Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog's 900th Adventure

Publication Date: September 13th, 2023

How many adventures has Sonic the Hedgehog had? It's the question perhaps worth asking. In the 32 years Sega's super-fast mascot has existed, he's lint his spiny likeness to almost every piece of media imaginable. He's appeared in dozens of video games. Sonic has had long runs at three different comic book publishers and even a short-lived comic strip. Six television programs, two live action movies, one Japanese OVA, and several bits of short animation have bore his name. Hell, there's even been actual books published about the blue hedgehog! And that's only limiting our query to media published in English-speaking countries. In addition to all that, there's a handful of “Sonic” manga, a short-lived French comic book, a Russian game show featuring the hedgehog, and a Portuguese text book for some reason.

That's a lot of adventures! I'm not going to hazard a guess of how many exactly that is but IDW apparently did. The second one-shot they've published this year is called “Sonic's 900th Adventure.” They claim, in the introduction, that this comic book is in fact the 900th release centering around the hedgehog. Honestly, I'm skeptical. Just the bullshit I mentioned above makes me wager it's a lot higher than that. And how exactly is IDW defining “adventure” here? Did they count every video game he's shown up in or just starring roles, disqualifying guest appearances and cameos?  Did “Sonic's Schoolhouse” grace the IDW editor's eyes? How about the SegaLand Sydney puppet musical? Is a commercials for Korean sneakers or Australian ice cream worthy enough to be included in this total? What about a parade balloon? An amusement park ride? Is a can of Spaghetti-Os an adventure? 

Putting my needless nerdy pedantry aside, Sonic has had a metric shit-ton of adventures. However many it's actually been, IDW is seeking to celebrate them all with this one-shot. The “900th Adventure” begins with Sonic and Tails chilling around his workshop, feeling nostalgic. That's when the Warp Topaz, the teleporting bric-a-brac that Dr. Starline utilized, manifests itself on Tails' couch. Fearful of its supercharged readings, Sonic endeavors to put that thing back where it came from before it causes anymore problems. The Topaz zaps Sonic all over the world and to different locations. This brings him into contact with his various friends, enemies, and rivals, often passing the plot device off to them like a hot potato. Will the super-fast blue dude with 'tude safely return the Warp Topaz to its point of origin and survive to see his 901th adventure? What do you think?

Essentially, “Sonic's 900th Adventure” is a quick tour through Sonic's main supporting cast. Perhaps in hopes of appealing to as wide an audience as possible, this is limited strictly to Sega-created characters. Tangle and Whisper are nowhere to be seen, even though this story explicitly takes place in IDW canon. Instead, the focus remains on the most popular members of the wide “Sonic” cast. Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Blaze, Cream, Eggman, Metal Sonic, the Babylon Rogues, Cubot and Orbot, and the grouchy orca from “Sonic Adventure” all put in appearances. Sorry to all the fans of Tiara Boobowski and Hip and Hop, they didn't make the cut. I didn't expect any deep cuts though it is a little disappointing that a supposed celebration of Sonic's history limits itself to just the basic bitch cast members. The 30th Anniversary Special did a much better job of acknowledging Sonic's lineage, even within the boundaries of IDW's licensing contract. 

In other words, this comic isn't a whole lot more than “Sonic” characters marching on-screen, doing something vaguely plot relevant, and then the hedgehog is off to see the next guest star. There's only so much wiggle room within these constrains but the script still manages to squeak out some character beats or development. Blaze considers going on without her friends, because she's the self-sacrificing type. Cream has a big rant about how she wants to appear on this adventure, because she's a little kid always trying to prove herself. Amy gets to fawn over Sonic and even gives him a big hug, in a moment sure to be adored by shippers. Probably the best moment has Sonic tricking both Tails and Metal Sonic by pretending the Warp Topaz is draining more of his energy than it actually is. That's the wily hedgehog we know and love.

However, some of the other characters are reduced down to just a couple of quick gags. Eggman gets mocked, while trading some barbs with Sonic and his robot henchmen. Shadow and Rouge appear to belittle the Babylon Rogues, their personalities reduced down to their most simplified versions of themselves. Shadow brags about being the Ultimate Lifeform, Jet is haughty, Rouge likes shiny shit. Wave and Storm are... There, I guess. You can definitely tell which characters the writers felt they could actually do something with and which one they shoved into the issue because they had to. 

Since there's not going t be any actual character development or forward-movement of the overall arc in this one-shot, its story has to be rated on its own goals. The stakes are really high here. Tails is concerned that the Warp Topaz's out-of-control energy levels might even destroy the entire world. Despite that, the issue here is pretty light-hearted. Sonic never seems that worried, cracking jokes like always. The other characters are largely farcical too, Knuckles and Amy getting little funny panels to themselves. Moreover, the script never makes it entirely clear what exactly the Warp Topaz is doing. It's opening portals all over the place but, otherwise, there's a lot of talk about how dangerous the situation is without the reader being given total understand of what that means.

It seems to me that “Sonic's 900th Adventure” was clearly conceived as a way to spotlight as many of Sonic's friends as possible and an actual narrative second. When taken on their own, some of these sequences are fun. The bit where Sonic and Amy fight the whale is entertaining enough. So is Eggman dueling Sonic from within a Mazinger Z homage. Yet I was left wondering what exactly the point of all this is. We discover that the Warp Topaz comes from some weird cave in an obscure corner of the world, which is a contribution of sorts to the overall lore. The final scene takes the Warp Topaz out of the story while also leaving open the possibility that it could return some day. But, over all, this strikes me as an inessential story that doesn't add too much to the comic's world or stand too strongly on its own.

