Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 276

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 276
Publication Date: September 2015

Even as it was racing ever closer towards oblivion, Archie’s main “Sonic” book was still breaking records. With issue 276, the book became the longest-running comic based on a pre-existing franchise. The previous record holder was Marvel’s “Conan the Barbarian” comic. Now, that’s according to the Sonic News Network. I’m pretty sure the various Disney comics probably have a more solid claim to that title but I don’t know what exact measurements the wiki is using to come to their conclusion. Still, 276 issues ain’t nothing to sneeze at. Think of the records the book could have continued to break if Archie wasn’t run by complete fuck-ups. I’m reasonably certain the series would be still be running today if not for corporate incompetence.

With “Worlds Unite” over, the “Sonic” book can get right back to the overarching story it’s been working on for over a year. Yes, the Shattered World Crisis continues, the Freedom Fighters still looking for those Gaia Keys. In “Cold Hearted,” this journey has brought Sonic and Rotor to the frozen north. They intentionally get themselves captured, so they can meet up with the also recently captured humans that guard the local Keys. Chip will break them out. However, the plan is complicated when Rotor meets the local Egg Boss... His father.

The cover refers to this issue as a “Brand New Story Arc,” which is wrong on all counts. The arc this one continues is the same one the book’s been focusing on since the reboot started. This is also a refreshingly stand-alone story, without cliffhangers or a “To be continued.” The plot is simple but satisfying, following a nicely organized A-to-B construction. The humor, like Sonic cracking lame puns or Chip grabbing sweets on his way out, is not distracting. Instead, it’s nicely incorporated into the story. The action scenes, especially the Werehog busting everyone out of the compound, are well done. Flynn even throws in a reason for the Werehog’s ridiculous giant cleats. They help him navigated the icy fortress.

More than anything else, this issue is elevated by a bead of emotional truth. The readers have known for some time that Rotor’s dad was employed in the Eggman army and that the teenage walrus didn’t get along with his old man. So this confrontation has been coming for a while. Despite long establishing himself as a Freedom Fighter, Rotor is still frightened by his dad. His words, about his son becoming an anarchist, about how he did what was best for their people, pierces Rotor’s skin. It takes a well written pep talk from Sonic to perk Rotor up. The story also ends on a nicely ambiguous moment. Rotor has escaped, and the Freedom Fighters have two more Gaia Keys, but his issues with his father are far from resolved.

That I like this issue so much now is surprising, as I kind of hated it when I first read it. That’s mostly because Sonic spends a lot of time here interacting with normal humans, a quirk of the reboot that still rubs me the wrong way. The guardians of the Gaia Keys are whatever this world’s equivalent to Inuits are, to go with the Arctic setting. But I guess I’m getting used to the new status quo. The two captured humans are a bickering married couple, which is a fairly cute touch. When Sonic gets back to their home, their young daughter can’t stop hugging his fuzzy body. That’s an even cuter touch. While it certainly would’ve made the interior logic of the universe more consistent if these guys were Mobians, I guess it’s not too bad that they’re regular fleshies.

Maybe the story wraps up in such a quick, concise manner because there’s a back-up story this month. “Back in Business” checks in on Eggman’s affairs post-crossover. He has recently completed Eggman Land, his amusement park/refinery. Despite that triumph, he’s still reeling from some recent failures, which Orbot too happily points out. That’s when he receives news that Metal Sonic, previously lost in a Genesis Portal, has been located. Eggman flies into the void to rescue his robotic creation.

While the cover story basically picks up like nothing happened, “Back in Business” is primarily devoted to putting Eggman’s affairs in order after “Worlds Unite.” How many Chaos Emeralds and Gaia-related accessories he has is explained. That he’s totally abandoned plans to invade Lost Hex, presumably because Flynn wanted to get back into that after the Shattered World Crisis was done. He’s even already started to forget the details of the crossover. Recovering Metal Sonic is, of course, the biggest stabilizing factor here. God (and Sega) forbid that Sonic’s metallic copycat be out of the book for more than a month.

Having said all that, this is not a totally bland refresher course. The back-and-forth Eggman has with the catty Orbot is mildly amusing. It’s seems some of his “Boom” counterpart has rubbed off on him, as Eggman has a childish and endearingly loser-ish streak in this story. The action scenes set in the cosmic void, a location Eggman describes as “trite,” are decent. He fights a weird, giant, deep sea eel-looking thing in the final boss armor from “Sonic 3.” Which is pretty cool. The last page reintroduces Naugus, as well as his new sister Wendy, which at least points towards the comic’s future.

It’s another issue that looks really nice too. Adam Bryce Thomas draws the cover story. This is really the point where Thomas went from a competent to truly fantastic artist. Thomas brings a grit and detail to his work that reminds me of Steven Butler. His action scenes are kinetic, really giving you a sense of motion. Even minor background characters, like Tundra’s mooks, are given some personality. Thomas’ artwork really shines during a silent page showing Sonic and Rotor’s escape, the two tearing though a hallway and a polar robot in a straight line. Evan Stanley’s work in the back-up is solid too. She clearly enjoys drawing a Eggman in an excited mood, while the psychedelic landscapes of the second half are also beautifully rendered.

Making sure the characters we care about actually have an interior life is a good way to get us invested in your stupid fetch quest plot, Flynn! Why didn’t you do this all the time? It’s good to see the book getting back on its feet after the massive action of “Worlds Unite.” The cover story is surprisingly great while the back-up is pleasant enough. That evens out to a [7/10] for me.