Sonic Boom, Episode 1.47: Fuzzy Puppy Buddies

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.47: Fuzzy Puppy Buddies

Original Air Date: October 10th, 2015

Five episodes out from the end of "Sonic Boom's" first season and they throw another Amy centric episode at us. This time, Amy has become a fan of a collectible tabletop game called Fuzzy Puppies, in which adorable puppy game pieces are pitted against each other. At a local meet-up, Amy discovers that Eggman is also a Fuzzy Puppies player/collector. The two soon begin a secret friendship, meeting up at odd hours to play together. This raises suspicion in Amy's friends. At a local Fuzzy Puppies convention, Eggman's villainous nature and his new friendship with Amy come into conflict. 

It's easy to see what "Boom" is doing with "Fuzzy Puppies." When "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" debuted in 2010, it quickly garnered an unexpected fan base of adult men. There's been multiple papers and whole documentaries made about this phenomenon. At the time, the so-called "brony" community was a source of fascination and novelty. Adult men being way too into a cartoon and toy line for little girls was mocked and derided as "cringe." Bronies, not always unfairly, were widely considered to be weirdos and creeps. It was also examined as challenging gender norms and as an embracing of sincerity and wholesomeness among an older generation. 

The brony concept was also an act of irony by terminally online edge-lords. The fandom has its roots on 4Chan, after all. "Oh, look at how funny it is that we're into this girly show" was the thought process behind many of these guys. That had an obvious downside. A full decade after the fact, we've seen a whole swarth of toxic fanboys, perverts, and literal Neo-Nazis co-opt a program designed for young children. Right-wing shitheels taking over whole corners of geeky fandoms have had horrible ramifications for the whole world. That makes it hard to consider the "Brony" movement as anything but a negative force in the history of the internet and nerd culture.

In 2015, that wasn't obvious yet. Or, at least, it wasn't to people who only had a surface familiarity with the "brony" concept. Such as the "Sonic Boom" writers. They were clearly just happy to riff on the idea of a grizzled adult being invested in a cutesy, frilly hobby. Two years earlier, "Teen Titans Go!" made nearly the exact same joke and I'm sure there are other examples out there of shows spoofing "Bronies." So the concept was already a bit overexposed by this point but, like always, "Boom" was a few years behind the zeitgeist. At least Fuzzy Puppies is not a direct "Friendship is Magic" spoof. It's clearly also inspired by "Littlest Pet Shop," "Pound Puppies," (which have much smaller brony-like fandoms of their own) and the frenzied fan base for tabletop gaming in general. 

"Boom" did not make an episode about fascists infiltrating internet fandoms in order to radicalize vulnerable nerds. Instead, "Fuzzy Puppy Buddies" builds comedy around a much more easily understood concept. Amy is sneaking behind her friends' backs to spend time with someone else. Sonic and the others slowly pick up on this and become concerned. Amy, on the other hand, is exhilarated by finding someone to embrace her geeky passion with.  This leads to the potent comedic premise of conversations with two meanings, of Sonic mistaking Eggman appearing at Amy's hut as an attack. And the villain being forced to play along. Classic sitcom stuff. 

Even though this is an Amy episode, Eggman still emerges as the show's most interesting character. Eggman's oft-noted insecurities appear in him wanting a friend to enjoy Puppy Buddies with, to teach him to play. Amy fills that niche. This episode also has fun with another idea this show often returns to. Despite being sworn enemies, Eggman is basically friends with the heroes. He even refers to his battles with the Boom team as a "job" and his bond with Amy over Fuzzy Puppies as an off-the-clock activity. When Eggman's inherent villainous qualities emerge, that powers the conflict in the last third. Which is a pretty juicy little character arc and I'm satisfied with the place the show ends it at. It wouldn't be easy being friends with a would-be world conqueror like Eggman but maybe there's hope for him yet. 

