Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 76

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 76

Publication Date: February 5th, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 75

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 75

Publication Date: December 18th, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, and the “Sonic” franchise hits another big milestone with the release of its third theatrical big budget movie, a much smaller part of the multi-media franchise has another reason to celebrate. The IDW “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic has reached 75 issues, being in publication for over six years. Once you factor in the various mini-series and one-shots, IDW has definitely published over a hundred “Sonic” related comic books. That’s no small feat for a licensed comic book in this day and age, when the non-DC/Marvel publishers can easily go under and books can get unceremoniously canned for whatever reason. In other words: Assuming there are no massive fuck-ups on IDW’s behalf, or the entire American comic industry goes kaput, the “new” “Sonic” comic is well on its way to being as much of a long-runner as the old “Sonic” comic. I can certainly complain about how IDW’s comic still doesn’t seem as fleshed-out or expansive as Archie’s universe did by this point… By now, however, I’m willing to chalk this opinion up to me being old. The kids who are growing up with IDW “Sonic” probably consider this series as beloved and compelling as I did with the nineties comics at that age. 

Issue 75 is also the much long await – by me anyway – conclusion to the Clean Sweepstakes story arc, playing out over a double-length issue. Deep within the heart of Clutch’s air ship, Tails, Amy, Belle, the Chaotix and a few other people attempt to escape the engine room as the entire vessel is on the verge of exploding. Sonic races to the deck of the ship to face Clutch one on one, soon being joined by Surge, Kit, and another unexpected ally. The Babylon Rogues lead an impromptu rescue mission to prevent the massive ship from crashing right into Central City and killing untold numbers of people. The Diamond Cutters, meanwhile, realize that “Duo the Cat” is actually the shapeshifter Mimic, Lanolin finally putting aside her differences with Tangle and Whisper. It all wraps up in a giant fireball at Restoration HQ. 

Issue 75 starts with a decent idea. The self destruct sequence on the air ship has been started. This means all of the heroes aboard the boat have an ever-shrinking window to escape before it explodes. That’s a good way to keep the suspense high in the final leg of a storyline. Unfortunately, Evan Stanley does not stop there. This is a flying ship after all, meaning it’s plummeting towards the city. Before the issue is over, the flying race-track also begins to fall out of the sky. In the last third, the focus turns towards Sonic and Jet racing to get as many people out of Restoration HQ as they can before it also blows up. In other words, issue 75 begins with the characters on one deadline before continuously adding several more. It plays like a desperate attempt to keep the intensity rising. 

What it mostly ends up doing is making this comic book feel like it’ll never end. Typically speaking, a dramatic countdown to a big-ass explosion marks the story heading towards its most exciting moment. That’s what it meant in “Alien,” for one prominent example. However, this comic book repeatedly trying to outdo itself mostly means the story feels like it has about three different climaxes. Sonic, Surge, and Kit have a big fight with Clutch aboard the deck of the ship. Would that be where you’d expect this story to end? Instead, the threat of the air ship crashing and exploding takes precedence. Surely, that would represent the end of this particular plot? What’s more exciting than a big-ass thing going up in a big-ass explosion? Instead, the focus then shifts towards the rescue mission of all the Restoration staff, which hits a few snags of its own. 

Maybe Stanley giving this issue multiple logical end points before moving on to another is because issue 75 isn’t only the conclusion to the Clean Sweepstakes arc. In a lot of ways, this installment feels like the writer trying to put as many plot points to rest as possible. After what feels like far too long, “Duo the Cat” is finally discovered to be Mimic. Before we’re done, Evan also has Belle repair her little MotoBug friend. I have the creeping feeling that editorial demands this storyline get stretched out to conclude in the anniversary issue. At the same time, I feel the same force demanding this one feature some big reveals, hence the above events. Obviously, in order to cram all this shit into one comic book, it means Stanley resorts to her worst habit as a writer: Having far too many characters involved in far too many situations, constantly cutting back and forth between them as much as possible. It does not make for the most organized feeling read. 

What further causes issue 75 to feel double-stuffed is that the comic isn’t only resolving multiple plot points across a story that keeps barreling towards bigger pyrotechnics. It also shoves in a few twists and teasers. Eggman inserts himself into this story, after being absent since the first part, in an extremely gimmicky fashion. Yeah, turns out the hovercraft he built Sonic is a fucking Transformer and this was all part of a long con to get back at Clutch. Meanwhile, Surge and Jet both separately promise to Sonic that they’ll resolve their rivalry at some unspoken future date. This occurs after Surge deploys a big special move of her own. Because that’s exactly what this storyline needed: More characters and more superpowers. It’s almost impressive that this particular arc has managed to feel both far too long and not nearly long enough. It’s dragged on for multiple issues while also shoving in one event and reveal after another, none of them feeling properly fleshed out.

