Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 198

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 198
Publication Date: March 2009

Ever since Enerjak flew over Megaopolis and royally fucked up Robotnik's shit, Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” has been hinting that the Freedom Fighters are closer to victory then ever before. Robotnik's forces are depleted and his sanity is slipping. Honestly, aside from showing the doctor getting a little nutty, Ian Flynn could've maybe done a better job of showing this change. Well, that element becomes the main point of issue 198. As the book neared its 200th issue, the Freedom Fighters neared the chance to defeat the Eggman Empire once and for all.

In “Egg Phoenix Down” – which I assumed to be a rather morbid “Black Hawk Down” reference but is apparently some sort of fucking Final Fantasy thing – the Freedom Fighters have dug out a trench for themselves on the outskirts of New Megaopolis. The group completely take apart the Dark Egg Legion soldiers guarding the city, much to Lien-Da's dismay. As a last ditch measure, Robotnik deploys his latest doomsday weapon: The fire-spewing Egg Phoenix. Yet even this device is defeated by the Freedom Fighters' quick thinking. Afterwards, the team set-up a camp outside the city, readying for a pivotal battle the next day.

By far the dumbest of Sega's dumb mandates on the comic was “Sonic can never loose.” “Egg Phoenix Down,” and the story it's the near climax of, would seem to fit into this. Yet, sometimes, it's just nice to see the hero win. How much Sonic and his supporting cast have actually aged in the book's timeline is ambiguous but they've been fighting this war on and off for over a decade. Their victory is far from easily earned. They've struggled, they've had losses, and they are finally coming out on top. This is well illustrated in the opening scene, when the Fighters' individual skills are employed to take down Lien-Da's Legion. Bunnie busts out a cool force field, the Chaotix bust in and wreck stuff, and Tails deploys some EMP mines. It's probably no coincidence on Flynn's behalf that the Freedom Fighters have been gaining ground since Sally became an active field leader again. Her clear-headed leadership and concise planning was clearly a factor in this victory.

Their victory seems secure until Robotnik busts out the Phoenix. I've always found Sega's habit of adding the “egg” suffix to the doctor's various inventions a good way to drain any threatening power they have. Eggs are not scary and comparing random objects to them does not make them scary. Having said that, the Egg-Phoenix is genuinely intimidating. It helps that its main weapon – shooting fire everywhere – is a very visceral threat. Setting everything on fire isn't just a way to eliminate your enemies, it's also a very frightening sight. Strapping two high-powered flamethrower to an aircraft with jet-like capabilities makes for a vehicle that actually seems like it could hurt Sonic and his friends. The panels of fire raining down on the area are quite effective.

The Egg-Phoenix makes an impressive entrance but its exit could've used some work. Sonic essentially tricks Robotnik into flying the jet up into the upper atmosphere, until the Phoenix stalls out. After the Chaotix slip some of Tails' EMP mines on the Phoenix, it's done for. Sonic even lampshades how the Doc should've seen that coming. Then again, Flynn does have the excuse that Eggman is in the process of cracking up right now – not apologizing for that one – and probably isn't making the best decision. It also helps that the series of panels devoted to Sonic leaping higher and higher into the air are incredibly dynamic. Vector provides the initial throw. Knuckles tosses him higher. Tails and Bunnie give him the final boosts that land him above the cloud line. Okay, you may be asking, “Why doesn't Sonic suffocate when the air is that thin?” But it's a baller comic book action sequence. Go with it, hypothetical person.

Providing the dynamic pencils is Renae de Liz. This story is de Liz' first contribution of “Sonic” and she didn't do much art for the book after this, as far as I remember. It took me a few pages to acclimate to de Liz' style. Snively and the echidnas look a little weird at first. The more of her art I saw, the more I liked it. By the end, I fully loved it. There's an anime-esque proportion to de Liz' work that recalls Spaziante. The way she sacrifices strict character model compliance for an incredible sense of motion also brings Sam Maxwell to mind. Renae is really good at action. The scenes of Lien-Da whipping at Sonic or that flight into the upper atmosphere look amazingly fluid. She also nails Sonic's attitude, Sally's sassiness, and Tails' youthful vulnerability. Her Snively needs a little work but, otherwise, everyone looks awesome. Visually, this is a really strong issue.

This isn't just another one Flynn's weaker fight-fests. After defeating Lien-Da and Robotnik, the Freedom Fighters set up camp for the night. What follows is a really touching scene. Sonic and Sally get some flirting in, which I greatly appreciate. After draping a force field over the camp, Sonic and Tails have a talk. The fox is nervous about tomorrow. Not just because it's a dangerous but because of the prospect that they might actually win. Tails is worried about dying but the thought of “what if we succeed?” is also haunting him. It's only a few panels but it's handled so well, emphasizing once again that these characters have feelings, fears, and thoughts.

Another effective moment has Dimitri confronting Snively. He informs the long-time lackey that he knows about his new relationship and his latest plan to usurp Robotnik. The way Dimitri creeps around Snively's chair, slinking like a spider with his weird dreadlock/tentacle things, makes you feel Snively's discomfort. That he's visibly sweating, and that the echidna is right in his face, also helps sells this aspect. The two making an alliance is strictly plot mechanics but it does draw attention to Dimitri's status as a schemer, also thinking of ways to better his people.

Add up some great artwork, some impressive action, and a script that is both really well paced and leaves room for emotions, and you've got probably my favorite issue in a while. I wish Flynn balanced all the above so fantastically all of the time. Time to bust out the rare [9/10.] This one earned it.

Sonic Universe: Issue 1

Sonic Universe: Issue 1
Publication Date: February 2009

Rumors persist that Archie's “Sonic X” ended not because sales were bad or because it sucked. Apparently, one of those legal snafus that trouble Archie so much was responsible. The blame is usually placed on some sort of conflict between Sega and the cartoon's producers. Yet Archie clearly liked having a second “Sonic” book on the shelves every month. So Ian Flynn pitched them a replacement series.

Remember in the nineties, when Archie would periodically crank out mini-series devoted to Sonic's supporting characters? “Sonic Universe” would, more or less, function on the same principal. The spin-off would let a non-blue-hedgehog character take the spotlight for each story arc. Continuing the connection to the old mini-series, each arc would run for a specific number of issues: Four. The result was a book that was more varied than Sonic's main title. Sometimes it was even superior, strictly because of its ability to do something different. The approach would be popular with readers. “Sonic Universe” would be published alongside Archie's main “Sonic” book up until the entire line's own abrupt cancellation.

