Sonic Boom: Issue 4

Sonic Boom: Issue 4
Publication Date: January 2015

Before I re-read the comics and write these reviews, dear readers, I usually look up the issue I’ll be covering today on either the Mobius Encyclopaedia or the Sonic News Network wiki. This is just to confirm I have the publication date correct or if there’s any pertinent trivia I need to include in my review. Upon reading the title, I noticed it was listed as “SticksTM and Stones.” I figured this was some sort of joke on the book’s behalf. “Sonic Boom” is fond of meta gags, after all. Nope, turns out Sega was just being especially anal retentive this week. When first introduced, all the characters have trademark symbols next to them. I guess that means, if I try to publish a book with the words knuckles, tails, or sticks in the title, I can expect a nasty letter from Sega’s legal department.

Anyway, “Sticks and Stones” begins with Eggman making his fourth consecutive attack in his Big Boy mech. He interrupts Sonic and the gang at lunch, because they honestly forgot they were suppose to fight the mad scientist on the beach today. Emboldened by this slight, Eggman proceeds to thrash the heroes. Sticks arrives with a simple stone and claims it to be the Rock of Justice, an ancient relic with magical properties against evil. Sonic and the others ignore Sticks’ claims but not everything is as it seems.

Sticks gets a satisfyingly absurd little character arc in this issue. After proclaiming the rock is magical, her friends ignore her. We’re treated to several amusing panels of her attempting to interest the others in the stone. When this fails, she just tosses the damn thing at Eggman, creating a chain reaction that destroys the Big Boy. Convinced the Rock of Justice really is magical, and that it’s magical strength has been used up, the heroes give it a proper burial.

This alone probably would have suited me just fine. It’s a simple and goofy story of Sticks’ friends undervaluing her but then remembering why she’s important to them, no matter how eccentric she may seem. The comic then throws in an amusingly absurd denouncement, where we discover the Rock of Justice really is just a meaningless stone. The comedic quasi-pathos from before are not invalidated but the ridiculous spirit of Sticks, as a character, is maintained. I’m probably reading too much into it but I like that this comic cares just as much about its characters as it does its jokes.

“Sticks and Stones” also continues issue three’s deft execution of physical sight gags. For their fourth battle with the Big Boy, Eggman has outfitted the armor with devices specifically designed to counteract the heroes’ abilities. These attributes get goofier as the issue goes on. The hidden springs and rear-mounted butt guns quickly give way to swatting Amy away with a giant tennis racket and deflecting Sonic with a massive sling-shot. These broader physical gags paired nicely with smaller ones, such as Knuckles attempting to shield himself with an umbrella or Sticks having to pause her heroic declaration because the Rock of Justice is too hot to hold.

Even the fourth wall leaning gags, usually the comic’s weakest comedic tendency, are getting better. Among the expected acknowledgment of logos and “Ker” sound effects are two sharp gags about the “Sonic” comics’ over-reliance on editor’s boxes. Their first appearance is followed by a taunt, directed at the readers, about how they should’ve expected them. Later, Sonic does the editor’s job for him, by referencing the issues the Big Boy previously appeared in dialogue. I guess I liked those two jokes because only longtime “Sonic” readers will really get them.

Before, I’ve talked about how the “Sonic Boom” cast are driven by their compulsions and obsessions. Sonic’s speed, Knuckles’ dumbness, Sticks’ insanity, etc. Issue four gives us some insight into Eggman’s obsession: His need to defeat Sonic. And it’s a very petty, emotional obsession. When he discovers the good guys forgot about their fight-date, Eggman mopes for a panel. Later, he considers just packing up and going home, his moment ruined by Sticks and the Rock’s arrival. Cubot and Orbot have to talk him into continuing the battle. This Eggman is childish and a little pathetic, someone who depends emotionally on being acknowledged by his rival. This contrast nicely with his grand designs as a super villain. It’s also much funnier than previous attempts to make Robotnik a comedic figure, which usually focused on his ego and fatness or just make him a buffoon.

The artwork is once again from Ryan Jampole and Jennifer Hernandez, though it’s not specified who did what this time. I suspect the artists traded off pages or something. Hernandez’ smoother and more energetic art characterizes most of the book, though you can still see Jampole’s somewhat awkward character work from time to time. The artwork highlight of the book is clearly the two page spread where Sticks throws the Rock, which then ricochets into the Big Boy. Instead of traditional panels, the action is depicted through a swirl of images, kind of like a James Bond barrel sequence. It’s a neat looking set of pages, for sure.

The first four issues of “Sonic Boom” form a loose story arc, with the Big Boy being Eggman’s primary weapon in each one. If this was the old days, this probably would’ve been a mini-series proceeding the main series’ publication. It’s nice to know Flynn is still acknowledging that habit, even if it was antiquated in 2015. I guess because there was already a TV show to pull from, the “Sonic Boom” comic found its identity much faster than any of Archie’s previous series. I hope it can keep up being this consistently amusing throughout its whole run. [7/10]