Eggman and Metal Sonic are at it again with a new ploy to take over the world after a meteor crash lands onto Angel Island, and the only ones who can stop them is Sonic the Hedgehog—with a little help from his friends and some old, familiar faces!
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Blue Blur, IDW Publishing is coming out with a one-shot comic, bringing together a brilliant cast of professionals in the industry. The story itself follows a typical day in the life of Sonic and friends on Angel Island, when a sudden meteor shoots across the sky and lands nearby with a thunderous boom, caving in the surrounding land. But within the meteor lies a plant giving off an immense energy source. And in typical Robotnik fashion, the egg-shaped doctor drops by to steal the meteor in an attempt to use it for world domination.
The artwork itself (a combined effort across three different sequential artists—Rothlisberger, Fonseca, and Kim) is easily one of my favorite parts about this one-shot. The inspiration from Sonic CD and its intro animation is evident, and I’m very pleased to see these artists paying homage to such an influential game with finesse and respect. I’m especially fond of Amy’s original design making it into the comic. The story itself (the work of Iasmin Omar Ata) is also executed very well, with a tasteful balance of lighthearted humor and fast-paced action. It’s highly reminiscent of what made Sonic so popular back in the day, and nothing is more satisfying than seeing a franchise continue to prosper 35 years later due to the combined efforts of every creative in the credits.
The IDW series written by Ian Flynn holds a soft spot in my heart since it’s one of the first comic books I really got into a few years back, and I’m happy to say that this one-shot reminds me heavily of his work. It’s high praise, but praise that is well deserved. Ata, Graham, and Dukeshire also spare no expense when it comes to the coloring and lettering, imbuing the comic and its cast of characters with that original Sonic flair the series is known for.
The Sonic the Hedgehog: 35th Anniversary Special one-shot is necessary reading for any longtime fan of the franchise, sure to charm you and speed its way into your comic collection.
Creative Team: Iasmin Omar Ata (writer), Thomas Rothlisberger (artist, 1-20), Matt Froese (inks, 1-20), Mauro Fonseca (artist, 21-30), Min Ho Kim (artist, 31-40), Iasmin Omar Ata (colorist, 1-20), Reggie Graham (colorist, 21-40), Ed Dukeshire (letterer), Riley Farmer & Thea Cheuk (editors), Bixie Mathieu (associate editor), Johanna Nattalie (production & design)
Publisher: IDW Publishing
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