Hedgehogs Can't Swim is Going on Hiatus

Faithful Hedgehogs Can't Swim readers, you might have noticed something recently. I've been missing a lot of updates. There's a simple reason for this: I don't have anything to post right now. Yes, your reliable blogger has finally fallen behind. After wrapping up my Archie retrospective last year, I went on a short hiatus, with the hopes it would give me enough time to build up a decent amount of material. Obviously, this wasn't the case. I've been struggling over the last few months to put together posts for this blog and my consistency has been suffering because of it.

So, I hate to do this to you but I see no other option at the moment: Hedgehogs Can't Swim is going on semi-hiatus until March 2nd. I say "semi" because there will be odd, one-off updates in-between here and there. I'm going to try and stay on-top of the new issues of IDW's "Sonic" book as it comes out. Naturally, the impending release of the "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie will surely result in a reaction from me. Regular updates will be paused for a few weeks though, as I attempt to actually bank enough reviews to ensure normal activity can ensue for the rest of the year. 

Sorry, guys. Shit happens sometimes. Life has been crazy recently and that's certainly been a factor. If you want to yell at me, feel free to do so on Twitter or my other blog. Hopefully, once this is all over, it'll be back to business as usual for everyone who has stuck with me over the last few years. I hope you understand.

THE 2019 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG COMIC BEST/WORST LIST!

At the end of the very first Best/Worst list for IDW's “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic, I complained that the book still felt like it didn't have its own identity. If nothing else, in 2019, IDW “Sonic” broke off boldly from any previous “Sonic” publication. With the rise of the Zombot arc, “Sonic” quite unexpectedly became a horror comic and has gone in a shockingly grim direction. (At least, as grim as a SEGA-approved product can be...) This has meant some good and not-so-good things for the comic over all but at least we can honestly say that IDW “Sonic” is definitely it's own thing now.

2019 was also the year IDW started to really expand their “Sonic” line. They published their first “Sonic” annual, something Archie weirdly never tried, as well as launching the first spin-off publication, a largely delightful mini-series devoted to Tangle and Whisper. Will IDW add more “Sonic” publications in 2020? I guess we'll see soon enough. For now, I'm glad we continue to get more “Sonic” content, even if the void left by the Archie-verse remains unfillable.

So, let's get going. The material covered in this retrospective is:

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issues 12-24
Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper: Issues 1-4
Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019

BEST COVER STORY: 
Ian Flynn, "Infection!" (Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 16)

Issue 16, over all, the strongest issue of IDW's entire run of “Sonic” thus far. It balances a number of elements well. We get some cool insight into Eggman's personality, Sonic shows a degree of self-doubt (and therefore depth) that was lacking before, and Tangle shows up in the beginning to provide some good-natured comedy. What really sells this issue is a corker of a sequence in the middle, when the Zombots are first unleashed. Now, we've seen the book do the same thing so many times that much of the impact has been lost, but the pure horror of that initial sequence... People pulled from their homes, forced to watched, horrified, as their former friends and neighbors spread a malicious infection onto them. Pretty strong stuff for a comic book about a blue hedgehog that runs fast.

WORST COVER STORY:
Ian Flynn, "The Last Minute, Part One" (Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 21)

If “Infection!” shows why the Metal Virus story arc was so exciting at first, “The Last Minute, Part One” shows why it got so tiring, so quickly. Tails perfects an anecdote tot he Virus just to have it torn away from him at the last minute. He is rescued by the Restoration, only to learn that HQ has fallen. Flynn might just be trying to continuously raise the stakes but, in effect, it just feels like the universe (i.e. the writer) is shitting on the character. “The Last Minute, Part One” also features some really weird moments where Tails is this hyper-competent bad-ass, a characterization of the little fox that has always baffled me.

BEST BACK STORY:
Evan Stanley, "Victory Garden” (Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019)

Thanks to the Annual, a publication filled entirely with back stories, I now have material for the Back Story category! “Victory Garden” was clearly the stand-out of the Annual. Well-intentioned-but-bumbling Silver makes a strong return in this story, that also builds a touching friendship with Blaze here. Just seeing these two characters bound over something as simple as gardening is really interesting, largely for the way this hobby reflects on both character's growing personalities. This is exactly the kind of back-up stories I want to see more of in IDW “Sonic.”

