Sonic Boom, Episode 2.11: The Evil Dr. Orbot

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.11: The Evil Dr. Orbot

Original Air Date: January 21st, 2017 

“The Evil Dr. Orbot” begins with an endemic of supervillainy tearing through the village, that climaxes with Eggman's failed attempt to destroy the Fuzzy Puppy figurines warehouse. (As part of a scheme to increase the value in his own collection.) Following this incident, Mayor Fink insists all evildoers in the area must pass an evil competency test, pay a fee, and fill out a permit to perform any more super-crime. Eggman is dismayed to see that he's failed the test and that he can't retake it for another three months... Until he realizes he can make Orbot take the test in his place. In preparation for the exam, Orbot downloads a text book on evil, inadvertently turning him into a far greater threat than Eggman ever was. Now Eggman has to make sure his henchman doesn't eclipse him in nastiness. 

In the past, I've noted how my favorite episodes of “Sonic Boom” tend to be the ones that contrast typical action/adventure/superhero cartoon shenanigans with utterly mundane difficulties. “The Evil Dr. Orbot,” or at least its first half, falls squarely into that category. Evildoers being forced to take an exam and sign some paperwork before they can reek havoc is exactly the kind of absurdity that tickles my funny bone. Eggman having to deal with the strife of standardized testing and pressure to perform well on an exam makes him more relatable. It's also just a good, solid gag, forcing extraordinary and exaggerated characters like this into the most mundane form of bureaucracy.  This is probably the closest we'll get to an episode about Eggman stuck in line at the DMV, but it's even funnier because it represents the local government applying law and order to the inherently lawless actions of cartoon bad guys. 

The villain's incompetent lackey, usually through some sort of contrived plot device, temporarily becoming a bigger threat than the fiend he works for is also a stock cartoon plot line. Just within the “Sonic” franchise, “Adventures of” and “SatAM” did similar storylines. “Boom,” being the flippant, short program it is, finds a simpler, funnier way to get to this scenario. No wacky contrivance is necessary. Orbot just downloads a book on being a supervillain and immediately becomes more competent than Eggman. That goes to show how incompetent Eggman really is, that Orbot taking the super-fast equivalent of a night school course in wickedness immediately makes him a more pressing threat than his creator. Orbot's simple schemes, like distracting Tails with a diversion before rushing in to his lab to steal his new invention, is already shown as being a level above Eggman's typical schemes. 

This amusing idea reaches its apex when Orbot returns to the Fuzzy Puppy figurine scheme from the episode's first scene. Behind Eggman's back, the robot enacted a complicated financial scheme to artificially inflate the value of the toys and trick the public into selling them back to him for a profit. This represents Orbot becoming something much more insidious than a cartoon supervillain: Now he's a capitalist. This is another example of the playful way “Boom” mixes up comic book tropes and unremarkable reality. What Orbot does here probably isn't a crime. And if it is, all he'd have to do is jump through some more legal loopholes to make it okay. That's what real business types do all the time. Yet it's somehow more devious than Eggman's usual chaos and destruction. 

The fact that “Boom” Eggman, from any sort of real world perspective, actually sort of sucks at being a villain reflects on his character in some interesting way. The episode ends with the rotund doctor stumbling into a victory of sorts through sheer chance. It's been hinted at many times, and even outright stated, that “Boom” Eggman really isn't that bad of a guy. He desires power and respect , not so much because he has a sociopathic desire to enforce his rule over the entire world. It's more-so to validate a massive ego that is clearly compensating for a serious inferiority complex. He feels like he's the worst so he always acts like he's the best. And he wants the rest of the world to acknowledge that, through force if necessary. That Orbot exceeds his boss' effectiveness so quickly is just another sign that Eggman really isn't cut out for the world-conqueror role. I'm probably, definitely reading too much into it but I like to think that episodes like this subtly build-up the cast member's character development more. 

I'm talking a lot about Eggman in this review and there's good reason for that: He's the star of this episode, alongside his spherical henchman. Sonic and Team Boom have very little to do here. There's minor action scenes at the beginning, including one set inexplicably to a sound-alike of “Battles Without Honor and Humanity.” I think Knuckles and Tails have one line of dialogue each. Sticks isn't in the episode at all. Sonic and Amy get a handful of moments, including a scene where they are on a romantic picnic together that.  Once again, I can't help but marvel at how much more I enjoy “Sonic” content when Sonic himself has a small role. 

All my pointless rambling and meandering digressions aside, this is a pretty funny episode! There's a lot of sharp dialogue, where Sonic criticizes Eggman's ethics, Orbot and Cubot argue about rhetorical questions, and the exact amount of days in three months are considered. There's a reoccurring physical gag about Eggman getting struck by lightning, which is easily the limpest joke in the entire episode. And since this is an especially meta program, it even incorporates the sitcom reset into the script. In order for the story to return to the exact same status quo at the start of the next episode, Orbot literally gets rebooted. Funny joke, you guys!

I'm pretty deep into this “Sonic Boom” retrospective now and, honestly, I never expected to like this show as much as I do by this point. Here's an episode about a fairly minor supporting character and, honestly, I liked it a lot! If you had told me a few years back that I'd happily watch an eleven minute episode devoted to Orbot and enjoy it a lot, I'd probably believe you but I would definitely pause for a minute and glare at you skeptically for several minutes. [7/10]

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.10: Strike!

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.10: Strike!

Original Air Date: January 14th, 2017

After another humiliating defeat from Team Sonic, Eggman becomes so annoyed with Cubot and Orbot that he forces them to hitch a ride back to his base on their own. Amy assures the machines that this treatment is unfair and they should strike. After the doctor forces them to row across the water to get some decorative rocks that he then demands they return, the machines decide to do just that. It's not long before all of Eggman's robots are striking. Helpless without his peons, the scientist hires some rubes from the village to be his new henchmen. Sonic at first assumes these scabs have been kidnapped, forcing the hedgehog into the middle of this worker/employer conflict.