The first “Sonic Universe” storyline would focus on that perennial fan fave, Shadow the Hedgehog. After grabbing Metal Sonic and Chaos Controlling out of the “Sonic X” zone, Shadow and the robotic double pop up in Blaze the Cat's world. Blaze has partnered with caffeinated raccoon/would-be pirate Marine, to continue her quest for the Sol Gems. This is interrupted when Metal Sonic continues to be a huge asshole, attacking the local village. The so-called Ultimate Lifeform has to team-up with the two female if they hope to stop the rampaging machine.

Flynn did a lot to fix Shadow the Hedgehog's characterization with 171's “I Am.” Yet the character's recent motivation has been a bit vague. Why has he been following Metal Sonic from dimension to dimension? Flynn answers that question with “Living Weapons.” Shadow relates to Metal Sonic, seeing parallels between their mutual origins as artificial beings created to be weapons. During their struggles, Shadow attempts to reach out to Metal Sonic, telling him he doesn't have to obey Robotnik. It doesn't work, as Metal Sonic's programming is absolute, leaving no room for free will. But it's nice to know the two aren't just fighting because the plot demands it. Shadow has changed his own life and he wants to see change in other lives as well.

Other characters get some development too. We only got a hint at Blaze's personality in the “Sonic Rush” two-parter that introduced her. In “Living Weapons,” we get to see much more of Blaze. She's even on her home turf. Blaze doesn't seem too complex. She's a hero who doesn't take kindly to evil robots wrecking her homeland. Yet Flynn expands past the cat's fire-starting abilities, her previous sole bit of personality. Instead, we see that she has doubts and regrets, feeling bad about fighting with Sonic last time. She shows a sense of humor, tolerating Marine's manic fits with a smile. It's not a lot but Blaze is still way more defined now than previously.

I've had mixed feelings about Archie's handling of the various video game adaptations. On one hand, just sticking a short prologue in the back of the book gets the game adaptions out of the way. On the other hand, it's about the laziest way to handle things and draws attention to the stories' status as extended advertisements. (It doesn't help that I don't play most “Sonic” games, leaving me missing out on the rest of the story.) As a nice middle point, Flynn essentially sticks a short adaptation of “Sonic Rush” and its sequel into the middle here. We learn about how Blaze and Marine met up. How they got Sonic and Tails back home. How they fought a robot-pirate Eggman. Dr. Nega also shows up but only in silhouette, since Sega still had a weird stick up their ass about that character. Anyway, it's nice to actually see that stuff covered, filling in some narrative blank spots.

This extended flashback is interrupted by crude illustration of the events, provided by Marine. The wild and crazy raccoon almost walks away with the entire story. She peppers her dialogue with slang like “crikey,” “oy,” 'g'day,” and the especially baffling “strewth.” Her energy is indomitable. Shadow tosses a towel in her face, ignores her declarations of being a ship captain but she remains undeterred. That tenacity later reappears after she jumps on Metal Sonic's back, attacking him despite being hopelessly unmatched. She even enjoys the rush of combat, forcing herself to suppress a “wheee!” Marine easily could've been annoying yet she stays on just the right side of endearing. The character adds a lot of color and humor. It's a bummer Flynn would pretty much never use her again.

The conflict between Shadow and Metal Sonic, and how the black hedgie is attempting to reach the robot, gives the inevitable fight scenes some weight. This is best emphasized at the end, when Shadow makes a last ditch effort to reach the machine. When that doesn't work, he has Blaze melt him with a fire ball and Marine blast him apart with a cannon. This is what's been missing from the fight-a-thons in the main book. Just a little emotion, a little purpose, to get us invested in who's punching who. The fights are well illustrated too. The spinning fireball kick Blaze performs on Metal Sonic is a neat trick.

Shadow manages to Chaos Control home after Blaze hands him a spare Chaos Emerald. At that point, we finally figure out what Shadow's been up to recently. Apparently, he's shacked up with G.U.N. And so has Hope Kintobor, who Flynn is now characterizing as a genius. (Because if there's anything this comic needed, it was another kid genius.) I honestly preferred Shadow as a morally ambiguous free agent, walking the Earth like Kaine in “Kung-Fu.” Yet there's no doubt that making him a G.U.N. agent would allow Flynn easy way to set up future stories. And I'm glad he found a place for Hope, who always had unrealized potential.

“Sonic Universe” is off to a pretty good start. This is a good example of what Flynn can accomplish when he's really on the ball: A good balance between character and action, concise and straight-forward storytelling, exciting pacing and a good handling of the comic's mythology. I know “Universe” wasn't always this good but it's a really solid beginning. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 197

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 197
Publication Date: February 2009

In the past, I've noted Ian Flynn's strength for pacing out the big event storylines. The “Eggman Empire,” “Order from Chaos,” and “Enerjak: Reborn” stories were all followed up with slower paced issues. After finally putting Scourge away for a while, you'd think the author would do something similar. Issue 197 is a stopgap issue between the end of “Hedgehog Havoc” and the plot turns Flynn has planned for issue 200. But it's not a character based one.

Our cover story, “Consequences,” is essentially split in two. The first half is set on the Cosmic Interstate between zones. Sonic is escorting Scourge to the No Zone, the intermediate world policed by Zonic and the other Zone Cops. Naturally, Scourge escapes along the way. Upon arriving in the No Zone, Sonic is shocked to see it under fire by outside forces. Meanwhile, in Mobotropolis, Sally is on trial before the Council of Acorn. By allowing Sonic to drive Scourge back to Moebius, she broke a direct order from the Council, putting them at risk for treason.

In the No Zone sequences, Ian Flynn is essentially doing away with the Zone War concept Dan Slott introduced years ago. Sonic outright asks why Zonic never arrived to capture Scourge, considering both hedgehogs were leaping through zones all willy-nilly. Sonic also asks why Scourge has never tried to capture Eggman, since he's technically an escapee from another zone as well. Zonic answers the latter by explaining that Robo-Robotnik is basically the same as the old Robotnik and the universal balance something-or-other dictates that Sonic must fight a version of Robotnik. As for the first question, Zonic explains that the multiverse is under attack by some jack-ass named Dr. Nega, meaning the Zone Cops have been too busy to capture Scourge. These are technical plot holes I never even really thought about and I don't think Flynn really needed to waste page space addressing them.

