Sonic Universe: Issue 64

Sonic Universe: Issue 64
Publication Date: June 2014

We’re nineteen issues into the reboot and, guys, I’m tired. It was around this point in 2014 that it really dawned on me that we weren’t getting the preboot universe back. Back then, I felt like the comic I loved was stolen and replaced with a more mediocre product. Four years later, I still more-or-less feel that way. In my eyes, the original continuity is the real Archie “Sonic” comic. The rebooted ‘verse is a facile replacement that feels empty and dead behind the eyes in comparison. But I’m almost done with the whole retrospective, so I’ve got to power through. Onward with the review.

Part two of “The Great Chaos Caper” is subtitled “The Usual Suspects.” No, Keyser Soze does not put in an appearance. Instead, Knuckles and the Chaotix are cornered by the Hooligans. Both parties believe the other has the Chaos Emerald each are seeking, leading to our obligatory fight scene. After both groups realize the Emerald is in the mines underneath Pumpkin Hill, they each go searching for it.

The first part of “The Great Chaos Caper” felt aimless. It was mostly composed of Knuckles and the Chaotix goofing off around the Pumpkin Hills, the objective feeling lost. The second part at least introduces some urgency to the story. The Hooligans don’t just provide the corporate mandated fisticuffs. They also put a time limit on Knuckles’ quest. The good guys have to find the Emeralds before the bad guys do. In theory, this should provide a little dramatic tension, some narrative drive.

In theory. In execution, “The Great Chaos Caper” still feels listless. Upon arriving in the underground mines, which feel very shiny and modern for something that’s ostensibly hundreds of years old, the pace grinds to a halt again. As the foursome explores the area, Knuckles feels the need to explain every facet of the location. There’s these magic switches here, and this tunnel there. And here’s some ghosts and the different types that exist. Suddenly, the script feels less like a proper story and more like a guided tour. And not an especially enthusiastic or interesting one.

If the last “Universe” issue introduced us to the new versions of Knuckles and the Chaotix, this issue introduces us to the new Hooligans. Out of all of the cast members to survive the reboot, the Hooligans are among the least changed. Flynn basically created Bark and Bean and would continue to write them how he always wrote them. Nack is reduced to their level. And, yeah, Nack has frequently been written like a buffoon. But he would also do shit like successfully disable Sonic and murders his former partners in cold blood. I’ll miss that occasional and unpredictable ruthlessness.

My main issue with “The Great Chaos Caper” continues to be the comic relief, which is poorly handled. Any tension the story might have had is constantly torpedoed by the characters cracking quibs or performing goofy slapstick. As always, Bean is totz random which is fine, as that’s how Bean is. But Nu-Charmy remains a real pain in the ass. Original Charmy was youthful but this was tempered by his backstory, as he was running from royal responsibility. After Robotnik fried his brain, he became a tragic character, reduced to childish blabbering. Reboot Charmy is just an obnoxious brat, jumping in fear at every noise and teasing everyone when he’s not doing that.

Knuckles introducing all these elements in the mines feels like a desperate attempt to expand the mythos. Someone put these powerful doo-hickies here but we don’t know who. And we’ll never know, as Flynn has no intention of explaining that. He’s just taking Sega’s lead, by introducing these mysterious elements as if they’re meaningful, even though they aren’t. (As that would interfere with Sega’s weird mandate of never giving their characters proper origins.) We can also see this in Relic’s subplot, which involves her attempts to further decode the technology on Angel Island and damaging Fixit in the process. It’s artificial depth, backstory without backstory. And that’s lame.

The issue ends by introducing Chip and throwing some more Dark Gaia monsters at the heroes, further drawing this weak story into the even weaker “Sonic Unleashed” bullshit. I’m increasingly feeling like I’m no longer invested in this comic book I’ve spent the last three years writing about. I don’t know, I guess the artwork is good and the fight scene is pretty amusing. Meh. [5/10]