#idw spoilers - tread carefully!

[lightdash]

Now that it’s been a few days, huge spoiler warning under the cut because boy do I have some thoughts about Issue #50.

So ever since the dawn of idw’s run, I’ve had really... conflicting thoughts on how Ian decides to portray Sonic. He’s been writing hedgehog content for a long time now, and I appreciate what the guy does — but self admittedly, he’s rarely picked up and played a Sonic game, and has the most basic knowledge of the earlier titles. All of his current experience comes from three things: 

His time on the Archie comics.

SEGA’s asks and thoughts on what he creates.

Time spent on the cusp of fandom over the years.

... Which like, none of these are inherently bad, but I don’t think they’ve led him down the best path for writing Sonic as a character.

The most recent issue felt like a nail on the head for me, a kind of a-hah moment as to why I struggle to enjoy this portrayal of Sonic so much: he’s trying too hard.

A major selling point of Sonic’s character, for me, has always been his subtlety. Strip him down to the bare essentials and he should still be mostly the same, because what you see is what you get. But it’s in that simplicity that you also get to see what makes him shine — he’s all about slight expressions, doing rather than saying, living in the moment, ect ect.

But in the comics, I feel as if he loses a lot of this charm, and it’s replaced by a weird... arrogance? He’s almost ‘preachy’ at times, constantly telling those around him (not just enemies, but friends too) what the “right” thing to do is. Huge emphasis on second chances all the time, even when valid points are brought to his doorstep. Personal accountability is also a giant struggle, where it feels like he would rather blame those around him for choices he makes than admit he was wrong and... learn from it.

The fight with Surge highlights this issue really well, and it’s this one exchange in specific that does it for me:

This... isn’t Sonic to me. This feels so out of character.

He’s being so needlessly patronizing and righteous here, especially to someone he can visibly see is having a rough go. Fight her, sure — she’s threatening his friends and well.... everything, so he should raise fists. But look down on her, quite literally, with god rays shining down on him, to tell her how morally good he is? Explaining his apparent ideals to her, rather than just... living by them. Since when has Sonic ever needed to do that? (desperately ignoring the meta era, i am looking the other way)

Can you imagine if he did this to Shadow, how weird and different the tone of their interactions would’ve been? Chaos? Erazor Djinn?

Even with a closer example of Merlina: a fight where Sonic does ask what her motive is, he still listens for most of it. He’s observant and hears her out, and when he finally does talk, it’s because he has something meaningful to add. And when it’s questioned why he’s fighting? “I just gotta do what I gotta do, that’s all.”

But here, he’s not only giving a pseudo speech, but he’s practically saying he’ll be kind enough to grant her a second chance, because he’s the good guy. It feels so out of place, especially after he says that he likes to keep it simple? I just can’t see Sonic being the type of character to talk this much in the heat of the moment either... he’s always been the type to show his beliefs through action, not standing on a podium. He lives by example; again, subtlety that we’re missing.

In the name of giving Sonic ‘depth’ that he was apparently missing, I think that Ian has just made him feel... mean. I don’t think that Sonic was ever necessarily missing depth, either; a simple character doesn’t equate a bad one. This shares the same energy of the crowd that begs to see Sonic cry in the games, or any media, when he’s just not that type of character; he’s never needed to show extreme emotion to make an impact.

Also — “the doctors, too?” “Even them.”

This kills me because once again, in the games, Sonic doesn’t try and make peace with Eggman. They may ‘work together’ a few times against a common enemy, sure, but never for a second has Sonic ever stopped and been like hmm, maybe he’s just misunderstood! He understands that Eggman is the bad guy, cut and dry. 

“You and I have our own styles that we won’t change.”

It’s the whole core of their dynamic. But instead, Ian paints a picture in idw where Eggman isn’t... actually evil; it’s just hidden good deep inside that he needs to “come around” to, according to Sonic? Which feels oddly naïve for him. 

Sonic in these comics really does just try and force his so-called principals onto those around him, and it’s awkward to read. Another great example is his fight with Shadow in the earlier issues — a character who is deeply traumatized and has valid concerns about Eggman, concerns that Sonic should respect.

... But what does he do instead? Why, he manipulates Shadow into feeling bad for not trusting Mr.Tinker: “after all, if he can’t be forgiven, can you?” Like... in that moment, he doesn’t care that Shadow is trying to express his worries. Or that he’s very clearly sensitive about his past, and bringing it up so flippantly like that to prove a point is such a dick move. 

None of this is to say that I don’t want Sonic to have character flaws, because I do. I don’t mind the occasional temper, or even arrogance, and mistakes are natural! But I want to see him take accountability and actually learn. I want him to not stand around and tell everyone about his ideals, but live by them. 

This version of Sonic that would rather ignore the warnings of his friends and put more trust into his enemies, all in the name of ‘second chances’ or whatever else just... doesn’t do it for me. I hope that maybe in future issues, Ian can put a different spin on it, because as it stands now... 😓

I want to end this little thing on a positive note though: I really enjoyed how Eggman was handled in this issue. Like a lot. Love seeing him fucking punch Starling into the ground. And the exchange between Kit and Tails? That was really good, too! The art is lovely. I appreciate the time and love they put into idw, and my hedgehog thoughts are no baring on that.