Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 18: Extreme Competition is written by Evan Stanley, Josh Trujillo, Iasmin Omar Ata and is published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Min Ho Kim, Adam Bryce Thomas, Aaron Hammerstrom, colours by Reggie Graham, Leonardo Ito and letters by Shawn Lee.
Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 18: Extreme Competition is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
On your marks! Get set! RACE! Welcome, Extreme Gear fans, to the qualifier for the Clean Sweepstakes race around the world, sponsored by the Restoration and Clean Sweep Inc.! And look at the starting line! It’s Sonic, Tails, Amy, Surge, Kit, the Diamond Cutters, and the Babylon Rogues! Hold on to your tails because we’re in for one heck of a race!
Review
In most forms of media, Sonic has always been a burst of energy from the characters down the adventures they have. Whether it be the games, the movies or the TV shows (Sonic X was a highlight for me as kid) they all understood what made the character so likeable and fun to watch, something which has also translated to comic books. Extreme Competition collects issues 69 to 71 of Sonic the Hedgehog as well as two one-shot stories, Winter Jam and Spring Broken.
Right out of the gate, the first thing this comic gets right is the look of it all. The illustrations and colouring by the various artists here perfectly captures that bright, colourful look that the world of Sonic is known for. Each panel leaps off of the page in vibrant fashion, putting you right back into this universe like no time has passed.
The stories presented here are mostly typical Sonic fare with all the action, laughs and chases that the series is known for. The character interactions, along with the artwork, carry over the exaggerated expressiveness of anime and manga, which is something that made Sonic X so distinct in the long run and seems to have stayed for the comics. This is a welcome inclusion as it brilliantly adds to the cartoony nature of it all and is best seen during chase sequences and an encounter at a diner between Eggman, Sonic, Tails and Amy.
The heightened/exaggerated nature of the comic also lends itself to the humour on display. There are some genuinely funny moments that wouldn’t work as well as they do if it weren’t for the bold and in-your-face illustrations. For instance, there is a moment where Tails and Amy are snooping around the machine shop, and the way Amy snaps at Tails is so overblown but comedically brilliant at the same time.
Once the titular competitions get underway, the comic comes into its own. These sequences are frenetic and chaotic, filled to the brim with colour and energy that never stops. Sometimes it can feel a little relentless when reading it, but there is also a lot of enjoyment to be had with it as well.
This is the perfect read for Sonic fans whether you’ve been following the comics already or are just looking for a quick blast of cartoony, chaotic fun. It will never have you board at any point
Verdict
A vibrant and endlessly fun read that perfectly encapsulates all the colourful hijinks you would expect from Sonic and co.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
