Sonic Universe: Issue 75

Sonic Universe: Issue 75
Publication Date: April 2015

Once again, celebrating an anniversary issue of “Sonic Universe” feels somewhat hollow. The spin-off series reaching the milestone fiftieth issue was undermined by the looming reboot, just around the corner and ready to wipe out twenty years of continuity. The book’s third milestone issue, number 75, is similarly cramped by the reboot. It’s not really seventy-five issues worth of history were commemorating here, isn’t it? Instead, it’s not quite two years of a new universe that still feels very thin compared to the old one.

Nevertheless, Archie went ahead with acting like this issue was a big deal. They gave it eight (or, for the sake of a somewhat strangled pun, 7.5) variant covers. The difference between the old and new universes is clear in one of these. Lamar Wells’ cover fills as much space as possible with the comic’s cast. In the old days, when the book attempted stunts like this, it had to cram every possible space full of faces. Now, Wells resorts to including mono players like Captain Whiskers’ sidekicks or already dead characters like Black Death to fill up the cover. (Notably, quite a few of these characters wouldn’t appear again before the book was canned.) I’m not saying a huge cast is a sign of quality but it’s a good sign of how Archie has failed to make this new universe feel populated and lived in.

As with issue 50, this round of “Sonic Universe” focuses on ever-popular-for-some-reason adversity, Metal Sonic. Unlike issue 50, Sonic is the hero of this issue, completely negating any reason for it to be published in “Sonic Universe.” Entitled “Fury,” it begins with the Freedom Fighters in the Crystal Desert Zone. Metal Sonic has attacked a G.U.N. airship carrying a Chaos Emerald, stealing the Emerald and severely injuring the soldiers on-board. While Sally and the gang take care of the sick and dying, Sonic and Tails pursue the robot. Metal Sonic soon flees through one of those Genesis Portals Silver was rambling about. Sonic follows through and meets up with the telekinetic, the two teaming up to stop Metal.

As I said last time, this issue takes place after 2015’s Free Comic Book Day Special, after being published before it. Perhaps aware of this scheduling mishap, “Fury” covers much of the same ground. The story repeats the information about Genesis Portals opening throughout time and space, as well as reiterating Silver’s quest to close them all. This was probably nice for people who hadn’t read the FCBD book yet but has the bonus effect of making that issue even more inessential. You know, unless you really need to see the first appearance of Professor von Schlemmer.

Mostly, “Fury” is another action-driven issue devoted to that old chestnut: Sonic and Metal Sonic’s rivalry. And it works pretty well in that regard. This issue seems to understand that Metal Sonic works best as a physical threat. Flynn repeatedly emphasizes his durability, showing him surviving lava and serious blows. Though it was surely done as a way to remove the villain from the upcoming crossover without killing off a Sega-created character, the heroes being forced to trap Metal Sonic, instead of destroying him, says a lot about his power. The robot silently glowers as he delivers precision strikes to his enemies and deploys new tricks. Sonic, meanwhile, quibs and mocks his humorless opponent, which is also a nice trick. Too often, the book has focused on the ways Sonic and Metal Sonic are similar. Exploring their differences are more rewarding,

I also like the banter between Sonic and Silver in this issue. The telekinetic is under a lot of stress, overwhelmed by his mission to control the spread of the Genesis Portals. This contrasts nicely with Sonic, who is always ready with a sarcastic one-liner regardless of how grim things might get. Yet he’s also annoyed by how effortlessly Metal Sonic matches him, something Silver naively comments on. The two work well as a team, Silver’s powers interacting with Sonic’s speed in some fun ways.

Both of these elements are totally serviceable, if not especially novel. About the only thing elevating this issue also appears through Sonic and Silver’s dialogue. Sonic repeatedly asks the time-traveler about the future. If they are successful in putting the world back together. Silver, of course, does not tell him, for fear of influencing the outcome and messing with the time stream and yada yada. Sonic eventually concedes that not knowing is best, concluding that he’s not gong to let destiny decide his actions anyway. As he leaves, Silver grimly says to himself that he hopes the Freedom Fighters win, suggesting he’s not certain of their victory. That’s an intriguing moment. Silver’s time travel abilities really should introduce more debates about the nature of fate and destiny.

Honestly, my biggest problem with this issue is just a lack of creativity. It’s not like we haven’t seen Sonic and Metal fight before. And it’s not like there’s been any shortage of Chaos Emerald chasing recently. The somewhat ho-hum efforts here of late are apparent in the alternate dimension most of the issue takes place in. After fighting a lava monster in the FCBD special, Sonic and Silver are teleported to a fiery, magma-filled world here. They couldn’t have landed on someplace more interesting? You have the entire multi-verse to explore and you end up back on Mustafar? In dialogue, Silver references visiting a world full of giant, intelligent plants. Shit, I would’ve liked to have seen that! It certainly would’ve been more interesting than another volcano world.

On the artwork front, Tracy Yardley is having another one of his slightly off days. Many times throughout these pages, Sonic’s body seems to twist in somewhat loose and bendy ways. Such as when he dodges a shard of crystal or Metal knees him in the chest. Silver, meanwhile, is drawn a bit lifelessly, just floating through the air in too many panels. I will say this: Yardley’s rendition of Metal Sonic looks especially badass here. The robot is all reflective chrome, red eyes, and shining claws. Otherwise, it does seem like Yardley was getting a little sloppy with this one.

There’s really very little here that feels like an anniversary issue too. Aside from a cute scene at the end, of Sonic and the Freedom Fighters goofing around, it’s not an especially eventful issue. Aside from further introducing the Genesis Portals and a last minute appearance from Zavok, it doesn’t even set up “Worlds Unite” that much. It’s a well put together and occasionally strong issue that just doesn’t make me feel much. [6/10]