I'm also glad that this episode doesn't build all its jokes around big, burly Eggman being into a cute little puppy game. Or Amy embarrassing herself with her indiscreet passion. That's definitely the source of some of the jokes but "Fuzzy Puppy Buddies" finds more fruitful avenues. The sequence devoted to Amy sneaking away from her friend is amusing. The biggest laugh comes when Tails determines, via process of elimination, that Amy must be the main character this week. Sticks unfurls an amusingly baroque monologue afterwards based around misunderstanding the word "con." The dialogue is pretty sharp here, with Sonic and Knuckles getting some solid one-liners in. Knuckles putting on sunglasses or cracking a line about "overwatering" got snorts out of me.

It also amuses me that the writers and animators of this episode clearly put some thought into how "Fuzzy Puppies" work. The rules are discussed and they generally make sense. I don't know how fun a game like this, with so many varying rules, would be to play. But I hate any tabletop game more complicated than "Monopoly," so I'm not the person to ask. If nothing else, it's obvious the animators enjoyed designing the little puppy figurines. They are genuinely cute. I can totally see people actually collecting them, just to have them. I say this as an adult man with a nearly complete Super Hero Squad collection. Anyway, this episode probably could've been something a little deeper but I enjoyed it nevertheless. [7/10]

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.46: No Robots Allowed

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.46: No Robots Allowed

Original Air Date: October 3rd, 2015

"No Robots Allowed" is one of those "Sonic Boom" episodes with an amusingly rambling plot, that starts in one place before ending up someplace else entirely. A terrible heatwave is gripping the whole island, making everyone miserable. Since his electric bill is already sky-high, Eggman refuses to turn on the A.C. Instead, he installs solar panels on his lair, the excess sunlight soon giving him a surplus of power. This causes his robot army to go into overdrive and act out on their own, causing one of the machines to land on the lap of the Archipelago Homeowners Association. Under their rules, robots are strictly forbidden and they threaten the villain with eviction unless he can convince them otherwise. Eggman attempting to throw a pleasant party for his guest is interrupted by the hyperactive machines. 

Whew, that's a lot for an eleven minute cartoon! In fact, I kind of wonder if this episode isn't an example of the writers mashing together two separate premises they have. "Sonic and friends deal with a heatwave" and "Eggman has to hide his robots from snooty island officials" really are two unrelated ideas. This is further evident in the episode's structure: The Sonic Boom heroes and Eggman barely interact in this one. Even at the very end, when they fight some Badniks and then follow them back to Eggman's lair, that feels like a pretty unnecessary addition. The story resolves itself without much help from Sonic and the gang at all. I guess there's no way for the heroes to solve global warming in eleven minutes, causing the plot to deviate in a totally different direction from where it started. 

Yet the mashed-up script really isn't an issue. "Boom" sets out to make its audience laugh and this episode is packed full of wacky slapstick gags. "No Robots Allowed" begins with a delirious sequence of Sonic and the others, desperate to alleviate the heat, attaching the fan of Tails' hovercraft to the hut's door. The resulting airflow turns the inside of the home into a wind tunnel, everyone and everything inside swirled around in the air. It's a moment of extended physical comedy that amuses me with its silliness, such as a totally random "E.T." shout-out. That level of anarchic absurdity continues in a later scene, where Knuckles has repeated hallucinations about an ice cream vendor. That builds in a nice way, concluding on a suitably "Looney Tunes" level of goofiness. 

The second half of the episode continues this theme of well-timed slapstick. Someone trying to hide a presence in the home from an important visitor is a stock sitcom premise and "Boom" embraced that with absurd aplomb. Eggman is kicking MotoBugs through doors, cranking the music up, and doing everything he can to disguise the robot uprising happening around him from the homeowners association. The biggest laughs come from a montage of Orbot and Cubot attempting to hide the other machines in impractical ways, including throwing each other back-and-forth into the bathroom. 

