Sonic X: Issue 20

Sonic X: Issue 20
Publication Date: May 2007

Most of Archie's “Sonic X” series has been written by Joe Edkin, with Ian Flynn subbing in for a handful of issues. With issue 20, Archie would invite a new duo of writers onto the book. James McDonough and Adam Patyk would write this issue. Since I have no experience with the “Sonic X” comic, I have no idea if McDonough and Patyk would stick with the book or if this is just a temporary stop-off for the team. Yet it certainly seems like Edkin would contribute less and less to “Sonic X” from this point on.

In “Speed Lines,” Sonic is going about his heroic business, saving lives and stopping Eggman's wicked plans. He continues to show up Sam Speed, formerly Station Square's number one superhero. In a moment of desperation, Sam Speed is picked up by a mysterious mechanic calling himself Robbie Nick. This guy provides Speed with a fancy new race car, one that can fly and is actually capable of outrunning Sonic. Of course, “Robbie Nick” is Dr. Eggman. Sam's car turns into a giant robot and immediately attempts to murderize Sonic and his friends.
The team of McDonough and Patyk do not deviate very much from the “Sonic X” formula that has been established up to this point. As in many of Joe Edkin's issues, Eggman is inspired by something he sees on TV to build a new giant robot. This ridiculous new robot, based on some sort of pre-existing idea, attacks Station Square or Sonic directly. Sonic then trumps Eggman's plan without too much effort. About the only seemingly required element McDonough and Patyk skip is Sonic getting a plot resolving power up from a Power Ring. I don't know if somebody at Sega or Archie demanded the comic follow these story set-ups or if the new writers were just following the previous one's lead. It's a little disappointing, either way.

Throughout the series, Sonic and Sam Speed's rivalry has come up from time to time. Speed isn't a bad guy. However, the jealousy he feels for Sonic's heroic has caused him to make some poor decisions in the past. In “Speed Lines,” Sam once again ends up aligned with Eggman due to his inability to recognize an obvious trap. Sadly, the book never comments on this ambiguity. Sonic forgives Speed at the end, promising it'll never happen again. I honestly wish the book would just make Speed a real villain, instead of leaving this lingering tension between the two heroes, never to be resolved or built on properly.

However, “Speed Lines” did make me laugh once. Eggman's “Robbie Nick” disguise got a couple of chuckles out of me. First off, I like that “Sonic X” actually acknowledged what Eggman's American/True and Honest name is for once. Secondly, the villain throwing on an easily seen-through disguise, dressing up as some goofy profession, positively reminds me of the cartoon absurdity of “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.” Or maybe I just like seeing Eggman in trucker clothes and his robot henchmen in Evel Knieval gear. It's the only real gag in the book that made me smile.

The back cover of issue 20 features an advertisement for Michael Bay's “Transformer” movie, which would hit theaters a few weeks after this comic book came out. Perhaps not coincidentally, “Speed Lines” also features a giant, transforming robot at the center of its story. The robot that Sam Speed's new car changes into is obviously inspired by Hasbro's wildly profitable toy franchise. The robot has the same vaguely Japanese head design that countless Transformers share. Having Sonic go up against a transforming robot doesn't shake things up very much. The machine shoots a couple of missiles at the hedgehog, throws some electric bolts around, and punches and kicks at him. If this was meant as a direct parody or homage of “Transformers,” very little thought was put into it.

The final fight does bring Knuckles into the story. The echidna just happens to spot one of the big explosions the robot causes from his perch on Angel Island. Convenient how that worked out, wasn't it? In classical buddy cop fashion, Sonic and Knuckles bicker as they fight an enemy together. Instead of appreciating how each other's skills helped save the day, they argue about which direction to run in or which pun to use. It's not very much but it ends up being one of the more interesting things about the story. By the way, Knuckles is the only “Sonic X” supporting cast member to really play a serious role in this issue. Tails, Amy, Cream, Chris, and Grandpa Chuck only appear briefly.

You know, Sonic being bested by Sam Speed might've lead to an interesting character moment. What happens when the fastest hedgehog's confidence in his speed is shaken? Instead, this is quickly bypassed for more goofy shenanigans. I'll bump this issue's rating up one strictly for that lovably goofy gag of Eggman dressing up as a trucker. Otherwise, “Sonic X” is another formulaic, forgettable comic book of a series that too often could be describe that way. [6/10]