Sonic X: Issue 11

 
Sonic X: Issue 11
Publication Date: July 2006

As 2006 rolled on, “Sonic X” continued to celebrate the crystal anniversary of Sega's blue hedgehog. In “No Thanks for the Memories,” Sonic and his friends continue to run through a replica of the original game. We soon discover that this is a virtual reality program created by Eggman. Sonic's success in the game is somehow powering the mad doctor's latest scheme. Luckily, before the hedgehog and friends defeat the digital Eggman, Chris and Grandpa Chuck appear to save their asses.

“No Thanks for the Memories” remains a pretty fun homage to the original 16-bit “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Once again, I do get a certain thrill out of seeing Sonic run through the original stages. There's some fun moments delivered here. Such as Sonic and friends nearly getting blasted by the Cherry Bombs in the Star Light Zone. Or the hedgehog's unamused reaction to the underwater segments of the Labyrinth stage. (Clarifying a previous point made in issue 2, this version of Sonic can swim he just hates the water. No, I'm not renaming the blog “Hedgehogs Don't Like to Swim.”) Or his joy over grabbing an invincibility power-up and running through several traps.

The story remains a bit too comical to ever generate actual tension but it's nice that Joe Edkin acknowledge how fucking nerve wrecking the Labyrinth and Scrap Brain Zones can be. No, we don't get a simulation of the terrifying drowning music from the original game but Sonic does note how he's running out of breath after being underwater for so long. It's nice that Tails and Rouge are actively unnerved by all the flamethrowers and buzzsaws getting near their fur while approaching the final boss. It won't make you throw your controller across the room but it is a decent recreation of what it feels like to fight through those especially difficult stages.

The comic is so focused on action that there's not much room for character development. However, part two of “No Thanks for the Memories” does sneak in one or two cute moment. Most of them deal with Knuckles and Rouge's sexual tension. The bat makes reference to being as pretty as the rings or hot as the flames. After rescuing the bat at the end of the Spring Garden Zone, she proceeds to badger the echidna with romantic advances. After grabbing some rings with Knuckles, she asks if they're engaged now. He denies being interested. After some BurroBots attack Rouge, the echidna swoops in and wrecks their shit immediately. Which implies he is interested. Later, she presses up against him in a tight corridor and drops as direct a proposition that'll fly in a kid's book. The flirting provides humor but also a little bit of personality.

Eggman's schemes in “Sonic X” usually aren't very well thought out. His plan here isn't without its bumps. His hench-bots directly asks the mad doctor why he doesn't just murder his enemy, since they are right in his hands. He could've done that but the idea here is decent, as far as villainous plots go. Somehow, Sonic getting further in the virtual reality simulation powers Eggman's base, transforming it into a rocket that'll take him to the moon. In other words, the hedgehog succeeding at his apparent goal will actually help out the bad guy. That's clever! Though he probably should have still killed them afterwards....

Two aspects disappoint me about issue 11 of “Sonic X,” which is otherwise a decent little comic book. The role Chris Thorndyke and Grandpa Chuck play in the plot is kind of annoying. Essentially, the humans are here to rescue Sonic and his friends. Instead of the heroes making it out through their own devices, some supporting cast members run along and save their butts. It would be less of an issue if Grandpa Chuck didn't immediately find Eggman's lair and save the furries without any confrontation. The only bit of character development Thorndyke gets is a minor panel where he mopes about potentially being left alone again. As I said last time, this just makes him look whiny.

Secondly, what bums me out about this issue is that it's another lead-in to something on the cartoon show. After all this talk about Eggman attempting to destroy the Earth's moon, that story point is wrapped up in an info box at the book's end. See, on the cartoon show, Sonic and the gang stopped Eggman from achieving this goal, sticking him in jail. I understand the book's need to tie in with the TV show but I wish this was done in a more elegant manner. Just saying “Hey, watch the cartoon for more information about this” does not make for a very satisfied reading experience.

By the way, Tracy Yardley's artwork remains a valuable aspect of this two parter. I especially like the series of vertical panels showing Sonic's boss battle in the Labyrinth Zone. Despite some flaws, I did enjoy this little romp down memory lane. “Sonic X” has yet to top the manic fun of issue six but it's still developing into an okay book. [7/10]