You'd probably expect that business about Dr. Nega attacking the Zone Cops to be set-up for a future story line, right? Well, maybe Flynn planned it that way but Sega had other ideas. Dr. Nega is a more-evil alternate version of Robotnik, who first appeared in one of Sega's handheld Sonic games. For whatever reason, Sega's corporate stooges would forbade Flynn from using the character in the comic. In short, Dr. Nega is introduced in order to prevent Zonic and his Zone Cop friends from making future appearances in the book. It's an another attempt by Flynn to put a cap on a previous writer's overly ambitious plot lines. Considering I've also liked the multiverse idea, I'm a little annoyed that Flynn would throw this one in the trash can so wantonly.

The comic devoted half of 2008 to Sonic and Scourge beating each other up. You'd think that would be enough. Instead, “Consequences” sneaks in a little more hedgehog-on-hedgehog action. At the very least, Matt Herms and Tracy Yardley have some fun with this. The Cosmic Highway certainly makes a memorable background for a fight scene. Once in the No Zone, Sonic and Scourge are vertical due to the zones wacky gravity. The typical theatrics are provided as well. Your standard amount of kicking, dodging, and spin-dashing. The best part of this scene comes after Scourge is captured, when he continues to claim that he's Sonic at his full potential. Because some people never learn.

The political intrigue in Knothole is a little more interesting. If nothing else, I admire Ian for following through on Sonic and Sally going behind the Council's back. He could have just let that one past and I probably wouldn't have noticed. It's mostly a moment designed to show off Sally's strength once again. Only this time her argument is a little weak. It boils down to “Yeah, I broke the rules but I've spent my entire life saving everybody's ass, so trust my judgment.” Which probably wouldn't hold up in court.

When Ian brought most of Sally's Substitute Freedom Fighters back at Council members – except for Arlo who I guess fell down a fucking hole or something – I assumed it was mostly a callback to an obscure corner of the comic's lair. It might still be but Flynn at least maintains their original characterization. Hamlin the Pig is a still a prick for no reason. He's the guy on the Council interested in persecuting Sally. Sally asks the pig why he's such a prick, apparently having forgotten that he's always been this way. His response can be summed up as being bitter over being forgotten as a Freedom Fighter and wanting more influence in Knothole. You know, conflicts of interest like that usually got someone kicked out of politics once upon a time.

“Consequences” is a little too focused on narrative mechanics. However, Flynn does sneak in one or two of those little moments I like so much. Sometimes, it's all of a panel. Such as Sally looking hurt, hugging herself, as Hamlin walks away and Rotor touches her shoulder. After his adventure in the No Zone, Sonic returns home and bonds with his parents. This only occupies one page but it's a nice page. Bernie gives a big hug. Sonic reclines on the couch with both of them, admitting that he's still not used to coming home to a house with his mom and dad.

Speaking of emotional moments! Ian saves some space at the end of this story devoted to Snively's on-going e-romance with a mysterious character known as “Regina,” whose true identity would be revealed soon enough. In a nice touch, Herms/Yardley draws Snively bidding his girl adieu in a panel shaped like a heart. We get a few panels devoted to his interior monologue, bitching about how bad things are. Not only does this set up future storylines, including Robotnik's latest scheme, but it's just nice to see Snively in a better mood than usual. You know, the universe shits on the guy. Throw him a bone.

In the back pages, Flynn throws in another one of those contractually obligated Sega game adaptations. “Knight Time” adapts “Sonic and the Black Knight,” otherwise known as the “Sonic with a Sword” game. Some elf wizard or something summons Sonic out of the sky so he can fight some intimidating knight dude. When the villain wrecks Sonic's chili dog, he gets really annoyed. The bad guy then assembles a trio of warriors, which are obviously Knuckles, Shadow, and Blaze in some vaguely medieval looking armor. By that point, the story abruptly ends by informing the reader they should just buy the damn video game already.

By 2009, I wasn't following Sega's “Sonic” games very closely, having been burned too many times before. I was especially disinterested in the so-called “story book” series, which seemed to move the Sonic series even further away from the aspects that endeared it to me in the first place. So, no, I've never played “Sonic and the Black Knight.” This comic appears to be a fairly close adaptation of the game's inciting incident. Out of context, it comes off as incredibly bizarre. You have these random fantasy elements that are totally at odds with the Sonic universe we know. For some reason, Knuckles, Shadow, and Blaze are knights aligned with the bad guy. I suspect even Yardley was a bit baffled by this, as his artwork is slightly off-model. About the only thing that makes sense to me about “Knight Time” is Sonic's nonchalant response to getting summoned to some other world to help fight evil. He continues to munch on his chili dog and tells the wizard lady that this kind of shit happens to him all the time. That seems in character.

Flynn's scripts are still far from bad but the comic is still in a slight slump at the start of the new year. I seem to recall the next big event knocking the book back on its feet. Devoting an entire issue to wrapping up some plot holes and shifting the mythology around wasn't a terrible idea but it was not executed in the best manner. And just forget about that back-up story, which I can barely make heads or tails off. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 196

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 196
Publication Date: January 2009

In retrospect, Ian Flynn devoting nearly half of 2008 to Scourge and the Suppression Squad was probably not a great idea. By the time the first part of “Hedgehog Havoc” rolled around, readers were pretty sick of the rivalry between the parallel Sonics. And, keep in mind, we actually liked Scourge. So I'm happy to see Flynn was wrapping that shit up in 2009's first month. It wouldn't be the last time a storyline overstayed its welcome. Anyway, on with the review.

“Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2” begins with Sally talking the Suppression Squad into heading back to Moebius to rescue Sonic and Amy. What they find is Super Scourge standing over his defeated foes. The Freedom Fighters and their evil counterparts do their best to defeat the tyrant but it's not enough. Even the combined strength of Sonic, Shadow, and Silver fails to put down the super powerful villain. Sonic then realizes the secret needed to win the day...

Issue 196 proves something fans probably could've guessed. Super Scourge is a super asshole. That opening image of Super Scourge floating above all the fighters from the last issue is a decent shock. Of course, none of them are dead. In fact, most of them get right back up. But that's still a startling panel to start a story with. That Scourge immediately swoops down and beats the shit out of the Freedom Fighters and the Suppression Squad in only a few panels further proves how strong and ruthless he is. That he takes such pleasure in thrashing the good guys really sells this scene.

