Sonic X: Issue 2

Sonic X: Issue 2
Publication Date: October 2005

In its second issue, “Sonic X” seems to establish its tone more concretely. You see, kids, this is suppose to be the funny Sonic comic. The story is light weight and silly, filled with many goofy moments and gags that intentionally lean on the fourth wall. From what I've seen of the actual “Sonic X” cartoon, it is slightly more serious than this. Then again, I'm even less familiar with the English dub. Maybe it's sillier? Anyway, on with the review.

Following last issue's adventure, Sonic and friends are invited by the fucking President on a special mission. The unique energy signature of a Chaos Emerald has been detected under the sea, within a well known pirate ship wreck. Sonic, Rouge, and some government secret agent chick named Topaz go diving. Tails and Grandpa Chuck stay above water. Turns out the whole journey is a trap. Eggman, utilizing the power rings he grabbed from Sonic last time, has replicated the signal. Once Sonic and friends are inside the ship, Eggman sends a new set of robots – robot dragons piloted by komodo dragons – to attack.

We're only on the second issue of “Sonic X” and a formula is already setting in. This is how it goes: Eggman designs some new ridiculous robots – both have been animal themed thus far – to destroy Sonic. While the hedgehog and his friends are out on some sort of journey, they are attacked by the aforementioned robots. The fight continues until it reaches its most dramatic point. Sonic then grabs a Power Ring, which affords him the extra strength to wreck Eggman's new machine. I have no idea if “Sonic X” will stick with this story outline throughout its entire forty issue run but I can imagine it wearing thin quickly.

Issue 2's sole story is brilliantly entitled “See Sonic! Sea Battle! See Sonic Sea Battle!” This points towards the jokey tone. Writer Joe Edkin frequently employs meta gags in order to cover up a sloppy plot. When the President mentions that Sonic's next mission will take him to a sunken pirate wreck, he references having a similar adventure once before. This is apparently a reference to an episode of the show. Edkin hastily attempts to cover this up but the truth, that he's recycling plots from the cartoon, is apparent. Some other gags are better. Such as the ship being named “The MacGuffin,” an amusing gag that isn't paid too much undue attention.

I'm willing to go along with most of Edkin's silliness. There's even some gags that border genuinely absurd. Such as the surly komodo dragons or Eggman's robot henchmen whispering to themselves, how disinterested they are in their boss' mad plan. Yet there's one gag that steps over the line for me. In the final act, a mysterious figure appears and removes the batteries from the komodo-bots. This frees the power rings, allowing Sonic to save the day. Who is this intervening stranger? It is the ghost of the Pirate Captain, a character so otherwise unimportant he doesn't even have a Mobius Encyclopedia entry. It's a joke but gags shouldn't resolve the plot like that.

Last time, Sonic's supporting cast barely got any page space. Issue 2 does give a little development to the hedgehog's friends. Rouge's thought bubbles frequently inform us that she's only going on this mission because she might get a shiny jewel out of this. The stand-out sequence comic involves a shark attacking the boat. Topaz – a character I'm otherwise unfamiliar with – fights the shark off with a candelabra that is also provided by the ghost pirate. Knuckles puts in an appearance too, doing more then just brooding on his island.

Truthfully, aside from a random appearance by an angry shark, my favorite aspect of “See Sonic Sea Battle” is the simmering sexual tension between the cast members. Topaz – who spends the entire comic in a skin tight diving suit, it must be noted – is the only living thing Rouge actually expresses concern or interest in. The bat declares that no one will hurt the woman, as if she belongs to her or something. When Knuckles jumps in, by punching a robot dragon in the face, Topaz outright proclaims that she would hit on the echidna if he was human. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I couldn't help but notice these things.

Artist Tim Smith III returns from the first issue. His pencils remain competent if slightly flat. Sonic in his diving gear looks a little awkward. The shark barely resembles an actual shark to start. After getting beaten up, the shark looks even weirder. Smith seems have the most difficulty drawing Tails, as the fox looks perpetually baffled. Still, the art is fine, you guys.

The whole comic is fine, you guys. As I said last time, I hope the comic develops a little more complexity as it goes on. This issue is fitfully amusing and has its moments without making much of an impression on the reader. It needed more random shark attacks, I guess is what I'm saying. [6/10]