Sonic X: Issue 16

Sonic X: Issue 16
Publication Date: February 2007

The tendency for Archie's “Sonic X” book to acknowledge the monthly holidays continue. While the main book remains in a future without earthly celebrations, the Earth of “Sonic X” pauses once more to feature a calendar event on the cover. Issue 16 devotes itself to Valentine's Day. On one hand, this is sort of surprising, considering the seven year old boy audience this book aims for. That's the kind of crowd that thinks girls have cooties. Then again, the shipping have always been deeply entranced in the Sonic fandom. So laugh, you SonAmy weirdos. This is as close as the two hedgehogs will be allowed to get.

“Valentine's Fray” doesn't have Sonic finally accepting Amy's insistent demands for dates because he's actually interested in the girl. Instead, he lost a bet with Knuckles. Amy is none the wiser and is overjoyed for a chance at romance with her favorite hedgehog. Sonic, however, is clueless about dating. So he asks the Chaotix – whose expertise on this matter he greatly overestimates – and gets three different ideas for a date, combining all of them. News gets back to Eggman, who decides to use this romantic adventure as a chance to take Sonic out of the picture for good.

Issue 16 of “Sonic X” would have Ian Flynn returning to the spin-off book. Flynn is a writer that likes to satisfy his fans. So the writer cooks up a scenario that will please the Sonic/Amy people without officially hooking the two up. Sonic reluctantly agreeing to date Amy is a nice touch. Of course, he ends up having a good time. At the end, just as it seems like maybe he's developing feelings for the pink hedgehog, Sonic backs off. He denies Amy a second date. It's a pretty cute balance, even if Flynn's script here has none of the depth of his work on the main book.

Flynn's comedy works best when rooted in his characters. “Valentine's Fray” is nowhere near as funny as its aiming for, as its comedic gags are pretty limp. However, there's one bit that did make me laugh. Sonic goes to the detectives, assuming their detectiv-ing includes knowledge of what females like. He is wrong. Much to Vector's chagrin, Charmy announces that none of the trio has ever been on a date. This keeps the cluelessness about the opposite sex that Vector shows in Archie's other “Sonic” book while dropping his creepy misogyny. Honestly, the idea of the Chaotix being virginal nerds, totally clueless about women, makes them more endearing.

The big gags in “Valentine's Fray” concern how Sonic and Amy's date goes wrong. Eggman figures Sonic will be distracted, making this a good time to strike. Instead, the hedgehog is as alert as always. Both intentionally and unintentionally, Sonic foils the bad guy's schemes. An attempt to blow them up with bombs results in Sonic and Amy getting a fireworks show. A booby-trapped hibachi grill goes off early, roasting Decoe and Becoe instead. Lastly, Sonic and Amy head to a carnival. Eggman's attempts to corner them in a haunted house, a hall of mirrors, and a roller coaster all backfire.

It's a classical comedic set-up, recalling the likes of Tom & Jerry and Wile E. Coyote. Amy remains unaware of the dangers, having a great time all throughout the date. Eggman's schemes screwing up so badly results in the kind of cartoony punishment you'd expect to see in a Loony Tunes short. It's not exactly hilarious. In truth, it actually further defangs this version of Eggman as a serious threat. Yet, considering this is far more of a light-weight kiddie book then the main comic, it got me to smile once or twice.

Todd Wahnish continues his work on "Sonic X." This time, he doesn't distinguish himself from the various other “Sonic X” drawers very much. His work is more consistent then Tim Smith, as Wahnish's backgrounds are more vivid and he doesn't have Smith's occasional off-model moments. Yet Wahnish trails behind David Hutchinson's best work, as this features none of the atmosphere or strong character work that is Hutchinson's strength. Truthfully, Wahnish's work is fine. He sticks to the established model, going out of his way to maintain the comic's connection with the cartoon show. It's not bad to look at. It's totally fine, truthfully. Yet it's also not very memorable.

While the “Sonic X” Valentine's Day special trails behind the highly entertaining first half of the Halloween special, it is a better written affair then the weak Christmas special. This is a pretty forgettable issue but not an unpleasant reading experience either. I mean, even on an off-day, Ian Flynn knew what he was doing. It looks like “Sonic X” stuck with the holiday theme for at least one more issue. We'll see how that goes soon enough. [6/10]

Sonic X: Issue 15

Sonic X: Issue 15
Publication Date: December 2006

As it did with Halloween, “Sonic X” continues to distinguish itself from Archie's other “Sonic the Hedgehog” book by acknowledging the passing holidays. I guess this makes sense, since “Sonic X' is actually set on Earth. Being a December release, issue 15 is the “Sonic X” Christmas special. Unlike Halloween, Sonic had encountered Christmas before. Whether you're talking about the “Christmas Carol” inspired back-up in issue 6 or the obscure but wacky “Sonic Christmas Blast” TV special, the hedgehog has tussled with the jolliest of holidays before. How does this story stack up to those previous stories?