Just watching the bad guy whoop the heroes isn't quite entertaining enough. Flynn continues his characterization of Sally as a shrewd tactician. After everyone gets back on their feet, Sally immediately formulates a plan. Silver pauses Scourge with his telekinesis while Bunnie and Boomer blast him. She has the entire cast dog pile on Scourge, hoping they can hold him still until his super form runs out of juice. None of these plans work but it's nice to see Sally thinking so clearly even after getting tossed across the room by a super powerful hedgehog.

At his best, Flynn has an ability to sneak in cute, small moments between the characters that really beef up the story. We get a few of these in “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2.” The seething distrust between Antoine and Patch is a nice touch, as the two have the biggest reason to hate each other. Miles – as in Anti-Tails – immediately makes a run for it. It says a lot about Miles' personality that he's a cunning little schemer until the shit hits the fan, at which point he skedaddles. Probably my favorite little moment in this issue occurs after Scourge knocks Rosy unconscious. Rob o' Hedge then ties the girl up, taking the time to apologize to Amy first. Ostensibly, he's restraining the unhinged girl. Yet this also shows how much concern Rob shows for his niece.

Of course, there's still a lot of dangling threads to deal with from the last story. Early on, Metal Sonic attacks Sonic, picking the hero as his priority now that Scourge is too powerful. Shadow zips over and immediately Chaos Controls them out of this dimension and into the crossover in the last issue of “Sonic X.” Silver contributes to the fight but, otherwise, has no personal reason to be here. I'm glad Flynn cleans up these plot points as quickly as possible but it proves that Shadow, Metal Sonic, and Silver were thrown into the fight last issue just because it was cool, not because it made sense.

I don't know about you guys but I read comic books because I like to see heroes fighting bad guys. Issue 196 of “Sonic the Hedgehog” really features a stand-out moment. Sonic puts his own life on the line, running out of the castle so Scourge will chase him, keeping his friends safe. An often overlooked aspect is that his thinking is often as fast as his feet. Sonic realizes he can't outrun, outfight, or outlast Super Scourge. Instead, he targets Scourge's ego, getting the villain to power down. Afterwards, he gives the now powerless Scourge a nice speech about the difference between them. He tosses his crown aside and pushes him to the ground. After Scourge has been such a massive asshole for the last few issues, it's satisfying to see Sonic give him such a total beat down.

The only problem with this is how Sonic bests Scourge. Out of nowhere, he comes to a realization. When Sonic powers down from Super Sonic, he's in a euphoric state at the peak of his normal abilities. He figures out that, since everything is backwards on Moebius, when Scourge powers down from a superstate, he'll be drained. Okay, did I miss that this is a plot point? In what previous appearance of Super Sonic did this info come up? Maybe I'm not remembering something but it feels like Flynn really pulled that one out of his ass.

Flynn wraps up by setting up some future story lines, promising that Silver is still out there and that the Suppression Squad still have some wicked plans up their sleeves. Sure. Anyway, “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 2” hinges on a pretty bullshit plot point but, otherwise, it's a big improvement over the first part. The action is solid, it's cool to see Sally thinking on her feet, and Sonic gets a strong hero moment. Even as a Scourge fan, I'm happy to see Flynn going easy on that character for a while. I guess 2009 is off to a solid start. [7/10]

THE 2008 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG COMIC BEST/WORST LIST!

By the end of 2008, Ian Flynn was coming up on three years as the head writer of Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book. Within that time period, he had managed to take the comic book from barely-holding-on status to something fans could really get passionate about again. Yet 2008 was also the year that Flynn's flaws began to really show. Which isn't necessary a slam against the guy. Even at his weakest, Flynn is still the most consistent writer who ever worked on Archie's “Sonic” series. 2008 still featured plenty of really strong stories.

2008 was also the year that Archie put a bullet in the head of “Sonic X.” That book was rarely worth reading and, in its final year, floundered wildly. Rumor has it “Sonic X's” ending was unplanned, which the comic certainly provides evidence of, but I can't imagine Archie getting another year's worth of stories out of a series so terminally out of ideas.

Anyway, the issues covered in this retrospective are:

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 184-195
Sonic X: Issue 28-40

BEST COVER STORY:
Ian Flynn, "Mister Popular" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 187)

Narrative wise, “Mister Popular” is just fine. The plot, involving Mogul hiring a number of mercenaries to hunt down Sonic, allows Flynn to include the action scenes and old school references he loves so much. These elements are not the reason this was my favorite story of 2008. What makes this one special is the emotional interludes. Tails bids a tearful farewell to his Uncle Merlin, who is off on more mystical business. Easily, the stand-out segment is devoted to Sonic and Sally finding the common ground in their fractured relationship. Both apologize for mistakes made and forgive the other. The romantic scene is eventually interrupted by another attack – which is intentionally funny – but that intimate moment between shows that Flynn really knew how to write Sonic and Sally, to keep that love alive.

WORST COVER STORY:
Ian Flynn, “Fool Party!” (Sonic X: Issue 34)

I was entirely ready to give the Worst Cover Story “Prize” to issue 195's “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 1,” a strangled mess of a story that was easily Flynn's weakest contribution to the book up to this point. But then I remember that “Sonic X” still existed.

Even in its final year, Archie's “Sonic X” continued to be my personal whipping boy. There were multiple weak stories in “Sonic X” during 2008. 31's “The Return of El Gran Gordo!,” 33's “Meteor Madness,” and 40's “The End” were all seriously lacking. Yet Ian Flynn's “Fool Party!,” from issue 34 was by far the most groan-inducing edition from the misbegotten series' final year.

There's absolutely no reason for this story to exist. The central premise – Sonic and Eggman have a pool party! – is imbecilic. In order to get this wafer thin idea to occupy an entire comic book, Flynn throws in a bunch of half-baked comedic sequences. Like Tails accidentally turning Eggman's henchmen into blood-thirty murder-bots, Sonic disinterest in swimming and, most horrifyingly, Eggman developing a crush on Ella, the Thorndyke's fat, old, stereotypically Latina maid. (Worst yet, that last one would become a running joke over the comic's last few issues.) It's dire, dire stuff.