Aside from a procession of solid gags, what's my main takeaway from this episode? Eggman hated his dad. See, early on, there's a line from the doctor about how "this heatwave is more oppressive than my father." It's a tossed-off line – har har, the villain has daddy issues – but is actually the secret key to understanding both the character and this whole episode. If Eggman was raised by an authoritarian father, it explains his desire to rule the world. He doesn't want anyone to tell him what he can do. Yet his dad, no matter how much he resents him, is also the person who taught Eggman how to interact with other people. This is why he treats his henchmen like shit. This is why he wants to rule the world, exerting his authority over everyone. (It also explains the self-loathing and wafer thin ego he's shown repeatedly.)

As much as Eggman hated his dad ordering him around, as much as he's doomed to become an authoritarian himself, he's also compelled to please authority figures. Eggman giving a shit what the local HOA thinks about him is obviously an example of wacky sitcom logic. In a proper "Sonic" story, Eggman would just blow them up and do whatever he wants. Yet an oppressive dad who rarely handed out approval and affection created a son who wants to please official bosses. Again, this is why Eggman wants to become the biggest boss in the world. He respects organized authority and power more than anything else. That's another reason why a rebellious little punk like Sonic, who does what he wants as it suits him, drives Eggman up the walls. He demands order and obedience to order. 

This also ties in nicely with the title-lending thrust of the episode. The oppressed will always rise up. Eggman's Badniks, his slaves, do not revolt against their master. Instead, they just go nuts and lash out randomly in all directions. Yet the image of Eggman shoving a horde of unruly robots back behind a door, while polite society tried to function on the inside, seems potent nonetheless. Authority will also try to push down those it deems rowdy and they will always fight back and refuse to be controlled. Thus is the nature of things. If nothing else, the racist against robots HOA get what's coming to them. 

It's a shame an episode with a secret potent side ends on such a flat note, everyone just agreeing to let things continue the way they are. Still, this one made me laugh and gave me some substance I can read too much into. There's also some sharp dialogue in this episode, like Knuckles' reaction to being told the heatwave is strong, an exhausted Sonic's inability to think up good insults, and a meta radio announcement. It all adds up to a fun eleven minutes. Good job, "Sonic Boom" writers! [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 60

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 60

Publication Date: May 17th, 2023

There's lots to talk about with this month's issue of IDW "Sonic," so let's get right into it. "Urban Warfare" continues into its fourth part with our heroes in a perilous scenario. Lanolin and Whisper are still trapped in Eggman's pocket dimension thing. Tangle is plummeting to her death but saved thanks to suddenly being intangible. Metal Sonic is right on her trail though, as she unwittingly leads him right to Sonic and the others. The group quickly formulates a plan. Sonic, Tails, and Amy will head to Eggman's tower, in hopes of stopping the fail-safes that keep Eggperial City running. Meanwhile, Blaze, Silver, and Rouge head off to rescue Shadow and Omega. All of that is easier said than done. 

"Urban Warfare Part 4" is one of those action comics that feels relentless in its pacing. Pretty much not a page passes without some new threat being tossed at our heroes. Oh no, Tangle is falling to her death! Oh wait, now Metal Sonic is here! Ack, Amy smashed Tails' computer! Oh jeez, Metal and the pocket dimension gateway/Ten-Sided Die of Agony has arrived! We just rescued Shadow but, holy guacamole, the fake Chaos Emeralds won't stop growing! And there's Shadow Androids here too! Metal Sonic cut the rope holding up elevator and... Watch your back, Amy! Eggman's got a gun!!!

It just goes on like that. It's exhausting! Reading this comic doesn't feel like a roller coaster ride so much as it does being suddenly strapped to a rocket sled while asked to recite the multiplication table. I can't say it isn't compelling. Every time I thought I had figured this issue out, some other wacky shit was happening. Yet it left my head spinning a bit. This is scheduled to be a five-issue story arc, which is fairly long by the standards of this series. The constant escalation of the action feels like there was enough story developments here for five more installments though. It's jam-packed with incident. 

