Sonic Universe: Issue 35

Sonic Universe: Issue 35
Publication Date: December 2011

Is this a petty complaint? “Sonic Universe” was a series launched to explored the other corners of Archie's Sonic-verse, away from the main book and its main characters. For the most part, the series focused on that objective. From time to time, the book would forget its own mission statement and have Sonic and the Freedom Fighters play a major role in the story. Such as in the “Journey to the East” arc and now again here. It bugs me a little, because I feel like the book is violating its own gimmick in these moments. I guess that's nerdy nitpicking. But whatever, this is my blog.

“Baby Rising” begins with the Battle Bird Armada arriving above Mobotropolis. Using Dr. Fuckuorokov's latest device, the Armada quickly breaks through the city's force field. The Freedom Fighters quickly mobilize to protect their community from the latest invasion, while King Elias rushes the by-standers to safety. Sonic and Naugus stand up to the Armada but they prove more difficult to overcome than expected.

Oh yeah, the Babylon Rogues are there too. Putting Sonic and Tails on the “Independence Day” inspired cover wasn't just to give this spin-off book some more sales rack recognition. They are essentially the main characters of this issue, along with the rest of the Knothole team. The Babylon Rogues have been reduced to bit part players in what is ostensibly the story arc all about them. If you picked up this book expecting some hot Babylon Rogue action, you were probably disappointed.

Maybe it's just me but sidelining the super bland Sega-created lot actually causes this sluggish four-parter to perk up a little. The focus here is definitely on action. You've got Rotor slipping back into his Nanite suit, flying around and blasting bots. Sonic is taking the fight directly to the Rogues. Tails and Speedy get another confrontation. Maybe it's just because characters I actually give a shit about are now involved in the action but this is the first part of the “Babylon Rising” arc that really works for me at all.

Yardley's writing skills are already showing improvement. Aside from a few groan-worthy lines, including a really embarrassing “Angry Birds” shout-out, his dialogue is evening out. It seems shifting the focus to characters we have a pre-established connection to is doing wonders for this story. Nicole's fragile emotional state is a reoccurring point. She can barely bring herself to try and protect the city. When Elias reaches out to her in the woods, she quickly withdraws her holographic lynx form, which is a really touching scene.

I'd say Yardley's narrative skills have improved a lot except for two fairly important points. First is his continued attempts to make the Battle Bird Armada a creditable threat. He goes too far trying to portray them as bad-asses. Previously, the Armada was single-handedly defeated by an eleven year old. Now, they are cracking Mobotropolis' defenses in seconds and blwoing up Castle Acorn. Worst yet is the treatment of the Battle Kukku. Once again, Yardley shows this ridiculous looking character being an unstoppable physical force. He punches Ixis Naugus, one of the most powerful supervillains in the book, into submission within a few panels. As in last issue, having the Battle Kukku suddenly display such immense strength is startling and unintentionally funny. It's the worst kind of overcompensation, taking a previously childish threat and suddenly having them act like big-dick deals.

The second problem is that the story is a little overcrowded. The Battle Bird Armada's invasion of Mobotropolis comes at a pretty awkward time. Yardley has to insert his story into an entirely unrelated story arc. So we get passing references to Bunnie loosing her cybernetics, Naugus' continued struggle with the voices in his head, the people of Mobotropolis turning against the Acorn monarchy, and Geoffrey St. John's arrest. Keep in mind, the issue also has to make room for the Rogues' continued presence in this story. It's just shy of being overstuffed. If you were reading this series a few issues out of sync, you would be really confused.

If I actually gave a shit about the Babylon Rogues, I would probably be annoyed by them being sidelined in their own story. However, as annoying as “Sonic Universe” abandoning his gimmick suddenly can be, this shift in focus doesn't bother me too much. For the first time, the “Babylon Rising” arc doesn't feel totally perfunctory. It's still a pretty busy, shaggy story but I'll give it some points. [6/10]