Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless Summer

Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless Summer

Publication Date: August 30th, 2023

For the last four years, IDW have given “Sonic the Hedgehog” fans a nice bonus in the form of a four-issue mini-series running late in the year and into the next. At least two of these, “Tangle and Whisper” and “Scrapnik Island,” have easily become highlights of the entire series and immediate fan favorites. This year, however, the comic company is doing something a little differently. Instead of a mini-series, we are getting several one-shots in a row. Four exactly, proving that this deluge of one-shots is obviously meant to take the place of the traditional mini-series. Look forward to me rambling about the Amy Rose anniversary special, Sonic's 900th Adventure, and – OMG!!! – a Halloween special within the coming weeks and months.

The first of these endless special is “Endless Summer.” This is actually part of a cross-promotion IDW is doing among its licensed books this year. Alongside “Sonic,” IDW's continuation of the eighties “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” cartoon, their tie-in series with the “Dungeons and Dragons” cartoon of a similar vintage, and the latest iteration of “My Little Pony” are also getting “Endless Summer” one-shots this month. The alternate covers for all four comics even link up, to form a neat connected image. Which is probably the closest we're ever going to get to Sonic having an adventure with Leonardo and Rainbow Dash. 

We don't know what Sonic's opinions on Abercrombie & Fitch and Chinese food is but he does spend this summer hanging with some girls. Tails is too busy tinkering with the Tornado to chill with his hedgehog bro. After racing into Restoration HQ to grab a tool for him, Sonic runs through Jewel's office. This is when he discovers that Jewel is feeling left out, as Tangle and Whisper have seemingly forgotten her after rekindling their partnership. To occupy herself, she's focused on her work. That's when Sonic decides that a beach day is in order. He drags Jewel to the beach with Tangle and Whisper. The pleasant vacation is interrupted when it's discovered that the Babylon Rogues are also on this beach. A not-so-friendly wager is started between the two groups to determine who gets the beach to themselves. 

This is Gale Galligan's third contribution to IDW's “Sonic” books, after a story in the 30th anniversary special and the 2021 FCBD edition. If those previous stories are anything to go by, Galligan's style is marked by chill, hang-out stories that luxuriate in the characters just enjoying each other's company. “Endless Summer” may, in fact, be the most chill single “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book I've ever read. There's no mention of the world of being imperiled or a mission needing to be completed. I'm not sure Eggman's name even comes up once. Nobody attempts to murder anyone. Our heroes never fight any mechanic organisms designed only for killing. It really is all about hanging out on the beach with some fuzzy, cartoon animal people we've all grown somewhat attached to over the years. 

While there's plenty of valid criticisms to be brought against the current trend in “cozy fiction,” it's notable that Galligan doesn't let the laid-back tone of this story effect whether it has any stakes or not. Sonic and the gang competing with the Babylon Rogues for fun-time rights to the beach is, it turns out, enough conflict to drive this issue. Honestly, the way it's set up, with the different games and competitions happening right next to each other, the personal score appearing at the bottom of each page, you even feel a molecule of suspense here. As absurd as it sounds, I actually found myself excited to find out who would win this petty contest of beach ownership. That's when you know the writing is good, when a totally inconsequential contest still gets you turning the pages. I've never even played volleyball and barely understand the rules around it either, so it's another point for Galligan that they managed to make me care so much.

Naturally, the silly beach games is not the primary reason this particular story lured me in. Nervous, shy, workaholic Jewel once again proves a fruitful emotional center to based an issue on. Jewel, introduced as Tangle's BFF, hasn't had much to do in the comic recently. Making that canon, that the other characters overlooked her a bit too, is a smart decision. Moreover, you care about Jewel and her friendship with Tangle. You want to see the little misunderstanding worked out. Importantly, Jewel never gets jealous of Lanolin becoming the third member of Tangle and Whisper's throuple. She's way too soft-spoken for anything like that. It's a quiet, understandable kind of conflict and you're interested in seeing how it'll be resolved. Simple, laid-back character work like this is no less compelling than battles for the world's fate. 