This kind of unending thrill ride has an obvious downside: If the heroes are constantly having to deal with some new threat in their way, it doesn't leave much room for other necessary stuff to happen. There's several drastic events going on here. Tangle has somehow been turned into a ghost-like entity that can communicate with other people but just phases through any solid matter she tries to interact with. She was never at risk of falling to her death, because she inexplicably has a new superpower. This is a rather sloppy turn-of-events. It really feels like Stanley loved the cliffhanger of Tangle getting dropped to her doom but couldn't think of a reasonable way for her to survive. Instead, she's experiencing some bizarre new phenomena that will be explained eventually, I guess. 

That's not the only example here of an extraordinary happenstance being ignored because the barreling locomotive can't slow down. I'm still not entirely sure what's going with Eggperial City and the fake Chaos Emeralds Eggman has built. Okay, so Shadow's Chaos Control has overpowered them? But Eggman has fail-safes programmed into the city's infrastructure exactly to prevent this. Which is what the heroes are trying to disrupt, so the power supply will run out? And Shadow is stuck inside an ever growing net of emeralds for some reason too... Jesus Christ, slow down a minute! This story is starting to depend on so much technobabble nonsense that I'm loosing my bearings on what's happening. 

This particular issue is, to say the least, convoluted. I guess Stanley keeping the plot moving forward at an almost unbearable pace is a better solution than boring the reader with ever-more tedious descriptions of the why this crazy shit is happening. Yet at a certain point, my eyes start to gloss over. You see this style of plotting from time-to-time in video games, sci-if anime, and superhero comics. The obligation to include as many action scenes as possible run into a double-stuffed plot full of events. Eventually, the breathless delivery of yet more sci-if plot devices gives the reader whiplash from trying to wrap their brains around each new turn of events. 

I think rushing through the mechanical needs of the story, in order to immediately get to the next fight scene, is the main reason why this issue struck me as unsatisfying... But how did it get that way? Part of it is Stanley and Flynn getting too invested in how Eggman's new super weapon works. I don't actually give a shit how Eggperial City operates. What matters is that it's this ever-growing city that is consuming the countryside, not that there's a bunch of fake Chaos Emeralds charging it that come with their own set of rules. "Keep it simple, stupid" should always be the rule of thumb when it comes to explaining the "how" of the New Doomsday Device of the Month. Sci-fi and action comic writers frequently forget this though, bogging the story down in contrived explanations for how some plot device or supernatural MacGuffin operates. 

Another problem is that there's too many people to juggle here. This is a story arc with nine central characters. And that's not counting Whisper, Lanolin, and Shadow, who exists simply as damsels-in-distress to be rescued at this moment. (And I also excluded Omega from that count, since he doesn't show up until the issue is half over.) To balance out such a large cast, Stanley's maneuver is to have everyone split up into teams. Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Tangle the Ghost of Christmas Past are off on one quest. Rouge, Silver, and Blaze are off on another. I feel like this would operate a lot smoother if the number of characters involved had just been cut in half. This is the sort of writing you see a lot in superhero comics and fanfiction, where the nerds behind the keyboard are more concerned with what superpowers they'll have access to than whether what's happening flows in a satisfying manner. 

And yet... As frustrating and relentless as I found this particular issue, I didn't hate it either. Even in a story as overstuffed and convoluted as this one, Stanley doesn't forget the main reason we read this shit: We love these characters. We care about them. She includes just enough personality that I felt like I was reading a real narrative and not a bunch of chess pieces being moved around the 4D board. Such as Tangle's final thoughts before she expects to hit the ground: "Whisper, I'm sorry." Jeez, doesn't that tug on your heartstrings? Tangle is, as far as she knows, about to die and the last thing on her mind is that she let down someone she cares about. 

