Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 13

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 13
Publication Date: February 9, 2019

It’s the start of March and it feels like IDW’s “Sonic” book is actually starting its second year. If things had gone just the way Flynn planned, the last part of “The Battle for Angel Island” would’ve been published in December of 2018. Meaning we’d have one total story line taking up the first year. Instead, something went screwy with IDW’s schedule and “Sonic” got delayed for a month. So let’s just pretend that issue 13 came out in January and 2019 was kicked off with the proper start of a new plot.

In “Calling Card,” Sonic is just chilling after putting everything to rest on Angel Island. That’s when Tails arrives with bad news. He’s received an ominous invitation to Windmill Village, that seems to hint at Eggman’s return. Sonic and Tails arrive to find that the villagers have been locked up by Rough and Tumble. The skunks have been outfitted with high-tech weapons, furthering the obvious fact that Eggman is back. Meanwhile, Eggman and Starline continue to test his latest invention, a weapon with potentially devastating connotations.

The most interesting thing about “Calling Card” is Sonic’s reaction to Eggman’s return. He’s not pissed or ready to start smashing robot heads again. Instead, he’s sort of sad. It’s clear that Sonic was genuinely touched by the idea that his greatest enemy might’ve rehabilitated. He really wanted Eggman to get better, really wanted him to stay as Mr. Tinker. Sonic is still throwing quibs around and is ready to go fast against his enemy by the end. But that moment of disappointment on Sonic’s behalf gives us some more insight into this new, extra humanistic take on Sega’s hedgehog that Flynn seems to be inventing. (It might also be a slightly meta move, as I’m sure I’m not the only fan who would’ve liked to have seen more of Mr. Tinker. We share your disappointment, Sonic.)

That introspective is largely confined to the comic’s first scene. Most of “Calling Card” is actually devoted to a comedy-filled fight scene between Sonic/Tails and Rough/Tumble. The skunks remain somewhat ridiculous characters. They still introduce themselves with Team Rocket-style rhyming verse, a habit Sonic and Tails mockingly emulate. This infuriates the skunks. I hadn’t really noticed it before but Tumble doesn’t have the traditional bushy skunk tail, Robotnik providing a Robo-extension here. Upon seeing Tails’ two tails, Tumble launches into a jealous, resentful rage. He’s defeated when Sonic severs his new tail, making the skunk so despondent he can no longer fight. Rough, meanwhile, is defeated when one of his stink bombs is tossed back at him. It’s all mildly funny, especially a random shout-out to the Math Lady meme.

What most excites me about this issue is Eggman’s subplot. The villain is preparing his newest weapon, a nanite-fueled gray goo that turns organic matter into machinery. When totally submerged, animals are transformed into mindless slaves. Oh boy, you guys. It’s increasingly looking like SatAM elements won’t feature into IDW’s comic at all. But, here, Flynn essentially introduces Robotization into the new series. Granted, this mechanization functions more like a zombie virus, slowly spreading between living beings through touch. Yet even a vague reference to my most beloved corner of the Sonic franchise makes me giddy.

And maybe it’s not the only Archie reference, though you have to really squint for the next one. This issue gives us more insight into Dr. Starline’s personality. He has a fawning admiration for Eggman. At the same time, he seems a little annoyed that the doctor largely ignores his suggestions. If this builds into resentment or underhanded espionage, Starline will officially be our new Snively. We also learn more about the duck-thing’s powers, the Warp Topez on his sleeve being able to generate portals. Not unlike Dr. Finitevus’ warp rings. And since both characters are doctors and wear little John Lennon glasses, the Archie-verse’s albino echidna seems like a likely inspiration.

I overall though this issue was okay but something about it still feels somewhat inessential. It introduces Robotnik’s next scheme and makes Sonic more aware of his archenemy’s reemergence. Otherwise the plot doesn’t move forward very much. Instead of giving us an easy-going hang-out issue, Flynn separates Sonic from most of his supporting cast. While the rumble with Rough and Tumble is fun, it feels like an incident introduced to occupy the book while Flynn puts the pieces in place for the next arc. In other words, half of this issue is basically filler, showing that Flynn hasn’t kicked his addiction to fluffy fight scenes.

Adam Bryce Thomas is back in the artist’s chair. He doesn’t get to do his own colors and inks here, so this book isn’t on the level of graphically intensity that issue 2 was. But it still looks good. Most of the issue’s laughs come from his Thomas draws the facial expressions, Sonic and Tails frequently being annoyed or exasperated by their enemies. The action scenes are strong too, with a lot of energetic motion. The scenes devoted to an innocent little bunny being turned into a mindless Robo-Zombie are definitely mildly creepy too, in the right way.

While I’m excited by where the book might be going, this issue leaves me with a more mixed impression. It’s a totally cromulent read, entertaining and fast-paced. But it’s not especially deep either. While things have gotten a little better in this regard, it still feels like IDW’s “Sonic” hasn’t yet established its own identity. [6/10]