Okay, I mentioned how "IDW Shadow" kinda' bugs me. So I'm digging into why with this review of IDW issue 19.
-Final Ranking is at end of post-
"Crisis City, Part 1"
I like this cover. It's fun. I mean, sure, it doesn't match the urgency of the situation as well because Sonic's being a show off, but the characters look good and...IS THAT ZOMBIE JET?!
Cover B doesn't really stand out, but Cover C looks awesome.
This starts with a recap, a map "by Cream," and tells who's who. It's nice for new readers, tedious for returning. I'm getting pretty sick of reading "The Blue Blur/Fastest thing alive." They should change it up at least a little, like "Infected Hero/Quickest Hedgehog Around," or something like that.
This issue is named after one of my favorite levels from Sonic 06 (it also appeared in Sonic Gen). To be honest, though, the "Zombot"-infested setting is rather lame compared to the awesome, post-apocalypse ruins we got in the most hated Sonic game of all time.
Rouge gives us info on the origins of Sunset City (which might be a small nod to her researching Soleanna in 06). I kinda' wish there was more of a difference between panels 2 and 4...something to make this new threat scarier than the one in Forces.
Rouge also makes it clear the reason she cares is because it was a thriving merchant hub with "dazzling" jewels. I appreciate this because--with no GUN in sight--there needs to be an excuse for having Team Dark play hero(es).
The next page is pretty strong, showing off Sonic's moves. The first time I read this, though, I was like "um, Sonic I know you can handle the Zombots--where's Team Dark?"
Omega is the first we see, and he's fXcking awesome. It's hilarious! A good introduction for people who may not know Omega (which is probably a lot of people).
Rouge is the next dark member we see, and she shows off some of her leadership skills. Having her direct the local authorities (who appear Sonic Forces style) is a clever method of indirectly referencing GUN.
It's simply not mentioned (once again, like Forces), so it
could be that Rouge (& Shadow) still work for GUN (as in the games), or they could be doing their own thing (as you'd assume just reading issue 19 alone). Clever.
Sonic does a tornado-like move which is similar to a move from the games and one he'd do in the early cartoons a lot.
Sonic's getting desperate; it's nice to see a side of him that isn't so perfect (which was mainly how was acting in the beginning of IDW's series).
Shadow makes a bad-Xss entrance worthy of his edgy game intros. The truck is some version of the one that appeared in SA2 (also Sonic Gen) which is awesome and another indirect GUN reference.
Now here's where things start going downhill. For one thing, Shadow seems to blame Sonic for the outbreak, referencing issue six. If Shadow had killed Eggman, than this would not be happening. It's true, but would Shadow
still be upset about this?
In
Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow puts the past behind him so he can move on and focus on the present. With that in mind, I think Shadow would be less worried about a past mistake (not killing Eggman), and more willing to focus on their current problem/track the Doc down now that he's himself again
.
Next. "Cowards run, I win." He's calling himself a coward
because he runs all the freakin' time. He's not one to give up easily, but he's also not stupid.
"Destroy Eggman's army, what else?" Obviously Team Dark learned about the Zombots themselves or heard about them before all this, because Shadow knows not to touch the Zombots ("DON'T TOUCH IT," ha).
So they would know that attempts to
destroy the infected are futile. Even just watching Omega, they could probably see that the enemies simply rise again. So this line (destroy the army) makes little sense. If he had a plan (or, ha, a weapon) or some new element it might be believable, but jumping into the hoard seems like Zombie-side.
I guess they could of explored that as an angle. Maybe Shadow thinks becoming a Zombot would make him more powerful or something? But, nah.
If Shadow was going to take on a large enemy (that maybe talked back?), I could see him getting in over his head. What if a bunch of the Zombots merged into one giant monster and Shadow became obsessed with trying to destroy it...that I could see happening.
In this case though, all Shadow would have to do (when infected) is run around a bit. He could do spindashes around the truck/hotel--protecting it and fighting off the infection. Instead...
"The Doctor's Metal Virus can't infect the Ultimate Lifeform!" Once again, he's
not this stupid. Shadow's suppose to be one of the more mature characters.
On the plus side, Omega's lines are stellar. Omega really is the highlight of this issue--plus the truck scene--that was pretty dxmn cool.
