Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 78

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 78

Publication Date: May 7th, 2025

I've made this observation often but it never fails to amuse: The "Sonic the Hedgehog" comic book can function perfectly fine without Sonic the Hedgehog in it. For years, I had to hear clueless jack-asses complain about how Sonic had "too many friends." That the games needed to go back to featuring him and only him. Or that the Archie Comics had too large a cast. There might be some valid criticism hidden within these statements but the truth is apparent to "Sonic" lifers like you and me. The hedgehog has a great supporting cast, one more than strong enough to support stories without him, stories that are sometimes all the better because of it. That case is proven again with issue 78 of IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog." It wasn't until after I was done reading it that I realized the Blue Dude with 'Tude never appeared within its pages. The guy's name is on the cover but he didn't bother to show up this month and I didn't even notice. That definitely says some things about me and this comic. 

So what of this "Sonic the Hedgehog" story that pointedly does not feature its title character? "Shattered Pieces, Part 3" focuses on Tails, Amy, and Blaze as they travel the country and check in on various communities in the aftermath of Restoration HQ's destruction. They find places like Barricade Town and Glass Hill functioning fine on their own, the local Restoration chapters strong enough to support themselves. They don't get a whiff of trouble until arriving in Turtleshell Island, a floating city kept above water by several support buoys. The trio encounter Surge and Kit there, all on friendly terms... Unaware that Kit has planted a bomb on one of the buoys, to create another crisis Surge can play hero in. Soon, the whole gang is running around the island to try and keep it from sinking and rescue anyone who hasn't gotten to safety yet. 

All throughout IDW "Sonic's" run, I've bitched and moaned about the lack of world-building, which I continue to blame on Sega's vague vision for what Sonic's home world is like. 78 issues in and we still don't have a firm idea of how these scattered villages function or how any of these cartoon animals got here. However, "Scattered Pieces" represents Flynn finally fleshing out the setting a little more. Despite all the random sci-fi super-tech utilized here and there, "Sonic's world" seems to mostly be a series of small towns and cities, isolated apart from each other by rural expanses of nature. It increasingly seems as if there was no type of government body or prevailing social structure before the Restoration came into existence. As we discover in this issue, that seems to be because these towns don't need it. All these places seem to be doing fine on their own, operating independently of each other. My needlessly nitpicky brain still has a lot of questions here – where do they get their food? Their building supplies? – but the growing implication seems to be that Sonic's society is practically a utopia. Before Eggman showed up, it seems these little clusters of communities existed largely without conflict or problems, everyone happily functioning. 

I don't find this to be a particularly satisfying answer. Compared to the conflict filled history of Mobius, full of wars and conquests and competing superpowers, this presentation seems... Ya know, boring. All the furry animal people that live on these islands mostly existed in an Eden-like bliss and tranquility with nature – even though they also have cities and infrastructure and cars and shit??? – before the corrupting influence of Eggman entered into their paradise. And if he went away forever tomorrow, they'd go right back to that? I guess that tracks with the depictions in the video games but it doesn't make for an especially compelling setting. There's some cool touches here, such as the aforementioned floating city or an ice-spewing firetruck powered by Wisps, that represents Flynn adding some color and quirkiness to this world. That shows a distinctiveness but does little to make this location feel fully realized. I guess I hoped, by this point in the "new" comic's run, I would have more of an idea of what the hell Sonic and his friends are fighting to protect. 

The book seems to be moving towards something that I have a very bad feeling about. During IDW "Sonic's" entire existence, our good guys have been aligned with the Resistance and then the Restoration. They functioned as something like a replacement for the Freedom Fighters and Mobotropolis, a uniting and centralized force that gave Sonic and friends some sort of motivating goal. They had an objective, of rebuilding society after Eggman's conquest of the globe in "Sonic Forces." Sonic, kind of a capacious hero who simply runs around when left to his own devices, was given direction and a regular supporting cast. All things you need if you want your comic book to feel like an actual narrative and not stuff just happening for no reason. Since the destruction of Restoration HQ, this feeling has crept into the book. This storyline kicked off with everyone going their separate ways, lots of the character seeming dissatisfied with what their lives have become. In this issue, we see that society seems pretty well restored. These towns don't need the Restoration anymore and Ian Flynn seems well on his way of writing the whole concept out of the series. 

Where does that leave "Sonic the Hedgehog: The Comic Book?" Sonic running around wherever he wants, running into disorganized groups of friends that he otherwise doesn't stay in touch with, until everyone has to unite to stop Eggman's next plan for world domination? I think that's exactly what Sega wants this comic book, and the entire "Sonic" franchise to be, a vague collection of mascots in a vaguer world that don't do anything in-between the new mainline video games. Archie "Sonic" was weird. It stood on its own, perhaps as the most fleshed-out version of Sonic and his friends. Should I still be comparing this comic book, 78 issues in, to the one it was designed to replaced? My fear that this comic would exist only as a promotional device for Sega's corporate goals, thoroughly strip-mined of any deeper personality, has never gone away. Are we really headed towards that? What about G.U.N.? Angel Island? Is this series truly going to be a collection of random elements that get thrown together randomly? 

