Sonic Universe: Issue 29

Sonic Universe: Issue 29
Publication Date: June 2011

“Genesis” was the first time in a while that Archie had set up a big event story arc for their “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic. This would become a more regular thing going forward. The next huge event would play out through both the primary “Sonic” book and “Sonic Universe.” During “Genesis,” however, “Sonic Universe” went about its normal thing, making no attempt to compete with the fan-favorite event happening simultaneously. It devoted a four issue arc to Scourge breaking out of space jail alternate reality jail. I almost feel like Flynn was trying to sneak this one out while nobody was looking. In a weird way, that worked in “Scourge: Lock Down's” favor.

Last time we saw Scourge the Hedgehog, he had been defeated by Sonic, left humiliated on his home planet. The Zone Cops have dragged him away to a prison in their reality. The former king of Moebius is not taking it well. He's bullied and belittled by his fellow in-mates, his only friends being the only bigger losers in the prison, Verti-Cal and Horizont-Al. Soon, a new shipment arrives. It's Fiona and the Destructix. They've devised a plan to bring Scourge out. But the hedgehog isn't so certain...

Scourge, as we've previously seen him, has been Sonic's cockiest enemy. He's all the negative attributes of the hedgehog hero crank up to ten, so naturally his ego is insufferable. With “Inside Job: Part 1,” Flynn brings the villain down to zero. Scourge is routinely humiliated, beaten up by other in-mates, his spines cut short, and intimidated at every turn. This process takes Scourge from lovably wicked bad guy to adorable loser. He's fucking pathetic and you can't help but feel bad for him. It's a clever writing trick on Flynn's behalf, a way to make reader emphasize with one of the comic's most amoral villains, but mostly it's just fun seeing Scourge be the punk for once.

Another purpose of this story is rearranging old characters into new roles. The Destructix, in one form or another, have been floating around the comic for over a decade. Recently, they've been mercenaries, showing up whenever Flynn needed a team of heavies for Sonic to wail on. “Inside Job” re-configures the team as Scourge's flunkies. These guys have worked with Scourge before but now they are exclusively the green hedgehog's henchmen. It's a pretty good idea. In the rest of the arc, Flynn would use this as a chance to explore the team's back stories, which where still mostly untouched on.

Another reason I'm fond of “Inside Job” might just be my love of prison movies. Though less well explored, the prison flick genre has just as stable a collection of rules and tropes as the slasher movie or rom-com. There's always a sadistic warden, various gangs in the prison, abuse among the inmates, and the whole thing usually concludes in a riot. Since this is a kid's book, Flynn can't directly quote this stuff. However, Scourge does have a physically larger cellmate that bosses him around, making him the G-rated equivalent of a prison bitch. The sadistic warden is accounted for, with an alternate version of Robotnik taking a little too much joy in punishing his inmates. There's no skinheads or white supremacist in this prison but gang lines are still apparent. I'm just saying, this is the best possible Sonic the Hedgehog-related version of "Death Warrant."

The alternate universe gimmick also allows Flynn to have some fanboy fun with the premise. The background of the space jail is filled with old and new faces. We get to briefly meet versions of various Sonic stalwarts from Scourge's zone. Scourge's bullies in the prison yard are alternate versions of Lupe, Sleuth Dawg, and Drago. Scourge's aforementioned cell mate is the Anti-Mobius version of Big the Cat, named “Smalls.” (I see what you did there, Flynn.) Evil versions of Geoffrey St. John and King Max put in plot relevant appearances. Seeing Al and Cal in jail is also fitting, considering that's where they belong. We get one-panel cameos from “Sonic '06's” Mephiles the Dark and “Sonic Shuffle's” Void – one of the rare times the comic has acknowledged those games – and Bebop and Rocksteady even show up. As someone who obsessively reads and re-reads Alan Moore's “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” and things like that, to catch all the little references in the background, I really appreciate that.

Tracy Yardley is pulling pencil duties this time and does a good job, like always. A setting this creative leads to some neat sights. The Zone Cops still occupy vertical space. Yardley depicts them interacting with the prisoners in various interesting ways, via platforms and magnetic boots. Yardley also delights in depicting Scourge's turmoil. The panels devoted to his abuse – his spines shaved, being dunked into like a basketball by a beefy Knuckles look-a-like – were clearly illustrated with a lot of glee. The colorists did a good job on this one too, as it's a moody looking book.

So Scourge's “Sonic Universe” arc is off to a good start. I'm not terribly invested in the plot yet but there are other joys here. Primarily, the amusing setting and high entertainment value of Scourge being in such a predicament. I remember this being an entertaining arc so let's hope my memories don't let me down this time. [7/10]