As I write this review, both the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild are striking, bringing the entire U.S. entertainment industry to a standstill. Ironically, one of the reasons writers are striking is because of studios threatening to use so-called A.I. to help write scripts. Replacement by automation has always been a lingering threat for American workers. The manufacturer industry dealt with it. The service industry is starting to deal with it. Yet, I'll admit, I never thought the fucking robots would come for the artistic jobs. Silly me, I just assumed the highly personal expressions of something deep within the writer's or illustrator's psyches could never be replicated by a computer program. I mean, it definitely can't but I guess I'm not as cynical as the brutalist capitalists that run Hollywood, who see all art as mere content to be churned out. They really think audiences will lap up machine generated slop and I can't totally shake this haunting feeling that some actually might. Thus is life in the Hell World that is 2023. Welcome to the future, bitch.

It's doubtful that the "Sonic Boom" writer's room was thinking about this much in 2017. Back then, the idea that any rube could produce their own big-titty anime waifu with an app on their phone was just a glimmer in Hayao Miyazaki's worst nightmares. Yet it's definitely a little ironic, from today's perspective, that I'm reviewing a cartoon about literal robots – the biggest threat to actual humans in today's fraught employment landscape – striking to be treated fairly as workers. Eggman, you goofball, why did you program your machines with free will? Don't you know the whole point of robotic labor is that they don't care about pee breaks and how many Amazon warehouse workers have died in their wage cages today? I'm sure writer Marie Beardmore was aware of this ironic juxtaposition, in the general sense that the idea of robots striking is funny. Yet it's bizarre that, in the last six years, this premise went from mere sitcom tomfoolery to an ironic inversion of our actual reality.

Anyways, enough doom-speech about the state of everything in the world right now. This is a pretty funny episode! "Strike!" is a good example of a "Sonic Boom" installment that really milks its set-up for as many jokes as possible, packing the brief runtime full of solid chuckles. I figured the premise of Orbot and Cubot striking would be enough to fill eleven minutes. Instead, the idea keeps expanding, to Eggman hiring scabs, who can't live up to his standards, and Amy informing Sonic that he can't cross the picket line. The final negotiation that ends the strike is also a funny take on Eggman's dehumanizing relationship with his robot minions and how much abuse they are willing to put up with. "Strike!" never undermines the importance of striking as a political action while staying true to the absurdist nature of these characters. Dare I say this episode even does an adequate job of teaching kids about their rights as future cogs in a cruel workplace that values profits far over human life?

It's also an episode full of some well-timed physical gags. The way Eggman tries to get other robots made for hyper-specific destructive tasks to do Cubot and Orbot's brand of drudgery, only to prompt each of them into joining the strike, plays out in a really well cut montage. Even an appearance from some Vuvuzelas, which I at first took to be merely another instantly dated pop culture reference, escalates in an amusingly goofy manner. Sonic is also the center of some solid gags. A "Batman '66" style scene transition occurs, which the show then dryly subverts. Nice to see "Boom" still taking the piss out of superhero tropes. Sonic also rides around in a bitchin' hover-bike in one scene, even giving it a name. Which really feels like the kind of thing shows like this include so toys can be made. A quick search shows me that this suspicious was correct. You can buy a little version of the Blue Force One you can pull your own little Sonic in. I didn't think they designed an elaborate vehicle just for a single gag, though that would've been pretty funny if they had.

Another way you can tell the "Sonic Boom" writers were actually invested in their little show is how often the minor supporting cast shows up. In a lot of shows, the random villagers would be just that, maybe used for a joke every once in a while, but otherwise simply digital extras. Yet "Boom" repeatedly brings its bit players back. The guilting Gogoba and Soar the Eagle have funny one-off appearances. Fastidious Beaver and Mike also recur, as two of Eggman's scabs, and both got some laughs out of me. "Boom" isn't necessarily a show that values setting much but I still like how total background characters like these have become reoccuring players of sorts. Makes the show feel more vital, like the cast members actually have lives outside of what we see in the episodes themselves.

I guess it's a sign that I'm fully won over by "Boom" now that this episode, which revolves largely around Cubot and Orbot, ended up agreeing with me so much. The "Boom" heroes actually don't have much to do here. Tails shows up briefly in the first scene. Knuckles and Sticks are nowhere to be seen. Sonic and Amy are prominent without being huge players in the plot. If you're a SonAmy shipper, I'm sure you'll enjoy seeing them together so much. For the most part, this spins totally solid comedy out of the fucked-up relationship between Eggman and his bots. Sometimes a toxic work environment is a more fruitful setup than more typical heroes-vs-villains shenanigans.

In fact, there's almost no action scenes in this episode at all, save for the brief scuffle at the very beginning. I really didn't expect to dig "Boom" as much as I have. Yet here's a smart, funny, short little episode built totally around situational comedy involving its colorful cast of video game mascots. This is  Marie Beardmore's first episode of "Boom" and she has a few more coming up in season two, so hopefully they are as much fun as this one is. [7/10]

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.09: Multi-Tails

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.09: Multi-Tails

Original Air Date: January 7th, 2017

The ninth episode of "Sonic Boom's" second season returns to a classic story generating idea: What if, in his hubris, Tails invented a gadget that didn't work exactly as he planned? The fox builds a forcefield to protect the village from Eggman's attacks. This backfired when the villain simply digs under it. Feeling discouraged, Tails decides there needs to be more of him to go around. He creates a machine that can make copies of himself. However, this device also splits Tails' intelligence among the duplicates. Thus, each two tailed fox is kind of a doofus. Sonic and the others endeavor to clean up this mess. 

"Multi-Tails" has a relatable premise for an episode. I think all of us, from time to time, have wished we could clone ourselves. Maybe you wish there was more of you so you could complete all your tasks in the day. Maybe you would force your copy to go to work for you, while you stay at home and pursue hobbies, inevitably leading to some sort of clone uprising. Whatever the cause, it's an emotion rooted in frustration with our own limits. We can't be in two places at once. There's only so much time in the day. But if there were two or five of us wandering around, we could overcome these pesky obstacles. Or so we think.