And about Whisper and Tangle... It's been long established that these two are lovers, even if their romance is confined solely to subtext and insinuation due to Sega's reluctance to include explicit LGBT+ themes in their flagship series. In “Endless Summer,” IDW's creative crew take this suggestion about as far as they can without outright admitting it. Jewel says Tangle and Whisper spend all their time together. They play in the surf, the usually reserved Whisper happy to cling to Tangle's tail and laughing as she gets splashed. It's a rare panel here where they aren't next to each other. In one particularly suggestive dialogue exchange, Jewel even mentions that Tangle and Whisper know how to “have a good time together.” Like, you'd have to be blind and severely concussed not to get it at this point. I don't think it could be anymore obvious if IDW actually had Sonic say “My god, these bitches gay.” 

In the past, I've made it known that I'm not exactly a fan of the Babylon Rogues. I find them to be bland characters, the best of times. The one time they worked alright in this comic book, any character development they received was quickly undone. However, the trio is at least used well enough in this particular story. They remain in-character throughout. Jet is an egomaniac eager to prove his own superiority. Wave is technically inclined. Storm is the big dumb guy, I guess. (He doesn't do much here.) It's another testament to Galligan's skill that these three are recognizable without being annoying. By the end, they've even become something like friendly rivals with Sonic and the others. For a low-key story like this, a trio of mild adversaries – whose personalities can be established within a few words – work well enough.

It took two artists to bring this particular story to life. Tracy Yardley handles the first half, while Thomas Rothlisberger takes over in the second half. Since he's step down as a regular “Sonic” illustrator, to only occasionally contribute art, I have to say that Yardley's work has improved a lot. For a character centric story like this, his talent for memorable and expressive faces really come in handy. Sonic's smirks, Tangle's glares, everyone's goofy smiles, truly come to life here. Rothliserger's character work isn't quite as consistent as Yardley's but his action scenes are energetic and lively. It must also be said that everyone looks absolutely adorable in their beach fits. Jewel's little sundress is adorable, as are Tangle and Whisper's very practical swimsuits. 

In short: “Endless Summer” hardly reinvents the wheel and isn't a great example of grand dramatic themes or narrative opulence. Instead, it's just... Nice. It's an extremely pleasant comic book and I'm glad I got to read. Sometimes you just want to hang out with people you like, even if those people are blue hedgehogs and hyperactive lemurs! I read this on my deck, while a nice summer breeze made the August heat manageable. I was so relaxed afterwards, I took a nap. I think that's just about the ideal conditions to consume this bit of sun-baked levity. Highly recommended! [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Free Comic Book Day 2021

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Free Comic Book Day 2021

Publication Date: August 14th, 2021

Ah, Free Comic Book Day. That most beloved holiday centered around getting free comic books! It's hard to believe it's been fourteen years since Archie Comics' “Sonic” book first started participating in this nation-wide day ostensibly designed to promote local comic shops, officially making Sega's most blue hedgehog-related franchise a part of this American tradition. After publishing “Sonic” comics for three years, IDW has finally decided to have their iteration of the “Sonic” franchise join the same tradition. Because COVID fucked everything up – and, really, is still in the process of fucking everything up – Free Comic Book Day happened in August this year, instead of May when it usually happens. And because Sega is still celebrating Sonic's 30th anniversary, the IDW's first FCBD special is also set in the Classic Sonic universe.

The story exclusive to this issue is “Amy's New Hobby.” Tails comes to visit Amy at her adorable little bungalow, because he's lonely while Sonic is out adventuring. During lunch, Tails notices Amy doodling in a little sketchbook. She is somewhat embarrassed to admit that she's started drawing fan comics about Sonic and all his friends, including herself. Tails thinks it's pretty cool though and shows it to everyone. When Sonic speeds in and demands to see, Amy is petrified... But he likes her little comics too.

“Amy's New Hobby” comes from Gale Galligan, who previously contributed “Dr. Eggman's Birthday” in the 30th Anniversary special. It's evident that they specialize in cute and funny little stories about characters just hanging out. The detail of Amy being embarrassed by her fan art is a really adorable detail. Similarly, Sonic, Mighty, Ray, and Tails being completely accepting of this hobby is so friggin' sweet. They accept her, even if she doesn't! How fucking nice is that? Similar to the story Galligan wrote previously, that had Eggman's robots being grateful for him even if he wasn't for them, this is a quiet and sweet tale about acceptance and friendship. It's really nice to see some low-key stories like this in the modern Sonic comic universe.