I think I managed to depress myself a little. My growing concern over the Shape of Things to Come has sort of overwhelmed my thoughts on this individual issue. Which, by the way, I did like. The first half feels somewhat uneventful. Amy, Tails, and Blaze are going from town to town, trying to resolve a crisis they then discover doesn't actually exist. Makes you feel a little like your time is being wasted, ya know? However, there is a hang-out vibe to these scenes that has some value. Once everyone arrives on Turtleshell Island, and the entire city is threatened with submergence into the sea, a fire is lit under the ass of this issue. At that point, "Shattered Pieces: Part 3" becomes a compelling and exciting adventure story. We've got our gang, they've got a problem to solve, and the clock is ticking. Let's watch them put their heads together to save the day. The solution that arises – of Kit making a huge air bubble and floating Blaze under the island, where she generated heat vents to hold the island up – is novel. Good shit. I enjoyed that part. Imposing a time limit on our heroes is always a good way to build suspense and the image of an entire town sinking into the sea is dramatic enough to catch the imagination. 

Despite my misgivings about where this is all headed, I do enjoy spending time with these characters. That is despite the book's increasing insistence on reducing everyone to a static series of characteristics. For example: Must we mention Blaze's acrophobia every single time she shows up? Is she claustrophobic now too, as depicted by her nervousness inside the bubble Kit creates? Tails makes sure to point out Blaze is too hard on herself, that she's a good friend and shouldn't spend so much time trying to make up for her self-perceived mistakes. I like that Blaze is anxious about stuff and struggles with confidence and believing in herself. I dislike that being reduced to basically a gimmick that defines her solely, one of set if stats that are never allowed to change. Sure would be nice to know where that anxiety comes from! Or to see her grow and overcome these changes with time! What happened to Blaze to make her like this? Is she always going to be this way? That's depressing to consider! 

In fact, all of the characters come off as a little one-note in this issue. As Blaze is defined solely by her lack of self-worth and phobias, Kit and Surge are stuck in a specific mode. Kit can't live without Surge and must see her succeed, which he is engineering through clandestine crisis. Surge wants to be a hero now... But she also wants to be better than Sonic and the others, despite her inexperience and natural inclination towards mayhem. The latter element results in her making the situation worse, severing another one of the cables holding the island aloft. I like Surge being well-intentioned but inexperienced, struggling between her desire to be better and her impulsive, destructive nature. And if Kit is a little neurotic and obsessive about Surge, that makes sense. Starline literally programmed him to be that way. The internal battle between these two misfits trying to turn over another leaf and everything about their lives up to now telling them they are villains: That's good! Let's see more of that. 

Unfortunately, there's this frustratingly futile air around this entire issue. Blaze helps save the day but her fears remain. Kit wants to make Surge a hero but these interlopers resolve the disaster he created. If this is building towards a schism between Surge and Kit, the former actually wanting to change and the latter sticking to his programming, that would be interesting... But just as Blaze's fear of heights can never go away, I'm increasingly feeling like none of this matters. These individual events are not building towards something and the comic is merely killing time until the next event kicks in. "Scattered Pieces" is such a cool idea for a story arc but now I'm worried that it's less about growing all of the characters on their own and more about simply keeping the status quo intact until the next anniversary issue. Are we going to see any of these dangling plot points wrapped up any time soon? 

All of this shows the differences between the concerns I have about "Sonic" as a series and what must people seem to take away from this book. When the preview pages were posted on Twitter the other day, everyone got excited about the cute brown bunny girl with glasses working at the public information office in the first village Amy visits. This issue is full of colorful background extras like that. In Barricade Town, we get glimpses of a fox guy with a pierced ear strumming a guitar and a purple cat chick with an umbrella and distinctively cut bangs. On Turtleshell Island, a portly bear dude with a Tom Selleck mustache and red-rimmed sunglasses gets a few choice appearances. Aaron Hammerstrom, whose pencils are excellent like always, clearly enjoys designing these OCs. Since Lanolin rose from peripheral background extras to featured cast member, the book clearly enjoys introducing neatly designed nobodies who could, if picked up by readers and writers, become the next new OC. 

In fact, issue 78 is trying just that. While Glass Hill, a familiar-ish face is found among the volunteer firefighters. It's the monkey guy from issue 22, the shifty motherfucker who hides his infection once he's inside a shelter that is seemingly required in every zombie story. I think Flynn might be trying to redeem this primate a bit. Now that I get a second look at him, I'm even wondering if he's inspired by the random ass monkey that was hanging out with the Freedom Fighters in the "Sonic Spinball" special stage. While a natural growth of the supporting cast like this has its benefits, I'm not begging to find out more about Shifty Monkey here. We did not meet him under good circumstances and that is influencing my opinion of him. I assure you that's the root of my dislike of him and not because monkeys have the ability to scare the shit out of me What about the raccoon girl with the perm and red eyeshadow standing behind him in one panel? She seems cool. Let's turn her into the next Lanolin instead. 

