#making some short stories for that may stablize what I am doing

[sah-crescentmoon]

Yeah, the other characters haven't given up just yet. The only reason I never write that out is because the readers are reading the stories from Dalnim's perspective. He is untrusting of others and slightly paranoid (which he never acknowledges). So, he doesn't notice it at all. And because he doesn't talk, no one knows how to bring it up to him. I should write a story based on this to show how he is through others' perspective. Maybe I will use Sena since she would be more of someone who would know him based on others talking about him.

Yeet, other adults do notice him. The biggest issue has just been how Noeul's words has been affecting him. Making it difficult to do more since no one wants to be invasive with his relations with his sister, his only family. They do try to help. But again, Dalnim just won't talk. So, it leaves others unsure on how to approach him. Any attempts to force him or to even trick him would cause Dalnim to just not talk to them. Like I said, they are leaving things up to Iseul until she can get him to be more talkative and trusting.

Oh, his classmates (except for one) really are not malicious. They do worry about him. That one classmate ruined things though because Dalnim (agan he's paranoid) does not trust them. If I were to make an omake for that story, it would definitely be them lecturing that one classmate like "Why would you put him on the spot like that!? You know how he is!" "Look at what you did. Are you proud of yourself?" His classmates would defend him since they do care for him, though they wouldn't actually be too aware of his thoughts on the war. Since Dalnim never spoke of it since he told his sister and that one classmate. I seriously need to explore his area more. I guess to take a small break I can make like one or three short stories talking about this. I think I was too focused on Dalnim that I failed to take this into account.

He probably would find out about it since he would like to look at previous records (I could use Sena in this instance to be the one who give him unlimited access to it without needing her permission?) Though, he would stick to his original job to get more current stuff. Also, since no one is willing to put him in a job that could cause him to literally to be a shut in. So even if he did ask to be put there, it would be rejected.

Glad I interperted things correctly. I find grandfather characters hard to connect to and understand mainly because I am not close to either of my grandfathers (one passed away when I was 2. And I never had much of a grandfather-granddaughter relationship with my abuelo because of language barriers and he is not the best person so I just never interacted with him. And he passed away last month, so I would never really know what that kind of relationship is like). Anyways enough of that. I like the image you chose cause I got that sort of vibe from him. I do like characters who can seem friendly with what they are saying but underneath that is either a threat or a warning. I feel like Jollin gets a lot of that from the granfather. Also, is there a reason the grandfather doesn't tell Nayeon or is it still the reason to have an eye on Jollin through her?

Something I did while I was waiting for class.

I don’t know if she would be a new character of mine. But if she was, she would be working as an archivist or doing something based around culture. Idk. She isn’t a character I would place in OFP since she wouldn’t be a solider. She would have been exempted.

The quality came out a bit wonky

[violetganache42]

HOLY SHIT!

Today's issue was too close for comfort! I'm dead serious when I say this: all my expectations about what would happen were thrown right out the window! I mean, where do I even begin?!

[Spoilers under the cut]

Sonic having to face off against an infected Shadow and most of the citizens of Sunset City…

…at the risk of making his own infection getting much worse than it already is!

Shadow may not be as fast when he's a Zombot (faster an average Zombot though), but he had the strength to deal serious damage to Omega's body…

…complete with the other Zombots piling up to tear him apart! No joke: I gasped at the sight of Omega's body being critically destroyed!

And the pièce de résistance:

Sonic getting overwhelmed by the situation he is! And can I please say Jack Lawrence has been quickly becoming one of my favorite Sonic comic artists? Because he did a fantastic job emphasizing the fear on his face; hell, it's on par with how Diana Skelly drew Sonic when he first got infected! When the solicit for this issue came out, I was legit afraid this was where he was going to become a Zombot and it sure did a damn convincing job at that! Speaking of solicits, I am glad the solicit for #23 is staying true to its word because…

…a fully recovered Silver is accompanied by Tails to rescue him and what's left of Omega! Can you imagine the sheer happiness I experienced when I saw all the Zombots being lifted via psychokinesis? We are literally witnessing a zombie-like apocalypse and we already have a "sigh of relief" moment for the time being.

With that rollercoaster finished, we also got some interesting stuff that follows.

We finally get a full look at what the building for Restoration HQ—formerly Resistance HQ—looks like! I don't know if it matters to anyone, but it certainly matters to me! I mean, where on Mobius were they exactly located during Sonic Forces and the events following it? I also like how it has sustained some damage whereas its surroundings have suffered much more. It strongly suggests that this area is still recovering from the War against the Eggman Empire, and seeing that there's no Zombots in sight, there's no telling how much more damage they'll cause to this location if they do show up.

