero nearly gives into the Virus while the bad guys vamoose. He speeds ahead just to get the news that Restoration HQ has fallen.

Even if I’ve been pretty critical of Flynn’s plot construction throughout the Metal Virus Saga, I will say one thing: He’s been doing some really interesting things with Sonic, as a character, throughout all of this. The hedgehog continues to feel doubt, uncertainty, serious anger, and exhaustion. Upon coming across Barricade a Town, he double-guesses his natural instinct to look for survivors. He doubts his own heroism, maybe for the first time, and blames himself. And being force to run non-stop for so long is taking a physical toll... A toll which is obviously symbolic of Sonic choosing between hope, the desire to continue the good fight, and nihilism, giving into despair. The more extreme story has pushed Sonic to some really interesting places as a hero and I’ve got to commend Flynn for that

Sonic’s anger is an important aspect. It was his idea to give Eggman a second chance, to allow him to be Mr. Tinker. Now, this has indirectly led to a zombie outbreak bringing the world to its knees. In other words: Eggman has violated Sonic’s most altruistic feelings, his capacity for forgiveness. And the hedgehog is pretty pissed about that. He threatens to lock up the mad scientist for good this time, which is probably as close as a Sega will get to letting him threaten to kill Eggman. It’s one thing when a super villain cooks up a plot to conquer the world or physically hurt the good guy or someone he loves. It’s quite another for a bad guy to emotionally wound his enemy like this. To, perhaps, even push Sonic to challenge his own ethics. I really hope Flynn explores this more though I’m doubtful he will.

Especially because Eggman’s characterization is kind of all over the place in this issue. Starline’s issues with Eggman are becoming increasingly justified, as the villain has made some seriously dumb decisions. Apparently, he hasn’t inoculated himself and Stsrline against the Metal Virus because no such anti-virus exist. And, when he says this, they are hanging out above a Town absolutely crawling with infected. That’s just poor planning. I guess I just have to give IDW the benefit of the doubt again and admit that maybe this version of Robotnik really would be that sloppy. But, I don’t know, it’s still feels like a justification for potential plot holes. Flynn also hints that Eggman is both more unhinged than previously thought and also misses being the friendly Mr. Tinker. It’s entirely possible I’m just missing Archie Eggman, who was sometimes unhinged but pretty consistent in his planning and personality.

At least Starline is crystallizing into a clear character at this point. After being wishy-washy on this for a while, the moral of Starline’s subplot is emerging as “never meet your heroes.” He’s straight up bickering with Eggman as the issue starts and is actively planning behind his back at this point. On one hand, I like this because I miss Snively, always being around and resenting his boss, scheming to betray him. At the same time, Starline is very different from Snively, motivated more by his desires to do world domination the “right” way and not a petty sense of entitlement. By the same card, it’s looking like this will be the second story arc in row where Eggman is supplanted by one of his own minions and I don’t want Flynn to lean on that idea too much.

Part of Starline’s scheme involves using the Deadly Six to control the Zombots. And, right now, I’m just waiting to see where Flynn plans to take this one. The Zetis fully intend on double-crossing Starline, as revenge against Eggman humiliating them. Starline is all-too-aware of this and has procured the magic conch shell — by the way, I’m still not over how fucking stupid that plot device is — needed to controlled the Zetis. So which of these double crosses will succeed? I guess it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing. But I’m beginning to feel like all these plot points are starting to pile up. Ian better get to the fucking point soon.

I guess I’m bitching a lot but I actually do like this issue quite a bit more than the last few. If only because Sonic is growing in some very interesting ways and Flynn is actually exploring that direction, at least at this moment. This issue also features some wonderful Jack Lawrence artwork and one of the more intense Zombot encounters in recent memory. You actually wonder if Eggman or Sonic are actively in danger a few times here. Been a while since this book has made feel something like that. So, while I continue to have some problems with the ongoing plots, I do feel the need to give this particular issue a positive score. [7/10]