Anyway, this arc continues to feel despondently directionless. Considering Clutch's embrace of loser-dom in the previous issue, I'm kind of worrying about Ian Flynn's health. Somebody check on him, make sure he's alright. I'm not happy at all where it seems the story is pointing either. Having said all that, the action sequence in the second half rocks pretty hard and that makes up for the sluggish first half. Next issue promises to focus on Whisper and Mimic, so hopefully some meaningful resolution will actually occur there. Or maybe I'm hopelessly holding a torch for this series to become something it clearly never will and all the time I spend writing these reviews are a massive waste for both me and anyone reading this. Oh well! See ya next month, disappointing comic book that I'll still read! [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 76

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 76

Publication Date: February 5th, 2025

From more-or-less the beginning of IDW taking over the "Sonic the Hedgehog" comics, there's been people out there reporting that the company was on the verge of collapse. Some of this was definitely driven by sour grapes over Archie "Sonic" ending and other weird, anti-"woke" coalitions that I do not care to mingle with. However, the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Diamond Distribution – who, at one point, had a monopoly on comic book distribution in America and remains seriously wrapped up in the industry – seems to have caused serious problems for IDW. The situation has a lot to do with creditors and debt and Wall Street bro shit that I personally don't understand. But the salient part is this: The predicament "may have a significant negative impact on our future financial results and cash position" and cast "doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern," according to a recently released annual investor's report. So, uh, that sounds bad! 

In the wake of that news, IDW has already reassured people that the publisher is "not at substantial risk" and seems confident they'll survive up through the end of 2025, at the very least. In other words: The company that publishes the "Sonic" comics might be going out of business. Or, alternatively, it could all work out fine. I imagine none of this news feels great for the freelancers who actually make the books IDW publishes. One has an image of everyone writing and drawing normally, totally unaware if what they are working on will ever see the light of day or if they'll even be paid for it. Probably a lot like what Ian Flynn and the gang went through when Archie's legal clusterfucks led to the abrupt end of the previous "Sonic" comic universe. Is this what life is like in the comic industry, your entire livelihood at risk any minute from byzantine business dealings totally beyond your control? Sounds stressful! I guess we won't know for sure what will happen until something happens. If the books mysteriously start getting delayed, I suppose we'll see the red-inked writing on the proverbial wall. Until then... It's business as usual, the train operating normally while the fear that it may crash into the station remains ever-present in the minds of all aboard. Ain't late stage capitalism swell?! 

That's the macro view and stressing out about things beyond our control isn't fruitful, or so my therapist tells me. Let us instead focus on the matter currently at hand. Issue 76 of "Sonic the Hedgehog" sees the various groups of heroes picking up the pieces – rather literally – in the aftermath of the Clean Sweepstakes disaster. Sonic seeks out the Chaotix, in hopes of finding where Clutch has disappeared. Tails and Amy plan to check on the international branches of the Restoration, to make sure they aren't thrown into turmoil by the destruction of HQ. Blaze, who recently concluded her tour of the globe with Silver, is interested in helping. The Diamond Cutters have a heart-to-heart and go their separate ways. Jewel quits as boss of the Restoration and decides to help Lanolin rebuild the town destroyed in the crash. Silver decides to join Whisper on her quest to hunt down Mimic, with Tangle tagging along to make sure her girlfriend doesn't murder the guy. Belle ventures out with Motobud to explore the world. 

Ian Flynn is back in the writer's chair for Issue 76 and it features him doing something he's made a habit of over the years. The first issue right after a massive event storyline wraps up is devoted to catching up with where the characters are in the aftermath, while also laying the groundwork for the future stories that will lead to the next massive event storyline. This tendency has survived into IDW after Archie and is definitely on-display right here. “Scattered Pieces: Part One” checks in on our major players. Sonic, Tails, Amy, Silver, Blaze, and the Diamond Cutters all get scenes devoted to them, in which they lay down what they plan to do next and put to rest what has come before. When Ian is having a good day, he can make stories like this touching reflections of the emotional states of our heroes and their relationships. On his bad days, this story feel like a mechanical process of standing the dominos back up before they can be knocked over again in a year or two.

The first part of “Scattered Pieces” feels a little bit like both of those instincts are at work. On one hand, Flynn is very focused on preparing the reader for the next fleet of stories. The characters are being broken up and repaired in new combination, with objectives clearly laid down. Sonic is with the Chaotix, Tails and Amy are with Blaze, Silver goes with Tangle and Whisper, Lanolin and jewel are staying behind to plan some urban development, and Belle is off on her own. (Well, she has Motobud, I guess.) It definitely feels somewhat overly structural at times. The worst example of this is Tails' repeatedly mentioning his missing Chaos Emerald, as if to make sure the reader doesn't forget about that dangling plot point. This is obviously an issue about putting every in place for the next motion and, sometimes, that stiffness is keenly felt by the reader.

At the same time, you can feel Ian Flynn specifically addressing some of the concerns people had with the previous arc. The Chaotix interrogate Sonic about his time as the Phantom Rider, with his working with Eggman so willing, which the hedgehog dismisses with a few well placed lines. Meanwhile, the Diamond Cutters get together for a sequence that feels a lot like a group therapy session. Everyone is even sitting in chairs in a little circle! You half expect Tangle to stand-up and admit she's an alcoholic, a clearing in the woods standing in for the church basement. Jewel cries about the pressure she's been under. Most prominently, Lanolin apologizes for the way she acted during the last year of issues. 