Another way “Sonic's 900th Adventure” was meant to be a celebration of Sonic's history is by featuring multiple different writers. I hope no one was disappointed ot see that this mostly meant established IDW “Sonic” crew members. That means Ian Flynn, Evan Stanley, Daniel Barnes, Aaron Hammerstein, and Caleb Goellner contributed to the script. It's not like any of the Archie writers were going to show up, having either moved on or simply have too much baggage to be hire-able. The one really neat addition here is Nigel Kitching, one of the main writers for Fleetway's “Sonic the Comic.” This is Kitching's first contribution to a “Sonic” project in over twenty years, making his appearance a big deal for fans of that particular branch of the franchise. 

However, six people writing one forty page story is the kind of situation that rarely produces great art. A set-up like that is either going to result in a mess of conflicting tones or everyone's styles being flatten out into a homogeneous, bland whole. The opening credits box lets us known which authors are responsible for which pages. Can you tell who wrote what pages? Flynn's pages are fairly distinctive, with Sonic cracking some one-liners that seem recognizable as his style. Evan Stanley tries to do some similarly snarky humor on her pages but it comes off as more awkward than anything else, while the relationship stuff between Sonic and Amy is more her speed. Daniel Barnes gets to write some jokey dialogue for Cubot and Orbot, including a shout-out to the infamous “Big oof” panel, but otherwise I don't think I noticed that the same guy who wrote “Scrapnik Island” wrote that sequence. 

I'm not super familiar with Kitching's style but his pages are among the least distinctive here, save for an unusually verbose word balloon from Knuckles. I suppose much the same can be applied to Aaron Hammerstrom, who has Cream practically yell a monologue. Though Hammerstrom's pages also have the clearest defined character arc in the issues, so I guess he wins. Caleb Goellner, true to form, contributes the lamest scenes here. As always, his characters speak in either extremely bland exposition or attempts at humor that are so uneven that they feel like someone who only speaks English as a second language wrote them. 

In hopes of making this division among the writers a little less awkward, the book is essentially broken up into six page segments with a different cast on each one. Yet the result is still equal parts clashing in the different approaches to the dialogue without really giving any one author a chance to shine. I think breaking this issue up into different stories would've resolved both of those problems, allowing each writer to make their stories more their own without creating an overall bland narrative that feels like it was probably designed by committee. 

The artwork is similarly split, with eight different people handling pencils and ink duties here. Gigi Butreix's painterly colors realy make Evan Stanley's pages pop in a fascinating way. Mauro Fonseca and Rik Mak's pages are nicely moody, with a very classic Sega-style looking Sonic. Min Ho Kim definitely has fun drawing that Go Nagai style Eggman robot, while also contributing some really eye-catching shading. Abby Bulmer does Goellner's pages and, unfortunately, they look kind of bad. She makes everyone look like chubby comic strip characters, with the proportions definitely seeming off to me in a few panels. Adam Bryce Thomas (who draws the very beginning and ending) and Hammerstrom do strong work in their pages as well. Both throw in lots of dynamic action and expressive faces, which is exactly what they both excel at. 

Ultimately, “Sonic's 900th Adventure” is a neat idea for a comic book that falls short of that potential. If this was going to be a true celebration of Sonic's history, it should've included more throwbacks and a more specific sense of place. By just limiting the cast to Sonic's most profitable friends, it makes the universe actually seem rather small. Splitting this story across six writers and six different supporting players also results in a rather fractured feeling special that can never quite build up tension or proper pacing. But the artwork is (mostly) pretty neat and it is fun to see Sonic interacting with different friends. I know I only ever give out [6/10]s lately but “Sonic's 900th Adventure” definitely feels like it belongs exactly at that level.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 4

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 4

Publication Date: January 18th, 2023

This is how good the last issue of IDW's "Sonic" miniseries, "Scrapnik Island," is: It honestly made me forget about issue 56 of the main series, a comic I actually really liked! I'm sitting here, reading the conclusion of "Scrapnik Island," and thinking "Damn, IDW "Sonic" is off to a hell of a start this year!" Totally slipped my mind that this is actually the second "Sonic" comic published this year. I guess it's just the inevitable effect of a supernova blocking out the light of another star, even if that other star shines brightly on its own. Ya get what I'm saying here? This is a good comic book! 

We begin with Sonic strapped to a table while the Scrapnik Mecha Sonic monologue about his villainous plan. The device is tied to Sonic's head, another Eggman cast-off, will transfer Mecha's consciousness into Sonic's body. This, the robot believes, will allow him to escape the island. The other Scrapniks interrupt the process and destroy the machine... But not before Sonic and Mecha's minds are linked. They hear each other's thoughts as they fight through the enormous furnace inside the Death Egg. And this also provides Sonic with some insight into his enemy's thought process and motivation. 

All along, I've said that "Scrapnik Island" is the closest thing to a pure "Sonic" horror comic we've ever gotten. The monster movie ambiance have definitely come and gone throughout the mini-series. They are mostly absent in this final installment... Except for one element, early on. When Mecha Sonic is pontificating about his evil plan, he does so next to a big switch on the wall. When the time comes to activate the machine, he cranks that switch and sparks fly through the air. Ah, now those are some delightful mad scientist movie vibes! We just need some lightning strikes and a flickering Jacob's Ladder to really make the atmosphere complete. I'm a Frankenstein nerd. I appreciate these things. 

Those fall to the side soon enough but I don't mind it, as this issue is very focused on something else. As Mecha Sonic and his organic double battle it out, our hedgehog hero gets a peek at his opponent's inner thoughts. It seems that super villain verbosity rubs off on Sonic too, as he's thinking thoughts about "This anger... This sadness..." Sonic soon hears the robot thinking about pain, about being abandoned. After a big fight scene, Mecha Sonic lands in a pile of rubbish careening towards a fiery incinerator. He bemoans to Sonic that this is what he deserves, as he has failed in all his programmed endeavors. He failed to stop Sonic for Eggman and he failed to protect the Scrapniks for Sigma. In that moment, the villain considers himself "trash" and even envies Sonic's freedom from doubts like this. 