Soon afterwards, Tangle feels overwhelmed by everything that's happening. She pushes her doubts aside because she knows that saving the day is what's most important. That's the kind of never-say-die attitude I love about my favorite lesbian lemur! Silver gets a moment like that too, where he feels like there's nothing he can do to stop the bad shit that's happening, that his abilities are at their limits. A nod of encouragement from Blaze is enough to remind him to keep moving forward. (Now I see why people ship these two.) As corny as it sounds, seeing my favorite fictional heroes keeping fighting when the odds are stacked against them, to see them push pass their own doubts, reminds me to do the same. 

Stanley even includes a little humor. When Tangle ghosts her head through Tails' computer, Amy instinctively slams her hammer down. She apologizes for smashing Tails' handheld device, explaining it was just a mistake. That shit is funny. So is Tails weaponizing his, well, tails against Eggman during an intense moment. Or Amy admitting she's fed up with this shit when Metal Sonic first attacks. Humor doesn't just keep things light. It reminds us that these cartoon characters have personalities and histories. It makes them seem more alive. And that's really important in an issue so weighed down by Stuff Happening as this one. 

I could probably ramble on some more but I'll wrap it up here. Sorry if this review was as breathlessly assembled as the comic book was. I guess it just put me in that kind of mood. But one more thing: Thomas Rothlisberger's artwork is pretty good, with a lot of broad facial expressions and eye-catching sense of motion... Though I do think Rothlisberger's work is a little better when it's more detail oriented than leaning on the cartoony side of things, like he does here. Anyway, this issue gets a [6/10] from me. 

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.45: Robot Battle Royale

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.45: Robot Battle Royale

Original Air Date: September 26th, 2015

When reviewing "Sonic X," I talked a bit about the required fighting tournament arc all shonen anime must do. Yet this desire to see everyone fight it out is hardly a strictly Japanese obsession. American pop culture does these sort of competition stories with some regularity. You see it every once in a while in comic books. "Sonic Boom" writers had to cook up a hundred scripts for this show so I'm not surprised they touched on a battle royale premise after a while. This show being what it is, it not only squeezed an entire tournament into eleven minutes but it also did it entirely as farce. 

Not that the big robot fighting event is the starting point for this episode. Instead, "Robot Battle Royale" kicks off with Tails inventing an antenna that picks up broadcast from the past. Knuckles decides this item is more useful as a backscratcher, giving the echidna the idea that he's an inventor like Tails. The fox is annoyed by his friend's ego and incompetence. When the village holds a robot fighting tournament, Tails decides to teach Knuckles a lesson. But when Eggman steals Tails' machine – a robot that can take control over other robots – chaos ensues. 

This episode has good structure and, honestly, I didn't expect it. The conflict between Tails and Knuckles drives the first third of the episode. Once the robot fighting begins, that seems to derail the tension between the heroes. Knuckles' robot is taken out due to his own incompetence, with Eggman's scheme emerging as the main antagonistic force here. Yet Tails and Knuckles find a way to resolve their disagreement that also saves the day from the bad guy. Tails learns to appreciate his idiot friend while also defeating Eggman. It's screenwriting 101 but you don't always get that in a show this gag-centric and short. Good job, writers. 

Yet this episode is solid for other reasons too. There's a nice dry absurdity to the jokes here that made me chuckle. Such as a lengthy scene where the Mayor wastes everyone's time by firing a cannonball into the sea, which passes with so little comment that I didn't even know if it was a gag at first. You also see this commitment to the bit in the scene where Tails and Knuckles are arguing, their friends egging them on in the most juvenile way possible. Or Sonic cheering random during the robot battle, only for the reveal to show he's actually excited about buying a chili dog. Good, silly stuff that's executed with strong timing. 