I don't know what kind of working relationship Flynn and Evan Stanley have. One would assume they collaborate closely, to make sure all the stories flow together and make sense. However, this issue feels undeniably like a reaction to what Stanley's writing. Here comes Ian Flynn again, to clean up the mess left by the last writer. Let's resolve the tangled morality of Sonic doing undercover as a villain, Lanolin being a hideous bitch to everyone, and Jewel repeatedly fucking up in her leadership role. This is what Flynn has always excelled at... Though it probably doesn't feel great for Evan. To have the next writer come in and sweep up all the changes she made, not many of which were all that well-received by fans. I guess that is what comics are like though. Maybe it was all planned this way and I'm seeing an animosity between the two writing styles that simply isn't there. 

A while ago, I saw a funny image on the hellscape Nazi website. Someone had drawn Sonic responding to Surge trauma-dumping with him saying, bluntly, “I'm not your fucking therapist.” I have no idea if this illustration was made by someone in the pro or anti-Flynn camp. I've seen criticism of the guy's writing that reflects this opinion, that maybe he's double-down on the psychological angst too much. I'm very much in favor of giving your cartoon hedgehogs some mental depth. However, I will admit that Flynn displaying this by having a character drop a massive word balloon, loaded with observations and insight, is starting to show its strain. Having the Diamond Cutters get together in a sharing circle, with Lanolin monologuing about what she's done wrong and how she wants to make amends, maybe makes the therapy parallels a little too evident. 

But it's not bad either! Sure, Jewel crying and yelling about the pressure she's on or Lanolin extensively saying sorry probably is not what I'd prefer to see when I open up a “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book... However, Flynn does sneak in some good moments in-between the tears and moaning. Sometimes it's as simple as Sonic making fun of Espio using the word “cahoots,” which is brought back in an amusing manner. Other times, it's a big dramatic gesture of Tangle scooping Jewel up with her tail and giving her a big hug. The comic has made these characters fleshed-out enough that moments like this feel like proper pay-off to what has come before. “Scattered Pieces: Part One” is definitely a little too stiff in its structure. Literally having the Diamond Cutters go around a circle and talk stuff out isn't very exciting to watch. It's well enough realized though. 

Weirdly, the moment that works the best in issue 76 are the ones that are a little less heavy. I was hoping we'd see Silver and Blaze's world tour actually play out. Instead, they are back at the Restoration hub, their vacation already having come and gone. I have no idea if this was intentional but the conversation the two have ends up having a romantic tension to it.I mean, the idea that they spent several weeks together on a trip brings certain connotations with it. There's some meaningful glances here, as Blaze says she admires Silver. A flashback of Silver munching on two apples has Blaze looking over at him in a somewhat suggestive manner. I know Silver and Blaze is a popular ship – with a cutesy couple name of their own, the only mildly awful sounding “Silvaze” – so I doubt these panels weren't assembled without that idea somewhere in the creative team's minds. 

It's not exactly an action packed issue, leaving little of the flash-and-bang that allows artist to truly show off. Despite that, Aaron Hammerstrom contributes some very nice looking pencils. Espio scooping Sonic up in an office chair and Vector shining a lamp in his eyes are still really good looking, with the same sort of dynamic movement Hammerstrom brings to action sequence.  Drawing characters making sad faces and looking at each other aren't very exciting on their face. However, Hammerstrom does a good job of making these glances properly expressive and meaningful. Valentina Pinto's colors are nice and warm too, giving a further sense of emotional resonance to these pages.

It's a transitional issue in a very obvious sense, transitioning us from the last arc to the next one. The rest of “Scattered Pieces” seems like it well devote an issue to each of these separate story threads, perhaps another direct reaction to Stanley leaping back and forth between groups of characters within one story. I think that's a much smarter idea of how to handle things going forward. As for this particular issue, it's a bit dull in spots. The script can't quite make these emotional moments as important feeling as he probably wanted. Still, it's not all bad either, with one or two little touches making this one worth reading. A very mixed bag, this one. Hopefully it doesn't end up being the last issue IDW publishes, he says morbidly chuckling in a joking-but-not-really way. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 67

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 67

Publication Date: December 6th, 2023

Is an action/adventure comic book only as good as its villains? The obvious answer is "no" but the thesis does have some compelling evidence. At least as far as IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comics are concerned. While the series has always been uneven, the presence of Surge and Kit really energized the writing. Dynamic baddies with strong personalities of their own, I felt like the book had finally found its footing once they struck out on their own. And I know I've said that IDW has "found its footing" roughly fifty times since the comic started but I think it's clear that exclusive-to-the-comics characters like these two, Belle, Whisper and Tangle, or Scrapnik Mecha Sonic are the true life blood of this series. Further evidence for this theory occurred when the book's quality started to get really bumpy after Surge and Kit were put on the shelf back in January. There's been decent issues published in that time but the series has felt largely directionless since then, putting out arcs that truly operate like filler. 

Well, I'm still not convinced that the current arc, of Clutch trying to infiltrate the Restoration, is going anywhere especially interesting. But, at the very least, we've got Surge and Kit back. The teenage mutant super-powered tenrec and fennec arrived back on the series with issue 67. Will they actually get some cool shit to do or will Ian Flynn's creative slump continue? Let's look closer and find out. 