I can't help but relate to this. I don't know about you guys but I live every day of my life with what my therapist calls "intrusive thoughts." It's part of my OCD or depression or PTSD or some other undiagnosed condition with a D in it. I frequently have to fight back thoughts that I'm a failure, that I'm never going to achieve my goals, and that I should just give up and settle into being a useless piece-of-shit my whole life. It's only been the recent addition of medication that these thoughts have started to become more manageable and not cause me daily distress. Don't freak out about it in the comments. It's just my life.

So, yes, cartoon robot version of a cartoon hedgehog, I know what it's like to feel like trash. And this is where the most poignant moment of "Scrapnik Island" emerges. This is, after all, a comic about discarded robots bonding together and being rebuilt into functioning units again, with no defined purpose beyond just living their lives. This is a story about those deemed "trash" coming together to form a community, to be independent. The image of Mecha Sonic spiraling towards a "Toy Story 3" fire pit, consigning himself to the scrap pile to be melted into slag, literalizes the feeling of giving into depression and sinking into non-existence. 

Sonic, of course, does not take this for an answer. He tells him to “cut the crap,” the most mild of swears that was still enough to scandalize some poor delicate souls on Twitter. The hedgehog declares to Mecha Sonic that the individual gives himself meaning, that self-determination makes life worth living. That nobody – yourself included – can call you trash. He reaches out a hand and grabs a hold of Mecha. This alone might've been touching enough but Sonic has officially shattered his ankle at this point. It's only when Tails and the other Scrapniks appear that the two hedgehogs, one flesh-and-blood and the other steel and circuitry, are pulled from their impending doom. 

This moment could have been another example of this franchise's favorite moral, one that is so common in kid's media, about the power of friendship. Yet “Scrapnik Island” actually takes this one step further, into something almost profound. The other Scrapniks surround Mecha and comfort him. The robot looks at his own hands, under his own control. He acknowledges that life is full of uncertainty and that it can be scary, but those that you love and that love you in return keep you going forward. This is true, in my experience. My girlfriend, my mom, and my closest friends are the people that help me through the pain of existence. 

This moment is summarized by two panels that might've been sappy or unearned in your typical “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book. Sonic actually cries. I guess the comic got around Sega's rule of Sonic never showing serious emotions because the tears are result of what Mecha is feeling in that moment, of the still lingering psychic bond between them. Instead of the sunflower Mecha was protecting being a plot device, it thankfully remains a symbol of the robot's evolution that is pinpointed in the final panels. This comic earns the emotions necessary to make these moments soar. 

The last issue of “Scrapnik Island” does all this and still fits in Sonic being a bad-ass. After the other Scrapniks wreck Mecha's machine and piss him off, the two launch into a big elaborate action sequence. Despite having the hedgehog equivalent of the Boot on his shattered, pained ankle, Sonic goes superspeed while fighting with Mecha. He pushes pass his limits and slams broken foot right over Mecha's head, busting the cast open in the process. This is a classically awesome Sonic moment, of the hedgehog's boundless determination pushing him to new levels of badassery. It's what we want to see our little blue boy do.

At this point, it almost goes without saying that issue 4 of “Scrapnik Island” is also gorgeous looking. Jack Lawrence's action sequences are vibrant and animated. He packs so much emotion into the characters' faces, making the heaviest moments in this comic hit the hardest. The little beads of sweat on Sonic's face as he runs, signaling his pain, or just the way Mecha tilts his head says so much. The panel where an enraged Mecha threatens to crush the other Scrapniks is fantastically intense. Nathalie Fourdraine's colors continue to be the real star of this mini-series. Shading makes every moment pop. Whether it's the shadows of Mecha's lab, the blue glow of his electric experiment, or the orange heat of the incinerator room, it all invokes the correct feelings in the reader. It looks perfect.

“Scrapnik Island,” with its presence of multiple old school Sega enemies or a climax obviously inspired by the OVA, could have just been an act of nerdy homage for us “Sonic” dweebs. Instead, Daniel Barnes and his team made this a wonderfully immersive series full of surprises and emotion. “Scrapnik Island” isn't just my new favorite IDW “Sonic” mini-series. It's not just the best IDW “Sonic” comic thus far. It might be the best “Sonic” story I've ever read, period. I sincerely hope Sega or whoever allows Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles, both of whom get a big send-off here, to return in future stories. Moreover, I especially hope Daniel Barnes gets to write more IDW “Sonic” stuff. I loved this entire story arc and this final issue especially. Consider this one of the few straight-up raves I've ever written for this blog. [9/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 3

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 3

Publication Date: December 21st, 2022

Man, the release schedule for IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island" really has me conflicted. Releasing the first issue of this horror adjacent story in October was the most natural move the company could have made. I heartily approve of that. Yet the monthly release schedule means the mini won't conclude until January, really fucking with my OCD. (And the yearly retrospective I do.) The series launching in October might just be a coincidence, as the fall is when the last two IDW “Sonic” mini-series also began. I don’t know the nuances of comic book scheduling and I assume there’s a reason it’s like this. The last issue if this story coming out next month either gives you something to look forward to in the new year or mildly irks you, depending on how anal retentive you are. 

Anyway! Part three of “Scrapnik Island” begins with Sonic strapped to a table deep within the Death Egg. It seems the events in the last issue have awoken something in the rebuilt Mecha Sonic, who is now planning vengeance on his former enemies and his creator. A little Scrapnik spies on this conversation and gets the information to Tails. The fox immediately assembled a rescue team and goes into the Death Egg to save his friend. Yet Mecha Sonic is more dangerous than he appears. 

