Sonic Universe: Issue 31

Sonic Universe: Issue 31
Publication Date: August 2011

Looking at this cover reminded me of a little anecdote concerning this particular issue of “Sonic Universe.” Usually, I keep my pile of to-read comic books on the corner of my coffee table. Back in 2011, when the issue was new, my sister was visiting with my then-six year old nephew in tow.  I recall the kid picked up my “Sonic” comics, this issue specifically, and started leafing through it. My sister then asked me if the comic's content was appropriate for him, to which I said it was probably fine. I had completely forgotten about this until I saw the cover image just now. Anyway, on with the review.

Part three of “Inside Job,” subtitled “Inside Job,” follows Scourge as he continues to put together a team, for is upcoming escape from space jail. In this issue, he re-connects with Lightning Lynx and Flying Frog, allowing Flynn to expand on both characters' non-existent back story. After successfully convincing both of them, the escape leaps into action.

If nothing else, “Inside Job” has been a fun story line just for all the silly in-jokes Flynn has thrown in. He has frequently filled the margins with interesting sights. Last issue, Void and Mephilies the Dark showed up briefly. This issue introduces the Zero Zone equivalent of Rouge, who works as the prison's behavioral psychologist. Which is cute. Her therapy class features a robotic Tails, a entity composed entirely of fire, seemingly the Moebius version of Ray the Squirrel, and a bulky version of Amy Rose. (Maybe she's from the same realm as Hulk Sonic.) And if that wasn't fucking nerdy enough for you, there's also a blink-and-miss-it cameo from Silver Snively and Robolactus, the villains from that ill-conceived “Guardians of the Galaxy” parody, last seen a thousand years ago in issue 104 of “Sonic the Hedgehog.” I like this goofy shit.

As I said last time, one of the driving forces behind “Inside Job” was to finally expand on the Destructix's origins. Part three focuses on Lighting Lynx and Flying Frog. However, Flynn has already developed Lightning's back story a little bit. We know he's affiliated with the Raiju Clan ninjas from Monkey Khan's corner of the globe, that he has some connection with the Bride of Conquering Storm. The issue expounds on that a little bit more. Confirming what was hinted at previously, we find out that the lynx had a crush on Conquering Storm. Like some weird Red Sonja shit, courting rituals in the Raiju Clan dictate that a suitor must defeat his potential mate in combat. Lightning failed to do that, being rejected from the ninja brood. In other words: Lightning got friend-zoned and freaked the fuck out, as too often happens. Sort of sad but makes him look like a big creep.

Next comes Flying Frog's origin story. Turns out he was a court jester in that quasi-Arthurian area of Mobius, where Rob O' the Hedge hangs out. He's also a totally deranged murderer, who killed several people back in Murcia. That kind of came out of nowhere, didn't it? Flynn writes Flying very similarly to Bean and Rosy the Rascal, showing that his unhinged characters more-or-less come in one variety. Turning Flying into a straight-up serial killer, when he's only previously been shown to be a little goofy, was a fairly extreme change. It's the only character expansion Flynn goes through here that really bugs me. It seems like he had no idea what to do with Flying and just threw some random shit at the wall.

Once all of that is out of the way, the plot can start to move forward. To paraphrase George Pappard, it is satisfying to watch a plan come together. Within the last few pages, the break-out begins. Watching Lighting and Flying scale the side of the building, seeing Fiona break out, is gratifying to see. As the issue reaches its conclusion, Scourge gets his revenge on Smalls the Cat. Instead of straight up killing the dude, like would happen in an actual prison movie, he simply spin-dashes him into a wall. But the intent is clear. Scourge is done being anyone's butt monkey.

Artwork wise, issue 31 of “Sonic Universe” continues to show good work from Tracy Yardley. How he depicts the flashback are probably my favorite thing about this issue. Lightning's flashback is ringed in purple and green, seemingly the colors most associated with the Raiju clan. A painting of a dragon watches as he gets the shit kicked out of him. Flying's flashback, meanwhile, is depicted in a slightly shakier, more expressionistic fashion. Which invokes his more unstable personality, I suppose. Both are neat touches.

While not quite as strong as the previous two issues, “Inside Job” continues to be a pretty good story arc. I like the setting. I like getting a little more info on these obscure supporting characters, even if some of it gives me pause. I like seeing Scourge transform into a bad ass, reminding all of us why we liked him in the first place. It's a pretty good issue. [7/10]