BEST BACK STORY:
Ian Flynn, "Sleepless in New Megaopolis" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 194)

There were a couple of candidates for Best Back Story this year. Flynn successfully explored Knuckles' guilt over his villainous actions in 186's “Honor Bound.” Jules got some much needed character development and we learned more about Scourge's past in 192's “Father and Son.”

Yet my favorite was “Sleepless in New Megaopolis.” The focus was turned on Snively, delightfully playing up his pathetic existence and desperate need for someone to respect him. This also made the final pages, devoted to Snively being tempted by an on-line romance, make a lot more sense. Snively's bitter outlook added to the depiction of the Eggman Empire's crumbling state. His sort of grimy cynicism was something the book maybe needed more of.

WORST BACK STORY:
Ian Flynn, "Sonic Unleashed" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 193)

2008 continued Archie's habit of sticking tie-in stories to Sega's latest "Sonic" games – extended advertisements – in the back of the book. On one hand, this habit kept Sega's corporate mandates from derailing the cover story. On the other hand, the reader was still left with a lame story.

The only reason I'm ranking issue 193's “Sonic Unleashed” lower than 191's “Invaders from Beyond” – the “Sonic: The Dark Brotherhood” tie-in – is because of how much I hate the Werehog. You'd think a monster movie fan like me would appreciate the sight of Sonic becoming a werewolf. Yet Sega tried to play this ridiculous premise as brutal and bad-ass while making the Werehog himself as goofy and fluffy looking as possible. Flynn's adaptation of a senseless video game brings absolutely nothing to the table.

BEST STORY ARC:
Ian Flynn, "Mogul Rising" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 185-186)

“Mogul Rising” was a good story arc not just because it finally made Mammoth Mogul into an intimidating enemy. Flynn retroactively rewrite the wizard as responsible for the special abilities ofa  few superpowered characters, a clever turn. He used this as a chance to expound on Mighty and Mina's background. Most importantly, he made Sonic's feelings for his friends the backbone of the story. The hedgehog was challenged not just by three of his closest pals attacking. He also had to find some way to save all three of them. Throw in a touching scene of Mina reflecting on the ruins of Knothole and you've got a pretty good story.

WORST STORY ARC:
Ian Flynn, "Metal and Mettle" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 191-192)

Keep in mind, I actually liked both parts of “Metal and Mettle” enough to give them positive scores. The scenes devoted to Knucles and Julie-Su experiencing some growing pains were worthwhile, so was the subplot about the Suppression Squad turning against Scourge.

What made “Metal and Mettle” the weakest story arc of the year was Flynn's focus on mindless fight scenes, to the exclusion of other elements. Scourge and Metal Sonic end up fighting strictly because the comic wants them to. Sonic naturally gets involved before Flynn tosses Metal Scourge, a quickly thought-up and then quickly disposed-of character, into the mix just for the hell of it. It's a story arc a little too heavy on comic book-y, cool-for-cool's-sake, action-for-action's-sake writing.

BEST COVER ART:
Sonic the Hedgehog 192 - Tracy Yardley

Patrick Spaziante only did cover art for “Sonic X” this year – his dramatically lit cover for issue 31 was my fave – but Tracy Yardley happily filled his spot. The covers for 188 featured a fearsome Sonic while 184's cover was dramatically assembled. But the strong contrasting colors of issue 192's cover stole my heart. Sonic and Scourge, both cocky assholes, are mirrored against each other. The visor-like eyes of Metal Sonic and Metal Scourge, both made up in effectively stark red and black, fill out the rest of the image. It's a simple cover but works extremely well.

WORST COVER ART:
Sonic X: Issue 36 - Patrick Spaziante

Yardley's covers for 186 and 191 were both set against searing orange backgrounds, one featuring a Mogul with an overly long torso and the other showing Sonic and Scourge posing in a blank void. But neither of those covers were nightmare inducing.

Spaz's cover for issue 36 of “Sonic X” has seemingly gained sentience and wants you to end its miserable existence. Photo-realistic animals, highlighted by a disturbing level of detail, take up much of the cover. That alone is creepy but, shoved into the middle of this menagerie of horrors, are Sonic and Eggman. Sonic's mouth is being forced open by a leash strap while Eggman grimaces in discomfort while a bull terrier chews on his mustache. Both appear to be in utter agony. Spaz's strength for detail and facial expressions really betrayed him here, resulting in a cover that is technically exquisite but deeply unpleasant to look at.

BEST STORY ART:
"Mogul Rising Part Two: Devil's Due" - Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 186)

Separately, Tracy Yardley and Matt Herms were talented artists that might not blow you away. Yardley's work, while still very good, became a bit too uniform in 2008. Herms' overly round style was pleasant but took some getting used to.

When you put them together though? You get one sweet looking comic book. Yardley and Herms complement each other, leading to fluid but expressive action scenes. Honestly, inker Jim Amash and colorist Josh Ray deserve a lot of credit, as the atmospheric shadows and blue, moonlit night is what makes this story really pop. It all adds up to an excellently assembled comic book.

WORST STORY ART:
“The Mistfit Badniks' Soggy, Salty Sequel” - Dave Manak (Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 185)

There wasn't too much weak art in the book this year. I'm no fan of Jon Grey but his pencils, while still grotesquely cartoonish, had come a long way by the time he drew 192's “Father and Son” and 194's “Sleepless in New Megaopolis.”

Luckily, we still have ol' Dave Manak to kick around. Manak's jagged, loose, and sloppy artwork looks especially out of place in 2008, when the quality of the book's art had come way, way up. His decision to draw the giant Pseudo-Sonic as a vague silhouette, composed entirely of sharp points, was especially unfortunate. Manak had gotten really rusty by this point. His characters frequently veer off-model. Some panels, such as the flashbacks showing Pseudo-Sonic's broken up state, appear totally flat. It is not the veteran Sonic artist's best work, to say the least.

BEST NEW CHARACTER:
Rosy the Rascal

Conceptually, if not in execution, Rosy the Rascal was a brilliant creation. Rosy was a biting deconstruction of Amy's obsessive Sonic fandom. Instead of her infatuation being cute, it's a dangerous fixation that pushes into psychotic compulsion. Instead of harmlessly chasing Sonic, she's actively stalking him. And instead of magically growing into her teenage body, she has a broken mind locked inside a child's body. Flynn immediately started playing her for goofball comedy after introducing her but, at least in that initial appearance, Rosy made a creepy impression.