As the main cover for this one makes clear, Sonic actually doesn’t have a lot to do in this issue. He’s only on a few pages and spends all of them strapped down to an examination table in a make-shift laboratory. Instead, Tails gets all the heroic moments. He slaps a bunch of cool looking gear on and leads a team of Egg Robos into the Death Egg. They are all wielding big guns too, which they fire quite a bit as well. That makes this feel slightly like a throwback to the edgy “Shadow the Hedgehog” era of this franchise. Ya know, Tails packing heat brings certain connotations to mind.

Now, I’ve been critical of depictions of Tails as some sort of hyper-confident bad-ass before. The “Sonic” comics definitely have shown a tendency to overcompensate for Tails’ cutesy, kid sidekick demeanor in the past. Here, Tails does dress up like a commando and blast a killer robot with a giant gun. Even after being disarmed, he rolls into a spin dash and takes on Mecha Sonic directly. Yet his legit action hero credentials – he's been studying Sonic's special moves since the Genesis era, after all – are balanced nicely here with his innate vulnerability. Tails is obviously nervous while tracking Mecha Sonic, sweating in one panel. The villain catches him off-guard and leaves him panting on the floor quickly. The little fox stutters while delivering boastful battle banter to Mecha. It's a small detail that makes all the difference. Tails is capable of kicking ass but he's also still just a kid, who isn't always very confident in himself and makes mistakes.

This scenario also brings something else to mind. Tails and a gang of disposable robots head into a dark, industrial series of tunnels where they are pursued and eliminated by a red-eyed villain. Yep, "Scrapnik Island" recommits to the horror vibes prevalent in the first issue. Tails even has a beeping radar, that adds to the tension in these scenes. That seems like a deliberate homage to "Aliens" to me. In fact, I'd wager this entire issue was inspired by James Cameron's seminal sci-fi/horror sequel. I also love it when the "Sonic" comics dip outside of the reference pool you'd expect. 

As in the previous two issues of this mini-series, the spooky atmosphere is helped along by some truly spectacular artwork. Jack Lawrence's pencils are great, his characters expressive and his action animated. But Nathalie Fourdraine's colors once again really makes this one shine. The interior of the Death Egg are depicted in shades of blues, blacks, and greens. The glow from Tails' tablet adds an especially eerie feeling to these panels. Panels devoted to Mecha grabbing an Egg Robo, looming over Tails while his red eyes glows, or the fox's descent down a trash chute all emphasize a dreary, claustrophobic horror movie ambiance that elevates an already good comic. 

In my review of the previous "Scrapnik Island" issue, I said that this version of Mecha Sonic had the potential to be a very complex villain. Part three supports this while also backtracking in some slightly disappointing ways. Last time, it seemed like Mecha Sonic's villainy during this mini-series would almost be unintentional. That he would be driven to act violently simply because his brain was so scrambled, he wasn't even aware of his actions. Instead, this issue clarifies that he has a deliberate evil agenda. He steals Tails' handheld computer, having specific plans for it, and seems to have something nefarious in mind for Sonic. 

We know this because the issue gives Mecha Sonic the ability to speak. His words are a bit jumbled at times but he can still express himself clearly. He expresses a desire to get revenge on Eggman. He feels like he's been discarded by his creator, betrayed by the world, and that pisses him off. Not only is this motivation kind of similar to what Surge is going through in the main book right now, it's also a little less compelling to me than someone merely acting erratic because their mind has betrayed them. We'll see if that anxiety about being treated like trash goes anywhere interesting, I guess. 

It's possible this mini-series will nail the landing in regards to that particular plot thread. If only because "Scrapnik Island" continues to show an excellent handle on memory and visuals. A flashback, which occurs while E-117 Sigma's systems are rebooting, shows Mecha Sonic came to be on Scrapnik Island. A number of panels are without dialogue balloons, such as when Tails goes digging through a pile of junk to find the parts he needs. This series has done such a good job of showing why comics are a visual medium, how a focus on those visuals can express a feeling of melancholy or urgency all on their own.

While I have some misgivings about where this issue takes Mecha Sonic, and how that might play out, I still really liked this one. "Scrapnik Island" continues to be really strong in general. I might be partial here because I just love the horror movie vibes. But the characterization is strong, the art is fantastic, the story is moving along at a compelling pace. Gotta say, I'm really enjoying it. Also, some extremely talented "Sonic" fans made plushies of Scrapnik Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles, on display in the letters section at the back of the book. And that's the kind of fanatical resourcefulness that I love about this fandom. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 2

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 2

Publication Date: November 16th, 2022

The last quarter of 2022 might be the busiest time for the "Sonic" franchise in quite a while. "Sonic Frontiers," the first mainline game in the series in five years, released earlier in the month. With it came a number of promotional tie-ins. (Which I'm not quite done talking about yet, by the way.) Meanwhile, the promotional machine for the new cartoon, "Sonic Prime," is ramping up ahead of its December 16th Netflix drop. That new trailer was pretty swanky, wasn't it? 

Perhaps seeing how the entire franchise is accelerating, IDW is double-stuffing the comic end of things this month too. In addition to the issue I'm here to discuss today, the second installment of the "Scrapnik Island" series, they also released a special one-shot celebrating Tails' 30th anniversary on the same day. There's a new issue of the regular series coming next month too! Let me tell you, friends, "Sonic" fans are eating supper right now. I guess this is what happens when a long-running series goes from being a laughingstock to a blockbuster film series. 

After a short prologue showing how E-117 Sigma washed up on the titular island, we get back to the present. The friendly locals have repaired the Tornado save for one important part that makes the entire plane work. However, they might be able to locate the missing part inside the Death Egg. Sonic, Sigma and the reformed Mecha Sonic journey into the ruins of the fallen satellite. As they travel inside, they are attacked by a scrapped together version of "Sonic Advance's" Mecha Knuckles. Even after defeating him, the danger is far from over for our heroes. 