At least it has an ending though. As much as the structure and pacing of this issue bugs me, at least we won’t have to deal with a few stupid plot points anymore. First off, all that convoluted Phantom Rider business and the corresponding race is finally, thankfully done for. This issue also puts the extremely dumb Duo the Cat storyline to bed. Not that the Diamond Cutters finally figure out the very obvious deception at play here. “Duo” forgot to turn off his cell phone and Clutch refers to him as “Mimic” in front of everyone, blowing his cover. This sequence also involves Lanolin realizing that she’s been acting like a bitch and apologizing. Whisper apologizes too, though I’m not really sure why she felt the need to. In fact, this comic has Surge and Jet both coming to agreements of sorts with Sonic. Somehow, time is also found her to have the Hippy Orangutan Mechanic be nice to Belle and presumably settle any tension between them. As if Stanley is desperate to have the fandom stop hating these characters that they’ve been trashing lately. (Okay, I don’t know if anyone else but me dislikes “Chief Mechanic” that much but, still, the point stands.) 

The end of the issue also seems to see Rough and Tumble joining the Restoration, or at least promising to be less evil in the future. If Stanley was going out of her way to provide some sort of redemptive moments for characters that have behaved badly, she does not extend that gesture to two other characters. No, Mimic remains as incapable of redemption as possible. Clutch, meanwhile, is painted as more of a bastard than before. He somehow proves to be a physical threat to Sonic and Surge, at least via implementing firearms of varying size. He also references having killed other heroes in the past. IDW has constantly emphasized the idea that nobody is beyond rehabilitation in Sonic’s eyes, to the point that he’s allowed Eggman to escape capture in the past. Surge and Kit are clearly working their way towards heel-face turns too, though they aren’t quite there yet. However, it seems that Stanley considers professional assassins and businessmen/mob bosses particularly beyond redemption. She wants you to know that these two son of bitches are too ruthless to ever change their ways.  

That these two villains are utterly unforgivable does feed into what is, I think, the moral of this particular issue. Jet and the Babylon Rogues don’t move the falling air ship single-handedly. They direct a bunch of citizens to pitch in, using their own flying vehicles to pull the ship out of the path of the city. There is an extremely awkward line of dialogue, where Nite declares “Power to the people!” This goes hand-in-hand with the final sequence, of Jet rushing into the burning base to rescue whoever he can. The obvious idea is, anyone that is willing to help other people can be a force for good. That means the average person can be “powerful” and a former scoundrel can turn over a new leaf. It’s a nice idea and all but feels somewhat shoved into an already overstuffed issue.

Let’s go back to Surge for a minute. Her progression, from villain with a grudge who wants to see the whole world burn to someone realizing it’s possible for them to be loved, has been the brightest spot among all the racing and double-crossing. The payoff to that particular arc ostensibly occurs when Surge helps beat the shit out of Clutch, after announcing that she’s quitting. She’s no longer going to let assholes talk her into doing stuff that’s against her heart, the same conclusion she came to after Starline bit the dust. However, Surge awkwardly exits the story after that incident and she’s not even the one who takes Clutch out. Instead, it seems as if Jet gets the moment that logically should be her’s. He puts aside his own petty goals – of beating Sonic in a race – for the greater good. He leads the charge to redirect the falling, about-to-explode cruiser from above the city. Sonic appeals to his ego and goads him into helping save everyone in the Restoration. In other words: Jet stops acting selfishly and starts doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. It feels like that’s the direction Surge should have been going in, instead of limping away half-way through the issue. 

With all the talk of explosions, murder, and possible death, issue 75 strikes me as mostly a fairly grim one. Perhaps Stanley was aware of this too. To counter that, several scenes of wacky comedy is inserted throughout. Rough and Tumble realize they’ve been staying inside a cage that was already unlocked. Sonic splays against the windshield of the air ship. Clutch’s security team insists they are on their break when called to action before abruptly quitting. None of these moments made me chuckle. In fact, they struck me as feeling extremely out-of-place. When things are as intense as they are in this issue, wacky slapstick and jokes about the big dumb guys being dumb do not feel especially needed.  

It’s a frustrating end to what has been a frustrating storyline. Min Ko Him’s art is good, with lots of flowing action scenes and expressive faces. You can tell he really loved to draw that giant robot that randomly appears for a few pages. He also includes what I assume are more fan-made O.C.s in various crowd shots, including one that looks an awful lot like Old Man Owl from the OVA. The final page sets up events for the next issue to follow, presumably setting up the next storyline. Hopefully that one won’t stretch on for six issues nor be bogged down by the need to both include as many characters as possible and have them all contribute to the story somehow. We know “Sonic” has a hundred characters. We don’t need to see them all! Frankly, I’m glad to be done with the Clean Sweepstakes. Let us put away our Extreme Gear for a while, please. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024

Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024

Publication Date: October 9th, 2024

As IDW's on-going “Sonic the Hedgehog” comic book is currently wrapped up in an unending story arc that I can't say I'm a big fan of, I found myself looking forward to this year's annual more than usual. In the past few years, the annual has been where the character-driven “Sonic” stories have truly been allowed to pop up. I suppose, due to the individual segments being fairly short, there's not much time for traditional action theatrics, forcing the writers to actually focus on fleshing out the cast members. Whatever the cause, it's a much-needed respite from the rumbling behemoth of plotlines that the current story has become. Let's not delay any longer and dive into the “Sonic the Hedgehog 2024 Annual.”