The internet tells me that this story is entitled "Second Chances," information that I feel like should really be contained within the comic book itself! Anyway, Sonic is shocked when he sees that Amy is apparently giving a guided tour of Restoration HQ to none other than Surge and Kit. It's soon explained to the blue hero that these two villains showed up at the front door, asking to be forgiven and allowed onto the side of good. Everyone is pretty skeptical but hoping the effort is sincere, as they show the two misfits around the base and expound on their philosophy of forgiveness to them. Of course, this apparent shift in morality is not for-realsies. Surge and Kit are here on a mission of insidious undermining, on the behalf of Clutch. Who promises to reveal information he has on their past if they distract the good guys while Duo/Mimic continues to set-up a hostile takeover from within. 

Narratively, "Second Chances" is a very simple story. In fact, there's almost no narrative here at all. Instead, nearly the entire comic is devoted to Sonic and Amy leading Surge and Kit around Restoration HQ and showing them the various areas and amenities. We get lots of scenes of our heroes taking the Imposters to a different area of the head-quarters, being told what the purpose of each quarter is. While this happens, they also interact with the established cast members of the comic, most of whom are suspicious of the Imposters' professed attempt to turn over a new leaf. This doesn't sound like an especially compelling story and, in execution, it barely is... 

Yet I do think "Second Chances" works, largely by skating by on the built-in personalities of its cast. Watching everyone's reaction to Surge and Kit just showing up like this is fun. Everyone is rightfully suspicious. There's a lot of side-eyeing. Belle comically freaks out and Silver is shocked by their presence too. This is amusing but it's more than a one-note joke. These interactions allow us peeks at everyone's personalities. Belle quickly accepts them, realizing their story has certain parallels to her own. Lanolin is very skeptical but willing to give them a shot. Most everyone recognizes that the Restoration is a volunteer program that functions on giving people second chances. Throughout nearly the entirety of IDW "Sonic's" run, the series has returned to this idea of forgiveness. Sonic even holds out hope that Eggman will someday see the error of his ways and start fighting the good fight. This issue continues that stance, while also creating lots of opportunities for the lovable cast members to be all lovable and shit. Only Whisper refuses to accept Surge and Kit, which matches the grumpy turn she's taken here of late. 

Of course, Whisper is completely right too. Surge and Kit, much like Duo, are here as double-agents. Also like Mimic's deception, this is something the script wastes little time revealing. A few pages in and we know these two are here on behalf of Clutch, intentionally planning to cause trouble. By the end, they are conferring with Mimic in secret, outlining their plan of espionage. Surge and Kit will be constant distractions for the good guys, while Duo continues his operation in secret. Essentially, these two are here to take the heat off the mole Clutch already has within the Restoration. 

While I still think that's sabotaging a potentially decent narrative surprise, Surge and Kit work a lot better in this role. Mimic is never going to sincerely switch sides. He's a cold-blooded murderer and has shown nothing but self-interest in all his previous appearances. Surge and Kit, on the other hand, are more complex. They both have sympathetic backstories. The more we've gotten to know them, the clearer it is that these two really just need some love and kindness to overcome the malicious programming Starline brainwashed into them. Considering Clutch seems to promise that a reveal concerning the Imposters' origins is coming soon, the two finding their way over to the side of the angels through an undercover operation would be a good conclusion to all the building the comic has done on them before. 

Call it the Vegeta Precedence. As this issue points out, "Sonic" is a franchise that largely operates on shonen fighting anime rules, where enemies are often humbled and then join up with the good guys. For a while now, the series has been pointing towards Surge and Kit eventually making heel-face turns. That makes their fake alliance shift here a prelude, one assumes, for a genuine alliance shift further down the line. Will Kit realize that being good feels good, forcing a wedge between him and Surge? Will the acceptance Sonic gives Surge make her question her desire to pummel him into a bloody smudge on the floor? Will the villains become so competent at being Fake Freedom Fighters, that they decide they might as well become Real Freedom Fighters? Or will the comic do something altogether lamer than any of those options? We can't say yet but, at the very least, the foundation is built here for something interesting to happen later on. 

This issue also makes an effort towards correcting a problem I've had with IDW "Sonic" pretty much from the get-go. Namely, the lack of – or perhaps even a stubborn refusal to engage with – world-building. Archie "Sonic" was full of backstory and environmental details, to the point of sometimes smothering the actual characters and stories. IDW has had the opposite problem, where the world Sonic and friends are fighting to defend has been so vaguely defined that you kind of wonder why we give a shit if it's saved or not. At the very least, "Second Chances" provides us with some insight into how the Restoration is actually going about restoring things. The base has a mall and food court, which seems ridiculous. Well, it is ridiculous but Flynn immediately follows this moment up by revealing that everything at the base is supplied by a warehouse. And before you question whether Jewel is a mini-Bezos running her own Amazon sweatshop, it's revealed that all the workers of the Restoration are volunteers. Everyone is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. It turns out this warehouse is even part of an entire supply chain, distributing goods and necessities to the rest of the world, presumably free of charge. 

This explains some things about Mobius Sonic's world Earth, I guess. Namely, how a culture seemingly made up of small villages with little in the way of industry still has things like cars and chili dog stands and coffee shops. Sonic's world operates on some sort of egalitarian logic, everyone working towards the common good of the rest of the world strictly because it's the best thing for them to do. They manage to do all of this while living in relative harmony with nature, staying in humble communities and not bulldozing forests to make way for massive urban sprawl. 