The brief peeks we get at Amy's comics here are also absolutely adorable. Unsurprisingly, there seems to be some wish fulfillment in these comics, with at least one panel devoted to Amy rescuing Sonic from a grave situation. Another one has Knuckles thanking Sonic for being a friend, some of the cast buying chili dogs, and an extended homage to the “Strange, Isn't It?!” scene from the OVA. That is one of several cutesy homages to “Sonic” history in this brief little comic. Other shout-outs include cameos from Honey the Cat, Bark and Bean, and the sound test band. Honestly, Mighty and Ray's small roles feel like a shout-out to obscure “Sonic” history at this point too. The shot we have of Amy's house includes a couple easy-to-miss nods to franchise lore.

The artwork goes a long way to selling the sweetness of this story too. Thomas Rothlisberger, who also did the art for Galligan's previous story, provides pencils. There's a lot of really cute little details in the character's faces and body language when they're talking. Like Tails describing his stories with Sonic while munching a sandwich or Amy's clear uncertainty over showing anyone else her work. The panel devoted to Amy's absolute horror when Sonic sees her art is especially amusing. The comics-within-the-comic are completely precious too, done in a sketchy/colored pencil style that recalls Knuckles' little imagine spots in the Archie “Mega Drive” specials. 

The second story in this special... Isn't really a story. David Mariotte, an editor at IDW, gets official credit for writing “Race to the Empire.” It's really just a quick recap of the first few years of the book, with some pithy narration on-top and artwork thrown together from across the different issues. About the only thing that's really interesting about this “story” is the blurb at the end pointing towards the future of the series. Namely, a story arc called “Battle for the Empire” will be running in the comic in the lead-up to issue 50. And at some point in the future a new mini-series called “Sonic: Imposter Syndrome” will be arriving. That title is literally the only thing we know about that series right now but one assumes Mimic will have something to do with it. 

IDW's first FCBD issue isn't going to go down in “Sonic” history as especially important to the lore. Not that Archie's FCBD specials were ever all that significant either. These issues are, essentially, advertisements after all. So it's not surprising that a third of the comic is devoted to driving people's eyeballs to the back issues and upcoming issues. However, the headlining story is really cute and the artwork is very well done. I'm glad I was able to read this and recommend it to all Hedgehogs Can't Swim readers as well. I hope IDW continues to do more Classic Sonic stuff going forward, if only because it's the only way we're going to see more of these obscure characters. [7/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog: 30th Anniversary Special

Sonic the Hedgehog: 30th Anniversary Special

Publication Date: June 23rd, 2021

I've got to say, the people in charge of the "Sonic" franchise have really made the most of Sonic's 30th birthday. In some ways, it seems the 2020 pandemic delaying the release of a new game has been a boon to this series. It's forced Sega and all its cronies to get creative, giving us totally unexpected and amusingly bizarre gifts like Sonic in "Minecraft" or Sonic becoming a VTuber. Along with that awesome symphony concert, probably my most anticipated Sonic birthday gift is IDW's 30th anniversary one-shot. Running at over 80 pages long, the special is a double-stuffed serving of Classic Sonic goodness. 

The centerpiece of the special is "Seasons of Chaos," a sixty page romp. Sonic, Tails, and Amy are out chilling in the Spring Valley Zone when they come across a Chaos Emerald. It's quickly snatched by Metal Sonic, Sonic and Tails taking chase. They are soon joined by Knuckles, who details an encounter with Metal Knuckles on Angel Island. Amy, left behind but in possession of Tails emerald tracker, teams up with Mighty and Ray to help gather the stones. The trio soon encounter Nack Fang, Bean, and Bark who are also collecting the Emeralds. While everyone assumes Eggman is behind this chaos, the scientist has actually been betrayed by... Heavy King, who seeks to collect the Chaos Emeralds for his own purposes!

