Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special

Sonic the Hedgehog: Halloween Special

Publication Date: October 11th, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonic 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: Bad Guys: Issue 4

Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys: Issue 4

Publication Date: December 23rd, 2020

Dear Hedgehogs Can't Swim readers: I am finally caught up with IDW "Sonic." In the past, I've fallen so horribly behind with the new book that I've had to do short burst of hyper-focused updates like this before. And while I will probably almost definitely have to do this again, I think I am finally hooked on IDW "Sonic" after three years of it existing. It's not the same as the Archie book I fell in love with as a kid but this iteration of "Sonic" has finally forged its own weird identity, separate from the games or previous comics. I'll try and review the new issues as they come out, posting them as Monday/Wednesday/Friday updates. (Because adding them as weekend bonuses really wasn't working for me.) I'm still deliberating whether or not to go ahead with my Best of/Worst of list for 2020 or wait until issue 36 of the main book comes out. 

Anyway, enough about me! Let's talk about issue 4 of "Bad Guys!" As his plan comes crashing down on him, Starline has to make a quick escape from the clutches of his former teammates. Using his new superpowers, he quickly disposed of Rough and Tumble but Zavok proves trickier. Mimic betrays everybody and alerts Eggman to what's going on, before bouncing out of there. Eggman assumes Zavok is behind the entire enterprise, flattening the base with explosives. The Zeti lives and Starline gets what he wanted in the end: a small chunk of Eggman's empire. 

From the minute "Bad Guys" started, it was inevitable that Starline's plan was going to implode on itself. Zavok was aware of his treachery and it was only a matter of time before he made his play. But, I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed with how the implosion goes down. Starline's scheme is revealed but he immediately escapes. We never even get a showdown between the platypus and Zavok, which is what I figured the comic had been building towards. Flynn even gave Starline abilities that would make him Zavok's physical equal and still avoids a direct confrontation. I can't believe I'm chastising Flynn for not including a fight scene but it is anticlimactic that Starline really doesn't face any consequences for betraying his teammates. 

My big issue with "Bad Guys'" ending is that nobody faces consequences. Starline immobilizes Rough and Tumble with his poison spurs but they still have the strength to wiggle out of the base before Eggman bombs it. Mimic peaces out long before the pyrotechnics begin. Despite being caught in the explosion, Zavok survives and walks away bruised but intact. I know Sega never would've allowed Flynn to kill off a game character but he could've at least implied the Zeti's death, in order to build suspense for his inevitable return. And, in retrospect, it was pretty dumb of Starline to give his homies weapons but did not booby-trap them. Did he really expect to outsmart them the entire time? What a chode! 

The last issue of "Bad Guys" had me wondering what the point of all this was until its final pages. The status quo seems more-or-less restored at the end. Mimic is still out there, looking for revenge on Whisper. Rough and Tumble are free agents once again. Zavok is likely heading back to reunite with the rest of the Deadly Six. It seemed, in the long run, the only thing this mini-series really does is put everyone back to where they were right before the Metal Virus saga began. (Making me wonder what the point of that year-long event was once again.)

Except Starline has changed. Zavok's words really did get to him. He no longer wants to become Eggman's BFF, realizing the doctor is too flawed to ever achieve his goal of total world domination. Instead, he desires supplanting Eggman all together, conquering the planet totally on his own. Which finally gives a character I've always found somewhat irregular a proper characterization. (And it's also clearly what Flynn had been building towards from the moment he introduced him.) And thus, the "Sonic" comic gains another strong, secondary antagonist. Which was almost worth torpedoing "Bad Guys'" climax for, I guess. 

I'm fine with Starline becoming a fully-formed baddy. I'm less satisfied with him becoming a hyper-confident badass. Flynn gave Starline the Tri-Core and all the associated superpowers not to give him an awesome confrontation with Zavok but to make him more of a creditable threat in the future, I suppose. But watching the guy zip around Rough and Tumble, disposing of them in seconds with his poisonous elf boots, isn't very interesting. Egomaniacal smarty-pants like Starline are best left as intellectual threats, because they become completely insufferable if they're as all-powerful as they think they are... Unless Flynn is planning on making Starline the big bad of 2021's main story arc. We'll see but right now I'm not loving it. 

Starline becoming the comic's primary threat would make sense though, since Eggman has been dropping the ball more and more here of late. At the end of the issue, he realizes Zavok isn't smart enough on his own to pull off all these raids. Yet he also never connects the dots, wondering if maybe that sidekick he betrayed not too long ago might be responsible. After his embarrassing performance in the "Recovery" two-parter, I'm really not loving this trend of Eggman being a dumbass. The excuse of "he's still frazzled after the Metal Virus catastrophe" is only going to wash for so long, Ian. 

Anyway, I suppose I still liked "Bad Guys" well enough overall. It definitely eats it a little in the second half but those first two issues were really strong. The weird helpful/antagonistic dynamic between Starline and Zavok was so good, I honestly wish Flynn could have kept that going for longer. If this mini-series had been six issues, instead of four, it would probably feel less rushed and more satisfying. As it is, I am forced to hand out another [6/10] and end 2020 on a whimper. 

Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys: Issue 3

Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys: Issue 3

Publication Date: November 25th, 2020

I've written, several times over the years, about how comic books are notorious for having misleading covers. When children have been the primary target for your product for upwards of fifty years, that only seems natural. When a kid sees a cover about how Superman has turned into a gorilla or the Flash is a puppet now, their eyes light up with shock and awe that results in them immediately buying the comic in question. Kids are also more likely not to feel ripped off when nothing of that sort actually happens in the comic. Archie's "Sonic" series was certainly not above tactics like that. Remember when Sonic cradled Sally's dead body in his arms or our heroes were consumed by a white void full of monster arms? While I've done little but bitch about IDW's "Sonic" books, I'll give the company this much: They've done few misleading covers. Yes, the shocking event depicted on the cover of issue 3 of "Bad Guys" does happen. 

Volume three of "Bad Guys," which the Sonic News Network wiki informs me is subtitled "Trust Issues," begins with Starline doing another monologue... Except it's not Starline but Mimic impersonating him. Yes, Zavok and the octopus are well aware of the doctor's in-coming betrayal. The next day, the team raid the hub of Eggman's computer network. The new power cores Starline has outfitted his team with makes the job easier than ever. Just as the platypus thinks victory is within his grasp, Zavok and Mimic turn on him. 

From the beginning, "Bad Guys" has been interesting because of the different schemers plotting against each other within the team. Trying to figure out how aware of each other's plots Starline and Zavok were has been a lot of fun. Issue three is when Flynn cashes that check. It turns out Zavok has always been aware of Starline's plot and Mimic had his suspicion all along as well. This is a little disappointing, as I was hoping Flynn could milk that tension a little longer, but it does lead to another intriguing event. Now Starline has been (seemingly) outsmarted and outmatched, making us wonder if he can wiggle his way out of this predicament. Which is also pretty exciting and a good cliffhanger to leave things on, so Flynn continues to have my begrudging respect for this month.

It's a good thing this issue has such a strong dramatic hook to it. Otherwise, part three of "Bad Guys" is pretty simple. It's largely devoted to Starline's team crushing Eggman's defenses with ease. Supercharged by the Power Cores, they tear through the Eggnet Hub's protection without breaking a sweat. But, in its own way, these action scenes are kind of fun. We haven't seen what the Power Cores can do exactly, so there's novelty in watching a super-fast Rough or a more pumped-up Zavok tear some robots apart. Some times, you just want to see a team of goons working together and fucking some shit up, ya know? You get a certain rush from watching ownage like that getting laid down. 

Perhaps these admittedly tension-free action scenes are fun because we are kind of invested in these guys at this point. Somehow, Flynn has managed to get me to care about Zavok and Rough and Tumble. The zeti's calculating nature and shrewd powers of observation have taken him from a C-list "Sonic" villain in my mind to someone who is actually a compelling antagonist. Rough and Tumble - who I had pretty much no feelings towards, one way or the other - are also growing on me. In the truck on the way to the Eggnet Hub, the two compose a new poem to introduce their entire team. See, these two are the opposite of Zavok and Mimic, in the sense that they are totally clueless about the incoming betrayal. They are basically just big, dumb, hyper-destructive kids and that's endearing. Flynn should play up that contrast between their ultra violent and childish world views more often. 

If there's been any flaw at all with "Bad Guys," it's been Flynn's insistence on keeping Eggman to the margins. Considering that's the big bad these lesser bads are fighting against, you'd think he would have more of a presence. In this issue, his alarms alert him that the Eggnet Hub is being raided. Starline quickly hijacks the signal and says another location is being attacked. Eggman hedges his bets by sending forces to both locations. Honestly, the fact that Eggman has been even a little fooled by Starline's obvious manipulation undermines his supposed great genius. Considering how goofy he was in the "Recovery" arc, maybe Eggman is still licking his wounds after the whole Zombot fiasco. Or maybe Ian Flynn is just an inconsistent writer. You decide!

What is not inconsistent is the quality of the artwork. Jack Lawrence draws the opening and closing few pages of this book, providing his typically excellent pencils. The middle section of the book is drawn by Aaron Hammerstrom, who provided the atmospheric "Reflections" in this year's annual. You can immediately tell when Hammerstrom has taken over, as his style is far looser and more cartoony than Lawrence's. This is okay, as Hammerstrom's art provides the right kind of chaotic energy for this action scenes. I don't know if the "Battletoads"-like decision to have the guys grow giant hands and feet while kicking ass was just Hammerstrom exaggerating or an effect of the Power Cores. Either way, I like it!

While not being quite as strong as the previous two issues, the third issue of "Bad Guys" continues to be compelling. This mini-series is working because Flynn is actually balancing action and character development, something he should've tried during the tail-end of the Metal Virus Saga. Maybe that's because he's awarded more freedom when working with less well-known characters. I don't know the reason but I do know I'm enjoying this one and am actually looking forward to the exciting conclusion next month. [7/10]