Sonic X: Issue 6

Sonic X: Issue 6
Publication Date: March 2006

While Archie's main line “Sonic” book was getting a serious over hull, “Sonic X” was undergoing a similar spike in quality. Issue 5 was, by far, the best edition of “Sonic X” thus far. It transferred the series' omnipresent sense of goofiness into a freewheeling streak of absurdist fun. Issue 6 doubles down in that direction. At the same time, Joe Edkin actually attempts a serious theme among all the silliness. The result is another issue of this comic that I actually enjoyed!

In the second half of “I Never Promised You a Chao Garden,” Station Square remains in the grip of the evil Chao. Sonic, Tails, and Amy do what they can to control the Chao but there are ultimately too many of the critters. While mayhem overtakes the city, Eggman implements the second half of his plan: Jumping into a giant fucking robot called Egg-gantor and marching on the city. Luckily, reinforcements are coming. Chris' grandpa is working on a device to counteract the signal that begins the Chao transformation. Meanwhile, Tikal appears to Knuckles with the original Chaos and an army of good Chao.

“Sonic X” is still a very silly book. The opening page features Sonic and the gang complaining about the quality of Earth's fast food. (I guess the “Sonic X” Sonic doesn't like chili dogs? Blasphemy!) Despite that, Edkins sneaks in some slightly more serious themes. The opening pages focus on the idea of loneliness. Chris is lonely because his parents are never around. Cream is lonely without her mom. Sonic, Tails, and Amy are lonely being on Earth. Cheese is lonely being separated from the other Chao. Knuckles, meanwhile, is especially lonely as he's the only member of his race. Through these ideas, we also get a moral about the power of friendship. Because being together with like-minded people is the only thing that can hold back that loneliness. It's simplistic but surprisingly sophisticated for this book.

Mostly, issue 6 of “Sonic X” are focused on awesome ridiculousness. For example! Sonic and the others immediately go about doing what they can to control the chaos the evil Chao create. They rescue babies and falling window washers. Just when it looks like they are getting ahead, all the Chao enter a hardware store... And they exit with chainsaws! Not only does this reinforce the “Gremlins” homage, it's also just really amusing. It's hard to undersell the appeal of a bunch of small, crazy, flying monsters armed with chainsaws. For the first time in its short history, “Sonic X” actually made me laugh out loud with that reveal. Nobody gets minced but the action that follows is a blast.

When she appeared in Archie's primary “Sonic” book, I wasn't very interested in Tikal. I actually awarded her the Worst Character prize during whatever Best/Worst list corresponded to that year.  So I wasn't very excited when Joe Edkins brought Tikal back in “Sonic X.” Surprisingly, he actually makes the character kind of interesting. Instead of just delivering exposition, Tikal actually contributes to the plot. I guess in “Sonic X,” Tikal is a time traveler, not a ghost. She returns to Earth with an army of Chao and Chaos, informing Knuckles to get his ass to Station Square. She even joins in on the fight, karate-chopping some dark Chao alongside Knuckles. This may be slightly out of character for Tikal as I know her – a quiet dispenser of knowledge – but I'm also willing to call it an improvement.

Edkins' commitment to awesomeness continues throughout the book. Just having a horde of mischievous monsters with chainsaw would probably be enough but the author finds a way to one-up himself. Eggman flying into the city in a giant mecha style robot is amusing. It gets better when Chaos grows to a giant size to fight him. You read that right. “Sonic X” just introduced a kaiju fight into the middle of the comic. It's not exactly “Pacific Rim.” The battle is short lived, with Chaos quickly upper cutting Egg-gantor's head off. But it's still a pretty amusing sight, especially when paired with the “Gremlins”-style chaos in the streets below.

Despite the newfound commitment to awesomeness, Edkin still features some of the book's reoccurring flaws. It wouldn't be an issue of “Sonic X” without some shitty puns and bad jokes. The police officer from issue 2 reappears, speaking in a new goofy accent. Chris' mom seems a little preoccupied with her hair getting wet, which is slightly annoying when a bunch of pissed-off monsters are attacking the city. After nearly getting sliced with a chainsaw, Tails informs the Chao to “cut it out.” Edkin devotes a whole page of Sonic racing through various locations, restoring Chao's to their peaceful state, while cracking jokes about. I could have done without this but after flying chainsaws and giant robot, I guess it's a fair trade.

By the way, Tracy Yardley's artwork remains good. His strength for cartoon goofiness really gets a work out on this one. Is “Sonic X” going to keep being this nutty and fun over its run? I hope so. I'm not expecting shout-outs to “Gremlins” and “Gigantor” every issue but similar indulgences of insanity sure would be nice. Hell, I'd even go for some slightly more serious ruminations on loneliness. Who knows if “Sonic X” is coming into its own but, at the very least, I really enjoyed this issue. [8/10]