Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 279

Sonic the Hedgehog: Issue 279
Publication Date: March 2016

With issues 278 and 279, the cover artists for Archie’s “Sonic” book was doing something clever. The two covers compliment each other. They show nearly identical images, except the first has Sonic in his natural state in the center. The second still has Sonic in the center but now he’s in his Werehog form. The surrounding faces in the background are different but are still contained in the puzzle pieces that make up the Shattered World. Matching covers was a clever idea... That was somewhat undermined by the books coming out three months apart, due to the mysterious delays at the start of 2016. In that time, it was easy to forget what issue 278’s cover looked like.

Luckily, the book begins with a reminder of the previous issue’s events, in case you forgot. Werehogged Sonic, Antoine, and Big, accompanied by the local Freedom Fighters team, have sneaked into the desert Gaia Temple. They are here to rescue Ehsan, a scholar who has the next Gaia Key. Upon arriving, they are ambushed by Badniks and the Egg Army, led by Nephthys the Vulture. Since it’s night, a group of Dark Gaia Monsters are also attacking. Out of this chaos, the Freedom Fighters still manage to escape with Ehsan. They leave with the Gaia Key, totally unaware of the secret the Desert Raiders are keeping from them.

As with the last issue, this is largely a fairly mediocre action story focused on grabbing the latest magical MacGuffin. Despite being ambushed by two separate groups of enemies, our heroes don’t struggle much. Big is freaked out by a monster and Antoine is startled by a Flamer but both quickly dispatch these enemies. Later on, Spike makes short work of another Dark Gaia Monster. Sonic tangos with Nephthys but is never in any real danger. You don’t really feel like the good guys earn this victory. Flynn throws in one or two cute character moments - Chip being scared, Big quickly recovering from a shock - but not much else defines this story.

She briefly appeared in the last issue but this is the true introduction to Nephthys the Vulture, a colorful Egg Boss based off the gold-crested Egyptian Vulture with a needlessly difficult to spell name. While she never attracted the following of some of the post-rebot Egg Bosses, Nephthys was fairly well received. (Most likely due to her design, which is admittedly very spiffy.) She is characterized here by the philosophical debate she has with Sonic while fighting him. The vulture believes that fighting Robotnik's reign will only lead to more death and destruction. Sonic believes that injustice must be fought everywhere. The final panel certainly suggest that she has her own reasons for believing in these things. This certainly gives her more personality than some of the other recent introductions.

The most distinguishing thing about this particular story is how it ends. After rescuing Ehsen, the Freedom Fighters leave with the Gaia Key. The Desert Raiders go off on their own ways, returning home... And reporting back to Nephthys. The enthusiastic band of Freedom Fighters are, apparently, double agents. This is an intriguing turn of events! Sadly, Flynn would never get a chance to expand on the Desert Raiders' motivations or whether their fandom of the O.G. Freedom Fighters is genuine. The most interesting plot development Flynn has introduced in a while and it would end up going to waste.

In the back pages, Aleah Baker wraps up her “Hidden Costs” story line. Cassea and some goons has Bunnie nailed down but the rabbot soon escapes, grabbing the emerald. She soon meets up with Sally, the two discussing the things they've learned about their enemies today. Immediately afterwards, while Cassea is recovering from her injuries, Clove learns just how big of a scumbag Dr. Eggman is.

Baker brings her mini-epic about understanding your enemy to a close here. Through their interactions, a mutual respect has formed between the two factions. Cassea lets Bunnie fly away at the end, even though she has the Chaos Emerald. Later, Sally and Bunnie discuss how they realize not everyone working for Eggman is bad. How they are simply good people in a bad situation. This level of nuance and gray morality is really appreciated, especially in the reboot, which has sometimes felt a little thin as far as heart goes. Everyone being a little more complex certainly makes for a more interesting comic book.

To this already appealing mixture, Baker adds a total emotional gut punch of an ending. We learn that whatever the malady affecting Cassea is, Eggman's cybernetics hasn't completely cured it. She'll need on-going check-ups and modifications if she's going to live. So Eggman has got Clove on the hook, the deer willing to do anything for him just so he'll keep her sister alive. This climaxes with the heartbreaking final panel, showing Clove hugging a hopeful Cassea, who doesn't know the true details of her situation. Shit, man, it just got dusty in here.

Helping tell this emotional story is Evan Stanley's artwork. Stanley proves especially good with facial expression here. The close-ups on Clove or Bunnie's faces helps keep the story's emotional heart in clear view. That final page works as well as it does largely because of Stanley's pencils. Adam Bryce Thomas continues to draw the cover story. This also plays to Thomas' strengths, as the actions scenes are energetic and dynamic. Take a look at the panels where Antoine swats away the Badnik or Spike successfully gets the jump on a Dark Gaia Monster.

Once again, for what feels like the twentieth time since the reboot started, I'm finding myself preferring the back story significantly to the cover story. Just like with its first part, I'll be splitting the rating again. The last part of “Hidden Costs” is the best of the three, Aleah Baker crafting an effectively emotional conclusion. It gets a [9/10.] The cover story I can not recommended as highly, as most of the interesting things about it are what it sets up, things that happen off-panel. It gets a [5/10.] Never say I wasn't consistent.