Later this month, IDW Publishing will release the latest of its Sonic The Hedgehog comics when it releases Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5. Scheduled for release March 18, the 336-page anthology is another enjoyable series of stories from everyone’s favorite supersonic, smart aleck hero. That is due in large part to its featured stories. The stories and the overall story line featured across the 14total issues culled here give audiences plenty to read and enjoy in the process. The general writing within those stories (spread across 14 total issues) adds to the presentation’s appeal, building even more on the engagement and entertainment offered by the anthology. The artwork exhibited throughout the nearly 460-page collection rounds out its most important elements and put the finishing touch to the franchise’s latest release. It is just as certain to appeal to those more focused on that aspect. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this graphic novel. All things considered they make Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 yet another presentation that will appeal to not only fans of this comic franchise from IDW Publishing, but also to fans of Sonic The Hedgehog in general.
Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 is a presentation that is sure to appeal equally to established fans of Sega’s long-running video game franchise and of its print offshoot, which has established its own successful identity. The collection’s success comes in part through its featured stories. Spread across 14 total issues )Issue 41-50 and the four-issue miniseries, Imposter Syndrome), the stories include the opener finale of Sonic and company’s face-off against the Deadly Six, this after Zavox reassembles the group following its previous defeat at the hands of Sonic and company. This part of the presentation spans issues #41-44. Along the way a secondary story (that of the evil Dr. Starline’s rise to power) takes shape even as Sonic and the Resistance battle the Deadly Six and return them to exile in their home world. Even as the threat from the Deadly Six is eliminated, the dangers are not yet over. Belle (who has her own surprising backstory) is temporarily captured by Starline before being rescued by Sonic’s friends in the Chaotix Detective Agency. As a means of recuperating, Belle joins Amy and Tangle for a girls-only camping trip, but even that turns deadly when a fire ravages the forest. The story smartly foreshadows what is to come with the “Imposter Syndrome” miniseries when Belle sees the silhouettes of two figures who come directly into play in that story arc after being burned. In addition, a code of sorts is discovered that can turn Dr. Robotnik’s “badniks” good in the process. This also comes into play later. That the writers did not overdo it with this plot element either helped even more in the engagement.
Not to give away too much, but Starline is eventually defeated and Robotnik eventually rises back to power in the anthology’s final issues. The previously shadowy figures – Surge and Katsunami – face off in a pair of epic battles against Sonic and Tails in a familiar type of setting that has been used in various other epic showdowns across the action and science fiction realms. All of this will be left for readers to learn on their own. It should be noted additionally, that everything featured in this expansive anthology is set up by stories that reach all the way back to the Sonic story line, “Fallout” and even before that, though really starts to take shape in “The Battle for Angel Island” so some reading up is recommended before going headlong into this series of stories. Of course even without knowledge of those prior stories is not fully necessary in order to enjoy it. It does go a long way toward helping ensure that engagement and entertainment, though.
Given the among of engagement and entertainment ensured through the anthology’s overall stories, that whole is just part of what makes this collection worth reading. The general writing within the stories helps establish that appeal, too. In regard to the writing, plenty can be noted. Examining the writing on a micro scale, readers will love Sonic’s familiar attitude and smart aleck comments even as Amy subtly hints at her attraction to him and in a more severe moment, such as when he faces off against Surge late in the collection. It is that sort of suave over confidence that so many people have come to love about him. That is because people wish they could be like him. It allows readers to imagine themselves like him.
Staying on the matter of the dialogue, Surge’s reaction at discovering her past and that of her friend, Katsunami is all too familiar, too. The anger that she expresses – that rage – has been used in so many stories from so many other franchises on screen and on the printed page. It is tempered just enough here to make it bearable.
On much the same note, the overconfidence of both Starline and Robotnik is classic villain through and through, even as Starline is himself defeated by Robotnik (again not to give away too much).
Examining the writing on a macro scale, the fluidity of the storylines is more example of the strength of the writing. As one story comes to its end, the next (and more to come) is expertly set up. One example of this comes as the Deadly Six is exiled back in its home world. Jewel reports to Sonic about Belle’s kidnapping, letting them and readers alike know that the next story to come has already been set up along with other stories to come; this as Dr. Starline is reintroduced as her captor. Belle’s backstory is also at least partially introduced, letting audiences know even more that another showdown with Robotnik is coming. That foreshadowing and the setup for the coming issues is, again, clear and entertaining in its tragic nature.