This goes along with the environmental subtext that has always characterized the franchise, while also making the distinction between our heroes and Eggman more obvious. Eggman is bad because he destroys the world to build his massive cities and engines of conquest. Sonic and his furry friends don't need any of that shit. They can compromise between the needs of the people and the needs of the planet, satisfied with living simple lives. I'm not going to go so far as to call this an actual political statement. It's far too naïve and simplistic for that. Eggman still isn't a capitalist – it's unclear if capital even exists in this world – and that means Sonic isn't actually a socialist either. (Even if that suggestion is still kind of implicit.) I don't think Sonic is going to start wearing a black mask and begin smashing the patriarchy and seizing the means of production. However, it does extend the hedgehog's philosophy of kindness and forgiveness to the entire Restoration. It fleshes the world out some. Even if I'm doubtful this book will get around to providing an actual history, to explain why society is like this, any time soon. 

Alright, I'll stop reading way too much into a children's comic, like I always do, and wrap things up. This is a slower issue but a fairly rewarding one, if only because it can skate by on interactions between the characters. I mean, look at that panel of Kit giving the Orangutan Mechanic the stink-eye! That's priceless. Thomas Rothlisberger's art is strong, the guy giving a lot of opportunities to draw colorful facial expressions and cute little background details. Whether this actually goes anywhere good or not remains to be seen. The book has let me down plenty of times in the past. But, taken on its own, this is an alright issue. I'm going to wait and see. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 64

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 64

Publication Date: September 13th, 2023

IDW's “Sonic the Hedgehog” series does, for the time being anyway, seem committed to the structure of a cover story and a back-up story in each issue. That worked out nicely for the book last month, so let's see how issue 64 did... The cover story, “Misadventures, Part 2,” begins with Silver and Whisper spying on “Duo,” looking to see if their suspicion that the new recruit is actually Mimic will be fulfilled. Lanolin quickly sees the two sneaking around and blows their cover. Silver and Whisper decide to go on the offensive then, chasing after Duo. All they manage to do is sprain the cat's ankle, turn everyone against their mission, and get Silver kicked out of the Diamond Cutters. Afterwards, in “Two of a Kind,” Blaze and Sonic are returning to Restoration HQ when they notice Silver sulking out by the victory garden. The pyrokinetic cat and the telekinetic hedgehog have a heart-to-heart, realizing they have a lot in common. 

In my review of issue 63, I commented that Mimic/Duo didn't strike me as a very talented or patient assassin. Maybe this was fitting, as issue 64 reveals that Whisper and Silver are not very talented or patient spies. Instead of carefully watching Duo for days on end and gathering evidence, they immediately get their cover blown. Alright, Silver sucks at sneaking. Sure. Yet instead of staying committed to a stealthy approach, the two go from zero to sixty in the opposite direction. Silver chases Duo down and threatens him, in hopes that this will force Mimic to reveal himself. That does not seem like the most sensible decision. 

I suppose you could say that Silver isn't in a sensible mood, after almost getting killed last time... But why doesn't Whisper – the epitome of a calm, watchful combatant – ever tell him to cool it? Instead, she ends up fighting Lanolin while Silver takes chase. Alright, I guess Mimic is a sore subject for Whisper as well, prompting her to act rashly. To me, however, it really seems like both characters are blundering into this mission, totally convinced of what they must do, instead of acting reasonably and making absolutely sure Duo is Mimic before striking. Whisper even says they have to be certain before going right along with Silver's crazy plan. 

If you have to resort to the explanation of “The characters are acting like jack-asses because they are upset,” you should definitely emphasize that this is what's happening more keenly. Otherwise, it just makes our heroes seem like impulsive dimwits. However, it's not like Silver and Whisper are the only ones acting like damn fools here. Once again, I must ask the question: Why does Lanolin trust Duo so much? She doesn't know this guy! Does the Restoration even do background checks on their new recruits? The fact that Lanolin is willing to go fisticuffs to defend this guy, against a friend and team members of her's that she's fought alongside, makes this entire sequence of events rub me the wrong way. Everyone is acting like a moron in this issue. 

This story reflects on everyone poorly, honestly. We, the reader, know for a fact that “Duo” is Mimic. Lanolin going to bat for this guy makes her seem like an idiot. The final sequence has Jewel apologizing to Duo as he recovers from, I don't know, a sprained ankle or whatever. I guess she's fooled too, even offering him a job in her office. This doesn't make Mimic look like a cunning strategist or master manipulator. It makes him look lucky, to stumble his way into a better position like that. To be surrounded by people who so totally uncritically buy his deception. The longer this particular arc goes on, the more I think it would've been a lot better if it hadn't been revealed that Mimic is Duo before things got rolling. 

But, you know, characters acting ridiculously head-strong and not thinking things through, falling into contrived events just to facilitate an action sequence... That is a proud tradition in comic books. “Misadventures, Part 2” seemingly even sets up such a big fight. Whisper and Lanolin are going to duke it out, right? Well, they do... For about four panels. Whisper grabs Lanolin's wrist, she gets tossed tot he ground, there's some kicking and punching. That's it. Come on, Evan, if you're going to stretch this dumb-ass plot out for multiple issues, at least have the good sense to give us a pulpy fight scene between two established characters! 

