Sonic Universe: Issue 49

Sonic Universe: Issue 49
Publication Date: February 2013

Issue 49 of “Sonic Universe” is a landmark issue in several ways. With issue fifty just around the corner, it represents the book’s four year anniversary. That’s a milestone no other Archie “Sonic” spin-off ever accomplished. It also, more pressingly, concludes the comic’s last story arc before the reboot. So it’s a bittersweet edition, more or less the last time we’d see this version of the Chaotix. Luckily, it’s also a really good issue.

The previous three parts of “All for One” skipped the grandiose subtittles but that habit makes a comeback with part four. Given the subtitle of “Friends, Foes, and Family,” the issue concerns itself with just that. The Sandblasters and the Chaotix Rush off the meet Beauregard’s Dark Egg Legion chapter, where Mighty is still pretending to be held captive. Beauregard is unprepared for Jack’s sneak attack, causing chaos to break out. In the midst of battle, Mighty, his sister, and the others were resolve some of their problems.

I don’t know if Flynn was learning or if the last minute rewrite just really fucked up his script. In the first half of “All for One,” Flynn had his characters lay out a rescue plan which then played almost exactly as they expected. This broke a cardinal sin of storytelling, that explicitly laid down schemes must always go awry. Otherwise, you’re just telling the audience everything that’s going to happen before it actually happens. Which is, you know, not a great way to generate suspense.

Luckily, Flynn does the opposite here. As they head to the rendezvous, Vector tells Espio what they’ll do when shit hits the fan. None of this works as the characters expect, which is far more satisfying from a reader’s perspective. So there’s some surprises and suspense in this issue, which is more than the first parts had going for them.

This also leads to some damn effective action beats. Mighty is locked into super powerful shackles. As soon as we see this, we know Mighty is going to tear his way free. When that happens, when Mighty is unleashed, it sure is satisfying. Flynn has certainly utilized Mighty’s super strength in a more visceral way than any previous writer. After tearing the super shackles apart, Mighty rushes through the battlefield. At one point, he rips the engine block right out of a Jeep and nearly crushes Jack with it.

Mighty isn’t the only character that shows off feats of strength. Vector stops a dune buggy in its tracks with his bare hands. Mathilda punches roadrunner into the stratosphere and then later point blank punches a missile. There’s a lot of laser fire and explosions in this one, lending an appropriate feeling of chaos without being chaotic to read.

But the bitchin’ action is not even what I really like about this issue. “All for One: Part Four” is a genuine weepy of an issue. At story’s start, Mighty is deeply distraught at his sister’s reaction. Beauregard deeply understands how a family divided feels. This sets up quite a few tearful revelations in the back half. This is an issue full of emotional declarations. This never overreaches into melodrama, however, because Flynn knows this characters so intimately. So the big action is married to some big emotion and both is beautifully executed.

Issue 49 also gracefully pays off several of the character arcs set up earlier. In the middle of the chaos, Ray flies over to the floating platform where Ray and Mathilda are standing. He delivers an emotional plea to Mathilda, showing the depths to which her brother went to find her. At the end, Mighty introduces Ray to Tilley as her brother, assailing his fears of being replaced and left out. It does a lot to build up Mighty and Ray’s brotherly relationship, which has always been more of an informed attribute than a shown one.

Flynn also does a great job of making the reader care about Tilly, despite her being a relatively new character. Her sudden influx of affection towards Mighty probably should feel rushed. Some how, Flynn pulls it off. Hearing her heartily declare herself to be Mighty’s sister, willing to tank a missile for him, is effective. So is the final scene, the tearful departure they have.

I’m happy to report that the last real “Sonic Universe” story ends on a fantastic note. It’s sort of funny the way “All for One” began as one of the weakest stories from this series and ends as one of the strongest. I really wonder if there was someway to skip the Robin Hood bullshit in the first half. Then again, it’s entirely possible I’m overrating this issue simply because it’s the last time we see the original Chaotix together. (It’s pretty frustrating that we’d never see more of Mathilda. I liked her.) But, fuck it, I’m giving this one a [9/10.]