Tails' reasons for building the copying machine are even more tragic than that. The limitation he hopes to overcome is his own intelligence. Tails is brilliant and can cook up all sorts of wacky inventions. Yet there are still things he can't predict, like Eggman having a big drilling machine at his disposals. Tails is enormously talented but he still feels like it's not enough. He can build almost anything but can't get past his own self-doubts, his own nagging insecurities that he has to always do better. This is spurned on mostly by Mayor Fink being an asshole to him but I also find it to be a relatable emotion. We're all going to fail sometimes, no matter how talented we are. Some of us are better at grappling with that than others. 

Unfortunately, "Multi-Tails" doesn't really utilize this idea. The natural end to this premise would be Tails realizing that it's okay that he can't solve every problem. That just one of him is good enough. That, even when he makes mistakes, he's still loved and accepted. Instead, Marine and Cedric Lachenaud's script goes for the far more prosaic moral of "friendship is magic." As Tails steps out of the copying machine, restored to his normal intelligence, his only thought is that he needs friends more than copies of himself. I'm not really sure how this moral tracks. If you're feeling discouraged about not being able to do enough, just... Hang out with your friends?? I, uh, guess that makes sense. 

Once again, I'm possibly (definitely) overthinking it. This is a simple children's cartoon, designed to make the seven-to-ten crowd laugh and not much else. To facilitate that goal, the Lachenauds repeatedly return to the gag of Tails, usually the smart one, acting like a simpleton. I would say that the writers greatly overestimate how amusing that idea is. The comedic subversion in the normally intelligent Tails being a fool wears off after one time. This episode keeps repeating it. The fox flying upward into a beam, assuming every game is Simon Says, or pestering people with repetitive questions is more annoying than amusing, 

The best gags in this episode play more off the idea of Tails being un-smart than actively showing it. The only one of those moments that made me laugh was when an idiot Tails tries to eat some soup with a fork. Otherwise, Knuckles getting a rare moment of insight around greater idiots is amusing. As is a running gag of a Tails asking Sticks "why," which comes around brilliantly in the final minutes. The funniest moments in the episodes come when Eggman - definitely the best straight man this show has - is forced to react to the incessant annoyance the lesser Tails put him through. A scene where he attempts to get out of the shower summons the kind of awkward laughs this show doesn't usually touch. 

Ya know what is notable about this episode though? Sticks uses some nun-chucks in one scene. The action scene here is not truly above the standards of "Boom's" typical underwhelming theatrics. However, seeing Sticks doing some chucking has some novelty to it. Another sign that maybe the animation budget was slightly increased in season two is that Eggman has a new model of Badnik. Some scorpion-bots with laser stingers crawl out of the ground at one point. That's kind of neat. Though the moment where Knuckles attempts to weaponize Tails' force field really baffled me a bit. The physics do not seem sturdy there, even by the standards of this program. 

Ultimately, "Multi-Tails" has a decent premise for an episode but only explores it in the shallowest of ways. It's as if the writers touch upon the idea of "Tails makes copies of himself but they're all really stupid" and more-or-less stopped there. There's a couple of decent gags but mark this down as one of the "Boom" episodes that didn't really work for me. [5/10]

Sonic Superstars: Fang's Big Break

Sonic Superstars: Fang's Big Break

Publication Date: September 25, 2023

The hype train is a precarious beast. Because of the nature of our current pop culture landscape , where new “content” is constantly being shoveled at us, it's become almost impossible for any one release to dominate discussion for an extended period of time. A new movie, video game, song, or TV show has to really capture people's imagination or else it's going to get buried immediately. Sometimes, the best major corporations like Netflix and Disney can hope for is a 24 hour period of talk before some new hot release comes along to overshadow their latest tentpole blockbuster or multi-millionaire dollar streaming series.

Long-running and well-established franchises are not exempt from this at all. When “Sonic Superstars” was announced, it was greeted with quite a lot of excitement within the “Sonic the Hedgehog” fandom. This was basically the closest thing we're ever going to get to a “Sonic Mania 2,” right? There was a decent amount of pre-release buzz, through the various trailers and game play teases. Finally, after months of anticipation, “Sonic Superstar” came out in October and... Yep, that was it. The new game generated some discussion for about a day and then the internet was on to the next thing. I think I've seen more talk within the “Sonic” fandom about “Frontiers,” a year old game at this point, in the last few weeks than I have of “Superstars.” I haven't played the game yet. Those who have say it's cromulent enough. Yet I'm kind of shocked more people don't seem to care. Even Sega immediately pivoted to the Next Big Thing after “Superstars” release, announcing a new “Sonic” title a few weeks later.

Despite the seeming lack of enthusiasm over the new video game now that it's actually out, there was some standard attempts to get people excited. It seems Sega continues to see comic books as a valuable way to promote their products. Much like they did with “Sonic Frontiers,” they recruited Ian Flynn and Evan Stanley to create a short comic promoting “Superstars.” The comic was released for free through Sega's various social media channels, four pages coming out weekly in the three weeks leading up to “Superstar's” release. Due to the connection it has to the mainline “Sonic” comics, I feel compelled to give this a closer look.

The ten page story is entitled “Fang's Big Break” and, as that implies, essentially re-welcomes Fang back to the video game branch of the “Sonic” franchise after a long absence. (Even longer if you discount his appearance in “Mania” as an illusion.) It concerns Eggamn hiring Fang to explore Northstar Islands, a newly discovered island that surely contains some sort of MacGuffins that the mad scientist will want to get his hands on. As Fang journeys around the island, he discovers massive bird tracks in the ground. This soon leads him to an enormous Flicky bird, that Fang quickly manages to apprehend. That's when a mysterious stranger in armor makes themselves known to the bounty hunter...

Much like the “Sonic Frontiers Prologue” comic that came out last year, “Fang's Big Break” is frustrating to read as an actual narrative. This is not a self-contained story. It is simply a prequel to the “Superstars” video game. Quite a lot of interesting plot points are set-up here. What mysteries does Northstar Island hold? What is the deal with this giant Flicky? Who is Trip and what does she plan to do about Fang appearing on the island? And if you want answers to any of these questions... You're going to have to play the fucking video game. “Fang's Big Break” exists to reveal the general premise of "Superstars," introduce younger fans to Fang, and then prompt the reader to go out and buy the game. I understand that this is inevitable with a comic like this but it is disappointing. Just when the story starts to really move, it ends in the most abrupt way possible.

