Sonic X: Issue 30

Sonic X: Issue 30
Publication Date: February 2008

With this review, I wrap up my second year of consistent blogging here at Hedgehogs Can't Swim. What a difference a year makes. I began 2017 with the final issue of “Knuckles the Echidna” and the precursor to the “Sonic Adventure” adaptation. I was very nearly at the point where this comic book stopped being good for a long time. Now, at the end of 2017, I'm in one of Ian Flynn's best runs on the series. I wish I had something fancier to commensurate the upcoming three year anniversary of this project but... I don't. Let's get on with the review.

Remember how I said a while ago that it was clear “Sonic X” was never going to rise above its own mediocre standards? I thought, maybe, the book was attempting to better itself with that Perfect Chaos two-parter last time. With issue 30, the series slides back into the “not great, not bad” groove it's existed in for most of its run. In fact, issue 30 is so focused on gimmick-based story telling that there is no set-up at all. We begin with Sonic and his friends in a wacky situation. The script, from Ian Flynn, extrapolates from there.

If the title - “Big Top Terror!” – and the cover art didn't clue you in, this story is the “Sonic X” take on the Evil Circus troupe. Since this is a kid's book, the horror aspect of that concept isn't pushed too far. The clowns are intimidating, not evil. The side show is excluded entirely. Yet this story still revolves around Eggman placing Sonic and his friends inside of a circus. The acts are made extra dangerous as a way to mock the pain and terror the heroes are feeling. This being the “Sonic X” version of Eggman, he is defeated by his own incompetence.

“Big Top Terror!” is pretty thin gruel but it does, one must admit, utilize the circus setting very well. Very few of the elements you associated with the circus aren't at least nodded towards. The aforementioned intimidating clowns, which appear on the first page, are robots built by Eggman. Yes, they march out of a small clown car. Knuckles is also forced to dress as a clown, getting pletted with creampies and selzer water. Sonic is forced to walk a dangerous tightrope, while juggling deadly items. Tails and Cream are drafted to become lion tamers, though Eggman's robot lions aren't very interested in being tamed. There are robot elephants too, which Amy contends with. Eggman is the ringmaster, naturally. There's not much plot but at least Ian commits to the circus thing.

This set-up does lead to some decent action scenes. There's a fun scene where Amy attempts to fight off the robot elephants with dual hammers. Instead, the elephants grab the hammers with their trunks and chase after her. Knuckles fights his coulophobia by punching some robot clowns apart. In a cute touch, one of the robot clowns is obviously patterned after the Joker, acid-spitting flower included. Later, the clown's equipment is utilized against them.

A big issue with “Big Top Terror!” is that it's far too easy for Sonic and the gang to escape Eggman's plot. Sonic essentially just runs away. When the time comes, he's had enough and leaps off the high wire. Tails and Cream fly out of the animal cage. They have to stop and rescue the Thorndykes but that's pretty much the only thing keeping them there. If Eggman designed this circus to contain Sonic and his companions, the doctor did a shitty job.

This is not the only example of incompetence from our villain. Early on, Decoe and Bocoe appear in the circus. They're dressed as acrobats and are insistent on joining Eggman's circus of crime. The doctor immediately dismisses them. Yet the duo still want to be included. Later, they break into the big top and perform their act. This distraction is what allows Sonic and the others to escape. Eggman's sidekicks ruining his plan doesn't stop there. Bokkun was locked up at the beginning fo the story, so his sugar hungry ways wouldn't ruin the plan. The little devil breaks out anyway, gets into the cotton candy, goes nuts, and drives a cage into the circus tent. Why does Eggman keep these guys around?

Despite the qualms I have with the writing, the artwork in “Sonic X” has been consistently good here of late. James Fry returns to draw this one. He sticks to the “Sonic X” template, of course, and seems to be taking some cues from Tracy Yardley. Fry's facial expressions and action sequences here recal Yardley. There are some cool moments.. An early page depicts Eggman with the Ringmaster's microphone and whip, a striking image. Knuckles' fight scenes with the clowns are well done. Though not horribly distinguished from the book's other artwork, it still looks pretty good.

In conclusion, number 30 is yet another mildly entertaining but generally forgettable issue of “Sonic X.” The book runs with the circus stuff but does so in service of a really thin story. I don't want to say Flynn phoned this one in. Let's just say it wouldn't surprise me to discover he wrote this script very quickly. I wish I had more to say about it than but... Nope, not really. Let's move on. [6/10]