Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome: Issue 4

Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome: Issue 4

Publication Date: May 11th, 2022

By alternating between new issues of the main "Sonic" book and "Imposter Syndrome," IDW found a not too irritating way to stretch out the story and continuously build hype. Instead of the comics just prolonging the point, the readers literally had to wait until the next month to see where things are going. This has kept the "Sonic" fandom eagerly anticipating the adventures of Surge and Kit. We haven't just had to wait four months. We've had to wait eight. And so, we are finally here, at the final issue of "Imposter Syndrome." But if you are expecting anything like a sense of finality, prepare to be disappointed. 

After what feels like months of preparation, but has probably only been a few weeks in-universe, Starline and the imposters make their first big move against Eggman. They sneak into one of his bigger bases. Unlike previous strikes, they make no attempt to disguise themselves. Starline wants his former mentor to know he's responsible for this. Soon, the scientist has seized control of the tower and uses it to bend every Badnik in the area to his will. (Explaining the events in the previous issue of "Sonic.") Eggman attempts to escape but Starline seems certain he's got him pinned. Even Metal Sonic isn't enough to stop Surge and Kit, who are quietly planning their own scheme in the background. 

Both of IDW's previous "Sonic" mini-series told mostly self-contained stories. Very little of the events of "Tangle and Whisper" were directly tied to the main book's ongoing story at the time. Yeah, you had to read all of IDW's previous "Sonic" material to know who Starline, Mimic, Rough and Tumble were. (And figure out what this incarnation of Zavok's specific deal is.) But "Bad Guys" still had a complete story of its own. "Imposter Syndrome," on the other hand, has been much more closely tied to the on-going series. Surge and Kit have weaved in-and-out of the main book's events, while their own series expanded more on what was going on with them. Basically, if you weren't reading both series at this point, you would probably be a little lost. 

Now that we are at the final issue of "Imposter Syndrome," it's totally obvious why Ian Flynn chose this strategy. Since IDW "Sonic" is coming up on its first big anniversary issue, clearly they wanted to plan some big event. Yet the series has taken a more low-key, character driven approach since the end of the Metal Virus Saga – to somewhat mixed results – and wasn't really ready for any huge payoff in time for issue 50. So a scheme was concocted: Some hot new foes would be introduced. In order to free up the main comic to do its own thing, these adversaries would get their own mini-series. This way the new villains could be thoroughly established while being kept separate from our heroes. Now, issue 50 isn't just the comic's four year anniversary. It'll be the first brawl between Sonic/Tails and Surge/Kit.

That's right. "Imposter Syndrome" has now ended and Surge and Kit have still not met Sonic and Tails. You know, the event promised on every single regular cover of this series. Now its very clear that this was never the plan. This royal rumble was always meant to happen in issue 50! "Imposter Syndrome" has been jerking us along all year, building towards an event it never intended to portray. In other words: The entirety of this mini-series was nothing more than an extended advertisement for issue 50. "Imposter Syndrome" does not end with its own conclusion. It simply stops, begging the reader to pick up issue 50 when it comes out next month. I'm not going to lie, I feel fucking cheated. I paid for a movie and got a trailer instead.

This makes the structure of "Imposter Syndrome" all the more frustrating. Ya know, a lot of this mini-series focused on training routines. These events were obviously meant to flesh out Surge and Kit more, to show their weird bond and dysfunctional personalities growing. Obviously, Starline wasn't going to deploy his new supervillains without testing them out first, Yet, now being at the end of this mini-series, it really feels like not a whole lot happened here. The only issue that really gave us any new information, that grew Surge and Kit in a meaningful way, was issue 3. We learned part of their story and their plan to undermine Starline took root. Every other issue just feels like it was routine action scenes with some cute banter between these still kind-of one-note newbies and Starline pontificating on his love/hate relationship with Eggman. 

That's essentially the structure this issue follows to. Yeah, there is something of a main event here. Surge and Kit take down Metal Sonic. It's good action sequence too, with Thomas Rothlisberger contributing some concise and controlled artwork. The way the duo defeats the robotic double is even kind of clever, as apparently metallic hedgehogs can't swim either. (Though having the new guys effortlessly trounce a fan favorite villain really does seem like a desperate attempt to make the imposters seem like serious threats, while undercutting Metal Sonic's threat level. In pro-wrestling terms, this fight is an attempt to put over Surge and Kit and it shows.) The other action scenes, where the imposters wreck a series of cameos from classic Badniks, are also well done. I especially like the moment when Kit tosses one of Coconut's exploding, uh, coconuts back at him. 

Yet I just can't escape the feeling that this entire mini-series was four issues of build-up to yet more build-up. Was there anything here that really made this issue satisfying or exciting, cute or memorable? Surge and Kit have some likable banter. I like how she calls him "Drippy." The opening flashback has Eggman delivering the hilariously dry line “I like theme parks.” Cubot and Orbot drop in for a few panels of amusing dialogue. Eggman's response to Starline announcing his takeover is likably nonplussed. He simply scowls and quietly leaves the room. Ultimately, though, we are still no closer to understanding these characters than we were at the end of last month. The exact machinations of Starline's scheme remain unrevealed. As brilliant as he proclaims to be, he still doesn't calculate the obvious possibility that Eggman would have an escape route planned for a scenario just like this. Surge still spends more time bragging about how tough she is than actually being tough, while Kit remains her doddering sidekick. 

Maybe if Flynn had gone a bit nonlinear on this one, ending the issue on the reveal of what Starline did to Surge and Kit and the anticipation of their betrayal, it would work a lot better. Instead, the blunt conclusion to "Imposter Syndrome" reveals the entire mini-series as all hype and little substance. Surge and Kit clearly can't evolve as characters until after they confront Sonic and their boss. And IDW won't let the series actually do that until the big five-oh. Everything the duo's debut series actually accomplishes could have been done with some concise back-up stories. I know these two are already beloved – the back of this issue is full of lovingly rendered fan art – but I still more perturbed than satisfied with this entire thing. Even if issue 50 is fucking great, the majority of "Imposter Syndrome" will still feel like a waste of time. [5/10]