Sonic Super Digest: Issue 12

Sonic Super Digest: Issue 12
Publication Date: June 2015

In June of 2015, the main Archie “Sonic” books were wrapped up in “Worlds Unite.” Yet, just as that big crossover was starting to ramp up, a new Sonic Super Digest hit the newsstands and grocery store check-out lanes. The twelfth issue also included a new Sonic Comic Origins story, forcing me to acknowledge it. Lest you forget Sonic and Mega Man were interacting with each other at the moment, issue 12 of the Digest series reprints the first part of “Worlds Collide.” The Blue Bomber is also stuck up in the right corner of the cover.

The Origins story, however, deals with a humanoid character with a far longer history with this franchise. “The Traitor” is about Julian Snively, the rebooted version of Robotnik’s longest lasting lackey. The doctor is being interrogated by his new employers at G.U.N., following his sketchy behavior during the “Total Eclipse” story arc. He’s asked about the many years he spent working with Eggman, helping to overthrow the Acorn Kingdom and subjugate the world. Snively claims he was acting as a spy the entire time. His story holds up but Abraham Tower is still very suspicious.

“The Traitor” uses the visual format of comics smartly. In dialogue, Snively talks about how he only had the noblest intentions when working with Eggman. In the comic panels, we can see what he actually did during that time: Grinning devilishly when Eggman tells him about his plans for a coup, smiling while building the Chemical Plant Zone, happily helping Eggman banish the king to the Void. Snively is full of shit. This version of Snively may be a better liar and have more success with his plans but he’s still only interested in his own survival and gaining power.

While this is a very clever touch, I’m disappointed in how little we actually learn about Snively’s new backstory here. We don’t learn who his parents are, where he came from, how he ended up meeting Eggman or how he arrived in Mobotropolis. He simply describes his former uncle as a “co-worker.” Mostly, this story is devoted to showing what Snively got up to during the events of the original trilogy of games for the Genesis. Instead of a generic Egg-Robo, Knuckles now fought Snively during his boss battles. Which is a smart alteration of lore... But I would’ve preferred to learn more about Snively’s actual history.

I greatly disliked the way Mobians and humans interacted following the reboot. However, this story does introduce a human I would’ve liked to seen more. Snively is interrogated by Madonna Garnet, an Amazonian G.U.N. agent who is none too impressed with his story. The character combines two obscure supporting players from “Sonic” history. Her first name and general appearance -- supermodel physique, foxy and short blonde haircut -- is taken from Madonna. As in Sonic’s human girlfriend (yes, really) that was planned but ultimately discarded from the first game. Her last name and job in law enforcement is a reference to Topaz, Rouge’s partner/secret girlfriend from “Sonic X.” This was a good way to get Topaz, something of a fan favorite, in the comic without violating Sega’s weird rules. And, hey, I’m always up for more tough female characters in this book. Sadly, this was Madonna’s only appearance before the comic’s abrupt cancellation.

Lemar Wells takes a break from drawing the Origin stories and hands the pen over to Adam Bryce Thomas. Thomas' style adapts mostly pretty well to the more human characters in this story, though Snively's beard looks very silly in a few panels. (Which may be just because it's a lousy design.) The flashbacks look excellent. Thomas makes the interesting choice to illustrate Eggman only in silhouette, which certainly makes him seem like a more sinister figure. The action panels, whether it be King Acorn being sucked into the Void or Super Sonic wrecking the Death Egg, are very dynamic and energetic. Even if it is only a brief five-pager, Thomas at least makes it look really nice.

The digest being what it is, the rest of the book is mostly filled out with reprints. Despite his presence on the cover, Mega Man only appears in the one story, probably because Archie wanted you to buy those paperback collections. Since the pre-boot stuff is clearly off limits now, there weren't many Snively stories to draw from, preventing this from being a themed issue. We get parts three and four of “Treasure Team Tango,” part one of “Shadow Fall,” and part one of “Ambushed” from issue 266. It is not a great selection of stories. Otherwise, we get some covers re-purposed as pin-up art and coloring pages. Not much to write about.

In the past, the digests have been essential stories, because of how they expanded on the Freedom Fighters. This is probably the first truly skippable Sonic Comic Origins entry. Not because it's bad – it's a decent story that I have a few problems with – but because this version of Snively plays such a small role in the rebooted world. I think this might actually be his last appearance, unless there's a brief cameo somewhere I'm forgetting. I wish the new Snively ended up as fleshed-out as the old one.. And that he shaved that ridiculous goatee. Still, I'd probably give the first story in the Digest a [6/10] because it does do some cool things.