Some much needed moments between Sonic and Cream. I am a huge sucker for their older brother/younger sister dynamic and I'm glad this issue has provided with some. :)

Sonic breaking the unfortunate news to Rouge is worth noting. She is dead focused on dealing with the Zombots yet she can't help but turn her head after hearing the news. Yes, she is mad at Shadow for taking on the Zombots, but from that movement in the right panel alone, we can see she is also upset. She had witnessed her friend fall victim to the Metal Virus as she tells Amy their evacuation efforts were taking a turn for the worst; hell, this issue literally kicks off with her looking in disbelief as an infected Shadow pins Sonic against the truck by the throat.

Despite everything that happened in Sunset City and how she's annoyed with what unfolded in the previous issue, at the end of the day, Rouge still cares about Shadow. I mean, let's face it; yes, that idiot should've run when she told him to, but he's her idiot. (Before anyone says it, I have heard about why Shadow was portrayed that way in Issue 19 and I would rather not discuss it because the fandom has vented on it well enough, so it's pretty much like beating a dead horse. I will say that this recent ordeal reminded me of what Commander Firebrand said in a video of his… and also this to a further extent.)

First, we get the named locations of where the Chaotix and G-Merl, Cream, and her family reside in. Now, we get the names of new and unseen locations like Cascade City and Turtleshell Island? I do like the varying world-building elements they included.

And now, on to something I find the most interesting out of the entire issue. …Well, a few things, actually.

First off, Sonic near the end of Sunset City's crisis and during the aftermath.

Throughout most of the issue's second half, we are treated with two intriguing aspects about the current state of Sonic's dilemma. I won't post all the panels as there are plenty for the reader to see, but I did select some good examples, especially for the second point.

Starting with the second panel of page 12, there are a few small bits of the Metal Virus on Sonic's spines, but they have not spread at all, something I'm sure you noticed in the previous panels I posted. Tails has mention the Mach One speed is capable of combating the Robo-Flu (Thanks, Tangle. XD) and keeping it at bay, so I have a hunch that this must be a variation of it being stablized for now. Think about it: we've had Sonic running all the way from Echo Mine to Tails' workshop, which drove it into temporary remission, and the many instances of running to shave off as much of the Virus as possible. With "The Last Minute" coming up, who knows when it'll start spreading again.

All the running Sonic has done to avoid becoming a Zombot is finally starting to take a toll on him. Exhaustion has struck ever since Silver and Tails arrived to let him escape and get rid of a huge chunk of the nearly spread Metal Virus. Throughout his time at Restoration HQ, there are various instances that illustrate how tired he has become, especially on pages 17 and 18; there are a couple wrinkles next to his eyes, which are also slightly lidded. And here we thought he needed some major sleep during and after the events of Unleashed. Now this is just me, but if he's risking sleep-deprivation in order to help the uninfected and thwart Eggman, then he better at least have an iced latte because he really needs the caffeine.

Second of all, the entire last page devoted to Starline, specifically what he has planned for the Zombots.

Me: Oh, snap! The events of another Sonic game occurred in the IDW-verse!

Everyone:

…Okay, I won't lie. I am well aware of how the fandom is not the biggest fan of the Deadly Six, but I will say this. If they do end up appearing in the near future, then I hope Ian characterizes them well to where they're at least endearing. We have a whole history's worth of Sonic comics that proves it, especially in Big's case because I have seen comments of how he did a great job with his character and recall seeing one comment on how someone changed their overall opinion on Big. We also got Scourge, who went from being the bland, womanizing Evil Sonic to a popular and beloved bad boy among the fanbase all thanks to Ian. Long story short, what I'm hoping for throughout the Deadly Six's appearance in the IDW comics—and if they make more appearances—is to highlight what makes each Zeti unique and even give them some sort of depth to make them compelling. Just throwing that out there.

On that note, what makes this last page interesting for me is what Starline says.

It's clear he's starting a plan of his own to control the Zombots, but how exactly is going to do that? Is he planning on going to the Lost Hex to put his plan into motion? Since the Cacophonic Conch inhibits the Zeti's abilities, including their magnetokinesis, and was used by Eggman to enslave the Deadly Six, will he stumble upon it and use it in a different manner? If that's not the case, will he strike some sort of deal with them? How exactly will Eggman react to this when he finds out? What sort of impact will this manuever have on each other? …Will this have some sort of connection to the big surprise in the 25th issue? I honestly don't know, but we'll have to wait and see when "The Last Minute" and more stories gets published.

…AND ANOTHER THING! I honestly thought "The Last Minute" was going to be a three-part "Meanwhile" story that details what Sonic's friends have been up to during the events of Issues 17-20, but I'm glad that's far from the case because I don't know how they would've reacted if they learned and/or ended up encountering Sonic as a Zombot. I know for damn well I would've been an emotional wreck if that did end up happening.