Despite that annoying short-cut, I did enjoy “Fang's Big Break.” That's largely because I'm a fan of Fang as a character. Ever since his introduction in “Sonic Triple Trouble” all the way back in the day, he's always been one of my favorite minor “Sonic” antagonists. Most of the baddies in the “Sonic” video games have their eyes on world domination, usually via obtaining some ultra-powerful plot device. Fang, meanwhile, is only looking out for himself. He just wants to get paid. At most, his evil plans extend to petty vengeance. This comic makes great use of that element of his character. We are privy to the guy's thoughts as he bumbles around the island, stinging with embarrassment from his past defeats and eager to re-establish himself as a creditable threat. Fang might be a bit of a dumb-ass in the Sega video games but you can tell Flynn is doing his best to push the bad guy in the more serious direction he had in the Archie comic books. In other words, Fang is a shifty fuck who greatly overestimates his own value. That's a pretty good villain protagonist to follow for ten pages.

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you might have noticed something unusual about this review though. When Fang was first introduced to American “Sonic” fans back in the nineties, he was introduced as Nack the Weasel. That's how he was referred to throughout the Archie “Sonic” comic books that ran for twenty years after his debut. Since I've always been a loyal reader of those comics, in my brain, this guy will always be called Nack the Weasel. However, as Sega has attempted to integrate the Eastern and Western “Sonic” canons more, they've started referring to him as Fang – always his Japanese name – worldwide. This can't help but make me internally tense up a little, even if “Fang the Hunter” is probably a cooler name than “Nack the Weasel.” To most “Sonic” fans, who haven't been around for nearly as long as me, this obscure character might as well have always been known to them as “Fang.” It's like a much smaller version of the Eggman vs. Robotnik controversy that continues to generate the occasional argument within this fandom.

Being the slut for franchise lore that he is, Ian Flynn devotes several panels to cheekily acknowledging this debate over the character's name. Eggman calls Fang “Nack the Weasel” very early in this comic, prompting the crook to reveal that was one of several fake identities he assumed in order to get the authorities off his crooked, pointy tail. This is not dissimilar to the rarely acknowledged solution that Eggman is a nickname and Robotnik is his actual name. Alright, fine, I'll begrudgingly accept this. The light purple bounty hunter who rides the Marvelous Queen, wears a hat, and wields a pop-gun is called both Nack and Fang, with the latter being his currently preferred nomenclature. I reserve the right to still refer to him as Nack whenever I feel like it though. Also, still no word on if he's a jerboa, a weasel, a wolf, or some freaky genetic hybrid...

Anyway, it's easy for a long-time “Sonic” comic fan like me to pick up this promotional shorty and read it. With Flynn writing and Evan Stanley doing the illustration, it fits in very easily with IDW's current comic book. Really, there's nothing stopping you from assuming it's more-or-less canon with the comic book's Classic continuity, as rarely as the book acknowledges that. Stanley's artwork is charming and well-done, like always. You can tell she delights in drawing Eggman with big, goofy, facial expressions. A character as tricky as Nack – shit, I mean Fang, look I'm already doing it again – lends himself nicely to all sorts of grumpy, suspicious glares and grimaces. His encounter with the oversized Flicky provides some solid chuckles too. Min Ho Kim's colors are bright and crisp, further establishing the mood of this light-hearted little story.

I guess, if nothing else, “Fang's Big Break” succeeds at what it sets out to do. It makes me even more curious to play “Superstars.” If only because Trip has a really cute design and I would like to know what her deal is. (The character does nothing but spy on people and fall on her face in this comic book.) I mean, I was going to play the game eventually anyway but this might prompt me to do it a little faster. Either way, looking at it strictly as a freebie meant to promote their latest release, “Fang's Big Break” is well done. More thought and effort was put into this by Flynn and Stanley than was probably necessary. I can appreciate that. If nothing else, as a long time fan of the story's crooked protagonist – whatever you call him – I had a good time with this. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 66

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 66

Publication Date: November 8th, 2023

I suppose I should be used to "Sonic the Hedgehog" comics sometimes feeling directionless. Lord knows, Archie's "Sonic" books would meander for months on end, with no clear concept leading events on. Yet when IDW's "Sonic" starts to spin its wheels, the feeling is always more acute to me. Usually because the series will just start doubling down on elements I don't care about. Like the Zetis, magical plot devices, or the Babylon Rogues. The book has been in a little bit of a slump since Surge and Kit exited the scene, not feeling like it's building towards much. That the Rogues are on the cover of issue 66 should clue you in on which type of issue this is. 

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A good enough series can even make its filler arcs fun too. "Relic Robbing Rumble, Part 2" picks up where we left off, with Knuckles and the Chaotix bushwhacking the Rogues on a dock. After an extensive action scene, Knuckles manages to get the ancient Echidnan artifacts back, driving the Rogues away. Jet claims they were not employed by anyone to steal the objects, working on their own... Yet this is not the case, as the final page reveals. 

Of all the words in "Relic Robbing Rumble's" title, the most important one is definitely rumble. As this cover story went on, I became very aware of how this is only a ten page story. That's because the fight scene just kept going on and on. Yes, this is one of those issues of "Sonic" devoted almost entirely to characters beating the shit out of each other, without much in the way of forward narrative or personal development. The cover promises Knuckles and the Chaotix fighting with the Babylon Rogues and that's what the story delivers. That is pretty much all the story delivers. 

Ian Flynn's senseless beat-em-up stories always feel somewhat useless. Look back at "Hedgehog Havoc," "Champions," or "Zeti Hunt" for further evidence of that. You can always just feel, somehow, when the guy is inserting an action scene for its own sake. There's never that fun feeling of a kid smashing his action figures together in Flynn's battle royales, like we saw in classic Archie stories like "Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles" or, uh, "Battle Royal." There's just a hint of desperation to them, as if you can sense Flynn inserting extended punching scenes strictly because he knows the young boys this comic is ostensibly targeted at crave sophomoric fight scenes. 