Three stories are contained within, two shorter ones and a longer one. Ian Flynn's “Hero's Calling” must take place after Surge and Kit decided to join the Restoration as undercover agents but before everyone got caught up in hoverboard racing. It begins with the two stopping a runaway trolley train from squishing a parade of Chao and I guess the people inside too. A minor comment from one of the rescued people about how Surge still isn't as fast as Sonic causes her to reflect on what motivates her. This, unwittingly, changes Kit's sense of himself as well. “For My Destiny” by Iasmin Omar Ata involves Knuckles chilling on Angel Island, staring at the Master Emerald. This creates a vision of sorts, where he considers his fate as Guardian and his connections with his friends. Who then show up, following a crash landing in the Tornado. “Shattered Diamonds,” from Gigi Dutreix, takes place around the Eggperial City arc, when Tangle, Whisper, and Lanolin where waiting for Sonic and Tails to show up. Mimic lurks in the shadows, planning to pick Whisper off once and for all, as he reflects thinks back on his past and how he met the quiet sniper.

The previous IDW annuals have all had themes connecting their different stories, I suppose. 2022's installment was about unlikely partnerships. 2020's annual focused on side characters reacting to the Metal Virus outbreak, while 2019's annual was connected by the idea of friendship. 2024's annual delves into a deeper theme than I expected. Essentially, it's about the way different characters negotiate with their own loneliness and how that keeps them going. Surge lets go of her resentment of the world in a very Surge-like manner, while Kit gives us an idea of how far he's willing to go to make sure he's never separated from Surge. Knuckles finds himself being thankful for the bonds he has and the destiny that has brought him to this life. Finally, Mimic's story sees the octopus grappling with a need to discard other people's validation and connection. He wants to be so strong that he doesn't need anyone and Whisper is the last reminder of that. For a kid's comic published mostly to remind people to go out and buy video games, this is surprisingly deep stuff.

I don't know if Flynn's story did this intentionally or not but it shows Surge growing as a character in a way that is so uniquely her. She has come to the grim realization that Starline was right about something, that the world is trapped in a cycle of Sonic and Eggman fighting for control. Surge previously wanted to burn that all down but now she sees the non-superpowered citizens of the planet as so inept and helpless, that she can't hate them anymore. She calls them “morons” and says “they can't do anything.” Keep in this mind, this happens right before she declares a lingering a desire to crush Sonic while also looking sadly out the window and concluding that everyone else in the world aren't “bad.”

What is happening here is the same development the comic has been building towards all year: Surge is letting go of the pain that forged her. She's letting go of her desire to be hated because it's better than being nothing. She is realizing her own worth, coming to understand that she deserves love. The tenrec with an attitude can't simply say that though. As introspective as Surge obviously is, she's too proud to let a chink in her bad-ass persona show. She has to find a way to angrily declare that she doesn't hate everyone anymore and wants to be praised by them. When looked at from this angle, it's actually quite a funny story. Surge is slowly developing into a fully formed, kind person but she can't, like, act that way because it would mess with her bad bitch status. She has to declare herself superior to all the fumbling idiot masses to disguise the fact that she actually wants to protect them out of the goodness of her heart.

What of Kit though? Surge has been able to break through the psychological conditioning Starline programmed into her. Her sidekick, on the other hand, hasn't been able to do that. His only desire in life is be with Surge and keep her happy. He remains her biggest fan and desperate, needy simp. When Surge presents the possibility that the world can exist without Eggman, it causes the fennec to have a crisis. If there's no Eggman, there's no threat for Surge to challenge, and no reason for people to praise her. And if there's no reason for Surge to be praised, there's no reason for Kit to be around. In his head, he quickly concocts a scheme to engineer threats for Surge to grapple with, in order to maintain his own purpose in life.

It's a far more duplicitous moment than we are used to seeing from Kit. It's also the only part of an otherwise good story that makes me pause. The earlier scenes, where the two are interacting, show Ian Flynn's strength. He has a clear grasp on these two and watching them bounce off one another is delightful. The panel where Kit asks what's wrong with Surge before becoming fearful that she's mad at him is hilarious and sad. Hilarious because it's such a cute, mundane discussion and sad because it shows how totally and completely Kit's self-worth depends on Surge needing him. I'm not entirely sure how the little guy makes the leap from “if people aren't praising Surge, she won't need me... Therefore I must become death, the destroy of worlds.” Feels like we, the reader, missed a step.

Unfortunately, I think I know why these handful of panels are inserted into this story. “Hero's Calling” ends with a promise that its story will continue in issue 75 of IDW's main “Sonic” book. The second story has a similar cliffhanger, promising readers that they'll discover why Sonic, Tails, and Amy had to crash land on Angel Island in issue 80. One of the unfortunate truths you have to swallow as a comic book fan is that stories are rarely allowed to end. New issues must always be forthcoming. Superman must always have a reason to fight Lex Luthor. Batman must always have something to protect Gotham from. In other words, writers crafting a satisfying story is often hampered by another need: To set up the next thing down the line. Ian Flynn is a comic industry veteran at this point. He knows what he's doing. Which is why a story that otherwise might have been about Surge slowly realizing she doesn't need to be a villain has to pause to set up the idea that, somewhere down the line, Kit will become a greater threat. It's nice that this idea is based upon his psychological hang-ups and massive neediness. It also would've been nice if “Hero's Calling” didn't feel the need to remind us that the show must go on, even to the detriment of telling a proper tale.

