Sonic Super Digest: Issue 15

Sonic Super Digest: Issue 15
Publication Date: January 2016

From the moment I started talking about them, I’ve bitched about how annoying I found Archie’s decision to slot the Sonic Comic Origins stories into the Sonic Super Digest side series. Providing important information about largely pivotal characters is the sort of thing that definitely should’ve been in the main book. Well, you won’t have to hear me rehash the same complaint again after this. Number 15 is the last issue of the Sonic Super Digest I’ll be reviewing. Two more digests would be published in 2016 but they were comprised entirely of reprinted material. Like every other Archie “Sonic” title, the series would cease publication at the end of the year.

This time, the origin story is for Razor the Shark, the first exclusively post-reboot character to get this treatment. “Castaway” features no blood-smeared volleyballs but does begin with Sonic and Razor surfing, during some downtime in the Shattered World Crisis. The shark soon reveals how he came to reside in Meropis. How he was part of a crew of pirates. How some sort of disagreement led to him being stabbed and tossed overboard. How his unconscious body drifted into Coral’s temple and how she nursed him back to health. In order to repay her kindness, he decided to stay and protect this kind, young girl.

It’s pretty evident why, out of all the post-reboot characters Flynn could have written an origin for, he choose to do Razor at this time. “Castaway,” in several little ways, sets up what would be the very last “Sonic Universe” arc. That band of pirates, and Razor’s personal connection to them, will be expanded on soon enough. Meanwhile, Coral mentions the missing Princess Undina, who will provide the plot motivation for the same upcoming story. (And also had a few background cameos in the previous issues of the main “Sonic” book.) So Flynn didn’t cover Razor’s origins now because of fan demand or because the character really called out for it. It was just another step in this long-running, thought out far in advance story he’s writing here.

But “Castaway” does have some value as a narrative. I like the insight into Razor’s personality it gives us. Though he’s largely been characterized as the kind of stubborn tough guy this franchise has plenty of, he definitely has a soft side. While describing his past with the pirates, he uses misleading words. Either because he’s ashamed of his past or simply afraid people will dislike him if they knew the truth. I also like the expansion we get on his relationship with Coral. How he repaid kindness with kindness, the type of tenderness he obviously didn’t see a lot of before. Sonic picks up the romantic connotations of this, teasing the shark about it. This ends the story on a graceful note, as Razor exits by wondering out loud if Coral could care for him the way he cares for her. The character’s vulnerable side is, by far, his most endearing quality.

Art wise, Adam Bryce Thomas provides some solid pencils. There’s not much action in this story, aside from the early surfing scenes and Razor’s brief scuffle with Captain Striker’s men. Instead, it’s Thomas’s strength for personable characters that makes this a good looking story. The hurt Razor feels over his past and the clear concern he has for Coral are shown primarily through his face, which goes  along way towards establishing the story’s heart. There’s also some nice use of shadow as well, in the panel where Razor debates whether he wants to stay with Coral or not.

As always, this story only takes up the first five pages of the digest. The rest of the book is filled out with reprints. And since this is after the Pendersing, the material is largely drawn from the post-reboot material. Some of the reprints are as recent as “Sonic Universe: Issue 79’s” “The Silver Age: Part One.” We’ve also got “Sonic” 276’s “Cold Hearted,” the back-up story from the same issue, the cover story from “Sonic Boom” #4, and the third part of “Spark of Life.” The only pre-reboot material is the first part of “Babylon Rising,” a story you’ll notice features no Penders’ elements. Otherwise, this digest only offers us some “pin-up art” - textless cover art - and some coloring pages, which look like Sega stock-art.

Up until this point, the “Sonic Comic Origins” stories had provided background info on new versions of old characters. I imagine Flynn or the editors in charge started these stories to sate reader curiosity. Obviously, hardcore fans would want to know about the Freedom Fighters’ pasts in this new continuity. Or learn what’s different with the revamped version of a fan favorite like Snively. Issue 15 could’ve signaled a shift in direction, allowing Flynn to expound on the histories of the new characters he’s introduced without devoting page space in the main book to them. Presumably, Honey the Cat, the various Egg Bosses, Madonna, and Dulcy’s supporting cast would’ve been the subjects of future Sonic Comic Origins. (Along with lingering pre-boot characters, like Naugus and Conquering Storm.) Honestly, I would’ve rather seen any of those over Razor the Shark’s origin. I like Razor well enough but any of the above would’ve been much more interesting to me.

Looking back at the “Sonic Super Digest” series, it mostly frustrates me. If the series had just been a reprints collection, with the occasional out-of-continuity game adaptation thrown in, I would be utterly ambivalent to its existence. The decision to shove the Comic Origins in here, to me, exposes one of the main problems I had with the reboot. Instead of incorporating this integral information into the new on-going arc, Flynn decided to focus the main book solely on the on-going story. As if its mere existence was enough to make us invested in the gutted book.

But, whatever, it’s over now. “Castaway” is a decent expansion on a fairly minor character’s backstory. [6/10]