WORST BACK STORY: 
Caleb Goellner, "Jet Set Tornado” (Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019)

With two stories under his belt for IDW's “Sonic” titles, it's clear what kind of writer Caleb Goellner is. In his story, Sonic and friends bark incredibly awkward dialogue, any noticeable personalities of the characters are sacrificed for a focus on special abilities, and the plots are nothing short of mechanical. In “Jet Set Tornado,” Sonic and Tails never come to life and only seem to exist as empty corporate mascots, caught up in a story that moves me in no way.

BEST STORY ARC:
Ian Flynn, "Tangle & Whisper" (Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper: Issues 1-4)

The “Tangle & Whisper” mini-series was easily a highlight of IDW's year, at least when it comes to “Sonic.” Tangle has always been lovable and giving her a co-starring role in a mini allows to see how fun, exciting, and empathetic a character she is. Whisper, meanwhile, was allowed to grow and evolve as a character, as we learn more about her past and the recent traumas that motivate her shyness and her current actions. Caught up in a simple but compelling chase plot, “Tangle & Whisper” proved to be a surprisingly touching and deeply sincere story about how friendship builds us up and makes us special. It's good, you should read it.

WORST STORY ARC:
Ian Flynn, “The Last Minute” (Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issues 21-23)

Obviously, I wasn't a fan of the first part of “The Last Minute” and I didn't want to rag on the three-parter any more, as I thought the last part was actually pretty good. Yet the second part of the story was also another miserable slog, save for a shockingly awesome moment involving Vector the Crocodile. That second part also featured some of the most aggravating cliches of the zombie genre, further dragging down the arc. “The Last Minute” was truly the point when I started to turn on the Metal Virus Saga, which probably makes it the right choice for this dubious honor.

BEST MAIN COVER: 
Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 15 - Jack Lawrence

Another highlight of the year was new artist Jack Lawrence coming onto the book, quickly becoming one of my favorite illustrators. His cover for issue 15 is energetic and dynamic, showing Sonic and Amy fleeing into a tunnel behind an incensed Rough and Tumble. The emphasis on speed is fitting since, after all, “Sonic” is a series that should always be about speed, right? It's a dramatic image that draws the eyes, accurately reflects the comic's contents, and works great as a piece of its own. A great cover, in other words.

WORST MAIN COVER:
Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 24 - Jon Gray

Jon Gray's artwork is clearly divisive, as some “Sonic” fans love it and others, to say the least, do not. Any regular reader of this blog knows where I stand on that particular debate. I'm not usually a fan. And I think even fans of Gray would agree that the cover for issue 24 is fucking hideous. Gray smashes together practically the entire cast – including several “sonic” characters that haven't speared in this comic yet – and then smooshes the exact same number of characters onto the other side of the cover, depicting them as Zombots. It's a mish-mash of clashing colors, a sea of details that are impossible to absorb at once. It's too busy, too garish, and deeply unappealing to look at.

BEST VARIANT COVER:
Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 19: RI Cover - Nathalie Fourdraine

Throughout 2019, Nathalie Fourdraine contributed absolutely gorgeous covers for the Retail Incentive variant covers. Though many of these were fantastic – the noir inspired cover for issue 16 and and the Halloween cover for issue 22 were also wonderful – I think her work on issue 19 is the best of the year. It depicts the classical zombie movie image of someone holding a door close against the grasping claws of the undead horde. Sticking Team Dark into this role, lit and depicted dramatically in Fourdraine's painterly style, was a smart decisions. It's a striking and dramatic image beautifully depicted.

WORST VARIANT COVER:
Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 13: Cover B – Kieran Gates

Kieran Gates' variant cover for issue 13 isn't bad, per say. Gates' handle of the “Sonic” characters are perfectly capable, and all the other techniques you associate with comic book art, are perfectly competent. It's just insanely boring. This is a simple image of Sonic and Tails posing in front of images of Angel Island and the Green Hill Zone. It looks like Sega clip art, doesn't reflect the story in any way, and doesn't especially excite or interest me. Boooo.

BEST STORY ART:
"Crisis City, Part One" - Jack Lawrence (Sonic: Issue 19)

Lawrence would quickly establish himself as maybe my favorite artist on IDW's “Sonic” book, with this issue especially. His action sequences remain highly energetic, which really helps elevate this fight-centric issue in particular. I love how expressive his faces and body language is. You can really tell a lot about what the characters are thinking and feeling just by looking at them. This even extends to the background characters, like the family of bears Sonic rescues at one point. The dude also has a strength for realism. Omega or the armored truck Shadow makes his entrance in are both life-like in their detailing. (Bracardi Curry’s overcast and tense colors also go a long way to improving this one.)

