Sonic Universe: Issue 21

Sonic Universe: Issue 21
Publication Date: October 2010

Over its long run, Archie's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series would often struggle with balancing the book's enormous cast with the characters from the video games. While old-timers like me preferred it when the series focused on the SatAM and comic-exclusive characters, it's not unreasonable to assume that most people who picked up a “Sonic” comic book wanted to see characters from the video games on its pages. Which is how we got stuff like “Treasure Team Tango,” the sixth “Sonic Universe” arc. You'll notice that every single character on that cover originated in the games, especially the ones that were somewhat newer in 2010.

I hope you like annoying naming devices because each part of “Treasure Team Tango” is named after a portion of a tango. Part one is “The Salida.” Picking up from “Sonic” 217's “Welcome Back, Chao!,” Amy Rose is showing Cream and Vanilla around Freedom H.Q. That's when Nicole chimes in, reporting that she's picking up on an odd signal in the near-by forest. Amy investigates and, figuring the mission is pretty harmless, let's Cream tag along. Turns out, a Sol Emerald has fallen in-between zones. This attracts the attention of Blaze the Cat, who is collecting the Sol Stones to protect her world. It also brings Rouge into the fold, who is attracted by her affinity for shiny things.

The purpose behind the first part of “Treasure Team Tango” is evident on its front cover. Cream had just been introduced into the comic while Blaze's previous appearances had been fairly isolated. This issue, and the arc its attached to as well, was designed to integrate the two Sega characters – both fan favorites for some reason – into the book. Let's start with Cream. Flynn's script doesn't expand much beyond the little bunny's portrayal in the “Sonic X” comic. Cream is young and precocious but also unfailingly polite. That precociousness shows in cute panels, like when Cream challenges Amy's assumption that she'll marry Sonic one day. The politeness appears when she treats Blaze and Rouge friendly, despite only meeting them minutes ago. I guess the character is fine but I continue to find Cream an unnecessary, if inoffensive, addition to the book's cast.

Blaze and Rouge's appearances are a little more entertaining, if only because they are more interesting characters. Blaze has really grown on me as a character over her handful of appearances. She has a regal quality to her, being a leader in her home world. Yet she's also young, prone to mistakes and being somewhat headstrong. This makes her a good foil to Amy Rose, who is also very headstrong but more girlish and impulsive. Rouge, meanwhile, has chemistry with everyone, due to her natural flirtatiousness. The bat's entrance midway into the story makes the script pop a little more. The trio – and Cream too, I guess – make for a decent ensemble to build a story upon.

This is best shown in the handful of scenes where the girls begrudgingly earn each others' respect.  Amy and Blaze don't trust each other at first. After Sonic gets name-dropped, Amy immediately decides Blaze must be okay. This surprises and, in an odd way, humbles the pyrokenetic cat. Amy doesn't trust Rouge either. After she helps protect the others, Amy has to admit that the bat/jewel thief/secret agent can't be all bad. These scenes, where Amy has to eat a little crow, are pretty cute.

Of course, that nice bit of character development Amy and Rouge gets immediately goes out the window when it's revealed that Rouge intends to keep the Sol Stone for herself. That's a little disappointing. What could've been a story about these very different characters finding a common ground with each other, then transforms into a simple MacGuffin chase. That the Sol Stone literally falls out of the sky at the comic's beginning doesn't disguise its blatant nature as a plot device. Shadow and Omega showing on the issue's final page seems to point towards this story arc becoming another one of Flynn's uninspired fight-fests.

Indeed, the action scenes are probably my least favorite parts of this comic book. Both emerge rather randomly. Blaze and Amy trade some fisticuffs upon meeting each others as because of a quickly corrected misconception. Later, there's a big tree laid across a gorge, “King Kong”-style, leading to a standard scene of the log nearly crushing the team. Moments like this remind you that this book is still aiming for the seven-to-ten year old boy crowd, even in story arcs primarily focused on female characters. We've got to get those action scenes in there.

So “Treasure Team Tango” is off to an okay start. I like the stuff with Amy, Rouge, and Blaze. All of them have developed into decent characters over the years and playing them off each other is a fun idea. However, the script is standard – even boring – stuff. I'm not sure if the interactions with the characters is going to be enough to keep an otherwise uninspired story going for four issues. I suppose we'll find out soon enough. [7/10]