Sonic the Hedgehog IDW/DC/Current Western Comic Megathread

A Sonic elseworld title would be really cool.

I’m not the biggest AoSth fan but I see potential in having a short humor driven segment in a sonic elesworld title. Maybe something in the vein of Carl Barks’ 10 page Donald Duck comics from 1940s-1960s Walt Disney Comics & Stories, or like Nigel Kitchings’ Decap Attack strip from Sonic the Comic. An AoSth or Sonic Boom strip would be an opportunity to explore this

I’d love to read the long delayed Sonic Underground finale. I also think it would be great to bring Ray, Mighty, and the Hooligans into the modern cast.

I think it’s more likely that the freedom fighter would come back than the stc cast. That said, if STC characters were to come back they are not a package deal with the freedom fighters. In fact, it’d probably make more sense to introduce them separately to generate specific publicity among the SATAM/archie crowd and the fleetway boomers.

As you point out there is a risk to bringing these characters back and over-bloating the cast. Even if these characters are brought into the main IDW title, it will not be a direct continuation of reboot archie (that is unless we get an elseworld title). As such my feeling on the return of the freedom fighter is this: if Flynn and the other IDW writers see value and plot potential in having these characters incorporated into the IDW comic, then I am interested in seeing them return. If they don’t have ideas for the freedom fighters then I don’t need them added to the IDW comics, but it would be nice for them to receive some non-canon acknowledgment from Sega. I mean a Sally or Rotor skin in the mobile games or Superstars seems like harmless fun.

I almost forgot that this is the year of shadow! As such, your suggestion of a standalone shadow comic is probably the most likely outcome.

 

Finally. I'm getting the Amy Rose romance spin off comic I never asked for but secretly always wanted.

​

 

So they're finally going to make a monthly Classic Sonic Comic that runs alongside the main one?

Or they'll bring back Sonic Universe (in essence)?

Or Off Panel?

Or... maybe it will be another four month hiatus, ya never know.

 

Or Vanilla's...

Let's see how many people remember this mess exists...

 

The only hail Mary I could think of is the last issue of Mega Drive. That would be the only thing that would shock me.

 

I wouldn't mind the last issue of Genesis of a Hero released as a throwback special, but considering Sonic the Hedgehog 3 seems to be somewhat cursed, probably best to avoid that...

 

Maybe for the year of Shadow we'll get a comic that shows what canonically happens leading up the Last Story of his game.

 

I would love that, I could tell people to read it instead of playing the game!

 

Would prefer we just get a Sonic Universe equivalent for IDW.

 

I mean we’ve had that with the various minis, they’ve just been sporadic - the Fang mini is the first and only one so far to put the main book on hold. And honestly I’m fine with this setup, I’d rather they only do the minis when there’s a clear and compelling story to tell, rather than making a hard commitment to two Sonic books every month.

 

Yeah, but the times when they can't even commit to that and put the main series on hold for it sure do suck.

 

Can't argue with that, but a second book on a permanent basis would only exacerbate such issues in the production pipeline. Hopefully things get more consistent in times to come. I've been reading the original Amazing Spider-Man run over the last few months and I feel like that book really started to hit its stride from issue #68, where it starts to feel less like an episodic story and more like persistent world with ever-developing relationships and histories. IDW Sonic is just now hitting that same amount of issues in its run and I already think it's a pretty fab book, so it'd be phenomenal if it could also get such a bump from having a few years under its belt and a consolidated base of readers to allow the writers to lean into fleshing out that world more (which I think is in progress given that the book has been developing new status quos for the likes of Silver, Blaze and Whisper). Looking forward to the main story picking back up imminently with an extreme gear tournament, that's always a fun time.

 

#69 is out. Really nice issue, particularly love Min Ho Kim's art as always, but Evan Stanley's also on point this issue, with the dynamic between Team Sonic and the Babylon Rogues being just pitch perfect.

Spoiler

Sonic and co. being DQ'd in the first round was unexpected, but setting Sonic as the phantom rider is a nice development that's going to give this a unique spin compared to the other Riders-esque stories we've had. Eggman's absolutely got something hidden away in his invention to screw Sonic over once he's got what he wants though, right?

Speaking of, I love Eggman showing up at the café and nobody being happy to see him. His demeanour here felt very reminiscent of his best moments in Sonic X and, god, how could I mention him without posting his immaculate drip?

Very much looking forward to seeing where this arc goes.

 

Very good issue, almost makes me forget about that four month hiatus.

Spoiler: The issue that comes before 70

Sonic and friends getting knocked outta the race early is something I figured would happen. Straight-up racing isn't really that fun when you're not the one doing the racing, so it makes sense they'd get removed from it ASAP and given something more interesting to do.

Eggman helping Sonic deal with Clean Sweep is nice twist. He doesn't usually shy away from teaming up with Sonic if they have a mutual enemy, even better this time since Sonic's the one doing all the legwork. Eggman might have some trick up his sleeve, but if he really thinks Clean Sweep is a threat, he would be wise to save the betrayal for after they've been neutralized.

I wonder what exactly the Hardlight camo does? It's probably just normal optical camouflage that renders the user invisible, but hopefully there's more to it than that.

I noticed between #67 and this issue Surge & Kit's apartment has changed a little, not for the better though... I do wonder how they managed to break a handle so badly it moved up the door a few inches.

On a side note, Surge & Kit are pretty cute when they're not trying to kill people.

Spoiler: memes

I think this arc may be cooking.

 

I've seen some complaints about how Lanolin is being a huge pain in everyone's butt in the past few issues. Personally I figure at least someone in the Restoration ought to be stern and Lanolin is good for that role, but I do see some character development happening in the future based on just how stern she was in this issue. She could use a bubble bath or take some yoga or something.

 

I have a feeling lanolin is being set up a bit stern now to set up for a fall or "humbling" later once mimic is revealed. She's been told by Whisper exactly what is happening but pushed back and has set them up for failure. Im mostly just curious on how she'll handle that reveal, and if its going to have lasting consequences on her attitude or if it'll just be a slap on the wrist

 

I don't necessarily mind what they're trying to do with Lanolin but my problems with her are that she's kind of a bitch and I don't think we've really been given a reason to like her yet, and that she has no place bossing around a proven hero like Silver as somebody who has been with Sonic and co. for far less time than him. She ends up just looking like a self-important twit.

 

And remember, Lanolin is Adam Bryce Thomas' baby.

 

That’s disingenuous. Yes, she’s a character he designed to fill out backgrounds requiring extra characters, but it was the initial interest from fans that got her promoted to a fully fledged character, under the pens of Ian and Evan. Even if her personality was come up with by ABT, which I don’t think we know one way or the other, it’s unfair to imply that she’s coming in and bossing everyone around because she’s somebody’s “baby”. Sometimes a character is poorly executed plain and simple, and I think trying to spin it into a conspiracy is pretty disrespectful towards the people working on the book.

 

I can see why people don't like Lanolin, she is bossy and annoying. I just think she's a flawed person who's in for some character building, so I'm willing to have some patience with her and see how she turns out once the whole mimic deception thing is done.