There's something awkward about the second story too, that I couldn't help but notice. This is Iasmin Omar Ata's second IDW “Sonic” credit, after writing the “Winter Jam” story. “For My Destiny” is this comic book, once again, grappling with an obnoxious Sega mandate that they seemed legal-bound to follow: Knuckles can't spend too much time away from the Master Emerald. The echidna has to toil away the majority of his life looking at a big green rock and Sega isn't interested in hearing justifications for why he might want to do something else. This has led to multiple awkward moments in the comic, where the reader ends up asking “Hey, why isn't Knuckles helping his friends out during this crazy, difficult time?” I guess he can't build a wall around the Shrine or have Tails create some robots to guard it or whatever. No, no, Knuckles must always be on Angel Island.

Ata has been tasked with the thankless job of cooking up a reason why Knuckles willingly waste his entire life standing next to the Master Emerald. Ultimately, he comes to the conclusion that this is his destiny and every good thing he had in his life – his friendships, the adventures he's had – are because of his duty as guardian of the Master Emerald. Every minute spent standing guard has been worth it, he seems to conclude. And that's bullshit, right? Since the Master Emerald seems to manifest a vision quest for the echidna when he's having some doubts about his role in life, it truly feels like an abusive parent saying "Think of how much worse you'd be without me!!!" If Knuckles can be said to have a "relationship" with the Master Emerald – which this story certainly implies – any therapist would classify it as toxic. This is "The Giving Tree" except Knuckles is the tree. Yes, Knuckles has met all his friends because of his job but... Wouldn't a life with supportive parents and normal relationship have been better, instead of carrying out an ancient destiny set in motion eons before he was born? Having the echidna take what he's been given and say "Thank you, sir, can I have another" feels colossally unfair to the guy. 

I've had more than my share of bad things to say about Ken Penders' "Knuckles" opus. Still, his version of the character – conflicted about his role in life, essentially a victim of a centuries long conspiracy to keep him isolated and in the dark – feels a lot more realistic to me than a Knuckles totally fine with idling away his teenage years glaring at the area around a big ass jewel. (Not that Ken intentionally wrote it that way – his point was "emotionally distant parents that manipulate every facet of your life are doing the best they can" – but that's how it came off.) Credit where it's due: I think Ata does a decent job justifying what continues to be an unreasonable demand from the comic's corporate overlords. All but literally shackling Knuckles to the Master Emerald limits his growth as a character and perpetually keeps a fan favorite on the sidelines. At least this story delves into how he feels about what is obviously a shitty deal. That the conclusion feels false is a result of IDW being forced into a corner over how they can use Knuckles. The echidna must say "this is fine" or else acknowledge that what he's doing makes no fucking sense. Challenging the status quo isn't something IDW "Sonic" is interested in doing and may, in fact, be explicitly forbidden from doing so.

Maybe I'm projecting here but, unavoidably, it seems that Ata agrees that this is bullshit. That's why, in the last third, "For My Destiny" totally shifts direction. Sonic, Tails, and Amy show up on the island as Knux is feeling sentimental. The story concludes with the four spending time together, bantering, simply hanging out. It's nice! Seeing four old friends interact so easily, so casually, is overwhelmingly pleasant enough that you totally forget how the first half of the story makes no sense. Further more, this story feels like a deliberate tease to Sonic/Knuckles shippers. The echidna says he's so grateful to have the Emerald in his life, not noticing Sonic is there. The hedgehog spends the next six panels teasing him. Knuckles basically says "I love you," Sonic says "haha ur so ghey," and Knuckles screams back "NO I'M NOT!" This interaction is, it goes without saying, the gayest conversation two men can have. And I think that's beautiful. What is a man-on-man friendship without an ever-present homoerotic tension? 

The third story is by far the best here and gives us something the series hadn't done before: A deep dive into Mimic's personality. We learned that he wanted to be an actor, found his abilities to copy someone weren't appreciated in the entertainment industry, but was much more valuable during a war. We discover he went from team to team, always abandoning or betraying them eventually. When he met the Diamond Cutters, he found a family that actually accepted him for who he is... Which terrified him. Up until this point, Mimic has been written as a sociopath incapable of empathy. It's a topic of great debate in the psychological community but I personally believe, to paraphrase the late great Dr. Lecter, monsters are made, not born. Mimic had a gift that he craved validation for but it was rejected. This turned him into someone who pushed others aside before they had a chance to hurt him. He then made this callousness the cornerstone of his personality. He says it himself: "Everyone has a little emptiness inside." This is Mimic justifying his own bad behavior. "I'm not a psycho! Everybody is like this and I'm the only one honest about it!" 