In “Bad Eggnog” - nice title, Edkin – Chris and his family introduce Sonic and his friends to the Earthly custom of Christmas. While Cream happily embraces the story of Santa Claus, Sonic is more skeptical. Eggman has found out about Christmas, building a evil scheme around the holiday. He dresses as Santa Claus, presenting himself to the world as the jolly old elf. Eggman Claus threatens the children of the world that no one will get any Christmas presents unless Sonic surrenders himself. Naturally, Sonic sees through this plan and begins to work to undermine it.
“Bad Eggnog” puts Sonic in an interesting position: That of the skeptic. Up until this point, the “Sonic X” version of the character hasn't shown a much deeper personality then he's penchant for heroics. In issue 15, the hedgehog says he doesn't believe something unless he can see it with his own eyes. Naturally, he's not very impressed with the story of Santa Claus. He's so determined to figure out the truth that he races up to the North Pole to search for Santa's workshop. When Grandpa Chuck tells Sonic that Santa's workshop only appears on Christmas Day, the hedgehog remains unconvinced. We knew Sonic was the blue dude with 'tude but who knew that attitude included a rationalist streak?

Sadly, “Bad Eggnog” doesn't celebrate Sonic's critical thinking. The hedgehog's refusal to believe in Santa Claus gets him in trouble. The world falls for Eggman's paper thing disguise and happily turn on the heroic alien. The ease with which humanity believes the clearly fake Santa's words reminds me of the deeply cynical “Invader ZIM” Christmas episode. While that show was taking about as edgy a jab at Christianity as a Nickelodeon show could, Joe Edkin's script is only attempting to ratchet up the tension. And when I said “world,” I meant it. Germans and Frenchmen are shown attacking Sonic. (Obviously, the comic doesn't acknowledge that these country have Saint Nicholas and Pere Noel instead of Santa.) Sadly, this doesn't work very well because only one page is devoted to it.
Joe Edkin wasn't the first person to touch upon the resemblance between Eggman and Santa Claus. “Sonic Christmas Blast” had Long John Baldry's Robotnik also disguising himself as Santa, though his scheme was slightly different. I guess both of them being fat guys who wear red is just too obvious a connection to go without comment. Just as in that special, this scheme makes the population of Earth look highly gullible. Eggman is obviously not Santa Claus. Being a genius in robotics, you'd think the villain would build a suitable Santa facsimile. Instead, he simply throws on a red suit. He doesn't even color his mustache white! Later, Eggman's plot takes an even sillier turn. He has Decoe and Bocoe stand on each other's shoulders, wearing a fake beard and a red suit! Show some fucking oversight, fat man.

Instead of giving us an awesome showdown at the North Pole, “Bad Eggnog” ends in a hugely disappointing manner. Sonic goes with Decoe to the North Pole. Grandpa Chuck ensures Eggman's plan is undone on TV. He has Estella dress as Santa and wave in the distance, saying she's the actual Claus. Sonic is tossed a Power Ring and unmasks the robots. Instead of the hedgehog whooping on his arch-enemy for attempting to ruin the holiday, Sonic and the Thorndykes allow Eggman to get away. The spirit of giving is one thing but allowing an internationally feared terrorist leave scot free is an entirely different matter.

Issue 15 is pretty disappointing but I will give it perks for two things. First off, Todd Wahnish's artwork is great. Wahnish goes out of his way to copy the art design of the “Sonic X” TV show. That's a good feature for a licensed book, I suppose. Another positive element of “Bad Eggnog” is how inclusive Joe Edkin's script is. The opening page features Sonic and friends looking at a shop window, filled with Christmas decorations... and a Menorah. Later, Station Square's Christmas tree lighting ceremony is also accompanied by the lighting of a huge menorah. I tried to look up Joe Edkin, to see if this decision perhaps reflected a mixed heritage, but the only info I could find was about the work he's done for Marvel and DC.

Despite playing the true nature of Santa Claus ambiguously throughout the comic, issue 15 of “Sonic X” ends just the way you would expect. Presents pile up under the Christmas tree the next morning, suggesting that Santa Claus really does exist. It even convinces the formally skeptical Sonic. Which I guess is fine, considering this is a kid's book. Yet it's a bit disappointing, considering this story had way more promise then that. [5/10]