The main appeal of the desert island genre is that it thrusts ordinary people into an incredible situation that pushes them to their limits, forcing them to use human ingenuity and the sheer will to survive in order to make it out alive. It asks the question of whether we, as people raised in civilization, could survive if all of that was pulled away. Yet there's also a second, secret aspect to the genre that also makes it such an evergreen style of story. Leaving behind all the complications of modern life is also appealing. Once you get through the threat of starving to death or exposure to the elements, it's even kind of cozy. Who wouldn't want to completely start over in paradise? 

And so we see some of that in the first few pages of "Scrapnik Island's" second volume. Tails builds a translator for the Scrapniks while Sonic chills in a lawn chair on the beach. These robots have made their own little community, away from the rest of the world, where they won't be judged or persecuted. They are awfully friendly, as they all rush to say hi to Sonic the minute he can understand them. We see that these machines are growing, almost becoming human. They have hopes and dreams of making it back to civilization. This is represented in a sunflower that Mecha Sonic obsessively tends to. I don't know if I'd want to live on Scrapnik Island but maybe it wouldn't be so bad to visit. It seems... Nice. 

It's a testament to the "Sonic" franchise's belief in second chances – an outgrow of the shonen action genre's tendency to redeem past villains – that a bunch of minor background enemies can grow into peaceful bohemians. Sigma even says that they have evolve past Eggman's programming for them. It's not just the once murderous robots that can turn into better people. Sensing the tension between them, Sonic outright asks Mecha Sonic to let bygones be bygones. That's something I like about Sonic. He's always willing to forgive and forget. It's a nice, quiet, character-driven moment to insert into the middle of the book. 

It, of course, proceeds a big action set piece. Once Mecha Knuckles emerges on the scene, the rest of this issue is predominantly focused on a fight scene. Yet even that is more character driven than I expected. While the Mecha Sonic and Knuckles are battling it out, we get a glimpse inside the tall metal hedgehog's brain. And this is where issue 2 of "Scrapnik Island" makes a surprising turn. Remember how I expressed disappointment last time that this horror-tinged mini-series was leaving the creepy stuff behind after the first issue? Turns out that's not exactly true. Mecha Sonic's warped perception of reality, which shows past defeats and faces intruding on the present in glitchy ways, pushes us into the realm of psychological horror. Honestly, some of the pages are so vividly twisted they might be too scary for really young readers. 

Something else is surprising about this too: Mecha Sonic, just another boss battle up until this point, is emerging as this mini-series' most interesting character. I like the detail of him tending to the sunflower. It shows that this killer robot has really soften. Yet the peek inside his fractured brain is really compelling. His fight with Mecha Knuckles triggers his memory of his final fight with his organic counterpart back in "Sonic 3 & Knuckles." His recollection of Eggman activating him, assigning him the role of a killer, and Sonic's mocking battle banter all blend together. In particular, the memory of Knuckles delivering a killing blow to the robot haunts him. It's no wonder he freaks out a little after this. 

In fact, the entire sequence plays a lot like a PTSD flashback. Suggesting an interesting idea that I hadn't considered before: Eggman's machines are just conscious enough to be aware of their own mortality. This means that when Sonic bobs them on the head and makes them go boom... Conscious things are being murdered. And if they survive such an encounter, the trauma of that memory is going to live with them. That's a really compelling idea to introduce into a series where robots are usually nothing but easily disposed of mooks. If artificial intelligence really is intelligent, that means it's prone to some of the same mental conditions humanity can fall prey to. 

There's obviously some psychological depth to this issue that I really dug. Yet this is simply a well written comic structurally too. Mecha Sonic glitching out and turning on fleshy Sonic provides a nice twist. Up to this point, this mini-series has advertised Mecha Knuckles as the story's main antagonist. He's on the cover of this issue, got a big reveal last time, and has by far the flashiest design of all the new robots. (Or "new" robots.) This issue also reveals the Mecha Knuckles has a simplistic programming to protect the Death Egg. He's not a complicated, scheming robot. This makes it unlikely to me that he's going to be the main baddie. It really seems like Mecha Knuckles was simply a decoy villain and that Mecha Sonic, haunted by his memories and damaged processors, is going to be the main antagonist here. Which is far more compelling anyway, seeing as how Mecha Sonic's desire to be more than destructive has been established now. 

Maybe I'm reading this wrong and that's not where "Scrapnik Island" is headed. I've been wrong before. Either way, one thing is for certain: This is a gorgeous comic book. Jack Lawrence's pencils and Nathalie Fourdraine's colors combine to create one of the most distinctive looking "Sonic" comics I've ever read. The artwork is so good that it does most of the narrative heavy lifting throughout this issue. The opening flashback, showing how Sigma came to reside on Scrapnik Island, plays out totally without word balloons but never lacks for emotional or meaning. The Mechas never talk at all yet their feelings are always clear. The fight between the machines is stylish and dynamic. The panel of Mecha Knuckles punching Sigma or Mecha Sonic tossing his opponent into a wall look great. And the glitchy flashback scenes are really fantastically brought to life. 

In other words: This is a really good comic book. It's every bit as good as the first issue and maybe a little better too. Daniel Barnes is not just proving himself as a good writer but maybe the best "Sonic" comic writer since Flynn let his wife work on a few issues. Unless it really falls apart in the second half, "Scrapnik Island" is shaping up to be one of my favorite IDW stories yet. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 1

Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island: Issue 1

Publication Date: October 19th, 2022

Owing to my status as both a horror buff and a lifelong "Sonic" nerd, I've bemoaned the lack of official creepy "Sonic" content a lot in the past. I think I've probably written about the limited crossover between "Sonic" and horror more than anyone, at least outside the realm of creepypasta authors. Specifically, there aren't many "Sonic" Halloween specials. The comics and various Sonic Channel artists have nodded towards the holiday's existence a handful of times but that's about it. If you want something to satisfy both your spooky, autumnal needs and your "Sonic" fandom, your options are limited. (Again, outside the realm of crappy creepypastas. Tails Doll isn't scary, you guys.)