WORST STORY ART:
"The Last Minute, Part Two" - Priscilla Tramontano (Sonic: Issue 22)

Priscilla Tramontano did some fill-in work before this issue that was quite good. However, she shows the typical growing pains of a new artist getting use to the “Sonic” style with her solo stand in issue 22. Tramontano’s action sequences are kind-of stiff. When Amy hammers herself into the air or Vector kicks down a door, it just looks awkward and hard-to-follow. Her characters look a little too geometrical in general, too round in some spots and too straight-lined in others.

BEST NEW CHARACTER:
Mimic

This was an easy choice. Mimic is a glorious son-of-a-bitch. Completely self-interested, he will do anything to further his own goals. He's brutal and calculating when it comes to taking out targets, showing a homicidal side that has been previously unseen in IDW's “Sonic” book. He's also fairly cunning, using his shape-shifting abilities to outsmart the good guys. If there's any department IDW's “Sonic” book needs expanding in, it's the rogue gallery. So I was very happy to see Mimic emerge as such a strong, memorable villain.

WORST NEW CHARACTER:
Gemerl (IDW)

I have tried to focus the New Character categories on comic exclusive characters, as it feels like a cheat to call Sega characters who have previously appeared in the Archie comics as “new.” IDW didn't introduce too many new characters in 2019. Most of the new additions, like Jewel or Diamond Cutters, where at least mildly interesting, in design or personality. The only new addition I had criticism for was the Shadow Androids briefly glimpsed in the flashback of “Tangle & Whisper” mini-series because, really, do we need another robot version of the various hedgehog characters? Still, pinpointing those guys seems like a cheat, considering we don't actually know anything about them right now.

Yet I feel I have to mention how massively disappointed I was in the IDW version of Gemerl. The Archie version of Gemerl had a hilariously avuncular personality, amusingly ornery in the way he defended Cream and Vanilla. The IDW version of Gemerl, meanwhile, has almost no personality at all. He's just another robot, with a typically mechanical method about him. What an utterly boring choice. That feels like a Sega mandate there, it's so bad.


BEST IDEA:
The Weight of the Past

In 2019, Ian Flynn would end up focusing on how past choices and memories weigh on the cast. Sonic was constantly left wondering if he made the right choice, letting Eggman live out his life as the harmless Mr. Tinker, now that his villainous personality has returned and unleashed a horrible virus on the world. Eggman, however briefly, himself was shown wondering if perhaps he missed his more innocent days as a harmless inventor. Meanwhile, we learned all about the trauma that formed Whisper's current personality. It was nice to see the book acknowledge how the past can shape people.


WORST IDEA:
Arc Fatigue

Considering how he wrapped up the Metal Sonic Saga within a year, I was really disappointed Ian Flynn fell back on his sloppy, sluggish pacing with the Metal Virus Saga. It's a new year now and we still have a few months left before this thing even comes close to being wrapped up. For a story this grim, a quick and snappy conclusion is especially valuable. We aren't going to get that and, clearly, Flynn is going to stretch this out even more. I was sick of this shit months ago. Flynn, get it together and learn to wrap up a story line in eight to ten months. Please, I'm begging you.

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 24

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 24
Publication Date: December 18th, 2019

While there are many differences between Flynn's work on Archie's “Sonic” comic and his subsequent work on IDW's “Sonic” comic, some things never change with this guy. Ian still doesn't know how to pace an event. He's actually gotten worst at this the longer he's done it. The Iron Dominion arc wore out its welcome and sensibly ended shortly afterwards. Readers were sick of the Mecha Sally plot but it was clear that Flynn was planning on concluding it soon. (And then, ya know, the comic was rebooted.) The Shattered World Crisis stretching on for three years seems to have completely sapped Flynn's ability to plot concisely though. 2019 just ended but it's clear that the Metal Virus Saga is not concluding for a while longer. Which is a bummer, because after a year of Zombot shenanigans, what started out as a novel story idea has transformed into a tiresome slog.

When Sonic rolls into Spiral Hill Village, Tangle's home town, it's already been largely ravaged by Zombots. Tails and the rest of the Restoration are working to rescue any non-infected people but they are few and far between. The Restoration is being increasingly spread thin, as Espio, Amy, Tangle and Whisper stand among its few uninfected members. And that number soon grows smaller. While scanning for more survivors, Sonic discovers that Tangle has been already been infected. She performs a crazy stunt that distracts the Zombot horde long enough for the Restoration shuttle and the few still-organic villagers they could find to lift off.