Of course, the back-up story makes it clear why this rather weird, off-center cover story plays out the way it does. By the end of “Two of a Kind,” Silver and Blaze have run off together. Silver leaves behind the Restoration and decides to go on a seemingly unrelated adventure with Blaze. That's kind of annoying, if only because the previous few issues have been trying to make a point about how Silver belongs in the Restoration. Seems to kind of defeat the purpose, doesn't it? Why do all that development about Silver trying to fit in with the Diamond Cutters just to break them up? 

Then again, Silver and Blaze being paired up is not without precedent. Not within this comic book, where they haven't interacted much outside of the “Victory Garden” story a few annuals back. (Which this issue references extensively.) In the fandom, however, Silver and Blaze are an incredibly popular ship. With the exception of insanely common ships like Sonic and Amy or Rouge with anyone, I think “Silaze” is probably the match-up I see the most frequently in artwork and fanfics. I think this is probably just because “Sonic '06” paired them up or they are both from alternate timelines or whatever. Yet they do have a cute chemistry here. Silver is shy and awkward. Blaze is also awkward, though for totally different reasons. Both characters are looking for their purpose in the world, or the present anyway. 

Even Sonic agrees that they are a cute couple, more-or-less telling them that's exactly what they are. Which is about as explicit a ship-tease as I think we're likely to see in this comic book. Ultimately, “Two of a Kind” isn't much of a story. Almost the entire thing is devoted to Blaze and Silver's little conversation. I support small scale, character-driven stories like this. I think I like the back-up story last month, if only because Sonic and Blaze have a better rapport. Yet I must, philosophically, support this story exist. Even if the seams of the plot here – pairing these two up for an adventure for some reason – is showing very obviously. 

Last time, I worried that the plot involving Duo/Mimic would get dumb really quickly. Those fears are already starting to show themselves. Admittedly, I do continue to like dividing the issue between a cover story and a back-up. Especially if the back-up stories continue to be more character driven than the more action oriented cover stories. By the way, this is another issue that barely has Sonic in it, which is turning into an interesting trend. [6/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 63

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 63 

Publication Date: August 16th, 2023

There was a time in my life when looking forward to the newest “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book took up a lot of my time. I would re-read the issues I already had endlessly, pondering about the backstories of these characters and the world they live in. Wondering what might happen next. When a new issue arrived in the mail, I would jump up and down with glee, ready to see where the story went next. That time has long since past. That specific “Sonic” comic book isn't even being published anymore. More pressingly, I have a lot more bullshit in my life to deal with now than back then. I don't want to suggest that I plan to stop writing about the adventures of Sega's blue hedgehog. Perhaps my passions has cooled a little but I intend to keep Hedgehogs Can't Swim going for as long as possible. Instead, I'm merely trying to explain my most recent absence. Life got in the way. I forgot a new issue of IDW “Sonic” even came out. But I'm back, back again, now that the latest crisis is resolved. Hopefully you'll be seeing more of me around here soon enough, to the half-dozen or so people who still read my deranged rambling. 

Anywho! Hey, you know something those old “Sonic the Hedgehog” comics had the new ones have been lacking? Back-up stories! Archie was famous for packing as many fucking stories as possible into their pages. While IDW has mostly ignored this tradition, issue 63 represents a bold return to this oft-overlooked format. The first 11 pages is devoted to a cover story from Evan Stanley, centered on the Diamond Cutters, while Ian Flynn provides an 8-page back-up story about Sonic and Blaze. This strikes me as a good way to let both writers play to their strengths, allowing the comic to grow its unique cast while also making sure Sonic still gets something to do in his own book. It's a good strategy so now let's see how it played out.

Stanley's “Misadventures, Part 1” picks up where we left off last time. Mimic, in the guise of Duo the Cat, has successfully integrated himself into the new, improved Diamond Cutters. A chance encounter Whisper and Tangle have with Silver encourages the future-flung hedgehog – who is still struggling with what to do in the present day – to also become an in-training Diamond Cutter. While exploring a robot-infested part of Green Hills, Silver and Duo are attacked by an enormous Badnik... And the undercover villain makes a duplicitous move. Meanwhile, in Flynn's “Speed Sightseeing,” Sonic and Blaze race through Spagonia. The high-speed race and subsequent hang-out allows the Sol Dimension princess to talk out some of the things she's been feeling here of late.  

Literally a year ago, in 2022's annual, Evan Stanley introduced the idea that Silver is feeling adrift in the current timeline. With no impending apocalypse to overturn, he doesn't know what to do with himself. The book had to table that particular plot point as it spent a year with Scourge's quest for power and the overly long “Urban Warfare” arc. With that out of the way, Stanley can pick up essentially where she had left off. This story doesn't really dig any deeper into what or why Silver is feeling. It more-or-less reiterates what that Annual story did. But if the book is going to continue to utilize Silver in the cast, I'm glad that the story reasons for this time traveler to be around are being integrated with his personal character growth. Silver is always best utilized when he's an awkward nerd anyway, so having him be looking for his place in the world is as good of a use as any for him.