Meeting the Diamond Cutters, being accepted into a group and a family, makes him feel empathy, connection, brotherhood. The emotions he promised himself never to embrace, as it only leads to getting hurt. That's the real reason he killed his teammates. Not because he's an utterly cold monster at heart but because he made himself one to protect a helplessly fragile soul. He is evil because of what he does, not who he is. The first word balloon in this story says "Who are you?" We know who Mimic is now: He's sad. He's lonely. He's rejected. He's hurt. And he built a persona of utter selfishness to protect himself from all that. Without downplaying Mimic's status as a brutally effective villain, "Shattered Diamonds" manages to make his character a whole lot deeper and, yes, sympathetic. 

This story is extremely valuable for another reason too. It gives us a look at what Whisper was like before she got traumatized. Apparently, she was a lot like Tangle. She is bright-eyed, excited, friendly, and outgoing. Quite a difference from the muted and shy character we've grown to love. Perhaps the difference is too extreme. However, I do think such a prominent contrast is worthwhile. It draws attention to how much Whisper has changed, how much the loss of her teammates effected her and still effect her. It is also a reflection of Mimic. The octopus lost his team and it caused him to recommit to the idea of being a heartless killer who doesn't need anybody. Whisper loss her team and became emotionally walled-off too. She didn't close her heart off from love, from acceptance, from companionship and the always unavoidable possibility that it might lead to heartbreak. It shows the difference between the two, between engaging with the world with total cynicism versus operating with love and kindness. It suggests, perhaps, maybe Mimic is redeemable too, as unlikely as that is. 

The story doesn't only flesh out Mimic and Whisper though. The original Diamond Cutters were properly introduced in the third issue of the "Tangle & Whisper" mini-series. That book was published in September 2019. In the time since then, the characters have loomed large over Whisper without having that many additional appearances. People far more well-read in video games tell me that the Diamond Cutters are a reference to "Metal Gear Solid" and existed more-or-less to be nothing but an in-joke. Enough time has passed to prove that fans genuinely are interested in these guys. This story gives us some more time with Smithy, Slinger, and Claire Voyance. We see Smithy's warmth and generosity, Slinger's sarcasm and playfulness, and Claire's affection for her friends. In any other setting, it would be silly to think of a group of mercenaries as this lovable gang. In the world of "Sonic," they are sniping robots and not guerillas, so it's easier to buy. Finally making these guys more alive makes what they meant to Whisper all the more meaningful. 

It's easy to take for granted how good these books look now. However, the 2024 Annual has some especially nice art. Thomas Rothlisberger has to draw Surge and Kit talking in a room, not the most exciting possibility. Kit looks a little off in a few panels, perhaps because of this. Matt Froese does the first half of "Shattered Diamonds" and his cartoony style takes a minute to adapt too. It still results in some beautiful panels, such as when Mimic in the guide of a Egg Pawn reflects on his emptiness, painted as a black and white shape surrounded by red screaming ghosts in a black void. Mauro Fonseca gets some prime visuals in the second. The series of panels devoted to Mimic stepping into a lake and washing away his feelings are very intimate and personal. Followed by a cool page showing the shattering alliances as a series of broken masks. Cool. The middle story, drawn by Adam Bryce Thomas, simply looks gorgeous. When Knuckles first steps into the vision provided by the Master Emerald, we get a splash page that easily could've been a Spaz cover back in the Archie days, right down to the way Knuckles holds himself. I have missed "Sonic" comics looking like that. It must always be said that Thomas makes all the characters look utterly cute bright-eyed but Rouge looks especially adorable. 

I have my qualms about the first two stories while still thinking they are good. The third story might be one of the best "Sonic" stories IDW has published. If nothing else, I genuinely appreciate a totally character-focused collection of tales like this. I don't want the comic to be like this all the time but I would definitely approve it if it was like this more often. I don't object to action scenes in my "Sonic" books. I like a good action sequence as much as the next guy! However, action means a lot more if you're invested in everyone. Zeroing in on what maybe makes these guys tick causes all the punching, fighting, exploding, and gotta-go-fast-ing mean much more. The pressure of writing a perpetually on-going comic book that involves licensed characters, beholden to certain guidelines, continues to be frustrating. Art can still emerge in these conditions, as "Shattered Diamonds" prove. I am thus forced to give the 2024 Annual a very high recommendation. [8/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 73

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 73

Original Publication Date: September 18th, 2024

Am I the impatient one here? As I crack open the brand new issue of IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comic, all I can think is "Are we still doing this racing thing?" This is the fifth issue devoted to this particular storyline. And we've got two more installments of this shit left to go, as IDW editorial is truly determined to drag this out until the next anniversary issue. That means, by the time this plot finally concludes, exactly two story arcs will be resolved by the end of 2024! I thought races were supposed to be over quickly? This is why I'm of the opinion that comic storylines should never extend past four issues. A racing arc is a lot like a fighting tournament arc: It's fun for two, maybe three months. After that, we are ready for an installment not concerned with an unimportant competition and instead with some real stakes. 