WORST NEW CHARACTERS:
Metal Scourge and Milan Ramada

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie! Who was worst? Metal Scourge was a lifeless copy of both Metal Sonic and Scourge, making him a copy of two separates copies, lacking the personality of either. The character displayed zero interesting or intriguing qualities before quickly being killed off. Even his design was goofy, as sticking a leather jacket and sunglasses on Metal Sonic did not make him more intimidating.

Over in issue 36 of “Sonic X,” Joe Edkin brought us Milan Ramada. Being a facile parody of Paris Hilton, a joke far past its expiration date, probably would've been enough to earn Milan the Worst New Character slot. Yet Edkin also wrote her as an absolutely obnoxious, totally hateful little cunt. An entitled bitch through and through, Milan spent all of her page time flouting her supposed superiority and being a massive asshole to every other character. I guess Edkin succeeded in making a hate-worthy villain but he quickly crossed the line between a character you enjoy watching be evil to a character you want to see tossed into an industrial wood chipper.


BEST IDEA:
Developing the Rogue Gallery

Ian Flynn's main goal in 2008 was fairly easy to identify. The writer set out to develop the non-Robotnik corners of Sonic's rogue gallery. Thus, Mammoth Mogul became a villain with an actual agenda, whose master plans seemingly matched up with his immortal intellect. Scourge the Hedgehog, meanwhile, grew more and more unhinged. His Suppression Squad gained personalities that differentiated them from their Mobius Prime counterparts. Dimitri and the Dark Legion became an integral part of Robotnik's empire. As for the rotund one, his obsession with crushing Sonic reached perilous levels. It was a good year for Archie's bad guys.


WORST IDEA:
Combat Over Character... Again

2008's Worst Idea is the same as 2007's Worst Idea. Once again, Ian Flynn fell to his greatest weakness. Instead of really exploring the great characters he's created or the interesting world he's built up, he just had everybody fight it out. Sonic fought the Destrutix, the Suppression Squad fought the Freedom Fighters, Sonic fought Scourge, Scourge fought Metal Sonic, Sonic and Scourge fought Metal Sonic and Metal Scourge, Scourge fought the Suppression Squad. On and on it went. This tendency reached its nadir with the first part of “Hedgehog Havoc,” a chaotic story devoted totally to a rumble between nearly every hedgehog in the book. Half of those characters had no reason to be there and others, like Silver, where hastily introduced just to make the fight possible. 

I know the adolescent boy market demands action but Flynn has already shown us he knows how to balance character development and fight scenes. That balance lean towards the fisticuffs too often in 2008. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, and suppose that the monthly deadline was getting to him, but Flynn has shown repeatedly that he's too eager to have characters beat up on each other.

Sonic X: Issue 40

Sonic X: Issue 40
Publication Date: December 2008

When I began my trek through Archie's “Sonic X” comic, it was with the reservation that I had never watched much of the cartoon and was deeply unmoved by what I had seen. From the beginning, there was this dim hope that the comic wouldn't be so bad, tempered by a mounting fear that I would actually hate it. Sadly, the latter instinct turned out to be more true. Reading through all forty issues of “Sonic X” was frequently a slog, as the book's plots were lame, the character work non-extensive, the humor far too broad, and ideas deeply simplistic. There's only one more of these fucking things left so let's, as a wise sage once said, go fast.

The definitively entitled “The End” begins with Sonic having a peaceful tea party with Cream and Vanilla. This is interrupted when Shadow the Hedgehog and Metal Sonic Chaos Control on top of their table. But this isn't the versions of Shadow or Metal Sonic from the “Sonic X” cartoon. One seemingly doesn't exist and the other is locked in a tube in Eggman's lab. Instead, this is Shadow and Metal Sonic from Archie's other, better “Sonic” comic. How'd they get there? Because Archie fucking sucks at scheduling this story is actually set after issue 196, which wouldn't be published until a month later. Anyway, most of the comic is devoted to the “X” version of Sonic showing Shadow around his world, until the darker hedgehog unceremoniously returns home.

There's a reason Sonic takes Shadow on a tour. Usually, the two fight when they bump into each other like this. However, this is the final issue of “Sonic X.” Ian Flynn clearly wanted fans to get one more peak at as many “Sonic X” exclusive characters – x-cluvises, if you will – as possible. So Sonic stops by the Chaotix's office, which they are in the process of rebuilding. Inside Eggman's laboratory, we see his El Gran Gordo suit, his trucker outfit from issue 20 and his collection of creepy love letters to Ella. Further walking reveals the giant leprechaun robot he built in issue 17, some of the evil Chao from issue 5, and the ruined X-Robot from issue 24. Sam Speed, Chris' parents, Rouge, and Topaz drop in for a handful of panels. Big the Cat has a cameo in a single panel. It's clear that Ian wanted to pay homage to the series' forty issue run by sneaking in as many callbacks as possible.

A big problem I've had with “Sonic X” throughout its run is how the comic connected with the cartoon show. Archie's other “Sonic” book stood alone from the SatAM. “Sonic X: The Comic,” however, would often weave in and out of episodes from the first two seasons of “Sonic X: The Series.” This annoying habit of referencing stuff that happened on the TV show continues even into the final issue. When Chris sees Shadow, tears well up in his eyes and he gives the black hedgehog a big hug. Where did this homoerotic chemistry between Chris and Shadow originate? I have no idea! Later, we discover Eggman has this universe's Shadow in a tube in his lab. How did he get there? I don't know! Setting the comic in-between the events of the TV show was a bad idea. Either make it a definitive alternate continuity or set it after. Don't jerk us around like this.

Speaking of jerking the readers around! You know how the evil organization, S.O.N.I.C.X., have shown up occasionally to fuck with Sonic's good days? You'd expect the last issue of the comic book to conclude that plot point, right? Nope! The S.O.N.I.C.X. council appears on one page, revealing that they've bugged Sam Speed's car. Upon seeing that Shadow has returned, the S.O.N.I.C.X. members get cold feet and call off the plan. (Which further shows how utterly weak and incompetent these guys are.) So all that foreshadowing about the organization's shadowy leader probably being Captain Woodward? We never find out the truth. It's all been a bunch of build-up for nothing. That just fucking sucks and is a complete failure on the behalf of Archie's writing and editorial staff.

