Sonic X: Issue 9

Sonic X: Issue 9
Publication Date: May 2006

You've got to give Archie's “Sonic X” book this much. The series' covers never lied to us very much. No, issue 9 doesn't feature Sonic, Eggman and Rouge recreating the poster to “A View to a Kill.” In fact, the Eiffel Tower doesn't appear in the book at all. The story is set in Paris though. And, hey, to the majority of the world Paris is synonymous with the Eiffel Tower. It's like New York City's association with the Empire State Building or London and Big Ben. So I'm willing to excuse Spaz' creative flourish on the cover. Anyway, on with the review.

I might have forgotten to mention this but this two parter is entitled “Wicked Sweet Shuttle Shenanigans.” Part two picks up where the first left off, with Sonic and the gang chasing Eggman into the Hall of Mirrors. The mad doctor activates another one of his robots. The Scrambler ride transforms into a giant spider. During the attack, Chris, Froggy, and Topaz fall into the sewers below, forcing the others to rescue them. Emerl follows along, still determined to protect Eggman but confused enough to help Sonic survive the fight.

Issue 9 isn't committed to the formula Edkin laid out in the first four issues of “Sonic X.” Yeah, there's a crazy new robot. A Scrambler transforming into a big-ass robotic spider is a pretty neat visual. Yeah, Sonic gets a power up from a ring. However, this one's story isn't even really about Sonic. The hedgehog hero defeating the giant Scrambler spider is treated more or less as a given. Instead, this issue focuses on Sonic's friends trying to get to safety during the attack. It's not exactly a novel change but it keeps things from getting too stale.

The Emerl subplot remains somewhat unsatisfying. Once again, the robot never directly interacts with the main cast. Even when fighting the spider with Sonic, the hedgehog is unaware of the robot's assistance. It's not until the very end, when a damaged Emerl joins Eggman on his ship that he ever actually talks to other characters. (Interestingly, he refers to Eggman as Robotnik, which is unusual for this series.) That Emerl's programming is fried enough that he sees Eggman as his master to protect but still helps out Sonic is a bit of fractured plotting. Overall, I don't quite see where Edkin is heading with this one though, presumably, this will have some sort of point.

Truthfully, it's a bit unusual for a comic as traditionally light hearted as “Sonic X” to focus on the aftermath of the battle. It's not graphic at all. Much of Eggman's involvement features him talking with a lisp, his nose still bruised and swollen from Big's punch last time. Chris Thorndyke merely has some scratches on his face and body. After Mr. Tanaka pulls him to his feet, he's fine. Similarly, Tails gets buried in some rubble, only for Amy to yank him free. He's otherwise unharmed. Rouge and Topaz spend most of the issue trading quibs about the stinkiness of the sewer and Topaz' weight.

Their roles are minor but at least they contribute to the book. What does Big the Cat add? Well, Froggy gets left underneath the fun house, forcing Big to swoop in with his lure and carry the frog to safety. This, I think, is suppose to raise the tension a bit, one of the good guys getting tossed into harm's way. It would, normally, except the reader doesn't care about Big the Cat and Froggy. I don't anyway. I don't know about you guys. Either way, there's really no reason for the rotund feline and his amphibian life partner to appear in this story.

Last time, I mentioned that Tim Smith was having on off-day on artwork duties. His stuff looks better this time so maybe it really was the colorist's fault. The backgrounds are a little flat and the expressions could be better. By now, these are established as Smith's weak points. All the characters look okay and the action is well orchestrated. Sonic and Emerl's dual fight with the giant spider is easily a highlight of the issue.

It's a slight improvement over the last issue but “Sonic X” remains in something of a slight slump. Or maybe the wacky fun of issues six through seven where the exceptions and the rest of the comic will be defined by mediocrities like this. I guess I'll find out as I continue my way through this series. While relatively harmless, issue 9 is still an uninspiring and uninspired affair. [5/10]