Of course, Evan Stanley and her team certainly want the Clean Sweepstakes tournament to have some real stakes. As with the last two issues, #73 is simply jammed packed full of incidents. The racers prepare for the final leg, a leap off a floating platform into a free fall towards Central City. Like clockwork, the Phantom Rider shows up to cause trouble. The security team is ready for him, this time. Surge grabs the Rider's transformation gizmo, revealing to the public that this criminal is – sacre bleu! – Sonic the Hedgehog! Of course, Tangle and Whisper knew this already but didn't see fit to tell Lanolin, leading to some trouble of their own. Meanwhile, Amy, Tails, and Belle are still running around that fucking ship. They somehow run into Don the Rooster who then leads them to the imprisoned Chaotix. Sure, why not? Even more meanwhile, Jewel finally realized that Clutch is making off with the Restoration right under her cute little olive nose, causing the supervillain to stop fuckin' around and finally going on the offensive. 

Yes, if the above plot synopsis didn't make it clear, this is another issue that doesn't have much in the way of pacing on its own. Instead, once again, Stanley wastes another month by having a collection of subplots spin their wheels for several pages. Surge trying to get back at her shitty boss and prove her heroics moves forward a little bit. Amy, Tails, and Belle screwing around on Clutch's battleship inches ahead. There's a brief acknowledgement of Jet's ongoing rivalry with the Phantom Rider, without that storyline actually advancing any. If Stanley had decided to focus on one of this plot points, we might have had a compelling ongoing story that actually feels like it's moving. Instead, this shotgun blast approach to writing means so much is happening in this comic book without bringing us significantly closer to any sort of proper conclusion. Does Evan know that story arcs have, ya know... Parts? It's not one long narrative broken up into random intervals and spaced out over seven fucking months! 

Sorry if I'm coming off as cranky here. I'm having a hard time looking past how disorganized and sluggish this storyline devoted to, ironically enough, a high-speed race has been. The sole plot thread keeping me invested in this rambling mess of a soap opera has been Surge coming into her own as a hero and an independent thinker. After Clutch tried to put the tenrec in her place during the last issue, she takes the fight right to the Phantom Rider. She reveals his secret identity to everyone on national television. The issue tries and plays this as a big triumphant moment, of Surge getting one over on a rival, proving her strength while also somehow sticking it to Clutch. And how exactly is that the case? If Surge's character development over this storyline has seen the once villain realizing that being beloved, instead of hated, has benefits of its own... How do these events follow that progression? I mean, it's certainly in keeping for Surge's personality to act impulsively and start wildly attacking people when she doesn't know what else to do... But she wrestles with and shocks Tangle, a beloved member of the Restoration, during this moment. This will presumably not make her more popular with people! However, Stanley is working so hard to get that epic anime moment of Surge snatching Sonic's Power Morpher away from him that any sort of logic or reason goes out the window. It's never a good thing when you have to put the comic book down for a second and think out loud to yourself "Why is this character doing this?"

Sonic having his cover blown on what is, presumably, the Mobian equivalent of the Super Bowl would be, from any traditional perspective, the big moment in this issue. That would be a dramatic panel to leave us readers on, don't you think? Oh no, this new supervillain that has become the biggest menace to, uh, hoverboard racing has been revealed to be, in fact, the planet's greatest hero! Instead, Stanley sticks this moment in the middle of the book in-between a number of other plot developments, where it quickly gets lost in the shuffle. We only get the briefest glimpse at the viewers at home reacting to this shocking event before the book shifts focus again to something else, meaning the impact is not felt at all. 

Instead, the big cliffhanger this issue is devoted to Clutch personally sending his goons after Amy, Tails, and Belle As deep within the bowels of his ship. Another goal of this particular story arc has been, I think, to make Clutch into a major villain in the "Sonic"-verse. However, I can't say my opinion of Clutch has changed any over the last few issues. Instead, what this particular event has convinced me of is that Jewel the Beetle should not be leading the Restoration. Issue 73 kicks off with Jewel confronting the possum, having finally figured out that he's up to no good Maybe it's because I, as a reader looking down on this events from beyond the fourth wall, already know that Clutch is a bad guy. However, that it took Jewel this long to stand up to the obviously evil guy dressed like a cartoon gangster only makes her seem lacking in perceptive. As the leader of the Restoration, shouldn't Jewel have intel all over the world? Shouldn't she have known from the beginning that Clutch was anything but a moral businessman? The fact that the villain was allowed to get this deep into his scheme without being called on it doesn't make him seem powerful and intelligent. It only makes the good guys look easily fooled. Considering this is the third time in recent memory that a clear enemy has walked into the Restoration and said "It's okay, you can trust me," maybe they are, in fact, idiots. 

Sometimes, it feels like the only way Evan Stanley knows how to make a story feel big and important is by including as many characters as possible. "Urban Warfare" was held back by the sheer number of characters, of perspectives, it had to include. As the Clean Sweepstakes plot has gone on, Stanley shows she hasn't learned from that mistake any. This arc has actually introduced more characters as it's gone along. Last issue brought Nite and Don into it. Don – who, I feel compelled to point out, is a janitor – gets directly involved in the action here, helping Amy, Tails, and Belle out. When Belle asks him "Who are you again?," that feels like a reasonable question. Amy almost smashes him with a hammer at first, because she doesn't truly know him or have any reason to trust him. However, Stanley has decided Don is important to this story so now he's a part of it, another cog introduced in the vast, disorganized machine that has become this story arc. 