Maybe this is because Flynn isn't good at making these fights feel serious. The good Flynn stories that are heavy on action are usually the culmination of long story arcs, where everything hangs in the balance. When he's screwing around, you can tell because the fights are largely farces. This is what we get here, the combat interrupted with many comedic touches. Charmy realizes stealing is wrong after grabbing the relic away from Jet, graciously giving it back. Espio gets cartoonishly spun through the air and Vector clamps onto Wave's hoverboard, refusing to let go. I don't necessarily dislike these moments. They are actually pretty funny, that bit with Charmy especially. Yet it does nothing to dissuade the feeling that nothing in this issue actually matters. 

This sensation is sadly confirmed in the final pages. The end of the fisticuffs on the pier is incredibly anticlimactic. Even though questions clearly remain unanswered, Knuckles is happy to have his relics back. He outright says he doesn't care about anything else. We then learn that this entire fight was a diversion by Clutch, to distract the Chaotix as he meets with Jewel while wearing a bitchin' pimp coat. If a two-parter feels a bit futile, capping it off with a master planner outright admitting this was all a rude does not help matters. A story about Clutch engineering a diversion, which the heroes then slowly uncover, would have been a lot more interesting than just a big, goofy, fight scene that results in nothing being changed or learned. 

The first half of "Relic Robbing Rumble" was also kind of weak but issue 65 was saved by a strong back-up story. Does the second half of "Dinner with Cream" continue that trend? Rough and Tumble continue to disrupt Cream's attempts to finish the nice dinner her mom started cooking. Yet Gemerl being overwhelmed and the skunks' mischief eventually become too much for the little girl to handle. That's when Vanilla returns home, putting an end to these shenanigans with her motherly ways. 

The first half of "Dinner with Cream" worked because, no matter how silly this conflict was, it still mattered to Cream and Gemerl. The second half focuses much more on comedy and combat, much like the cover story did. This does downplay what made the first part fun. Watching Germerl get pelted with a salad and Cream attempting to fight off some buffoonish bad guys isn't as much fun when the slapstick is for its own purpose. The first couple pages of this back-up can't help but continue the futile atmosphere that weighed down the cover story. Is this entire comic going to be focused on lame, meaningless fight scenes? 

Luckily, Evan Stanley recovers a bit before the end. There are still some cute, touching character interactions in this story. Gemerl's reassuring words to Cream, no matter how upset she gets, are still nice. The way Vanilla is nothing but understanding with her daughter at the end is also adorable. The story ends with some serious ship-bait between Vanilla and Vector, which goes a long way towards making this one worth reading after all. 

Vanilla is, in fact, secretly the MVP of this issue. The fight comes to a halt when Tumble bullies Cream a little too hard, causing her to cry. The villains are made to feel even worse when Vanilla shows up and uses her powers of motherly guilt against them. The ending of "Dinner with Cream" is really no less anticlimactic than "Relic Robbing Rumble." The bad guys essentially go away after someone tells them to, making you wonder why they showed up in the first place. Yet Rough and Tumble are inherently ridiculous characters. Of course Vanilla would be able to correct their behavior with just a few stern words and a contemptuous glare. These guys are overgrown boys, super strong men-children. They are naturally weak to a motherly scolding. So it works, ending a light-hearted story on a goofy and sweet note. (But I fully expect Vanilla being all disciplinary and stern with two remorseful louts to inspire some very specific types of fan art, if it hasn't already.)

The same group of artists are back to work on this issue as the last one. Mauro Fonseca draws the first story, while Adam Bryce Thomas handles the second. Fonseca's exaggerated style really works for a story like this. The action scenes, and the comedic beats in particular, really have a fine sense of movement and timing. His tendency for big goofy faces really makes Knuckles' anger, Jet's frustration, and Vector's sorrow at not being paid sing. Thomas similarly has a talent with faces. Cream's ever escalating disappointment at what is happening adds a lot of humor to this. As does the sheer power that radiates from Vanilla's face as she stares down the skunks. Or the obvious flirtatious quality in the meaningful looks she gives Vector. 

Surge and Kit come back to the comic next month, hopefully bringing with them a renewed sense of focus. There's no doubt in my mind that IDW "Sonic" has floundered a little since they stepped away, the book devoting time to a number of minor subplots that have to justify their own importance. "Relic Robbing Rumble" had its moments, especially of the more humorous variety, yet it just couldn't get out from under the weight of being a lark. At least the back-up two parter was cuter and funnier that that. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 65

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 65

Publication Date: October 11th, 2023

I've got to tell you guys, it makes me happy that IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comic is, for a little while anyway, sticking with the format of having a cover story and a back-up story. An attribute I loved about Archie's "Sonic" book was the variety. It wasn't just a cartoon animal action/adventure series. Sometimes it was also a romantic melodrama, a lore-heavy fantasy series, a cosmic sci-fi story, or goofball slapstick comedy. I liked that unpredictable quality. IDW "Sonic" hasn't been quite that tonally diverse. It's mostly stuck to the action anime style that the franchise largely resides in these days, save for occasional segues into survival horror and light-hearted detective fair. Yet issue 65 shows how a diverse selection of narrative types can really improve a story. 

The first story is part one of "Relic Robbing Rumble." Knuckles is shocked to see the Babylon Rogues stealing some ancient relics from an obscure corner of Angel Island. The feathery thieves get away with the statues too, a major bruise on Knuckles' pride. He seeks out the Chaotix to assist him. Vector wants to wrap this up quickly, as he plans to meet Vanilla later that night for dinner. They barge into a Eggman facility, which is a dead lead. Charmy gets an anonymous hint, which leads the quartet to ambush the trio of airborne as they await their buyer. 

In the main "Sonic" games and cartoons, Knuckles the Echidna is often reduced to comic relief. He's a big, strong guy who also has a serious gullible streak, which has led to him too often being written like a total buffoon. (A characterization that peaked with "Sonic Boom's" idiot Knuckles.) This is in contrast to the comic books, where Knuckles has actually been a fairly complicated character. Archie Knuckles was one of the more psychologically complex take on him, with serious Daddy issues and lots of internal conflict over his destiny. IDW Knuckles isn't that deep, though Ian Flynn has done his best to make the echidna more perceptive than his appearance suggests. His interactions with Blaze and Amy have really shown this. Some of this even leaked into the way he was written in "Sonic Frontiers."