Meanwhile Sonic's already to Green Hill...which doesn't make a whole lot of sense even with Cream's map. Sonic begins a little metal debate but shakes it off (literally).
So we get Shadow fighting some Zombots and...
...infected. Maybe if there was the "Shadow was created to help cure Maria" backstory, his surprise would make more sense (he'd think is immune because it's a "disease"). But that's barely official, and it hasn't come up in this series. Plus he already said he knew not to touch the infected, so no excuses!
And the whole "I don't run thing," ugh. I hope Flynn remembers what 90% of Sonic games center around (yes, running).
Even if Shadow prefers doing things on his own, he knows his limits. In 06 he admitted he couldn't take on Solaris himself, and in Heroes he's the one who suggests stalling "Neo" Metal Sonic so that Team Hero (Sonic) could defeat him.
Then Sonic shows up
and there's a funny little scene and Zombot Shadow aaaand it ends. BOO! That's not even a cool design...
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| LAME! |
Really the 2nd half of this issue just seemed like a plot device to set up a fight in the next issue. Things are getting repetitive, too. Sonic goes to [place]. Sonic meets up with [people]. [Someone] gets infected.
Months ago, when there was only the solicitation (which spoiled that someone was going to be infected), I though to myself, "Please make it Rouge."
How obvious can you be? Omega's a robot, so he can't get infected. Shadow getting infected seems like a stupid way to end with a lame cliffhanger set up for a battle (to sell more comics).
Rewind: what if Rouge had been the one to become a Zombot? That's not
as predictable, plus I'd like to see them have to fight her. And what would Shadow's reaction be?
Well instead we're stuck with idiot Shadow who is "reckless" and more or less asks to become a mindless zombie-robot. And Sonic makes light of it with the jerk-y "told you so" comment. Seems weird
how
"favorite" characters are both acting ridiculous while
"less-known" Rouge and Omega are actually doing their job.
Enough about the plot, on to the art.
The hoards are impressive, as is the setting. Lots of details with buildings and "nobody characters" that other people (like me, probably) wouldn't have bothered with.
Artist Jack Lawrence does make several impressive expressions as well. But I'm not a huge fan of his work, here. I don't think this guy is that familiar with drawing Sonic-characters. Omega was very impressive (he's usually very difficult to draw) and Rouge was done well. Sonic and Shadow look awkward in a lot of spots, though--I guess that's what really bothered me.
Sonic/Shadow's head looking too big...
Lot's of top teeth and nothing else (which would have been okay, like once instead of all the time)...
Ah, the spikes looking weird. Maybe that's what bugs me...
Some things just don't look right...
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| (Sonic in the right panel isn't right) |
The one that bothers me the most:
When I was reviewing this, I realized it wasn't just the fact that "Zombot Shadow" seemed inevitable. It was that weird look on Shadow's face when the Zombots...uh, "win." I realized this actually could be a serious moment, but that panel looks like old (bad) Archie-art, and it makes me want to laugh, actually.
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| Disastrous all right |
I'm being kind of harsh, here.
Most of the art is good, and like I said, expressive. But it's weaker compared to the other artists (Thomas, Stanley, Yardly, etc).
This issue also had colors by Bracardi Curry instead of the "Sonic-regular," Matt Herms. I liked the coloring, for it was lighter and the city matched it's "Sunset" description. On the other hand, having the "normal" style might have made Lawrence's differences less noticeable...
Summary
- The art in this issue was mostly good but there was room for improvement.
- The main plot is repetitive--not to the same point as "Fallout" (the early issues), but still.
- Dialogue for Rouge fit and E-123 Omega's was spectacular.
- Sonic's unintentionally coming off as a jerk.
- Shadow's an out-of character S-O-B.
- The end result was predictable.
- Though the beginning was strong and had some clever points to it.
- Compared to the previous issues, the stakes seemed higher.
So the final ranking (S is the best possible, E is the worst): C (or "Low Average")
"Maybe I wasn't strong enough."
Yeah. Omega was great, the truck scene was awesome. At least the whole "You let Eggman go" debate, was an attempt at adding depth. But the end is...silly. "Zombot Shadow" was easily preventable, and if they HAD to go with it, they could have given Shadow a better reason than "the Doctor's metal virus can't infect the ultimate lifeform!"
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| We hear ya, Rouge. |