Another example of the fluidity of the story transitions comes as the Chaotix detectives trail Rough and Tumble (yes, they are back, after having been freed from jail by Starline in a much earlier issue not in this set) to a warehouse where it turns out they are not the ones responsible for damage done to the city. That cliffhanger of sorts is a solid closure to that chapter of the “Imposter Syndrome” story arc that will definitely keep readers making their way through the story.
As this story arc progresses, another cliffhanger is used as Sonic and Tails make their way to Robotnik’s base, which is now unbeknownst to them, being used by Starline. The trip happens after a signal thought to have been used by Robotnik on badniks throughout the region puts Belle under a spell of sorts. This plot device is a great way to advance that chapter of the story arc in itself. It is yet another example of how much the writing in this collection offers readers to enjoy. When it and the other examples noted are considered with the rest of the collection’s writing, the whole therein builds on the already strong foundation established by the stories in general.
Knowing how much the stories and the writing therein offer audiences, there is still one more positive to note of this set. That positive is the collection’s featured artwork. One of the most notable examples of the artwork’s impact comes in the cover for Issue #49. The use of dark and light here, with Belle at the fore and other badniks around her looks like something that would have been used for a movie poster for a classic horror flick a la Night of the Living Dead. The way in which Belle’s eyes glow against her shadowed face throws back to that creepy feel of a bygone era. The cover for issue #44 is another example of that import. Sonic graces the front and is flanked by Zavox, Starline, Grace, and Tails, thus letting readers know something big is coming. It is a simple presentation, but is the epitome of the old adage that a picture speaks a thousand words.
Staying on that matter of Belle, she is present in a number of the covers, which is actually part of the bigger storytelling herein. Her constant presence lets readers know, in hindsight, that she is going to play a big part in the overarching story.
Examining the art on another level, audiences will also note the similarity in stylistic approach within the pages of each issue, too, to that of past issues of Sonic The Hedgehog. That familiarity in itself is key because it will establish a certain comfort in readers’ minds. It is an aesthetic element, but still is key to the bigger picture of the anthology’s artwork just as much as the varied styles of the covers.
Speaking of covers, the anthology is rounded out by a gallery of variant covers as bonus content. The variants show the different, unique styles used by the different artists who worked on the books culled for this set. Natalie Haines’ variant cover, featuring Sonic and Tails at the beach is one of the most unique. There is almost a Cg look about it even though it was seemingly hand drawn. The richness and fullness of the cover gives it an almost immersive feel all in itself. The gallery of smaller variant covers that closes out this bonus material puts even more on display, those artists’ talents, giving art fans even more to appreciate. All things considered here, the artwork featured within the graphic novel and that used in each of the covers collectively goes a long way to ensure engagement and entertainment value for fans. That appeal, coupled with that ensured through the stories and their writing, makes the overall presentation that is Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 another successful series of tales from IDW’s ongoing Sonic The Hedgehog comics series.
Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 is another positive entry in IDW Publishing’s ongoing Sonic The hedgehog comics universe. Its appeal comes largely through its stories. As noted, the stories continue what started in issues far earlier than those featured in this collection, building strongly on those issues and bringing them all to a head in the series’ iconic 50th issue. On that note, audiences do not necessarily have to be familiar with the setup in those previous issues in order to enjoy this set, but knowing that backstory does not hurt, either. It is just that it is not mandated to read those stories first. The writing within the stories builds on the foundation established by the stories. That is because of the fluid nature of their progression. Audiences easily know when one story is ending and another ending, weaving those beginning and end points seamlessly. What’s more, the dialogue used as part of the bigger picture of the writing adds even more to the appeal. That is because of its accessibility and familiarity. The artwork featured throughout the 14-issue anthology puts the finishing touch to the whole of the collection. That is because it is in itself familiar. It also offers various art styles for readers to appreciate in the covers. That aesthetic aspect, paired with the stories and their writing, makes for an overall presentation that audiences are sure to enjoy overall. The whole makes Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 another welcome presentation for any fan of the Sonic The Hedgehog video game and comics universes.
Sonic The Hedgehog: The Collection Volume 5 is scheduled for release in comics shops nationwide March 18. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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