Despite that, Flynn allows Knuckles to really backslide in "Relic Robbing Rumble." The guardian of Angel Island is primarily in smashy-smashy, proud warrior mode here. That the Babylon Rogues defeated him, making off with artifacts he's sworn to protect, seriously has Knux grumpy. He refuses to ask for Amy or the Restoration's help, strictly to preserve that lone warrior pride. This leads to him acting unreasonably, agreeing with Vector's plan to raid Eggman's lab, despite the lack of evidence, and simply going along with whatever idea the Chaotix have. I don't want to say it's out of character for Knuckles – it's not, necessarily – but it's certainly not the most interesting approach. I know Flynn can do better with our red guy here. 

Still, I suppose the first part of "Relic Robbing Rumble" works fairly well. This is obviously a more light-hearted story, with lots of comedy. Knuckles' stubborn ego is played for laughs, such as when he blocks Chamry from calling Amy or admits to Eggman that the relics aren't even necessarily that important. Vector rushing through things because he's eager to get to his date with Vanilla, Eggman's mild annoyance with the heroes, or Vector's reaction when Espio surprises him all made me chuckle. The chemistry between these guys, between Knuckles' honor-driven hot-headedness and the Chaotix' slightly incompetent sleuthing, keeps this story afloat entirely. I even kind of like the panel of Storm – someone I really don't give a shit about, I must stress – playing with the two idols they've snatched like they are dolls. I'm not made of stone, that's funny. So is Knuckles eating a big pink sundae, while slamming his fist on the table. 

And it's a good thing that this is a breezy, amusing story. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the point is. Especially needless is the sequence of the good guys hastling Eggman. The mad doctor is more perturbed than enraged by their intrusion, even listening while they explain themselves. He goes so far as to admit that he currently has no evil plan in motion, still licking his wounds after the destruction of Eggperial City. In other words: Why was this scene included in this story? I mean, other than to expand this plot into a two parter. It seems to me that whatever Flynn is currently building towards has something to do with the ancient culture of Angel Island, or at least these relics in particular. Giving Eggman a token appearance feels like an excuse to insert some robot-smashing in a story otherwise about goofy comedy. 

The back-up connects with the cover story in a loose way. "Cream's Dinner" shows us the special dinner that Vanilla is preparing. Naturally, her daughter is helping out. After realizing they are out of butter, Vanilla heads out to get some, leaving Cream (and the fate of dinner) in the hands of Gemerl. That's when Rough and Tumble, determined to rebuild their reputations after several humiliating defeats, decide to sneak into Vanilla's house and cause trouble. Gemerl can handle that too but, oh no, what about dinner?!

Unlike the cover story, which blunders around without much of a clear directive, "Cream's Dinner" has a totally solid idea at its center. This is a story all about contrasting the mundane with the oversized, one of my favorite comedic devices. It's a tale that climaxes with a dead-pan robot karate kicking two skunk mercenaries but the main plot is based around the utterly everyday concern of whether a meal will be prepared correctly. Most all of us are familiar with the small stakes of trying to cook dinner without fucking it up. Most of us probably aren't familiar with two henchmen breaking into our house to cause trouble. Yet Cream – a child – and Gemerl – a robot – treat both scenarios with equal gravity. In fact, Gemerl almost seems more concerned about dinner. He sees the skunks break-in as a hindrance to this far more important issue. Funny!

This proves that Evan Stanley can do comedy well but her greatest strength still lies in small, relatable character interactions. There's an adorable moment here where Cream, concerned if she can be trusted with watching the food, is reassured by Gemerl. It's a small sequence, occupying only two panels, but it adds so much. Gemerl may be a robot but he's clearly become Cream's father figure. Emotionally supporting his surrogate daughter clearly isn't what Gemerl is built for – literally – and yet he has made his main bit of programming. That actually makes this moment more touching than if Vector or Sonic or whatever was helping Cream out. At first, I really missed the crankier Archie version of Gemerl but, I've got to tell you, the even more parental, in spite of his robotic nature, IDW version has really grown on me. 

Another observation I have about this issue is, perhaps, the artists should have traded stories. Mauro Fonseca draws the first story while Adam Bryce Howard does the second. Fonseca clearly goes for exaggeration in his work, most evident in any of the panels were Knuckles is freaking the fuck out. Fluid detail is the name of the game with Thomas. Both artists do a fine job. Both stories contain some hilarious faces. But Thomas would've brought a lot more verve to the action scenes on the first story while Fonseca would've emphasized the humor inherent in the second. Just an observation, not a criticism. This is a good looking issue regardless. 

I've commented last month that Sonic himself has been taking a backseat these last few issues. The hedgehog isn't in this issue at all. I'm happy the publisher and editors have enough confidence in this series' supporting cast to let them carry the book for a month or two. If Sega mandates or whatever insist Sonic must be a vagabond hero, not directly connected with the Restoration or any other group on a long term basis, simply taking the focus off him for a while is a smart move. It allows the supporting cast to grow, actually putting further development of this cast above just giving people what they want. You love to see it! Or, at least, I do.

Anyway, issue 65's cover story manages to be entertaining in spite of feeling entirely like filler and not giving Knuckles his due diligence. The back-up, meanwhile, is cute, charming, and funny. Enough so that it easily overshadows the cover story. I guess that leaves me on the hook for the next issue. I've got to know if Vanilla's roast is ruined or not and if she'll have to purchase fast food and cleverly disguise it as home cooking... [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special

Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special

Publication Date: October 11th, 2023

Once again, I have to open one of these blog posts with an apology. I really didn't mean to take half of October off. It's always the busiest time of the year for me. In-between a number of professional and social responsibilities, what I do over at my other blog – watch and review as many horror films and TV shows as I can – takes up a lot of time too. In all of that, I just lost track of updating Hedgehogs Can't Swim. Sorry about that. I'm sure anybody reading this is used to frequent delays and missed updates from me. I'll try and do better in the last two months of 2023. 

