Sonic Universe: Issue 76

Sonic Universe: Issue 76
Publication Date: May 2015

It’s time for another crossover, boils and ghouls. The year was 2015 and Sonic and Mega Man were going to meet again. I thought “Worlds Collide” kind of sucked but it was successful. It sold well and, perhaps more importantly, it allowed both comics to survive. The crossover created a scenario where the “Sonic” book could be rebooted. The boost in sales also helped “Mega Man,” a beloved series that never sold that well. So it made sense for everybody to do it again.

While “Worlds Collide” functioned under a simple – way too simple, if you ask me – desire to see these guys fight and then team-up, “Worlds Unite” was a far more ambitious project. In addition to the mainline “Sonic” and “Mega Man” books, the crossover also introduced elements from the “Sonic Boom” and “Mega Man X” continuities. (While also giving the up-to-now neglected Zetis, the “Sonic: Lost World” villains, a prominent role.) Later on, the story goes even further and has Sonic and Mega Man teaming up with dozens of other heroes from various Sega and Capcom properties.

Even as someone who disliked “Worlds Collide,” the idea of Sonic and Sticks eventually teaming up with Guile and Gillius Thunderhead was pretty exciting. Another big improvement was, unlike “Worlds Collide,” this crossover would actually take place in-universe. Sally and the Freedom Fighters would play a role in the story, even if it was a small one. So I went in a skeptic but ended up enjoying “Unite” way more than “Collide.” This was, once again, at odds with the fandom’s overall reaction, as readers seemed a little disappointed in this one. But I’m used to feeling that way. I swear I’m not intentionally a contrarian.

Anyway, let’s get on to talking about the actual comic book. “Worlds Unite,” first part subtitled, “Across Time and Space” begins in Mega Man X’s future. Supervillain Sigma has somehow gained control of the Genesis Portals and plans to take over the multiverse with them. He teleports himself to Sonic’s world, takes over Orbot’s body, and turns the recently conquered Zetis against him. Eggman is put to work building Sigma a new body and army. When he tires, Sigma pulls Dr. Wily – presumed dead on Mega Man’s world – out of the dimensional gyre. The two mad scientists soon convince the super android to use the Zetis to attack and capture Sonic and Mega Man, who were otherwise just going about their business.

While I eventually enjoyed the crossover, the first issue of “Worlds Unite” is exhausting. It’s devoted almost entirely to setting up the baddies’ convoluted schemes. Yes, I said schemes, as Sigma, Eggman and Wily, and the Zetis all have competing plans. The monsters attempt to betray Sigma immediately but he quickly overpowers them, bending them to his will. Eggman and Wily, meanwhile, are playing the long game and plan to backstab Sigma eventually. Eggman narrates most of the story, which at least makes the reader more accessibly privy to his plan.

It’s a lot to set up and, inevitably, some plot points get lost in the haze. Wily has no memory of the events of “Worlds Collide,” seeing no reason to distrust Eggman. For reasons I can’t remember now, Sonic’s foe does know who Wily is. Flynn hasn’t gotten around yet to explaining how or why Sigma can control the Genesis Portals. The conquest of the Zetis was hinted at in the main “Sonic” books but mostly happened off-panel. Which may cause some less obsessive readers to wonder where the hell these Pokémon-looking motherfuckers came from. (I guess the “Lost Worlds” one-shot adaptation can be slotted in roughly before this.) I guess such a loaded first issue is inevitable for a crossover that will have so many elements to juggle.

I will say this much. Sigma makes a fairly positive first impression on me. (I have no idea if he appeared previously in the “Mega Man” book.) The beefy android is boisterous in his speech and absolutely convinced of his superiority to everyone around him. Yet he’s not treating comically like Eggman and Wily frequently are, allowing him to be amusingly hammy and intimidating. He’s certainly a more interesting bad guy than the Zetis. They spend the whole issue lurking in the background, before they attempt to rebel and get brainwashed. It’s evident Flynn just plans on using these guys as henchmen, which is all they’re probably good for anyway.

With everything going on in this issue, Mega Man and Sonic feel like supporting characters. Despite appearing in “Sonic Universe,” this is very much a Mega Man comic. Aside from the the opening on X’s world, the only moment of real emotion we get is with Rock and his pals. With Wily presumed dead, Mega Man and his buddies can get down to rebuilding their city. Yet the conflict has left emotional scars. As Rock leaves for the store, his sister Roll stops him, worried something bad will happen while he’s out on the errand. She’s right, as that’s when the Zetis attack. This lends a tragic quality to Roll and Rock’s heartfelt conversation.

Compare that to the Sonic scenes. It’s just him running through an empty green field, grabbing a Master Emerald shard out of a lava-filled cravas, and rescuing a little bird. It feels like an utterly generic Sonic sequence, like out of a hastily written fanfic or one of Sega’s more forgettable video games. (Or an even-more-forgettable comic adaptation.) The Mega Man scene makes it apparent Flynn is in invested in those characters and their world. You’d never know that was the case from looking at the Sonic scenes.

The artwork is provided by Dan Schoening. An artist that is well regarded for his other work, including a long-run on IDW’s various “Ghostbusters” titles, he is making his “Sonic” debut here. Schoening’s anime-esque pencils look flashy and detailed. However, his action scenes feel a bit pre-posed. As if they were primarily drawn to look cool, instead of conveying a story. He’s also seems a bit more comfortable drawing the humanoid “Mega Man” cast than the furry “Sonic” characters, something we’ve seen before with guest artist. Still, it is a nice looking issue.

So “Worlds Unite” gets off to an overstuffed start. I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise, considering all the characters and events that will soon be introduced. I remember it evening out into something fun soon. Still, by actually acknowledging the comic book stories around it, I already like this a lot more than “Worlds Collide,” with its weird insistence on not having any effect on either book. [5/10]