Things are looking increasingly bad for our heroes. It seems each new issue brings another blows to the good guys. There's a moment in this issue where Cream greets Sonic without any of her usual pep or vigor. It seems watching her mom get turned into a Zombot stole away the bunny's last ounce of hope. Sonic then tells Tails that he lost the data recorder he gave him. Tails is nearly brought to tears at that point, realizing he couldn't have create an anecdote without his lab anyway. It seems almost everyone in this comic book has reached a point of total despair. It's a bummer to read and not in a particularly insightful or interesting way. It truly feels like Flynn is just treating his cast badly for funsies at this point. It's exhausting.

And, of course, things are going to get much worse before they get better. The “Next Time” bubble at the end of this issue even says “From Bad to Worst.” How could things possibly get any more bleak? After Gemerl scans Sonic's life signs, he informs Amy that the hedgehog's infection is worst than previously thought. Soon, his speed will no longer be able to fight it back. This is obviously a metaphor for Sonic's emotional, mental endurance breaking down, as the Zombot tragedy just keeps getting more tragic. I might commend Flynn for even hinting that the book's titular character, Sega's mascot, might soon become a robot zombie... But it just feels like another inevitable loss in a book made up of them recently.

The endless bleakness is not the only thing tiring about issue 24. Early on, after fighting off some Zombots, Sonic and Espio revisit the ethical debate the hedgehog had with Shadow a few issues back. Espio blames the Metal Virus outbreak partially on Sonic, for not listening to the Chaotix and locking up Eggman back when he was the harmless Mr. Tinker. This was a worthwhile debate to have the first time. Now it's old news, especially when it happens in the middle of an action scene. That does not seem like an ideal time to argue about this kind of stuff. And, sure, Espio is obviously hurting. He's just recently lost his two best friends. But it also seems incredibly petty for him to lash out at Sonic at this point. It's not like the hedgehog doesn't have enough on his plate already.

About the only moments issue 24 comes to life, rising out of its syrupy blackness, is when Tangle is on the page. Even when revealing that she's infected, the lemur's enthusiasm is boundless. She is so excited to be working with Sonic. When he picks her up and runs across with her, she seems ecstatic. (If this was a different comic from a different era, I'd think Flynn was hinting at a romantic attraction between the two.) Fighting against the Zombots still gives her a thrill. She's all smiles even when in a hopeless situation. So when she finally succumbs to her infection, slumping into a robotic posture, it's effectively sad. So is Whisper's complete breakdown at loosing her best friend, a raw and flinching moment.

Adam Bryce Thomas is back on penciling duties and his work is usually excellent. But there's something off about it here. The action scenes are lively, the angles dynamics, the facial expressions especially vivid. Yet there's a sketchy quality to the art in this issue that honestly makes it look unfinished. The lines look kind of crunchy, sometimes making the artwork hard to follow. I don't know if this is the fault of the inker or the colorist but I suspect one or the other was rushed in order to make a deadline. It's the only downside to an issue that otherwise looks totally fine.

Maybe it's because 2020 just got started and is already looking to be an even bigger geopolitical misery hole than 2019 was. While I normally love grimdark “Sonic” shit, I have officially run out of patience with the Metal Virus arc. Flynn is determined to make things as dark as possible before the inevitable victory, which is just making me wish he'd get on with it now. While it has some emotionally resonant moments, issue 24 is just more of the same at this point. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper: Issue 4

Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper: Issue 4
Publication Date: December 11, 2019

Welcome to 2020, Hedgehogs Can’t Swim readers! I didn’t mean to take New Year’s Day off but the truth is I’m entering the new decade with a horrible cold. That, combined with generally being way behind schedule, meant I had to miss a day. Hopefully, I can get the blog back on track now that the new year is starting. And what better way is there to start the new year then by putting the previous year to bed? So let me wrap up my coverage of IDW’s recent “Tangle & Whisper” mini-series. (IDW delayed this issue several times, so I feel a little less bad about this review being a bit late.)

Anyway! “Showdown” has Whisper and Tangle on the former base of the Diamond Cutters, waiting for Mimic to arrive. Soon, the fight begins, the shapeshifters bringing a small army of Badniks with him. However, the fight ends up being more personal than that. While disguised as Sonic, Mimic tries to get the drop on Tangle. It doesn’t quite work out for him as a fight soon emerges. Once Whisper and Tangle have the villain at their mercy, they have to make the hard decision of what to do with him.