Among Sega's many frustrating decisions over the last few years was the sudden hard divide between "Classic" and "Modern" Sonic. For years, it was assumed that only time separated the earlier and more recent games. This is what "Sonic Generations" seemingly set up and allowed the Archie comic to utilize any Sega character it wanted. With the release of "Sonic Forces," Sega bafflingly decided Modern and Classic Sonic actually exist in alternate universes. This makes no sense but that hasn't stopped the company from enforcing it as a hard rule. A lot of fan favorite "Sonic" characters have now been relegated strictly to the Classic domain, forbidding them from appearing in "Modern" Sonic media like this comic book or the newer games. 

We'll just have to live with this dumb-ass rule until Sega randomly changed its mind again at some point in the future. Until that time, this special has been Flynn's first chance to utilize Mighty, Ray, and the Hooligans in years. And he clearly relishes it. Mighty's characterization as someone who is unendingly kind to his friends but has absolutely no patience for anyone else's bullshit is great. Bark and Bean are written exactly the same as their Archie counterparts, with Bean being bomb-obsessed wacky comic relief and the strong and silent Bark secretly having a soft side.

Fang – I'm just going to keep calling him Nack, sorry SoJ I've been using that name for twenty-five years – is goofier than his Archie counterpart but I like the detail of him refusing to learn anyone's actual name. That's a good way to show his callousness. Ray doesn't do much here. When stripped of his Archie originating stutter, he really isn't much more than Mighty's version of Tails. But that's fine. I didn't expect Heavy King to show up, so that was cool. Flynn even managed to sneak Tails Doll into this story, giving the doll some uncanny movements without overdoing the "Tails Doll is creepy" meme. 

My biggest concern going into this special is that it would mimic the plotting of the "Mega Drive" one-shots. That it would function less like a story and more like a synopsis of a non-existent classic era game. This story features some stuff like that, as Flynn introduces four new stages patterned after the seasons with original Badniks. (Some of which are really cute. I love the little acorn guys and the snowman version of Hei Hou.) Luckily, "Seasons of Chaos" actually has a pretty amusing story. Sonic being forced to work with Eggman and other enemies is a good dynamic. The "Chase the MacGuffin" plotting keeps a good forward momentum. The addition of new-old characters throughout keeps things interesting. 

This story avoids another problem that faced "Mega Drive." The story manages to be funny without being constantly flippant. Sonic's confusion at Metal Sonic speeding off without a fight is a good joke. His sometimes snarky attitude towards Amy or Knuckles is amusing but never overdone. I also like how this story features Knuckles being gullible or self-serious without turning him into a complete idiot. Bean, who Flynn too often reduced to a obnoxiously wacky one-liner spouting machine, also gets some good moments here. While I'm not usually a fan of Eggman being an ineffectual goofball, his final moment of disappointment here is pretty great. 

"Seasons of Chaos" is obviously an action packed story. It's one long chase, with lots of brawling in between the various destinations, before concluding with a big boss bottle. Despite that, Flynn perfectly balanced character development and action. Amy's little moments of insecurity, trying to prove herself to Sonic but unable to avoid her affection for him, are really well done. It impresses me just how much little moments like Mighty shrugging off Fang's bullets or Knuckles stopping to rescue a bunny says about their personality. The best moment in the entire story comes with Sonic irritating Heavy King, a perfectly deadpan foil to the hedgehog, into attacking him. This is how you write an action driven story without sacrificing character development. 

It also looks so fucking good. It took three artists to bring this story to life. Aaron Hammerstrom drew most of it, with Thomas Rothlisberger providing frequent line art assistance and Tracy Yardley chipping in on two pages. Yet the art is incredibly consistent, maintaining that Classic Sonic look throughout. It's also extremely expressive, just the characters' faces getting laughs more than a few times. (Tyson Hesse was obviously an influence, with the goofy flat faces he specializes in being spotted a few times.) It's impressive to me how the art team manages to capture the Classic Sonic look but make it their own, keeping things exciting and funny.

Honestly, "Seasons of Chaos" would've been more than enough for me but this special includes two other stories as well. "Sonic Learns to Drive" is about exactly that. The hedgehog is in a car with driving instructor Kip the Capybara. Sonic does not prove to have a lot of respect for the rules of the road, much to Kip's frustration and irritation. We soon learn that the only reason Sonic is learning to drive at all is so he can compete in a race where the grand prize is a lifetime supply of chili dogs. 