As I watch more of "Sonic Boom," it's becoming increasingly clear that Travis Willingham as Knuckles is the MVP of this cast. How often has his delivery made stupid little lines of dialogue sing? Maybe the biggest laugh here came from his first invention – a stick with a rock tied to the end – and the perfect pomposity with which he presents it. His Muskian habit of “inventing” concepts that already exist leads to a number of perfect line-readings from Willingham. I especially like his melodramatic speech at the episode's end, which circles back around in an amusing fashion. 

You might not be surprised to read that the robot fights here are not especially impressive. This is obviously by design. Most of the robots are goofy little things, such as the Goat Lady's little poodle bot or Comedy Chimp's cymbals clashing monkey. Most of the matches are hilariously uneven. Such as Eggman's six foot tall murder-bot going up against a cute little fella that looks like a toy attached to a skateboard. I do like the fighting game style split-screen image that appears before every match-up. That was a nice touch. 

While "Boom's" meta gags can sometimes be uneven, this episode begins and ends with two strong examples. The first scene has Sonic and Amy watching a movie, with him commenting that the beginning was slow. Amy says movies and TV shows always have "a little filler material" before the inciting incident gets things rolling. That's Tails' cue to bust in with the antenna. The episode concludes with Sonic commenting that Tails' Hypnobot is essentially a plot breaking invention, that renders all future Eggman machines a non-threat. Hypnobot is then destroyed in abrupt fashion, resetting the status quo. Nice. 

Also, there's a dance number and who doesn't love that? "Robot Battle Royale" is exactly what I think of when I consider the average episode of "Sonic Boom." It's not mind-blowingly hilarious or extra-incisive satire. However, it is consistently amusing, with solid writing and strong comedic timing. Moreover, the cast really knows what they're doing and help sell everything. As the end of the first season approaches, "Boom" has proved itself to be an efficient little comedy machine, a sturdy sitcom that is generally well-executed. [7/10]

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.44: It Wasn’t Me, It Was the One-Armed Hedgehog

Sonic Boom, Episode 1.44: It Wasn’t Me, It Was the One-Armed Hedgehog

Original Air Date: August 30th, 2015

While dusting his evil lair, Eggman is aghast to see that his particle accelerator has been stolen. He immediately calls in the cops, who uncover the remains of chili dogs and shoe prints that perfectly match Sonic's feet. The hedgehog is accused of the crime, causing him to flee town. The townfolks form a posse, with Knuckles leading it, to track him. Sonic, living under an assumed life as a humble crate stacker named "Bob," seeks to find the real bandit and clear his name. The crook turns out to be a familiar face, at least to fans of the "Sonic" franchise. 

In the annals of classic action/adventure storylines, there aren't too many more common than the hero being framed for a crime he didn't commit, causing him to go on the run and seek out the real perpetrator. I think just about every superhero comic in existence has done this one before. The responsible party almost always turns out to be a villain, often one specifically created to copy the good guy's appearance. This is, in fact, the entire modus operandi of baddies like Reverse Flash. Sometimes, a whole series based itself around this "wrongfully accused man runs from the law" premise, such as "The Fugitive." (The inspiration for this episode's title, which otherwise makes little sense.) Alfred Hitchcock called it "The Wrong Man" trope and it was the basis for several of his films. 

This is such a common premise that the "Sonic" franchise has, in fact, done it multiple times in the past. It was the set-up for Archie's Endgame story arc and the starting point of "Sonic Adventure 2's" narrative, though both stories quickly rambled off to other plot points. Maybe that's because the idea has its limitations. Yes, the hero having to run from the law, to clear his name and find the real evildoer, is dramatic. The trust his friends have in him being shattered, and those that supported him turning against him, is a juicy development. Yet it also makes everyone around the good guy look like easily swindled fools. Obviously, it would be out-of-character for a superhero to just break the law like that. It also strains believability that all his friends would turn on him so easily. The reader, of course, knows the protagonist is innocent, making the drawn-out development of uncovering the real culprit tedious after a while. "Sonic Boom" squeezes the entire story into eleven minutes and that's about as far as it could have taken it. 