I picked a hell of a time to take a break too. The last few weeks have been an extremely busy time for "Sonic" fans. The much hyped "Sonic Superstars" was released. I haven't had a chance to play it yet though people seem to like it alright. An entirely new 3D platformer was announced, beginning the hype cycle all over again. Most randomly, we even got a second short film starring Lah the Ghost Girl. In the middle of all that were three new comic releases: A regular issue of IDW's monthly series, a digital one shot meant to promote "Superstars," and something I've long crowed for. 

Yes, 2023 saw the release of an official "Sonic the Hedgehog" Halloween special! Every year, I bemoan how there should be more spooky, scary "Sonic" content. I guess someone at IDW heard my cries. The one-shot is entitled "Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special." There's no ambiguity there. This story isn't just a Halloween adjacent tale of ghosts and goblins, the "Sonic" version of a horror story. It is set on Halloween, explicitly involving the traditions of the holiday, which are named and referenced many times. This is about as Halloween-y as a "Sonic" Halloween special could probably get, at least from a story perspective. 

So what is this "Sonic" Halloween Special about? Well, not Sonic, not really. Instead, "A Very Chaotix Halloween" does exactly what that title promises. Vector, Espio, and Charmy Bee are all decked out in Halloween costumes, ready to take Charmy out for a night of tricks and/or treats. Just as they are about to leave, a small child knocks on their door. The kid informs the detective that her and her friends were led astray by a sinister fellow named Herschel. This proceeded a monster leaping out and stealing their candy. The trio decides to investigate. Sonic and Tails, travelling towards their own seasonal activities, notice the crime fighters and decide to assist them. 

I'm as pro-Halloween as a person can possibly be. In all my years of requesting a "Sonic the Hedgehog" Halloween special, I suppose I never asked a question that is obviously very important now: Uh, how do Sonic and his friends know what Halloween is? Here on our world, a very specific junction of several pagan traditions, Christian festivals, and corporate exploitation of market trends led to this holiday existing in the form it does now. It's hard to imagine anything similar happening on IDW's "Sonic" world, which barely seems to be a post-industrial society and has no religion to speak of. If this was the old Archie comics, where Mobius was actually a far-future Earth or Sonic and the gangs co-existed with humanity, this question would be a little less vexing. In this particular continuity, which has been extremely resistant to any sort of world-building, the wide-spread celebration of Halloween, in much the same way we Americans do here in the 21st century, can't help but strike me as a little odd. 

Of course, I am, as I always do, overthinking this. We are supposed to take this holiday and all its related traditions existing on Sonic's world at face value. The same way we are in any of those old Christmas specials, where any number of bizarre, cartoon creatures are aware of and partake in earthly rituals they really should have no awareness of. "A Very Chaotix Halloween" definitely emphasizes the most commercial elements of the autumn festival. The focus here is primarily on dressing up in wacky costumes, going door-to-door, and gathering as much candy as possible. The presence of a monster is quickly resolved in the most "Scooby-Doo"-esque of fashion. There's no discussion of spirits, spectres, ghouls, goblins, or otherworldly entities here. Samhain and the harvest are not mentioned. Considering ghosts, werehogs, Zombots, eldritch abominations, and mismatched robotic oddities do exist in Sonic's world, it's a little odd to see the IDW series go in a strictly secular direction here. There's plenty of Halloween ambiance, which I greatly appreciate, but things definitely veer more towards "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" than "The Halloween Tree" here. 

IDW "Sonic" has certainly embraced horror elements before, which makes it odd that the Halloween special rears back on that. There might be a clear reason for this though. "A Very Chaotix Halloween" is the first "Sonic"-related credit from writer Mark Bouchard. On their website, they describe horror as their favorite genre and have published several fairly grisly comics before. Yet perhaps Bouchard's lack of experience with "Sonic" prompted them to take it easy here. "A Very Chaotix Halloween" sees the characters operating in a fairly archetypal fashion. Sonic is a super-fast, slightly snarky but always virtuous hero. Tails is his light-hearted sidekick. Vector wants to be a tough guy but his goofy, soft side constantly shows. Charmy is an excitable little kid. Espio and the rest of the cast here don't even get that much definition. 

The result is a story that lacks much in the way of depth. Sonic and Tails assist the Chaotix totally on a whim. The Chaotix help the kids out of the kindness of their own hearts and a desire for candy. The actions of the antagonists are explained strictly by greed. There's not a lot to this one. The only thing that really sticks out to me are the slightest suggestion of a rivalry between Sonic and Vector, based on who can crack this particular mystery first. More focus on that probably would've made this one a more satisfying read. 

Honestly, I can't help but wonder if Bouchard doesn't think these "Sonic" comics are for a much younger audience. (Or was instructed to target this one at really little kids.) After the mischievous candy thieves behind the monster are exposed and defeated, Sonic gives them a lengthy lecture on why stealing is wrong. This leads to a super-happy ending where everyone learns a lesson and discovers that being nice feels nice. Moments like that make it seem like this comic is aimed strictly at the preschool audience. I mean, "Bluey" is a show literally for toddlers and it's typically less didactic than this. Perhaps Bouchard's primary knowledge of this series and its hero comes from the old "Sonic Sez" segments. 

It's not like I expect great psychological depth from my blue hedgehog comics. Yet, considering the "Scrapnik Island" mini-series managed to bring quite a lot of pathos to its premise last October, it is disappointing that this feels so thin. Obviously, this is a light-hearted comic that's going for some pleasant hangout vibes. Really the only moment that amuse me in a visible way is when Vector's master plan for defeating the monster involves socking it right in the face. That's direct. Overall though, this one didn't give me much to work with. 

But maybe some mildly spooky October atmosphere is all that's really required of a one-shot holiday special like this. Jack Lawrence does the artwork for this one and, as usual, he's a reliable talent. You can tell Lawrence really had a ball designing everyone's Halloween costumes here. Vector is a Frankenstein monster, Espio is a mummy, Chamry is a vampire, and Tails is a hootin', hollerin' cowboy. (Sonic didn't dress up cause I guess he's too cool for that...) All the little trick-or-treaters look cute too, which vary from skeletons to gillmen. Herschel, who is rocking some sort of Dracula get-up, is especially neat. Matt Froese and Gigi Dutreix's ink and colors deserve some praise too, as they definitely add to the autumnal vibes and forested feeling of the story's second half. 

