Sonic Universe: Issue 93

Sonic Universe: Issue 93
Publication Date: December 2016

We are getting dangerously close to the end here, guys. After today, there’s exactly one issue each of Archie’s main “Sonic” book and “Sonic Universe.” And it is sort of interesting that “Sonic Universe” is ending things on a more low-key arc. Instead of the fate of Angel Island or grand struggles between heroes and villains, we’ve gotten a largely comedic and character-based story focused on developing an established ensemble and a newly introduced group. Of course, I’m sure if Flynn and co. knew this was the end, they would have planned things differently.

“The Case of the Pirate Princess, Part 3: Strangers on a Ship” continues the incredibly vague and poorly thought-out Hitchcock references in the subtitle. No, Vector does not make an agreement with a total stranger to murder someone. What the plot does involve are the Chaotix trying to formulate a plan to get themselves, Echo, and Princess Undina off Shellbrraker’s boat. The crew soon arrives at the island they are seeking. Soon, Shellbreaker and Undina come across ancient ruins warning a great weapon is hidden on the island. Shellbreaker can’t wait to seize this but everyone else is increasingly nervous.

Aleah Baker’s work continues to be character based. “Strangers on a Ship” is another issue with pretty much no action sequence. Instead, this is an issue all about the interplay between the cast. Razor and Blade’s relationship remains a large focus of the script. While on the island, Blade expresses a disinterest in treasure hunting and a preference for raids. This escalates into an argument with Razor, his sister showing how her childhood wounds have made her resentful of the world. It’s juicy stuff and probably could’ve evolved into something really interesting. Unless these problems are resolved and Razor started some healing, Blade might’ve headed down a path of greater villainy. Sure would’ve been nice to see that play out.

What really struck me about this issue was the development done on the pirates. Aside from his tendency to slip otter puns into his dialogue, we hadn’t learned much about Captain Shellbreaker. (We see him drink from a “Good Morning, Beautiful” mug here, which is pretty funny.) Here, he emerges as a charismatic leader who can rile up his crew... That also has a dark side, a thirst for power the veers towards the tyrannical. We also see more of Opal, who has a breezy sexiness that makes her immediately my type. Bratty goth girls are my weakness and, yes, she sounds like Tara Strong’s Raven in my head.

However, it might be said that Baker is a little too focused on banter. There’s a page devoted to Opal, Blade, and Charmy arguing about what flavor of porridge to have for breakfast. (Much to the confusion of resident stoner, Dive, who is doing the actual cooking.) It’s a funny moment but it feels extraneous. The same can be said of a page devoted to Undina recognizing Espio, from his humiliating defeat by Bean during Breezy’s tournament. I get what Aleah and Ian were going for but, when a comedy scene goes on so long you forget what the plot of the comic actually is, maybe things have gone a bit too far.

The focus is so much on Shellbreaker and his crew that the Chaotix themselves fade a little into the background. Vector is making up the plan as he goes along, causing the reader to get a little lost on what his objective actually is. Echo only appears in one scene, where she tells Espio how hurt she is by this turn of events before he tells her that it’s all part of the plan. Espio largely plays the part of comedic straight man, though he seems to have something sort of going on with Undina, which is kind of cute. Charmy, as Charmy too often has been since the reboot, is reduced to just shouting goofy and childish shit.

Of course, the pirates being largely delightful becomes disappointing in retrospect, what with this being the penultimate issue of the entire series. At least we actually got to know them a little. The issue also sets up ideas clearly meant to be explored at another time that were left hanging due to the “Sonic” line’s cancellation. The mysterious ruins the pirates find on the island are merely one of many such relics. Clearly, Flynn was hinting at another lost society full of lingering magic, perhaps connected to Naugus and the trolls.

I can’t blame the writers for this, as nobody clearly anticipated the series’ abrupt death. While still a fun and interesting read, “The Case of the Pirate Princess” lags a little in its third installment, Baker and Flynn a little too in love with their batch of quirky adventurers. Still, it’s way more memorable than half of the shit that happened during the Shattered World Crisis. [6/10]