Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome: Issue 2

Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome: Issue 2

Publication Date: January 12th, 2022 

IDW is trying a new strategy with their "Sonic" comics, at least going into the new year. Instead of having the main "Sonic" book and the "Imposter Syndrome" mini-series run concurrently, the books are alternating months. This month, issue 2 of "Imposter Syndrome" came out, next month we'll see issue 48 of "Sonic." So on and so forth. I don't know if this is an attempt to not spread the comic's creative team short or just a money issue or whatever. But it's interesting and I wonder if this will affect the way the intersecting story is meant to flow. 

"Stress Test" has Starline and his clones moving on to the next step of his plan. After taking Eggman Sigma Base last month, he's not set his sights on Alpha Base. While the doctor infiltrates the main computer room, Surge and Kit journey towards a control tower. The temperamental Surge goes against her plan and gets smacked by a giant robot for her troubles. She's strangely unharmed and the two are successful in their mission after all. As Starline celebrates the win, the clones hatch a scheme of their own to dig into their past. 

 

The second issue of "Imposter Syndrome" follows a similar structure to the first one. This is an action focused comic book. There are multiple pages devoted to Surge wrecking little ant-like Badniks or tussling with a bulky and heavily-armed robot. Amid the non-stop action, Flynn does sneak in some character-building dialogue and events. I guess this is a pretty good way to write an action/adventure comic for children, having the fight scenes and the interpersonal drama and growth occurring at the same time. That way the book has depth alongside the required amount of smashing and thrashing. 

And the titular imposters are growing. Last time, I found Surge's unending bragging and Kit's timidity a little annoying. I feel like Surge, in theory, was supposed to be an unrepentant asshole that you still kind of like. But, in execution, she was just obnoxious. Here, she gets the chip on her shoulder knocked off. The Smashy-Smashy robot seemingly K.O.s her, showing her that perhaps she doesn't have it all figured out. The same event causes Kit to realize he's stronger than he knows. Seeing Surge harmed caused the little fennec to go into a rage and use his water manipulation powers to gravely injure the machine. These two are stronger together and maybe they are realizing that. 

What's becoming this duo's most endearing quality, to me anyway, is how neurotic they are. As is usually the case, Surge's ego covers up deeper insecurities. While fighting the larger Badnik, inwardly she chides herself for not defeating it faster. That Sonic would have won already. Kit's utter subservience results in him constantly stuttering. He gets very nervous when Surge goes against Starline's plan. His weird relationship with Surge gets even weirder when she gives him a reassuring poke in the chest. He smiles to himself before happily barking "Yes, ma'am!" I don't know if Flynn is writing these two as siblings or an unrequited crush but that interaction veers towards a "Senpai/simp" dynamic. 

Sadly, there are downsides to this issue. After sharing art duties with Aaron Hammerstrom last issue, Thomas Rothlisberger goes solo on this one. And his lines are a little off. His work has always had a loose quality to it, that usually adds energy to the panels. Here, it just comes off as rushed and a bit sloppy. This is especially an issue during the action scenes. Truth be told, they're just hard to follow. The battle between Surge and the spike-ball wielding veers towards incoherent. When he fires his mace as a weapon, it took me a minute to figure out what exactly was going on.

Another problem is I don't think I find Starline as compelling as Ian Flynn does. He was at his best during the "Bad Guys" mini-series, when him and Zavok were secretly scheming against each other. When he thinks he has everything under control, as he does in this issue, his schtick becomes tiresome. A small scene established, once again, that his master plan is to usurp Eggman's empire as the ultimate act of twisted fanboy admiration. It seems to me that Starline works best when playing off other characters. When left on his own, he just doesn't show much depth.  

I was uncertain how I felt about this issue until the last few pages. I liked Surge and Kit's character development but felt the rest of it was sort of lacking. On the last page, the duo have thoroughly decided something doesn't add up and are going to investigate their own past. (Or lack there of.) This is what I've been waiting for the whole time, the moment Starline's Frankenstein Monsters turn against him. I'm really curious to see how Surge and Kit, with their incredibly fragile personalities, will respond to the horrible truth that they were born in a test tube. So, if nothing else, Ian Flynn knows how to keep the reader on the hook until the next month. (Or two months, as it were.)

"Imposter Syndrome" is still a flawed story but it's improving the more it digs into the psychology of its villain protagonists. I hope the inevitable confrontation between Starline and this dysfunctional duo is really juicy. And I am curious to see what will happen to these two after this mini-series is wrapped up. This issue is marred by some sloppy art but my overall opinion of "Imposter Syndrome" – positive but it really depends on how well Flynn sticks the landing – remains about the same. [7/10]