I suppose it was inevitable that me, being dead center in the "Sonic" nerd/horror aficionado Venn diagram, probably expected more than was reasonable from this. This is a simple Halloween special, with extremely simple goals, targeted at seemingly the youngest members of the "Sonic" fandom. I'm glad it exists even if this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the potential here. Mark Bouchard definitely strikes me as capable of a lot more, so I'm going to chalk it up to first time shakiness. But, IDW, I've got a killer pitch for next year's Halloween special – "Tails From the Crypt!" – if you want to do this again. (And accept unsolicited submissions from random weirdos on the Internet with no experience writing for comic book companies.) [6/10]

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.08: In the Midnight Hour

Sonic Boom, Episode 2.08: In the Midnight Hour

Original Air Date: December 31st, 2016

Every chance I get, I bring up the lack of Halloween adjacent "Sonic" media. Being in the middle of the massive horror nerd and massive Sonic nerd Venn diagram is not an easy life and one rarely validated by the blue hedgehog's adventures. Over the years, I've managed to dig up the handful of cartoon episodes and comics that border all things scary, creepy, and spooky. Yet it's always a delight when I unexpectedly stumble across more. Here I am, watching what I thought was a regular episode of "Sonic Boom" when I quickly realized it was a horror inspired of "Sonic Boom!" What a joyous occasion! Naturally, this episode aired on the 31st of... December, because "Boom's" schedule was completely fucked-up by this point. 

Sticks is channeling her inner Jackson Pollack/Jean-Claude Van Damme right around the stroke of midnight, while outside Comedy Chimp's television studio. That is when she spies a ghostly entity floating outside the studio, tinkering with the antenna. No one believes her, dismissing it as another one of her paranoid delusions. Further investigation confirms that the creature is real. He's an Eggman robot named the Dreamcaster who is hypnotizing everyone at night while they sleep, through their television. This soon turns everyone into mindless zombies, who do Eggman's bidding. As Sticks doesn't own a TV, she is immune. Yet can she save everyone and stop Dreamcaster on her own? 

As soon as the hooded, ghostly figure with Freddy Krueger claws floated on-screen, I got my hopes up that "In the Midnight Hour" would be a spookier "Boom" episode. The premise of no one believing Sticks when she claims she's seen a weird monster brings certain cryptozoological connotations to mind, furthering that horror movie feel. The episode quickly falls into a not-spooky-at-all groove quickly after that, leaving me disappointed... Ah, but in the last night, Sonic and friends are turned into somnambulist zombies! They even shamble around with their arms outstretched and do the "Thriller" dance! (Which is also followed by a random "Funkytown" shout-out.) Later, the Dreamcaster is even revealed to be a flying skeleton guy under his hood. It's undeniable: "In the Midnight Hour" is the horror inspired episode of "Sonic Boom," with ghosts and zombies galore. 

That alone is enough to earn a positive score from me but I'm happy to report that, in general, this episode is pretty good. Making Sticks the main character was a smart decision here that leads to an interesting dynamic. Everyone knows Sticks is kind of crazy but usually in a harmless, "local eccentric" sort of way. Yet what she sees in this episode is so outrageous that her friends begin to suspect her grip in reality is really slipping. Like, more than usual. It gets to the point that, when Comedy Chimp insists Sticks in thrown in jail for vandalizing his studio, her friends reluctantly let her go. They hope maybe a night in the penn will help her get grounded again. 

This is a strong narrative hook, the show's most eccentric hero being turned on by her friends for perfectly understandable reasons. Yet it also leads to an unexpectedly, if brief, poignant moment. After interrupting one of Dreamcaster's broadcast, Sticks is not thanked by the populace. Instead, they are annoyed for being woken up in the middle of the night. This causes Sticks to run off, crying a little. You'd think a paranoid conspiracy theorist like her would be used to people rejecting her plans but she's clearly genuinely hurt by this. We're not used to seeing the loud-mouthed Sticks be vulnerable like this and it's a moment that genuinely got to me a little bit. Poor little badger nut job! 

Of course, Sticks is vindicated in the end. In this case, the seemingly delusional crackpot was entirely right. Dreamcaster is real and part of Eggman's latest evil plot, which comes shockingly close to actually succeeding. Amusingly, the script really leans into this "what if the paranoid looney was right?" angle in its last act. Sticks shields herself and her friends from the machine's influence with tin foil hats, that perennial symbol of all unhinged crankery. Sticks' paranoia is actually what saves her in another way. She already didn't own a TV, believing it to be a device to control people's minds. And, in this very specific scenario, that was entirely right. 

That revelation leads to a good fourth way break, where Sticks assures the audience watching at home that this TV show is not a mind control plot. That's just one of several good gags here from writer Paul Shriver. A moment that got a big belly laugh out of me was Tails telling Sticks that a lack of sleep can cause hallucinations, to which Sticks deadpans that this isn't a problem as she never sleeps. The opening bit that her creative art project and her work-out routine is one and the same made me chuckle too. As did a bit where a guy's epiphany is interrupted. Dreamcaster having a deep, smooth, chocolate-y voice, like a radio deejay or a soul singer, is another inspired bit of goofiness. Of course, the robot's name is a reference to Sega lore, leading to an amusing in-joke conversation about whether the name is bad or not. His eyes being red swirls is also a likely homage to the late, great Dreamcast. 

Also, this episode reveals that everyone in the village seemingly sleeps with their TVs on. Yeah, I do that sometimes too. I can't help it, the Roku screensaver is so relaxing! Anyway, I was definitely predisposed to like this one just because it's got a ghost and zombies in it. I'm happy to report that it is a pretty strong episode otherwise, with lots of sharp gags and even a mildly touching character arc for Sticks. I'm glad that "Boom's" most horror adjacent episode is a pretty good one! [7/10]