At least in the realm of comics, IDW has been working hard to rectify this problem. During the Zombot arc, the on-going book essentially became a horror comic for more than a year. There was also a recent issue with some distinctively creepy vibes. And now, the company is publishing a new mini-series with a spooky bent, kicking off just in time for Halloween. "Scrapnik Island" is a new four-parter and, everything we've seen of the mini up to this point, has made it look like a full-on "Sonic" horror comic. Bitchin'. Let's get into it. 

To further confirm the announcement that this is a spooky-scary Sonic story, issue one of "Scrapnik Island" even starts with "It was a dark and stormy night." Sonic and Tails are flying the Tornado to one location or another when it's caught in a bad storm. They happen to fly over the remnants of the first Death Egg before a lightning bolt takes out the plane's wing. Awakening from the crash, Sonic finds himself inside the desolate remains of the space station, with a metal brace on his foot and a sore ankle. Soon, he's pursued by old Badniks that have been hastily patched together. Frightened, the hedgehog runs for his life. But is everything as it seems? 

I am pleased-as-punch to confirm that, yes, the first issue of "Scrapnik Island" is a "Sonic" horror story. The plot here builds upon well-known horror tropes. Essentially, this is a haunted house story presented within the "Sonic" framework. Instead of a creaky old building, it's a derelict battle station from Eggman's past. Instead of moaning sheet ghosts and spectres banging chains around, it's cobbled together Badniks chasing after Sonic. The seemingly mindless way the incredibly strange, mixed-up machines pursue Sonic also brings a zombie movie to mind. In fact, the mix-and-match approach to the beings – who we learn call themselves "Scrapniks" before the end – even bring Frankenstein's monster to mind. 

The issue doesn't just use horror trappings for flavor. I think part one of "Scrapnik Island" is actually trying to make a shiver run up your spine. A surprisingly large amount of this issue is devoted to Sonic wandering around the dark, dusty Death Egg. His only illumination is a small light from Tails' tablet computer, furthering the feeling that he's out-of-his-depth here. The hero is as clueless as the audience is, creating a sense of isolation and disorientation. There's even a pretty cool series of panels where the Red Eye from "Sonic and Knuckles'" Death Egg Stage spies on Sonic and cast the area in ominous red light. Establishing a sense of shadowy atmosphere makes the appearance of the Scrapniks, and the subsequent chase scene, more intense than it otherwise would've been. You just know, if this was a cartoon and not a comic book, it would be heavy on discordant musical cords and loud banging noises coming from off-screen. Writer Daniel Barnes clearly knows the basic elements of telling a suspenseful camp fire story. 

Barnes, who previously wrote the "Weapons" story in this year's annual, seems like a smart guy. To further up the tension, he gives Sonic a fucked-up ankle with a big metal brace on it. This is a great way to put Sonic at a disadvantage, unable to run or spin-dash with his usual efficiency, so it's a shame that a regular issue of the main series did something similarly not that long ago. I'm still giving Barnes points for being so willing to write Sonic as vulnerable though. The hedgehog actually gets scared in this issue. He's caught off-guard, outnumbered, confused and a little freaked out. It's a testament to Barnes' grasp of the character that Sonic is convincingly frightened without undermining his status as a snarky superhero. One word balloon about how he's happy Knuckles isn't here to see this goes a long way. 

Even though Sonic fans clearly like to see their hedgehog hero mashed up with horror tropes – see, once again, the proliferation of creepypastas based on the franchise – there's an obvious reason why official content rarely goes in this direction. "Sonic the Hedgehog" is for the children. It's generally frowned upon to scare kids, even though they love it. After a pretty fun spook house approach through most of this, the conclusion makes it clear, once again, that "Sonic" is a kid-friendly series. Sonic runs into Tails, who explains that the Scrapniks are not violent. In fact, their leader – an E100 unit with a monocle – is friendly and soft-spoken. The storm lifts, the sun comes out, Tails smiles like a dork. Everyone is happy by the end. I definitely would've liked to have seen the horror vibes stretched out longer but I get it. 

This issue doesn't just appeal to me because it's dropping Sonic into a Halloween-worthy setting. It's also full of shout-outs to the series' golden age. The appearance of the original Death Egg is the first sign that this story was crafted with a love towards the Genesis era. The Scrapniks are assembled from classic Badniks. Just based on a cursory glance back through these pages, I spot parts of: Cocoanuts, Caterkiller, Buzz Bomber, Newtron, MotoBug, Chopper, Crabmeat, Ball Hog, Bat Brain, Grabber, Octus, Clucker, Chop Chop, Buzzer, Kama-Kama, Noro-Noro, Dragonfly, and Madmole. I think there's bits of Jaws, Turtloid, Grounder, and Toxomister in there too. I’m sure there’s some ones I missed too. I eagerly await seeing the trivia section on this issue’s Wiki page filled out. 

Obviously, the star of the show is the “Sonic & Knuckles” version of Metal Sonic. (Which this comic calls “Mecha Sonic,” in what I guess is accordance with the modern fandom consensus.) He gets an anime antihero poncho, a cool rusty red coloration, and a buzz saw for his one leg. There’s other callbacks to series lore too, like a fun bit where Sonic hides inside an old Egg Prison. Considering the sheer number of references here, I'm not surprised the reader, decided to create a new E-100 unit, in the form of Sigma. What fan could resist, ya know? 