Considering this bull-shittery, I had a thought. Maybe this S.O.N.I.C.X. story concludes in the anime, since so much of the “Sonic X” book referenced the show? I looked it up and was dismayed to find out that S.O.N.I.C.X. is a comic exclusive organization. It really seems to me that the “Sonic X” crew knew the end was coming, since Archie has been hyping “Sonic Universe” for a while. But maybe the cancellation notice was totally sudden. Even then, would it have been too much to include an extra page of Westwood revealing himself and disbanding the organization, declaring it an obvious and dismal failure? Some sense of finality would've been nice.

By including Shadow in this final issue, Ian actually ends up distracting from the regular “Sonic X” cast. Aside from Chris, the rest of Sonic's friends don't get much to do. Cream, Tails, Knuckles and Amy don't appear until the final handful of pages. If Flynn was going to sacrifice the main cast for Shadow and Metal Sonic's guest spots, you'd think he'd at least make the fight scenes awesome, right? Once again, the answer is “no.” Shadow and Metal Sonic wrestle on the first two pages. Near the end of the book, they leap at each other before Chaos Controlling back out of this comic book. It ends the series on one hell of a weak note. (Then again, considering this issue was more-or-less a big advertisement for “Sonic Universe's” premier issue, maybe devoting so much attention to Shadow was just an excuse to draw eyeballs to the upcoming new series.)

In the end, Ian Flynn tries to make issue 40 seem like a proper send-off to “Sonic X,” despite the dangling plot threads and disorganized plotting. The final page has Sonic telling Chris that his mansion, and Earth in general, have become like a new home for him. He then promises Throndyke and all his other pals that more adventures will follow. Once again, “Sonic X: The Comic” is writing around the TV show. Even if the series had been over for a while by the time this book came out, Flynn can't put a definitive end on “Sonic X.” That was up to the show writers and whatever they did in the third season.

And thus “Sonic X,” a mostly pretty poor excuse to promote a cartoon show, came to an end. Forty issues – not quite four years – was actually a great run for this series, especially since the scripts were often extremely weak. I actually really liked one or two issues, when the comic balanced its kid-friendly setting and goof-ball humor well. But, most of the time, “Sonic X” was not a comic book I enjoyed reading. As I said at the beginning, this simply isn't my version of Sonic. So, it is with very few mixed feelings that I bid Archie's “Sonic X” adieu. Bring on “Sonic Universe.” [4/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 195

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 195
Publication Date: December 2008

Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” book would wrap up 2008 with the first part of “Hedgehog Havoc.” Sonic, Scourge, and Amy are now stuck in Moebius Castle, at the mercy of crazy Rosy and her fatal hammer. This inevitable confrontation is interrupted by a number of outside forces. A hedgehog from the future, calling himself Silver, zaps into the castle, looking for a traitor to the crown. Rob O' the Hedge, who first encountered Silver, is dragged along. Robotnik builds a new Metal Sonic, equipped with an engine that can leap through dimensions, who immediately sets off to find Sonic. Shadow, meanwhile, also teleports into the castle seemingly because he took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. In other words, it's the “Destroy All Monsters” of hedgehog comics.

Let me begin with a rambling anecdote that is barely related to the subject of this review. I promise I'll circle back around to the point eventually. In the seventh grade, a friend and I attempted to write a screenplay. Being young horror fans, we were both obsessed with the classic Universal Monster movies. The project, which we quickly named “Monstrous,” was designed to bring as many as these classic creatures together as possible. Being twelve year old boys, we intended to ram in as much gore and sex as possible. As we wrote the script, it became apparent to me that it's really difficult to juggle all these characters. Monsters would weave in and out of the story, sometimes fighting each other, occasionally murdering or fucking random civilians. Somehow, I managed to assemble something resembling a full screenplay but the titular word described the content. “Monstrous” was, of course, a complete mess. “The Monster Squad” did it way better, obviously.

What the fuck does any of this have to do with “Hedgehog Havoc?” Even though the aim and content are radically different, this story and the deranged scribblings of twelve year old me have some things in common. Both intend on bringing as many similarly themed characters together for a massive fight scene, logic and coherence be damned. Yet to get all these pins lined up, it means juggling a number of plot points. Characters that have no need to be in this story are brought in, the script cooking up shaky justifications for their inclusion. The short version: It's a mess.

For some reason, Ian Flynn chose this chaotic story to introduce Silver the Hedgehog. When introduced in the infamous “Sonic '06,” Silver received a mixed reaction from fans. Sonic fans being who they are, some immediately latched onto him and declared their ever-lasting love. More nuanced observers noted that this franchise really didn't need another superpowered hedgehog. Flynn would eventually form Silver into an entertaining character, writing him as a good-intentioned but inexperienced bumbler. In this first appearance, he just makes grand statements about the world, screams about finding a hero, and zaps Sonic with his psychic powers. He doesn't get very much page space in an overcrowded plot.

As rushed as the explanation is, at least Silver has a reason for being there. Shadow and Metal Sonic are lumped into “Hedgehog Havoc” just so Flynn can achieved his goal of cramming in as many hedgehogs as possible. Metal Sonic at least gets an introduction, being quickly rebuild by Robotnik and hastily setting off on his objective. Shadow teleports into the eight-way fight totally by accident. He grumbles a few lines about attempting to locate the Special Zone before Sonic talks him into fighting Scourge. Shadow has absolutely no reason to be in this issue.

With such a stacked cast, somebody is inevitably going to get left out. Amy Rose and Rob O' the Hedge get the short end of the stick. Amy was basically Sonic's co-lead on this plot up until now. In 195, she asks Buns to get assistance, runs from Rosy, and then gets recruited into the battle royale. She doesn't even have time to say hi to her uncle. She's essentially just there to add another warm body to the fight scene. Rob, being one of the more modestly empowered characters, has even less to do. He escorts Silver to Moebius before he gets drafted to start firing arrows. His only stand-out moment is when he questions Silver's loyalties, by putting a bow upside his head. Which is a question he probably should have asked sooner.

But I get it. This is a fight issue. This is the WrestleMania of Sonic comics, getting as many hedgehogs in the ring as possible and letting them all wail on each other. Yet the inevitable side effect of having so many characters in a fight is that the audience doesn't know who to focus on. There's so much going on, the battle collapses into disorganized sparring pretty much immediately. Sonic, Scourge, and Shadow are spin-dashing all over the place. Amy and Rosy provide excessive hammer swinging. Rob's arrows bounce harmlessly off of everyone. Metal Sonic rushes around and can't get a damn thing done. Silver's reaction to this melee – wide-eyed bafflement – more-or-less matches the reading. And then he joins the fray, throwing psychic lightning bolts around. It's just too much to take in.

