Sonic Universe: Issue 65

Sonic Universe: Issue 65
Publication Date: July 2014

Have I mentioned lately that I think the “Great Chaos Caper” arc is dire? Here I am, three issues into this thing, just wishing for it to end. There were very few preboot storylines I felt that way about. “The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown” was probably this project’s previous high-water mark for generating apathy in me. And even that had some truly baffling missteps on Penders’ behalf, making it interesting to read from a train wreck perspective. This is too competently assembled to make you wonder how the hell it went wrong. Instead, it’s just boring.

So, sigh, anyway... Part three of “The Great Chaos Caper” has Knuckles and the Chaotix discovering the spirit Knuckles has been seeking, who also happens to be carrying a Chaos Emerald. The quartet quickly befriends the little guy, Charmy naming him Chip. The Hooligans are still on their trail, however. When they can’t pry the Emerald out of Chip’s hands, they just steal the flying furry thing instead. Meanwhile, Knuckles and the Chaotix are trapped in a flooding room with a big scary Dark Gaia monster.

An issue I have with “The Great Chaos Caper” is its refusal to take anything seriously. As with previous team-based fetch story, “Treasure Team Tango,” Flynn inserts a lot of awkward slapstick. When chasing Chip, Vector tips over a mine cart, Espio nearly falls into a pit, and Charmy just straight up flies into a random metal bar. This sequence did not make me laugh and only succeeded in making the Chaotix look like utterly incompetent idiots. This broad, physical comedy infects all the action sequences, with Bark the Bear tackling Vector in a ridiculous fashion. Which, you’ll notice, drains any tension from the book. Bombs are going off, the room is flooding, characters are in danger, and the fate of the world is at risk. But the tone remains unbearably zany

Primarily, this issue is devoted to introducing Chip. Appearing to be some sort of small canine with fairy wings – Vector compares him to a chihuahua, which is odd since Mobini dogs no longer exist – Chip is another element from “Sonic Unleashed.” He’s also another cute, annoying, small thing that flies. This franchise already has Tails, Charmy, Cream, Omochao, and T-Pup but I guess the powers-that-be decided we needed another one. (More pressingly, this comic book already features Charmy, who remains at maximum obnoxiousness.) In his initial comic appearance, Chip doesn’t make much of an impression. As is typical of aggravatingly “cute” characters, Chip has a lot of enthusiasm but remains skittish about the world around him.

Chip does, however, introduce what could be a possible theme to this story. The squirrel-wolf-fairy thing knows he has some sort of higher purpose but can’t remember what it is. Knuckles recognizes Chip as the spirit he was sent to protect. When Chip discovers what his special purpose is, that he’s some sort of elemental spirit, he’s overjoyed. Knuckles talks a lot about how it’s his destiny to protect this little rat critter. The Chaotix and Hooligans, meanwhile, are focused on the much more practical purpose of getting paid. So there seems to be a deliberate contrast here, between being driven by a need to help the world and greedier impulses. I’m doubt Flynn intended this, since the comic is really running on auto-pilot at this point, but it’s sort of interesting.

In-between the pratfalls and small flying dog introductions, issue 65 of “Sonic Universe” returns to Angel Island. Relic and Fixit continue to snoop around the Island. They eventually come upon some weird plant sprouting out of the ground. Due to its bluish color scheme, I thought this was another Dark Gaia thing but, nah, turns out Eclipse crash-landed on the Floating Island and has apparently planted a garden for his alien little brothers or some shit. This sequence has nothing to do with the main plot but is there to link this story arc to the previous one, setting up the big crossover fight in the next arc. I care for this not at all but it is nice to see Relic again. Her very specific thread of nerdiness remains endearing.

After defusing all the narrative tension with goofy comedy and light-hearted character interactions, Flynn finally has a monster show up near the end of the issue. You know, the thing he’s been foreshadowing since part one. It’s a big, club-wielding giant creature and the action scene involving it is fairly mediocre. However, it does allow the story to end on a decent cliffhanger. The Hooligans grab Chip and fly off. Bean’s bombs have trapped the Chaotix in a small, flooding room with this big, pissed-off monstrosity. That’s a good hook. With better pacing, a lot of cutting and rearranging, that could’ve been the end of part one and this could’ve been a two-parter.

I haven’t talked much about the artwork in the book recently. Tracy Yardley’s been doing the doodling and I’m pretty much use to all the ups and downs of his art by now. Having said that, issue 65 does look pretty good. Yardley brings a lot more personality and expression to Chip’s sickeningly sweet Sega design. I especially like the moodiness of Relic’s scene. The characters are cast in darkness, with the glow of Fixit’s flashlight eyes adding to that eerie feeling. I do wish Yardley has focused more on making the underground setting seem more cramped and claustrophobic. That would’ve gone a long way towards upping the tension.

So there are some definite pros and cons to this one. Every element that works – the parallels between the heroes and villains, the spookiness of Relic’s scene – are matched by elements that don’t work, like the sloppy comic relief or the need to set up future stories. If nothing else, at least this dragging and out-of-balance arc is almost over. [5/10]