Sonic the Hedgehog #84 is written by Evan Stanley & Ian Flynn and published by IDW Publishing. Artwork is by Mauro Fonseca, colours by Iasmin Omar Ata and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Main cover art (left) is by Min Ho Kim.
Sonic the Hedgehog #84 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Metal Sonic has gone missing! In his desperation, Dr. Eggman promises Belle the Tinkerer that he’ll remove her connection to the ruthless robot if she uses it one last time to find him. Not trusting the mad scientist, Belle agrees only as long as Sonic comes as protection. Backed into a corner, Dr. Eggman concedes with a condition of his own. As Belle and Sonic set out on their quest, they must be accompanied by one of his greatest creations—the artificial intelligence Sage! How will the robotic “family” react to this unexpected reunion?
Review
Sonic the Hedgehog has been an important and formative character in my personal comic book history, I spent hour-upon-hour as a child in the 90’s, obsessing over Fleetway’s ‘Sonic the Comic’ a weekly release in the UK that took our favourite left-to-right scrolling speedster and turned his simple but speedy 2D traversing into an epic story.
Similar to my childhood favourite, IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog #84 takes broad creative licence with the the intellectual property, using a mixture of known Sonic staples as well as creating their own characters, who slot into the visual storytelling seamlessly.
Enter, Belle the Tinkerer, an original character, first introduced to this run 6 years ago- a free willed and kind hearted Badnik who is made of wood and evokes a pinnocchio-like quality. Belle is central to this issues story as she teams up with Sonic to search for her Badnik-brother, Metal Sonic who has disappeared in mysterious circumstances.
Notably, this issue also includes the runs debut for pre-existing canonical Sonic character, Sage-
a fellow creation of Dr. Eggman. Sage is a character who broadly bares many similarities with Belle the Tinkerer and who’s inclusion creates something of a familial dynamic between Belle the Tinkerer, Metal Sonic and herself, as ‘children’ of Eggman – the book plays on the idea of a sibling-ship, with some really fun and dynamic interactions between Belle and Sage that offer very natural exposition and set up disequilibrium that will undoubtedly be explored in future issues.
It’s a bold and brave choice by Evan Stanley and Ian Flynn to utilise/reappropriate an existing character but Sage is the perfect vehicle to build upon the work they have crafted with Belle the Tinkerer.
Sage’s inclusion invites comparison/contrast with Belle that helps drive the story forwards.
Where Belle is kind and caring, enjoys free will and is made of natural physical matter, Sage is cold and calculated, an AI programme loyal to Eggman and his objectives- all of this somewhat relegates Sonic to a side character in his own comic, but it is done with purpose and to serve the story and as such, is not jarring or underwhelming- we still get plenty of punchy panels of Sonic doing Sonic things, beating baddies, racing through an artic tundra and cracking-wise!
Mauro Fonseca’s bright, bold art style feels very accurate to the modern Sonic the Hedgehog games and punctuates the fun of Sonic the Hedgehog, with multiple great panels really effectively showcasing comedic expressions and comical moments. There’s a wide range of dynamic poses, high energy and vibrant action in panels that perfectly convey the sheer kinetic movement and speed that is synonymous with Sonic the Hedgehog. Often the artwork did feel reminiscent of some of the first issues of ‘Sonic the Comic’ from my childhood, which made the book feel comfy and familiar, despite joining the run at #84
Art-style-aside, I think this is potentially a good time to pick this run up for a newbie, the introduction of Sage appears to be usherng in a new arc where this familial connection between Dr. Eggman, Metal Sonic, Sage and Belle the Tinkerer will provide potentially complex and interesting storytelling that maintains quintessential connotations of Sonic the Hedgehog but explores broader themes and topics too.
A special shout-out for the “letters squad” page, another element of this book that really took me back to my Fleetway ‘Sonic the Comic’ obsession. Nostalgia washed over me as I peered at the artwork sent in by enthusiastic fans, a really lovely addition that reminded me of frantically felt-tip colouring my own efforts to send in, in hope of having them displayed on the letters page.
Verdict
Sonic the Hedgehog #84 captured my attention by taking bold, broad character focused swings, while teeing up future stories and arcs. This book maintains the essence of Sonic both visually and narratively, while also being reminiscent of childhood favourite ‘Sonic the Comic’. Issue #84 has left me wanting more and I fully intend to carry on reading.
⭐⭐⭐
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