Sonic X: Issue 18

Sonic X: Issue 18
Publication Date: April 2007

After letting Ian Flynn take the reigns for two issues, Joe Edkin returns to “Sonic X.” Choosing not to follow the holiday theme and have Sonic learn about the Easter Bunny, the book is instead back to its goofy, sci-fi adventure antics. This time, Edkin at least mixes things up by making Rouge the center of the story. It's surprising that “Sonic X” had been running for 18 issues at this point and the bat femme fatale had yet to get a story centered around her. Maybe this'll set a precedence and Topaz or Grandpa Chuck will get a cover story next?

The story's entitled “Rouge Goes Rogue,” which is confusing because I call confuse my bat girls and X-Women all the damn time. Anyway, the jewel loving bat enters the story by stealing a rare moon rock from the air-space museum. The real Rouge immediately goes missing, causing GUN agent Westwood to suspect she truly is behind these crimes. Next, Knuckles' Master Emerald is swiped by the rogue Rouge. As Sonic and friends attempt to flush out the jewel thief out, they discover the truth. That Eggman has built a robotic duplicate of Rouge and is using her to swipe power sources for his evil machines.

From the opening pages, it's apparent what direction “Rouge Goes Rogue” is going in. Archie's other “Sonic the Hedgehog” book has featured plots about robotic duplicates numerous times over the years. Whether its Pseudo-Sonic, Auto-Automatons, or the Infiltrator Units, Robotnik has attempted to sabotage Sonic's operations with look-a-like machines many times. Edkin doesn't deviate too much from the established patterns these stories usually follow. A normally heroic character acts as villainous. A friend wonders about their odd behavior, while another is eager to condemn them for the crime. Eventually, the truth is revealed, the real character steps forward and the robo-double is revealed.

Edkin does make a few smart decisions over the course of this typical story. First off, the story moves at a decent pace, zipping right along. Making Rouge the victimized character is clever. She's an ally of Sonic but with a checkered past. She's also far enough removed from the central gang that her alliances are suspect. Of course, giving Rouge such a prominent role in the story also allows for plenty of fan service. The opening sequence, where Rouge winds her way around the museum's security measure, is about as edgy and sexy as “Sonic X” could be expected to get.

The story also brings Topaz and Captain Westwood back into the story, after a brief hiatus. It's already established that Topaz is close to Rouge, though the exact confines of their relationship remains delightfully ambiguous. Naturally, Topaz comes to the defense of her partner/secret girlfriend. Also well established is Captain Westwood's paranoia and distrust of Sonic and his friends. Though initially fresh and entertaining, Westwood's constant antagonism is becoming tiring. When he tosses a giant net over Sonic and Knuckles for no reason, the audience starts to roll their eyes. Having said that, Topaz and Westwood being forced to work together provides some decent conflict. Edkin probably should've played that up a little more.

As an action story, “Rouge Goes Rogue” is mildly entertaining if a standard affair. The Robo-Rouge karate kicks Knuckles in the head, after a double entendre laden conversation. Naturally, Rouge ends up fighting her mechanical copy. This fight is disappointingly short lived. You think the comic would've made more of that one. Eggman's latest mecha suit ends up dominating most of the action. He raises from the Potomic River is a heavily armed but unimaginatively designed robotic suit. Naturally, Sonic and Knuckles make short work of the machine. The echidna tears open the armor while Sonic dive bombs the vulnerable innards. I mean, it's kind of fun but a bit on the uninspired side.

Luckily, issue 18 is a nice looking comic book. David Hutchinson returns to pencils. After producing some underwhelming work in his last appearance, Hutchinson is back in top form. The opening sequence, devoted to Rouge stealing the mono rock, features some creative angles and nice use of shadows. That same atmospheric approach returns with a later scene, where Topaz and Westwood are staking out the robotic Rouge. As usual, Hutchinson's grasp on the “Sonic X” house style remains strong but he continues to add enough expressive touches to the characters' to make him his own. Knuckles' rage while breaking a window or Topaz's shock at Rouge's disappearance are two good examples.

There's one or two fun elements to issue 18 of “Sonic X.” Otherwise, it's just another issue of a series that is all too happy to be mediocre, more often then not. The sexy Rouge shenanigans does elevate this one above the average but just slightly. [6/10]