Oh yeah, Don knows the Chaotix too, did I mention that? Yeah, the detective trio are now involved in this storyline too. It would seem that Clutch has had the three of them locked up in a cage inside the Krugerian boiler room deep within his flying battleship. Did we know this information? I can't remember at this point. Last time we saw the Chaotix, weren't they playing with some flowers? Somehow, I don't think it's a good thing when a comic book requires you to have a mental flowchart of where all the characters are at all times. Anyway, Vector has a thumb drive full of all of Clutch's dirty laundry, something the villain didn't think to take away from him the entire he's had him imprisoned. Yes, five issues deep into this plot, we're finding out that the Chaotix have been important characters to this story the whole time. If only comics were a visual medium and there had been some way to convey this information to the reader before now... 

Sorry if this issue put me in a crabby mood. The truth is I didn't totally dislike this one. The saving grace for the last few issues has been the little character moments Stanley has sneaked in between all the stuff happening. There isn't much of that here. However, when Jewel comes to Tangle and Whisper to talk to them early in the issue and the lemur gives her old friend a great big hug? Yeah, that was adorable. There is plenty of good artwork on display too. I ultimately didn't find Sonic and Surge's rumble here all that rewarding but Min Ho Kim assures that it looks cool. If the big fight between Surge and "The Phantom Rider" is the main reason this issue exists, at least there's plenty of exciting visuals. Though it probably says a lot about how meandering this plot has gotten that the thing I've seen people discussing the most about this issue is all the O.C.s Kim hid among the various crowd scenes. I like the bluish fox thing with the fancy anime gloves we see hanging out at the starting line or the girl with white and blue bangs and a black Chao sign seemingly trying to avoid a bad date in the bleachers. 

The longer this race stretches on, the more convinced I am that this entire story should've been about Surge grappling with becoming a beloved hero. I don't care about Clutch's criminal empire being exposed. I don't care about Sonic's identity as the Phantom Rider being revealed. I really don't care about whatever the hell Amy or Jet or Lanolin or Don and Nite or "Duo" have been doing during all of this. And I absolutely do not care who wins the race! Wasn't that what this storyline was supposed to be about to begin with? It's hard to remember now. People seem to be enjoying the high-speed action scenes and large cast in this arc, showing me once again that "Sonic" fans are not concerned with things like narrative structure or pacing or whether you care about the plot. Am I a bitchy old man or does this fandom deserve less? No, it's the children that are wrong. [5/10]

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 71

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW): Issue 71

Publication Date: July 31st, 2024

The internet moves so fast these days. The biggest movie of the summer comes out and, two days later, clips of it from shaky cellphone bootlegs are all over social media. A new installment of a comic book drops and the fandom is already overturning all its events within a few hours. All the surprises get spoiled immediately. If you don't read the book the minute it comes out or see the movie the day of its release, all the cool shit is going to be ruined for you. People used to care about spoilers around here! This is a long winded way of me saying that I didn't get a chance to read issue #71 of IDW's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comic until today, two days after it was released, and I already felt like I was massively behind. I don't know what this says about fandoms in the year 2024, that nobody can wait to discuss things politely, all of us operating under the assumption that everyone has immediate access to everything. Perhaps it speaks to the unrelenting speed with which all aspects of our culture move in a world where the internet rules our lives...

And you know what else is fast? Sonic the Hedgehog! Let's talk about his comic book! The Clean Sweepstakes race continues, the participants moving through a misty valley full of dangerously steep mountaintops. To add to the danger, participants can now sling dodgeballs at each other. Naturally, the Phantom Rider makes an appearance, acting even more antagonistic than usual. This is a surprise for Sonic, who is in disguise and lurking on the sidelines. Yes, Mimic is trying to add to the confusion and chaos. The shifty octopus ends up revealing Sonic's identity to Tangle, Whisper, and the Babylon Rogues. The groups consider what to do with this information. Meanwhile, Surge and Kit continue to ponder their newfound popularity while Tails and Amy come uncover the truth. 

Issue 71 is one full of action and incident. The meat of the comic is occupied with all the contest, the Phantom Rider's appearance once again immediately causing chaos and violence on the track. This guy is so distracting that his appearance instantly draws attention away from the race itself. Who cares about that when we have a masked villain creating mischief? The high stakes lead to a number of dramatic reveals, Sonic's cover being blown. Meanwhile, Amy and Tails rescue Belle, who accidentally reveals that Clutch orchestrated this entire event for shady reasons. What I'm saying is there's a lot of stuff happening in this issue. 

You would think the suspenseful action/adventure antics would be what is driving fandom discussion around this issue. That is not the case. Instead, it is some quiet character interactions that prove to be the most compelling aspect of this comic. When Tangle sees Sonic's face behind the Phantom Rider's mask, she's stunned. How can the Restoration's greatest hero be secretly operating as such a public nuisance? That's when Whisper shows her some video she recorded with her mask – a very convenient development, I'll add – that reveals there are two Phantom Riders. Tangle is overjoyed, since this suggests Sonic might not be a crook after all. Even though this conversation is largely plot focused and centered around another character, Tangle and Whisper's closeness makes this moment so much more interesting. It feels like Whisper is, once again, showing her vulnerability and Tangle, like always, embraces her. That gesture makes it clear that Tangle accepts her, no matter what, and that is fucking adorable. I love these lesbians. 