"Sonic Learns to Drive" was written by famous podcasters and comedians the McElroy brothers. The brothers have referenced Sonic a few times during their podcasts and TV show, so you know they're real fans. Unsurprisingly, a trio of experienced comedians come up with a pretty funny idea for a story. Sticking Sonic in a boxy smart car is totally unintuitive to his being. Having someone who spends his entire life going fast get used to ideas like speed limits or brakes is comedy gold. Moreover, a stern and stuffy driving instructor like Kip makes a good straight man to Sonic's fast ways. Amusingly, Kip even gets a character arc, as he's won over by Sonic's speedy ways in the end. 

I'm not actually that familiar with the McElroy brothers' work but you can tell they have a particular cadence to their humor. Sonic trying to explain why he'd need a car or whether or not he finds running exhausting makes for some inspired silliness. I don't know if Sonic should talk in a deadpan, matter-of-fact, comedic fashion when discussing parts of speech, his inability to understand slowing down, chili dog technology, or feeling sick when touching a brake pedal.... But it all made me laugh a lot, so who cares. If nothing else, it's really easy to imagine Ben Schwartz saying these lines. 

A newcomer named Mauro Fonseca does the art and, again, it's excellent. Fonseca also manages to stay within the lines of the Classic Sonic style while bringing a huge amount of expressiveness to the material. The artwork also manages to sneak in a massive number of in-jokes towards obscure "Sonic" lore here. Here's just the ones I caught on my first read through: An air freshener based an extremely obscure "Sonic" space shooter hangs from Kip's rear-view mirror. A magazine inspired by "Sonic Eraser" appears in the backseat. The blue rabbit that was a Sonic prototype, the Game Gear Silver Sonic, the "3D Blast" Flickies, and the "Spinball" version of the Tornado all have cameos. They even sneak in the Dreams Come True tour poster, otherwise known as Sonic's first ever appearance. There's a hundred other things here that I'm sure are references to something that I just don't recognize. It's an Alan Moore/Kevin O'Neil-level game of Spot the In-Joke and I appreciate that. 

The final story is called "Dr. Eggman's Birthday" and is written by Gale Galligan. The story has Eggman waking up on his birthday, completely disinterested in celebrating. Despite his resentment to the celebration, his Badniks still attempt to throw him a party. After presenting him with a series of disappointing gifts, Eggman can't find the Hardboiled Heavies. He soon realizes that the machine have decided to ambush Sonic and friends, in an attempt at the ultimate birthday present. 

This is another short story with a really funny central premise. Eggman being grouchy on his birthday, while his mechanical henchmen attempt to appease him is highly amusing. Treating the Badniks like overeager kids, who present their grumpy "dad" with lackluster homemade craft, is a totally worthwhile gag. Eggman eventually admitting that he does appreciate having his minions around and even shows a glimpse at a softer side, makes for a good – or even oddly sweet – ending. There's also a few minor visual gags, like a variation on a typical "wash your hands" sign or a disturbing Sonic piñata, made me chuckle too. 

Thomas Rothlisberger goes solo on the artwork this time. It's lovely and Rothlisberger's goofy facial expressions for Eggman are very appreciated. Yet it's truly Nathaline Fourdraine's colors that truly shine here. The rich and moody coloring that often makes Fourdraine's covers so enchanting gets a longer run here. The panels of Eggman waking up or his bemused reaction to the Badnik's celebration are truly highlights of the entire book. (Which somewhat makes up for this story probably being my least favorite of the batch, though I still enjoyed it a lot,)

In other words, the entire 30th Anniversary Special is an absolute delight. You can tell that a great deal of care and love was taking with this comic, to ensure that every page of it dripped with affection for the Classic Sonic universe. I really hope this is successful enough to encourage IDW to produce more Classic Sonic-related media. Every page looks great. It's consistently hilarious without sacrificing personality or pacing. Perhaps I'm just bias because I'm happy to see Mighty and the Hooligans again. So be it. I mean, shit, they even got Spaz back to draw a variant cover! This thing is the most fun I've had with a "Sonic" comic in years. [9/10]