Sonic Universe: Issue 79

Sonic Universe: Issue 79
Publication Date: August 2015

When Dawn Best started drawing for Archie’s “Sonic” comic in 2001, it signaled an important change for the book. Before that, only professional comic writers and artist had worked on the series. Best was the first time someone was plucked out of the fandom to join the big league. When Ian Flynn joined the book in 2006, it was the first time a “Sonic” fan fiction writer had turned pro. By 2015, the majority of the comic’s creative staff would be made up of people who loved “Sonic” long before working on it in an official capacity.

Evan Stanley had a similar start. The same year Flynn was hired, she started writing and drawing a fan series called “Ghosts of the Future.” (She continues to work on it to this day.) After joining the book four years later, Stanley would mostly provide pencils for the comic. With issue 79 of “Sonic Universe,” she got a chance to write as well. Silver seems to be Stanley’s favorite character, as he is the star of “Ghosts of the Future.” With the “Silver Age” arc, she would have a chance to incorporate some of her fan theories into canon.

Set before the events of “Worlds Unite,” “The Silver Age” takes us into Silver’s future. And it’s a shitty place to live. A group of masked weirdos called the Council rule a polluted, industrial city with an iron fist. People are forced to work grueling hours and the laws are enforced by robot troopers. Silver hides from authority, practicing his telekinetic powers in secret, and fighting the forces-that-be in small ways. His abilities catch the attention of a disturbingly green human scientist named Professor Von Schlemmer. Schlemmer thinks Silver’s abilities can help fight the Genesis Portals. He tests this theory when a portal opens up right under their feet.

I was really reluctant to like Silver the Hedgehog. I found the bland Sega version to be a bore. It wasn’t until Flynn started writing Silver as a lovable dork, a hopeless bumbler trying to do his best, that I started to like him. The few times we’ve seen Silver post-reboot, he’s been written more-or-less the same. It seems Stanley has a radically different interpretation of Silver in mind. He’s a fairly grim character, hiding in a ruined cityscape, thinking serious thoughts to himself, and fighting the power in the small ways he can. In other words, Silver more resembles his boring digital counterpart. The only time we get a peak at dorky Silver is when he arrives at his garbage heap home and starts talking to himself.

Having a protagonist I’m resistant to like doesn’t get “The Silver Age” off to a great start. Also contributing to me disliking this issue is giving Von Schlemmer a major supporting role. I still find this character, with his gross green skin and annoying German accent, to be deeply unappealing. These creeper vibes are confirmed throughout “Sonic Universe” issue 79. The doctor intrudes into Silver’s private space uninvited and refuses to leave when told so. He then proceeds to touch or hug Silver, despite this clearly making the hedgehog uncomfortable. He then insists Silver comes to the science center with him, which the hedgehog doesn’t want to do. So the professor just picks Silver up and kidnaps him. I’m sorry, is this suppose to be charming behavior? Because the impression I’m getting is less “lovable eccentric” and more “inappropriate uncle.”

Furthermore, Stanley’s script relies far too much on coincidence. Just as Von Schlemmer is describing what a Genesis Portal is, a Genesis Portal appears right under them. The two are sucked inside, attacked by weird, black tentacles. Von Schlemmer says Silver can shoot laser beams and has the power to close the portal. Even though the hedgehog has no training to do this, he proceeds to blasts away the tentacles, snatch them from the void, and close the portal perfectly on his first try. It would have been less contrived and more relatable if Silver got to practice on some other portals before being tossed right into action. And it doesn’t help that Stanley repeatedly uses goofy sound effects like “Schweee.”

As for the dystopian setting... Well, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before, is it? The setting reminds me of a hundred other dystopian cities. In fact, the city Silver lives in heavily resembles the classic SatAM depiction of Robotropolis. Stanley seems to acknowledge the similarity with the designs of the Council’s robots, which look like beefed-up SWATBots. The Council are mildly creepy as villains, with their faceless mask and monotone inflections. However, the idea doesn’t really distinguish itself in an interesting or intriguing way.

Stanley writes but does not draw “The Silver Age.” (She does provides a pretty spiffy cover.) Instead, that duty falls to Tracy Yardley. It’s among the best work we’ve seen from him in a while. The city setting is atmospheric, Yardley utilizing shadows nicely. Silver does look like a bad ass, when he suddenly masters his powers inside the void. Despite his skills, Yardley still can’t make Von Schlemmer look like anything but the worst Frankenstein Monster ever.

So “The Silver Age” gets off to a rough start. I remember this whole arc being fairly disagreeable, so prepare for more negative reviews like this. This seems to continue the pattern of artists making poor debuts as writers. Then again, lots of fans seem to like this one, it often being listed among the best post-reboot story arcs. Maybe my opinion will perk up as I continue through it but I’m not getting my hopes up. [5/10]