While Silver's uncertainty about his purpose is the definite heart of this story, it does not occupy the plot very much. Instead, this cover story is really focused on Mimic's on-going betrayal. As soon as Silver shows up at the training grounds, “Duo” is on-guard. Instead of observing the situation and plotting what to do next, Mimic/Duo takes the first chance he can to murder Silver. After a giant robot fish randomly attacks – not the smoothest of plot points, by the way – “Duo” immediately attempts to leave Silver in the machine's jaws, effectively murdering him. Or at least manslaughtering him. This comes after he trips the hedgehog while he's showing off his telekinesis by lifting some big-ass rocks. 

All of this raises an obvious question: Is Mimic a good assassin? One assumes that a proper death merchant would wait until he was alone with his intended target before attempting to kill them. Mimic just goes for it, the first chance he gets. He trips Silver out in the open and then leaves him to be crushed by the robot well within shouting distance of the other Diamond Cutters. I guess any professional killer worth their salt would leap at an opportunity when they see one but these moments suggest that Mimic might be a little too eager to knock someone off. If his job is to infiltrate the Restoration and steal some weapons for Clutch, maybe he shouldn't be so trigger-happy with the murderous impulses? 

Perhaps this is nitpicking. If “Duo” didn't try to not-that-subtly sabotage Silver, no one would notice. It's clear that the tension of the “Misadventures” story will revolve around the suspicions Silver has of the new recruit. Whisper does see Duo trip Silver and she immediately joins him in suspecting something is up with the new guy. By the final page of this story, Whisper has already deduced that Duo is probably Mimic, a revelation maybe we should've taken a little longer getting too. What really bugs me here is that Lanolin accuses Silver of being too hard on the newbie, when he points out that Duo left him to die. There's a way to play this where Lanolin and the others don't seem like complete idiots for dismissing Silver's very valid concerns so casually. Unfortunately, for that to happen, Mimic will have to be a much better spy. 

If the goal of this story is to have Silver and Whisper team up on rooting out a mole (or, in this case, an octopus), that's fine! I love to see an unexpected pairing of characters like that, watching the unique ways they play off each other. We already get a little bit of that here, when the naturally sneaky Whisper startles the nervous Silver. If this story is mostly going to be devoted to the other Diamond Cutters constantly giving the obvious murderer-in-their-midst a pass, in order to keep the plot rolling... That is going to get tiresome quickly. I guess it all depends on how long Evan wants things to play out before “Duo” is revealed as a turncoat. 

If Stanley's story smuggles Silver's on-going character development in among action beats, Flynn's story has the action take a backseat to character development. Proving once again that this issue is a sequel to last year's annual, Blaze is still having her own personal crisis. Instead of just framing Blaze's decision to spend more time in Sonic's dimension as a work-life balance issue, like the last story on this subject did, Blaze is clearly wondering if it's her duty to protect both realms. That's a heavy premise with a lot of room to explore, baked into the question of how responsible those with power are in keeping everyone safe. Sadly, Sonic just reduces it again to the fiery princess needing a vacation. A little bit of angst isn't bad sometimes, Ian!

Having said that, I really do appreciate an entirely character-based story like this. There's no fighting at all here. No evil robots appear, no eldritch abominations or contrived MacGuffins of doom threaten the world. It's eight whole pages devoted to Sonic and Blaze running around a scenic location, chilling atop a clock tower, and talking about what's on their minds. Especially in the aftermath of a numbingly action packed arc like “Urban Warfare,” I enjoyed just being able to hang out with these two. It's nice that Sonic's friends are allowed to have doubts and emotional concerns. It's even better when they get to actually talk about them, without being sidetracked by a bad guy barging in.

Which brings me to my last, most trivial point... The way Sonic and Blaze interact in this story seems very familiar. The cat references the two spending a lot of time together lately. We see them eating in a restaurant and going on a shopping excursion. The way they race alongside each other in a way that's clearly more playful than competitive... Is it just me or are these two flirting? We know any sort of explicit romance is off-the-table in this book, on direct orders from Sega. But this also isn't the first time I've picked up on some romantic chemistry between Sonic and Blaze in this book. Am I just an old Sonic/Sally shipper, desperate to see the hedgehog dating a princess? Maybe. If nothing else, the possibly unintentional hinting at romantic feelings does elevate the story more, making it even more pleasant and relaxing. 

Two artists handle both stories, further allowing each tale to have their own personality. Stanley does the pencils herself for “Misadventures,” while Valentina Pento provides the colors. The slightly thicker lines and somewhat more muted color palette allows Stanley's facial expressions more room to breath, while making sure the action sequences are coherent too. Pento's colors are especially nicely used in the final scene, where Silver and Whisper meet up in what looks like a misty graveyard. Aaron Hammerstein does the pencils for “Speed Sightseeing.” His high-energy artwork and crisp lines are well suited to a speed-centric story like this. I also like the goofy faces Blaze and Sonic make when the clock tower dongs late in the story. Rik Mack's inks and Reggie Graham's colors make sure the story feels vibrant. Good looking issue!

Whether the cover plot will play out in a way that amuses me or pisses me off remains to be seen.  However, I really enjoyed this issue balancing personality-expanding dialogue with its more pertinent story decisions. The back-up, in particular, is really good. Moreover, I like splitting the book in two like this, as it seems like it allows a little more room for everyone to focus on the smaller stuff. It seems like anytime I like the beginning of an IDW arc, the positive qualities are fumbled by the end. Yet issue 63 is a good one, so I'm going to try and stay upbeat about the future for once. [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.