Overall, this is a very fun first issue. Jack Lawrence's art is a bit looser than I prefer but still excellent. Nathalie Fourdraine's colors really fucking pop, making all those shadowy scenes look amazing. There's enough plot points raised here to provide meat for the rest of the mini: a mysterious sunflower in a pod, an appearance from the Egg Carrier, some tension between Sonic and this Mecha Sonic, and a before-the-end tease of what's presumably the series' real villain. I'm ready to say that Daniel Barnes knows what he's doing. (I mean, he's doing the "Adventure" pose in the photo in the back of the book, so clearly he does.) I think we could've stayed in Spooksville a little longer but I can't complain. This is a properly Halloween-y installment and a fine "Sonic" story on its own merits. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW) Annual 2022

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW) Annual 2022

Publication Date: August 17, 2022

Here we are again, IDW "Sonic" fans. It's Annual season once again! The tradition of a yearly one-shot full of stories took a break in 2021, to make room for the 30th anniversary special. That was delightful but the regular annal is back this year. Past annuals had no real connecting theme between their stories. (Unless you count 2020's taking place knee-deep in the Metal Virus Crisis.) This year, however, a pretty cool thematic idea links all the stories: Unlikely partnerships! Considering IDW has built-up a fairly diverse cast of characters over its five year run thus far, this is a clever way to get some fresh interactions out of cast members who don't spend much time together. We've got six stories to dig into here, so let's get started. 

"Guardians" stars Blaze the Cat and is about her being told to go on vacation after defeating the Sol Dimension's last pirate. Yet the pyrokinetic kitty is so responsible, she doesn't know how to do that. She consults Knuckles for advice. In "Weapons," the newly rebuilt Omega decides to test his abilities out by sparring with Gemerl, while arguing about their purposes. "Hero Camp" has Vanilla dropping Cream off at summer camp, which is actually a ruse run by Orbot and Cubot to get intel on the Restoration. The young heroes quickly realize something is up. "Future Growth" concerns Silver, back in the past, uncertain about his next objective. Espio helps him out. "Another Grand Adventure for Jet the Hawk" throws the Babylon Rogue and Whisper into conflict, after one of her Wisp steals his lunch. Finally, "Rough Patch" sees Rough and Tumble temporarily dissolve their duo. The two skunks unknowingly seek the same prize, with Rouge and Tangle as their replacement partners. 

"Guardians" is the longest, and most nuanced, of this year's Annual stories. With the exception of the opening page, where Blaze burns up the final pirate, it's a story totally without action. Instead, Flynn's script focuses on dialogue-driven interactions between the characters. What makes this especially sweet is how the focus is on how much everyone cares for each other. Blaze is so goal centric, she can't even imagine taking a break. Yet everyone can clearly see she does. Her friends really care about her, which is also evident in her tearful farewell to Marine or the way Cream greets her with a big hug. It's awfully nice just seeing how much these guys like each other. 

"Guardians" also gives Flynn a chance to develop the IDW version of Blaze and Knuckles a little more. Due to Sega's insistence that these two can only leave their posts as absolute last resorts, Knuckles and Blaze haven't had as much page time here as in past comics. By letting them talk here, we get insight into how they perceive their responsibilities. Both frame their lives totally around their destinies as guardians. Yet Knuckles is practically shackled to the Master Emerald, knowing what it's like to miss out in simple pleasures. He encourages Blaze, a micro-manager who can't stop imagining the worst scenarios, to relax while she can. It's a nice little beat of character building. 

If "Guardians" features almost no action, "Weapons" is essentially one long action sequence. After a little brief set-up, the rest of the story is totally devoted to Omega and Gemerl duking it out. Writer Daniel Barnes, making his "Sonic" debut ahead of the upcoming "Scrapnik Island" mini-series, has the two machines toss each other around and deploy lots of explosives. Thomas Rothlisberger's artwork is dynamic and energetic, a real sense of movement being brought to the various ways the bots wail on one another. He really makes Omega look like this towering tank of a character, which makes the slimmer Gemerl seem like even more of a David to his Goliath. 

As much as "Weapons" is a long fight scene, it also doesn't skimp on the character development. The story zeroes in on two fundamental differences between these teen robots. Omega is a war machine, single-handedly focused on his quest to destroy Eggman's empire. He sees Gemerl learning to care for Cream and Vanilla as a weakness. Gemerl, meanwhile, thinks his bond wit the bunnies has made him stronger than ever. It's a good way to contrast two conflicting attitudes about warfare, crystallizing the debate over whether human connections make you a better or more vulnerable fighter. It also allows Omega to call people "meatbags" and be a petty little shit, which is always fun. 

"Hero Camp," from new writer India Smith, is not so concerned with character development. Instead, this short story represents the Annual in a goofier mood. There's essentially one gag here: Cubot and Orbot are hoping to exploit the kids for information, which they do a very bad job of disguising. The kids – which include the Sonic Fan Club, from previous Annuals – have expected a day of summer fun and don't appreciate being worked like this. It's a simple enough set-up and one easily utilized for goofy little gags. Cubot and Orbot's sloppy attempts to cover up their robotic nature or the reveal that all the children have been tied up in one panel got a grin out of me. It's also funny that what finally pushes the kids over the line, and sees them turn against their camp masters, is the lack of s'mores. I can relate to that. 

So this is definitely a cute, soft little story. I mean, of course it is. It stars Cream the Rabbit, the cutest and softest of this comic's extensively cute, soft cast. Cream does get a tidy little character arc here, even if it's the same arc she's been going through since the comic began. That would be a desire to prove herself as a hero. That's why she's at Hero Camp, to learn to become a real Freedom Fighter Restoration-er. Of course, by this point in the series' history, Cream has already faced down Zombots and battled Zetis. I would think the preschooler's hero certification would be confirm by now. And that's exactly the point, as Cream hasn't come to understand that in the beginning. She does by the end, which is a cute enough wrap-up ti a cute little story. 

Silver is another character whose appearances in the IDW books have been limited by Sega mandates. Evan Stanley actually cooks that idea right into "Future Growth." Silver can only appear in the past when he has a post-apocalyptic future to avert, right? Except, this time, everything is just peachy-keen in the future. Instead of satisfying the telekinetic hedgehog, this makes him more nervous. He doesn't know how to function without an impending apocalypse hanging over his head. And it's freaking him out. Silver is on the edge of a full-on existential crisis here, questioning his entire purpose in life. Who is Silver the Hedgehog if he doesn't have a far-off doomsday to undo? 