As utterly endearing as that moment is, another scene is even better. After the action is over for the day, Surge and Kit are approached by an adorable moppet. The kid fangirls all over Surge in that adorably kid-like way. Once again, it gives Surge pause. This is what Evan Stanley is good at as a writer: Showing the little ways characters can evolve and grow. Surge has built her whole life around this image of herself as a ruthless bad-ass with no use for society's rules. She's the definition of "acting out for attention" taken to supervillain extremes. Now she's getting praised for being a good guy. She's learning she doesn't have to settle for "If you don't love me, you'll hate me instead." Quietly, she's starting to question her whole personality. Character development happening, right before our very eyes! That this is spurned in by a child – who is as friggin' cute as they could possibly get them – makes the interaction more precious. Acts of unprompted kindness mean a lot to someone bred for cruelty.  

If Stanley has a real talent for characters interacting, her plotting still feels a little obvious and slapdash at times. From the moment "Duo the Cat" showed up at Restoration HQ, I've been waiting for someone to point out how suspicious he is. This has been followed by Jewel letting barely reformed criminals Surge and Kit into the club, before participating in a public event orchestrated by obvious criminal Clutch. At the very least, our heroes seem to be catching on to what is happening. Belle helps confirm Amy's suspicion that Clutch – who looks and acts like a child's cartoon imagining of what a crime boss looks like – might actually be a crime boss. Mimic mucking about with the Phantom Rider is a plot point I don't feel entirely satisfied about. However, it does feel like a step towards that particular storyline reaching a head. Hopefully we are getting there soon. 

The strengths of this issue cover up its biggest flaw, which is that this arc hasn't been much more than a chaotic jumble of subplots. Stanley is doing a much better job at juggling the large cast amid elaborate action scenes here than she did in "Urban Warfare." If only because the rest periods between races allow for a natural breathing room. However, we are still being asked to follow, by my count, between four and six different storylines at this moment. All of these divergent plot points are obviously being set up for a bigger resolution, within the next issue or so. Yes, this is another comic book primarily about setting up future comic books. It's not bad, necessarily, but sometimes you can feel the gears moving a little more than perhaps you should. 

With so much going on, some storylines will clearly be focused on over others. Sonic got some juicy emotional scenes last issue. In #71, he doesn't do much of anything because get punked by Mimic while buzzing around on his floating cheese wheel. Though there is a neat panel, where we see half of his face through the Phantom Rider helmet, that reminds me of a trick they would pull in old Spider-Man comics any time Peter Parker felt his secret identity was in trouble. 

I also question the timeline here a bit. Issue 71 picks up immediately on the cliffhanger issue 70 ended on, with Tails and Amy discovering Belle bound and gagged in a locker. After that initial moment, the other tendrils of the story continue. Which makes me wonder how long Any and Tails have been on the supply ship? It sort of seems like two days have passed in-between scenes there. Further more, how much longer are they going to be stuck up there? All the other plot threads are advancing at a normal rate while Tails and Amy are moving in snail time. 

Temporal paradoxes aside, Stanley continues to successfully chip away at my indifference towards Jet and the Babylon Rogues. I still don't think I'm particularly invested in this trio. However, playing up the burning jealousy Jet feels towards Sonic is a compelling angle to explore. When he discovers that the person he considers his greatest rival is behind the mask of this wanted menace, Jet goes into a more scheming mode. He clearly has his eye not just on defeating Sonic on the racetrack but also torpedoing his public reputation. If the focus continues to be on Jet's obsessive desire to be better than Sonic, he might become a genuinely interesting villain yet. Anybody else imagining some Robert DeNiro-esque backstory for Jet now, where he is a former Sonic fanboy whose admiration turned to a dangerous fixation? Just me? Alright, good to know. 

It's a good looking issue too! Min Ho Kim on pencils and Reggie Graham on colors are becoming a very reliable team. Belle's flashback have a cool, gritty filter over them. The use of mist and shadows during the mountain chase sequence are especially nice. Adds a fittingly spooky vibe to that sequence. Kim's facial expressions are very strong too. The little look Surge gives Kit after the kid talks to her conveys a lot of conflicted emotions. (Though the Babylon Rogues going full Big Mouth Billy Bass every time they are shocked is perhaps a bit much.) The issue also ends with a surprisingly creepy close-up on Clutch's face. I do wish the fight scene between Tangle and Whisper and Surge and Kit – oh yeah, that's a thing that happens too – was a little clear. There's a few too many blue, translucent superpowers in that scene. Gets a tad confusing. 

While I don't think this issue is as strong as the proceeding one, the parts are greater than the whole here. The page devoted to Surge and the kid, or Tangle and Whisper's cuddle time, are absolutely precious. They are so good that they elevate the rest of the book around them. Whether Stanley can carol this collection of subplots towards a satisfying ending remains to be seen. Honestly, I'm skeptical if she'll be able to. However, this particular arc has been worth it solely because of smaller, touching moments like those. [7/10]