Somewhat disappointingly, the final issue of “Tangle & Whisper” plays out in as straight-forward a fashion as possible. As the title indicates, this issue is about nothing more than our heroes confronting the bad guy. Mimic has previously outsmarted Tangle and Whisper but they are ready for him this time... So ready, in fact, that they easily outsmart him. He falls into a trap he really should’ve been smart enough to see coming. Once ambushed, it’s not long before he’s beaten into submission. Seeing the heroes win is nice and all but I wish it had taken a little more effort on their behalf.

Having said that, Mimic at least continues to be a fun villain to watch. His ruthlessness remains amusingly hammy. While fighting Tangle, he assumes the form of Jewel, which successfully throws the lemur off enough for him to get a couple shots in. I guess it’s just typical Kid’s Media Villain Syndrome that he’s so easily beaten, that he monologues when he should be delivering a killing blow. (There is something of a disconnect there, as we already know Mimic is a remorseless killer.) Yet it is entertaining to watch him be such a son-of-a-bitch.

Though there’s another reason, beyond simple story logic, that Flynn probably should’ve acknowledged Mimic’s willingness to kill more. After Tangle wraps him up, Whisper puts the muzzle of her Wispon to his head. At this point, we have the old debate about whether or not it’s right to kill truly despicable people. Tangle eventually talks Whisper into taking the high ground. Instead of truly tangoing with the debatable ethics of capital punishment, or even acknowledging the contrast between Mimic’s willingness to kill and Whisper’s reluctance, Tangle just convinces Whisper that it’ll be a greater humiliation for Mimic to be captured, to live with the knowledge he failed. While discussing whether a remorseless murderer like Mimic truly deserves to live or not, I’m not shocked Flynn wimped out. Obviously, “Sonic” heroes aren’t killers, even if Eggman’s recent actions in the main series suggest maybe they should be. Besides, Flynn’s not going to throw away a good villain this soon, especially not when IDW’s Sonic-verse is still so young.

Moreover, the morality of executing evildoers is not Flynn's main point here. "Tangle & Whisper" is and always has been about the Power of Friendship. Mimic is pointedly shown as never caring about his fellow Diamond Cutters, which is why he was able to turn on them so easily. He refers to friends as a weakness, a liability. Tangle and Whisper, meanwhile, succeed because of their Friendship.(Though I wish Flynn showed them more actively working together in this issue.) Interestingly enough - and this is what makes the whole thing work for me - this bond is not depicted as an all-powerful, absolutely mending, magical process. Tangle and Whisper go their separate ways at the end of this issue. Whisper is still coming out of her shell, is still recovering from the trauma of her recent past. But the love and support Tangle is giving her has helped. The two have changed each other for the better. Isn't that nice? To see a kids comic acknowledge that, though friendship is a wonderful and healing thing, it also takes time? Either way, Tangle and Whisper are clearly BFFs and seeing them part is a bit bittersweet. Which is an interesting note to conclude the mini-series on.

Still, this is an issue largely devoted to action and, in that regard, it is a little disappointing. The small fleet of Badniks Eggman sends with Mimic apparently poses no threat to Whisper. She easily blasts a bunch away. It's such a non-challenge for Whisper, that her fight happens largely off-panel. This also keeps Tangle and Whisper apart for a long stretch of the story. When they finally come together, Mimic doesn't put up much of a fight. While it's certainly cathartic for the heroes to just wail on the bad guy for several panels, it reads as a bit of an anti-climax. After chasing the dude for three issues, he goes down after a few whacks. Sure, there are some neat superpowers on display. Whisper molds her wispon into a bludgeon while Tangle coils him up in her tail. But it's nothing we haven't seen them do before. I guess I was expecting a little more.

So "Tangle and Whisper" ends in a slightly underwhelming way. Still, three outta four ain't bad. "Tangle and Whisper" is still a winner in my book. While the main "Sonic" series is slightly more into defeatism, "Tangle and Whisper" was fun and bright yet emotional and meaningful. It's one of the few times when you can tell Flynn was really going for something deeper, about self-forgiveness and kindness. This issue probably tops out at a [6/10], maybe a [7/10] based on the strengths of those last few panels. But the entire mini-series was resoundingly a creative success. I have no idea what the sales figures were like but hopefully they were high enough to justify doing this again. If not as an on-going, at least as another limited series. Even if IDW is still pretty young, It's clear the supporting corners of the "Sonic" universe are where it's at.