The big rumble touted on the cover doesn't crystallize into something sturdy until Flynn has the character reach an important realization: They all hate Scourge. In the final few panels, they surround Sonic's evil clone and chase after him. We already know Scourge can handle multiple aggressors in a fight. This is the place Flynn should've started with, everyone uniting against a greater foe. Instead, Scourge's status as the biggest bastard in the room doesn't come up until the very end, leaving the proceeding twenty pages a grabastic mess.

So, out of all this chaos, what rises to the surfaces? Truthfully, the handful of moments on Sonic's home world are more meaningful than the big fist fight. The comic opens with Bernie, Jules, and Uncle Chuck expressing concern for Sonic. Nicole has to answer their questions and assuage their worries. The two pages devoted to Meta Sonic's reconstruction continue to illustrate Robotnik's failing mental state and Snively's scheming in an amusing, focused manner. Rob's entrance into the story prompts two cute moments: When his echidna wife assures him she'll be okay without him and when Rob bows to Sally, giving the princess the royal welcome. Little moments of character interactions like this are more valuable than endless fight scenes.

And so 2008 wraps up with Ian Flynn's first real stinker. “Hedgehog Havoc: Part 1” has two competing problems. It has two much on its place, with the huge cast. Yet it's goals – a giant fight – are also far too modest. It's just a messy issue and not very much fun to read. Unlike my seventh grade screenplay, it also doesn't have a sex scene featuring the Bride of Frankenstein, which is probably for the best. [5/10]

Sonic X: Issue 39

Sonic X: Issue 39
Publication Date: November 2008

With “Sonic X” nearly at its end, you'd think the crew behind the comic would want to go out with a bang. The cover to issue 39, the penultimate  edition of the series, certainly promises something rather literally big. You've got a kaiju-sized Vector wrecking a skyscraper, while Sonic races up the side. Pretty cool, right? Well, once again, prepare to be disappointed. The end is near but things remain much the same.

Part 2 of “Big Trouble in Little Station Square” – still no Lo Pan or John Carpenter soundtrack – picks up where the last one left off. S.O.N.I.C.X.'s evil plan has only succeeded in making Vector into a giant. The villains quickly flee while Sonic and Espio concoct a ridiculous plan to revert Vector back to normal size. Eggman, upon hearing the news that a giant monster is attacking the city, decides to play hero and win himself some heroic cred. His plan involves transforming Bokkun to massive size and having him fight Vector. Will Sonic get there in time?

“Sonic X: The Comic Book” hopes to draw audience's interest by including a fight between a giant monster and a giant robot. It's a good idea, as kaiju battles have an evergreen appeal. This is such a well-known fact that “Sonic X” did it once before. Issue 5 featured Eggman attacking the city with a giant robot while a virtuous Chaos grew to giant size to combat him. I've said for a while that Archie's “Sonic X” was woefully out of ideas. Now that the series is ripping itself off, that point has been proven. The same idea is not as exciting the second time. Chaos uppercutting Egg-gantor's head off was certainly more interesting than Vector and Bokkun wrestling.

However, the second half of “Big Trouble in Little Station Square” does feature one or two gag that made me chuckle. Eggman's overjoyed reaction to hearing a giant monster is attacking the city made me smile. There's a moment when Vector accidentally swallows an airplane, a  moment so bizarre it got a chuckle. The absolute glee with which Bokkun fights Vector is mildly amusing. So is their fight scene, which concludes with Vector giving Bokkun a giant-sized swirlie in the bay. Espio promises that an ancient ninja technique can save that day... Which turns out to be aspirin. When Sonic acts indignantly, Espio corrects him by pointing out that aspirin was invited in ancient Greece. To which Sonic reacts “There were no ninjas in Greece!” It's defanged, kiddie-kiddie humor but with at least something resembling an absurd streak.

Still, “Sonic X” is hampered by the characters being really fucking stupid. Before racing off to prevent Vector from wrecking the city, Sonic and Espio leave Charmy to watch the S.O.N.I.C.X. members. This, of course, is a massive mistake. Hector immediately distracts Charmy, by pointing over his shoulder, allowing the bad guys to escape. The stupidity of S.O.N.I.C.X.'s plan is revealed when Sonic races up to the giant Vector... and reasons with him. I had assume that the magical mutatgen that caused Vector to grow to enormous heights also turned him into a mad beast. Nope! So if the scheme had worked as planned, Sonic wouldn't become a hyper-destructive giant. He just would've been much bigger. What the fuck was that suppose to accomplish? These S.O.N.I.C.X. guys suck at their job.

I've criticized the last two issues of “Sonic X” that Joe Edkin wrote for having a weird moralizing side. I assumed this to be a quirk of Edkins, taking the “kid's book” label that comic had a little too literally. Well, it's not just Joe pulling this shit. Ian Flynn manages to shove an even more distracting, obnoxious “moral lesson” into the book. Sonic and Espio using aspirin to shrink Vector back down to normal size is dumb but could've been a fun absurd gag. Instead, the comic uses this as an excuse to give readers a lesson about responsible use of over-the-counter medication. Okay, sure, kids need to learn not to take pills unless supervised. But is a Sonic book the best place to extend this knowledge?

Last time, I assumed that Ian Flynn would use this two-parter as an excuse to wrap up some of “Sonic X's” lingering plot points. The staff of the comic obviously knew that the series was ending in the next issue, as the letters in the back reference the impending conclusion. Instead, previously mentioned ideas continue to dangle. S.O.N.I.C.X. is still out there, the identity of their evil leader still a mystery. Something that hasn't been brought up since the initial four issues – that Chris Thorndyke's teacher is an undercover government agent – is mentioned again for the first time in the series' entire run. Yet this premises are just throw around, not resolved or concluded. Will Flynn wrap this stuff up next time? That would be a pretty impressive trick, considering Metal Sonic and Shadow are putting in special appearance in the last issue.

The nearly final issue of “Sonic X” did make me chuckle twice or thrice. I suppose that makes it better than the last few issues, which have become increasingly dire. Even then, that's the most minor of improvements. Will “Sonic X” turn things around in the final issue? Considering the overall quality of the series up to this point, I'm gonna say “Outlook's not so good.” [6/10]