Sorry about this review being so late. The comic came in on a "non-check" week, plus my brother picked up the comics on Friday, but I didn't get them till Sunday since he was with his girl all weekend. But that's going to change now. I've decided last Friday, I decided to subscribe to Sonic X from archie.com. So, I should receive the issues before they hit the stands.
Sonic X #23 "Hedgehogging Their Bets" or "Ian Flynn somehow stole my fanfic that I had in my head but not written down."
Written by: Ian Flynn
Art by: Tracy Yardley
Cover by: Patrick Spazniete (Okay, I couldn't come up with good nicknames based on hate groups. Wouldn't seem right.")
STORY AND REVIEW:
This issue suprised me in quite a few ways. For one, it's a drama, not really a comedy. Which is good, since Ian's main strength is in drama and action, and I personally think his comedy bits are sub-par. (Although there is a funny bit with Chris near the end if you watch the backgrounds.)
Also, I was suprised that the hate group mainly consisted of characters related to other characters from the original Anime, and not the Chaotix, as I had guessed by the shriunken on the cover that looks like one of Espio's. Instead, Sonic is chased, and inevitably captured by a hate group that consists of.......
A former G.U.N. employee that got fired for attacking Eggman and Sonic AFTER the President had called a truce.
Hector Dragg. A former Speed Team member who got kicked off the team for driving reckless after Sonic had put him in third place for top speedster.
Howard Watcher. A warden that got fired from Prison Island after Sonic escaped with the help of Amy. Not that he had any job to go back to after the island blew up.
Doctor Kai Narasu. A professor who's career was ruined after he did a paper proving Sonic to be a robot, was proven wrong and he lost his tenure.
Li Yan. Who does not have as much of a beef with Sonic, as he does Knuckles. He was humiliated when Knuckles and Hawk got the Chaos Emerald back from his gang.
And last but not least, from everyone's lesser favorite Sonic X anime sideplots, Jerome Wise. The former president's aid who was fired after he was found making deals with Dr. Eggman. He also came up with the name of thier organization. Are you ready for this stretch?
Society for
Observing and
Nuetralizing
Interdimensional
Creatures and
Xenomorphs
I have to give some credit to Ian imagine have to come up with a group name that's initials spell SONICX. I bet he had to really work on that one.
Sadly, like Joe Chin's "simple introduction" introducing everyone takes up over half the comic and makes the story extremley short. in the long run.
Anyway, to finish the story, Sonic laughs at the ridiculous name of the organization, and wonders why they even need an "X". He then breaks out of thier facility "suprisingly" easy. Back home Chris tries to lead a team to find and rescue Sonic. But, before they head off Sonic's already back. Chris gets all depressed for not getting to lead, and kicks his football helmet aside. There's nothing more fun than a "Chris diss". Sonic informs Knuckles and the rest on what happened and all about this new prganization. Sonic warns them that they might be a real threat. With that, they head back to the organization where the villans are talking to the head organizer. The "mysterious" organizer (who is so VERY obviously Westwood) informs them that thier next attack will go over much better. Dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuuunnn!! To be continued!!
I was also VERY pleasantly suprised at Tracy's art in this issue. If you remember in the preview thread (at bumbleking forums), I said that it didn't look as much like Tracy's art. Well, it sometimes does, and it doesn't. There's a good reason for this. He's trying to emulate the Sonic X anime style into his artwork more in this issue than he has in the past, and I'd say it's working out great. Alot of Sonic's expressions looked like they were straight out of the anime.
Speaking of Anime, I was also suprised at how much of this issue was taken from plots straight out of the anime itself, and not just comic related as it usually is with Dr. Eggman and his wacky schemes. (Can't wait for #25 though.)
Funny thing, I had a fanfic in mind simular to this. It was to be about a hate group called the TATA's (Terrorists Against Talking Animals). Obviously there would be a few slightly cheeky jokes in there with a name like that. This group has no personal beef with Sonic and the others, but instead was just a group of prejiduced hate-mongers who just hated and feared Sonic and the gang because they were different. In the end, it would be Eggman who saves the day. Attacking the TATA's citing how stupid theses humans are. Since he had plenty of reasons for hating Sonic and his friends while they had no real reason at all. "Sonic is MY enemy, and I share him with no one!" Cites Eggman.
Oh well, I'll just have to say "Flynn did it!" (Misquoting the South Park line)
OVERALL: 7.5/10: This story would have been much more solid if the introductions were cut a bit short, and added more time for action. As Elvis Presley says: "A little less conversation, and little more action please". Still, I like were this is headed. It's always nice to have extra villans, and Tracey's art really impressed me more than usual. Still, it's Ian's best Sonic X issue yet.
I just got the issue not too long ago. In my opinion, it was the best Sonic X issue I read so far since #10-11. I give it a 9/10.
Besides obvious problems that stem from the medium more than the story and the chris abuse (whilst I could understand the bashing, it's only further wasting the chracter, though I did chuckle at him punting his football helmit)
Also, this seems as if it's darting off into it's own contiunity; we seem to be too close to "Zero Hour" (Sonic Battle Arc end)
Well, finally got my issue today, beat up of course, because of my sucky mail service, so let's tackle this beast!
First of all, I would just like to say that I really enjoyed this story! Yes, it is rather slow, but you know what? If hints at bigger, badder things to come. Everyone felt perfectly in character, from each member of the secret organization, as far as I can tell, and even fleshing out several of those one time characters, which has made great oppertunities for future stories involving them alone as a threat or together.
Sonic's composure through the issue, as well as his hilarious outburst upon learning that the name of this band of baddies is S.O.N.I.C.X., just felt so right.
Knuckles and Sonic's interactions were also a nice touch, and I hope I'm not the only one who hopes that Knuckles and Hawk will team up again for future stories. The Chris moment would have actually a surprise, had I not read about it before hand, but it was still a subtle, cute touch. XD
Though there is a continuity burp everyone's been mentioning that I understand now that I've read the story. The former GUN employee, who's name is'nt mentioned in the story claims that he was fired after he attacked Eggman as opposed to the President's orders. That means that this story would have to take place smack in the middle of the End of the Earth ordeal from the show, so either it's just a continuity mistake that's best to be ignored, or the comic is finally getting to branch off from the show into it's own continuity. Personally, I hope it's the latter, even if it's just ever so slightly. Aside from that, however, it's a good, solid story.
On to the art, I too noticed that Tracey's work is slightly different than his past Sonic X issues, but really, I think it's an improvement, and looks much closer to the show. With each panel looking fluid and lively, something great just got better and all that. XD
It may not have much action, but it's a solid, funny story, and I enjoyed it through and through, despite the small continuity flub, but hopefully that means the comic's slowly but surely getting to do it's own thing.
And to close this terrible, terrible review thing, I must say I was pleasently surprised to see issue #24's cover looking much better than the preview we got a couple of months' ago, all that red hurt my eyes.
You just got yours in the mail today?
I think I may be regretting subscribing.
Mine never come in at the same time, due to my mail service. Sometimes I get it near the beginning of the month, sometimes I get two issues at once, the earlier one beaten and tore up, thanks to this towns terrible mail service. I would'nt worry too much about it.
