Comic Book Review - Sonic the Hedgehog #252

SONIC IS BACK and facing the HUGE consequences of the mega-hit Sonic/Mega Man crossover story arc in "At All Costs" Part Two! As the crossover crashed to a close, Sonic and Tails have returned to a world which is reeling from the cataclysmic effects of the Eggman/Wily Genesis Wave! The damage was severe, the threats have changed, and the mysteries are piling up! What has happened to Naugus in this new landscape? What is the final fate of Sally Acorn? Sonic and Tails are ready to tackle all the drama ahead of them—but first they must survive the wrath of the terrifying Tails Doll! 

The other two comics from Archie that have followed on from the epic crossover event Worlds Collide have taken very different directions. Mega Man has chosen to act as though the events never happened and are carrying on as normal while Sonic Universe has created a new pirate-related story featuring the female characters of the Sonic lexicon. The cornerstone Sonic the Hedgehog is the first comic that genuinely feels like a follow-up to that event. And, of the three, its easily the most interesting.

Writer Ian Flynn is playing off an alternative reality angle as the Genesis Wave activated in the climax of Worlds Collide has thrown everything that Sonic has ever known out of sync. There are certain things that make sense to him and many things that don't. This creates a very good and intriguing atmosphere that, like all good sci-fi stories, asks many questions with teases of answers in future instalments. Flynn is a very smart writer and he weaves several plot elements into this one issue seamlessly.

And there is a lot crammed into this issue. While Flynn never answers any questions directly, he sets up an awful lot to the point where it's hard to keep up with what's going on. There are a lot of timeline changes to all corners of the Sonic mythos, but Flynn never treats his reader like a child that needs their hand held. With that said, it's almost too much and at times it feels as though 50% of the events that happen in Sonic the Hedgehog #252 could have happened in #253, making it feel slightly rushed (ironic) and unbalanced.

However this isn't like Prometheus or any other badly written sci-fi story, it's clear from the outset that Flynn knows where he is taking this angle and he's stated in interviews that we should be expecting something big coming. For someone who has been writing for Sonic for as long as he has, it's always impressive to see Flynn constantly coming up with new ideas.

Evan Stanley and Terry Austin take over artwork duties and the pair present a more mature style than we've come to expect from an Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic. The always welcome bright and colourful tone is there, but the defined lines and brilliantly knowing character designs are among the best we've been presented with in some time. It's still kid-friendly, but never feels it.

Sonic the Hedgehog #252 is a really interesting read and is certainly one you should pick up, if only because the story looks like it's about to get more confusing and you might need all the help you can get. Flynn's writing is once again brilliant, the artwork is superb and there is a story here that could rival the epicness of Worlds Collide. After two moderately disappointing follow-ups to such a great story arc, it's good to see a comic that has come out unscathed.

Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth's co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.