You could either play this set-up for awkward comedy or full-on dramatics, Stanley commits to an unsteady balance between the two. The contrast between dorky, anxiety-ridden Silver and the typically stoic Espio does lead to some funny panels. Yet Stanley's script mostly revolves around that most age-old of solutions to Silver's uncertainty: The power of friendship! Espio assures the time traveler that, with his friends by his side, he can face down whatever is coming up the tube next. I wish it was a pay-off that got a little more time to breathe. The build-up to Silver's emotional outpouring is good but Espio resolving it with just a few well-placed word bubbles is disappointing. This one needed a few more pages. (It's also a bit similar to "Guardians," considering this is another story about a stressed-out superhero needing to learn how to relax. Espio literally has him do a breathing exercise at one point!)

Most of the buzz I've seen about this year's Annual has concerned the fifth story, "Another Grand Adventure for Jet the Hawk." And it hasn't been of the positive variety. I'm not a big enough of a nerd to give a shit about Jet the Hawk as a character but, for those that do, this story apparently amounts to a hate crime. (And has fueled more IDW hate on at least one Discord server I'm in.) I have to say, Ian Mutchler – who is making his IDW debut here, after working on the Sonic Youtube animations – does not make a good first impression here. This is essentially a one-joke comic. The central premise here is that Jet has a self-inflated ego. Whisper snatching his microwavable calzone upsets his relaxed afternoon, causing him to bitch endlessly at Whisper. Even after she attempts to rescue him from a giant Eggman robot. The joke is that the quiet, reserved Whisper couldn't be more different than the loud-mouthed, braggadocios Jet... And that's, ya know, not really much of a joke. It's barely an observation. 

As noted above and elsewhere, I've never really cared much for Jet or the rest of the Babylon Rogues. I consider them among the more generic additions to the "Sonic" franchise in recent history. (And by "recent," I mean sixteen fucking years ago because I'm an old man now.) I do think Flynn managed to give Jet a little more personality during his few appearances in the IDW books. He's been improved enough that even I'm a little blindsided by how badly Jet is written here. He's incredibly fucking annoying! He spends the entire story sniping at Whisper in the most juvenile, self-aggrandizing way possible. It's not out of a sense of smug superiority, like Jet's bragging usually is. Instead, he just comes across as a spoiled little child, mad that his Mama didn't make him tendies or something. When Whisper screams at him to shut up, the closest thing this thin story has to a punchline, it's a sentiment I can share. I hate to admit this but I think the hardcore Rogue-heads are right to be pissed off by this story. It's definitely the stinker of this year's Annual. 

Luckily, the issue bounces back with its final story. Rough and Tumble aren't much more than dumb muscle and goofy comic relief in this series but "Rough Patch" manages to get a degree of (goofy, ironic) pathos out of their relationship here. The two briefly break-up over exactly the stupid shit you'd expect two dudes like this to argue about: The quality of their rhyming introductions. Aaron Hammerstrom, on scripting duties for the first time, provides some absurd dialogue about slant-rhyming and gratuitous usage of the phrase "bro." As goofy as it all is, there is something sweet about the way these two dudetastic skunks get over their differences. In a knowingly ridiculous, O. Henry-like twist, they discover they had both targeted the same Chaos Emerald. The two realize they need each other more than they disagree, leading to an amusingly tear-strewn reunion. Honestly, I think this is the funniest I've ever found Rough and Tumble, whose schtick usually has limited appeal for me. 

This fluffy bit of silliness is made further effervescent thanks to Tangle and Rouge's unexpected team-up. Tangle's boundless enthusiasm bounces off Rouge's cool exterior nicely. The lemur's excited shouts of "Undercover buddies!" made me audibly chuckle. That line of dialogue comes back on the final page in just the perfect way. That's a pairing the comic definitely needs to return to, as there's more comedic potential there. Hammerstrom's pencils are very smooth and professional, with Rouge looking especially bad-ass in several panels. But its Hammerstrom's talent for big, expressive, teary eyes that does a lot of heavy-lifting here. Rough and Tumble are definitely characters that lend themselves to big, over-the-top expressions of emotion like that. 

The artwork is, of course, solid over all. Adam Thomas Bryce draws "Guardians." Bryce's typically excellent work includes the detailed faces and stylized action we've come to expect from him. When combined with Joana LaFuente's soft but controlled colors, it creates a very lush looking story. Abby Bulmer, who also worked on 2020's Annual, draws "Hero Camp." Her art is a bit looser and cartoonier than the pages around her. Everyone is a little rounder and more simplistic looking than usual. Yet it certainly fits for a story this goofy and light-weight. Evan Stanley also does the art for "Future Growth" and it has to be some of the best work she's done for IDW. There's a painterly quality to a lot of the panels here, rich with details and full of depth, that truly impresses me. Natalie Haines, who has only done cover art before, draws the Jet the Hawk story. Haines' sense of movement is pretty stiff, the character's definitely looking like pre-posed dolls in several panel. There's not as much detail on her pages as the others. Her facial expressions are pretty good though, so she'll get better with more practice.

Like all annuals, this year's edition is uneven. However, I would say that this is a pretty well-rounded installment. "Guardians," "Weapons," and "Rough Patch" are all quite good. "Hero Camp" is a little too light-weight to fully succeeded, while "Future Growth" is a little underdeveloped. Only the "Jet the Hawk" story is a true-blue mess. Still, I'm going to give this one a recommendation. It looks pretty good and is easy to read. If nothing else, it's nice to see some of these unexpected pairs. It's sort of funny that Sonic and Tails, ostensibly the main characters of this franchise, have almost no role in these stories. They could easily do this again next year. [7/10]