"Boom" is obviously a farce, allowing it to get away with some of the more irregular elements of this stock story type. Noted supervillain Dr. Eggman working with the police is ridiculous, from the get-go. The set-up is utilized for silly gags, like extremely incriminating evidence against Sonic being right in the open. The episode avoids the awkwardness of Sonic's friends turning on him by... Just not featuring them. We never see what Tails, Amy, or Sticks think of this. The only member of Team Sonic featured in this episode is Knuckles, who is enough of a goofball that it's to imagine him getting caught up in a panic like this. And even he is actually covering for his friend. Yes, this deception is so easily seen through that even Knuckles doesn't buy it. 

Instead, the focus is on the citizens of the village, who the show continues to depict as the most gullible and easily swayed group of maroons possible. How many times have they turned on Sonic and/or his friends? Honestly, makes you wonder why Sonic protects them all the time. But I guess that's what heroes do. This is probably why a small portion of this episode focuses on Sonic, in the persona of "Bob," seeking to help an accident-prone co-worker of his. That points towards the "Fugitive" inspiration some more, as that show was all about the hero helping random folks as he fled from town to town, in pursuit of the One-Armed Man. That subplot is fairly disposable though, making this short episode feel a bit padded out.  

Who is it impersonating Sonic? Obviously, Eggman is behind the deception but the actual doppelgänger's identity did catch me off-guard. The "Sonic" franchise features multiple evil lookalikes of the hero but "Boom" rarely delves into the extended cast, so the sudden appearance of a regular cast member from the games surprised me. Spoiler alert for a seven-year-old cartoon: "Boom" randomly introduces Metal Sonic in this episode with zero foreshadowing. Sonic acts like he's an old adversary too, really making this reveal come out of nowhere. Admittedly, it's a neat answer to the mystery here.

I have no doubt that Metal Sonic fans were pleased with his guest role here. The robot does not get "Boom"-ified in appearance or personality, looking and acting how we'd expect. He is generally silent and intimidating. Yet the showdown he has with Sonic has to be among the most underwhelming fight scenes in a show notorious for its underwhelming fight scenes. Metal sluggishly floats around, slowly shooting laser blast out of his chest. Sonic, in slow-mo, runs around and avoids the attacks. As far as a showdown between two characters known for their speed, this does not display much frantic speediness. It's less Stardust Speedway and more "Sonic's Schoolhouse." 

Then again, "Boom" is not really an action show. The jokes are the main appeal here. Since this is a Reid Harrison episode, the script is packed full of snarky dialogue and absurd comic set pieces. Some of these work really well. The opening musical number from Eggman delighted me. As did the truly random segment of Orbot leading a group of tourists through the evil lair, like it was a theme park or something. Knuckles' buffoonery leads to a few amusing bits, involving doors, spit-covered sticks, baskets, quick-sand, and an amusing shout-out to "Jaws."

Overall though, this episode does suffer a bit from sitcom-itis, in terms of all its dialogue being snappy comebacks. An exchange Sonic has with the doctor helping his co-worker definitely feels unnecessarily sarcastic. Some of the running gags are a bit belabored as well. Such as a crowd repeatedly gasping in shock or the reoccurring appearance of horse shoes knocking someone in the head. Those are the kind of gags you can only really do once and, instead, this one runs them into the ground. 

"It Wasn't Me, It was the One-Armed Hedgehog" – is that seriously the best title they could come up with? – definitely ranks as mid-tier "Boom." It has enough funny ideas and zingy timing to not make me regret wasting my precious time watching and writing about it. Yet it's not extraordinary funny and, with the exception of that surprise villain, feels largely uninspired. Still, I bet some hardcore Metal-heads get a kick out of this one, since it's only the second time ever Sonic's robotic counterpart has appeared in animation. [6/10]