Sonic Boom: Issue 2

Sonic Boom: Issue 2
Publication Date: December 2014

The “Sonic Boom” series does not take itself seriously and this is apparent from the minute you open the comic book. I don’t remember when Archie’s “Sonic” books began opening with recaps of the previous issues but it’s definitely been an established part of the series’ style for quite a while. The “Boom” comic skewers this by having Sticks narrating the “previously-on” box, bringing her rambling voice to the recap. This irrelevant style appears early on in another way. Each of the credits are written in some silly way. “Sonic Boom” wants you to know that it’s a goofy comedy book.

Entitled “Knuckledusted,” the story follows up on last issue’s ending. While fighting the same robot Eggman appeared in last time, which is apparently named the Big Boy but never attempts to sell me a burger or sing a Sparks song, Sonic and the gang are blindsided by Knuckles. He helps Robotnik capture all four of the good guys. Supposedly, Knuckles has switched sides because Amy and the others were so mean to him last time. However, Knux soon reveals that this was a wacky double agent ploy of his. Being an echidna of little brain, he didn’t really think it all through. Don’t worry, it all ends up okay.

Last time, Ian Flynn hadn’t quite managed to capture the specific absurdist humor of “Sonic Boom.” He does a lot better in this second issue. In fact, there’s a lot of funny gags in “Knuckledusted.” I like the detail of Eggman just patching up the same robot from last time with band-aids. There’s also a funny page devoted to him balancing his desire to conquer/destroy the village with his desire to have pork chops for dinner. Sticks continues to be a comedic highlight. During the fight with the Big Boy, Amy spots the badger gnawing in the robot’s foot. While Knuckles is capturing everyone, Sticks helpfully provides her own cage. That even turns into a plot point!

Though, admittedly, the meta stuff is starting to wear a little thin. The running gag of every onomatopoeia being prefaced with “Ker” is already being overdone. There’s more jokes about character names appearing in fancy fonts in the word bubble. That is kind of salvaged at the end, with a sassy comment from Cubot and Orbot. But It’s already becoming clear to me that this book is funnier when exploiting the goofiness if its cast than when leaning in the fourth wall.

Another thing to like about “Sonic Boom,” which distinguishes it from the main book’s farcical early days, is that it actually cares about these characters. Knuckles’ feelings really were hurt. The book continues to goof on his lack of intelligence – in solid gags about grammar and bananas – but also points out that he brings other factors to the team: His super strength and his sincerity. Amy and Knux learn a lesson about valuing your friends. But it’s not some forced-in moral for the benefit of the reader, which we often saw in the “Sonic X” book. This is strictly something the characters need to figure out. I like it when even the goofy comedy book has a clear affection for its cast.

The book also further shows how different these versions of the “Sonic” cast are from their main iterations. Mostly, they’re all a lot more compulsive than they usually are. After being caged for a few hours, Sonic has been reduced to blabbering about “going fast.” After being released, he bursts out in an orgasmic exclamation of speed. Knuckles’ dumbassery is shown as something he truly has no control over. After a whole issue spent chastising everyone, Amy completely looses her shit after misplacing her hammer. I guess that’s one way of ramping up the comedy, by reducing the characters to only their foremost obsessions or attributes.

Evan Stanley’s artwork on the first issue was already pretty good but it also shows some obvious improvement in this second issue. Stanley’s action isn’t just flashy and lively, it’s also funny. The artist nicely exaggerates situations and scenarios to emphasizes the nutty tone. You can see this in the energetic scenes where Knuckles captures his friends. Stanley, just in general, contributes some nice art here. Such as the panels devoted to Eggman’s internal debate over those pork chops. Or Knuckles realization that his plan has a few holes in it.

So issue two of “Sonic Boom” is a big improvement over the somewhat awkward issue in almost every way. Considering the post-reboot could frequently feel like a tedious slog, the light-hearted absurdity of this spin-off series was especially appreciated at this point. After a bumpy start, the book already seems to have found its groove. [7/10]