INFO BURST

Format: Manga chapter
Initial Release Date: July 1991
Feature characters: Sonic the Hedgehog
Villain: Doctor Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik
Other Characters: Animal Friends (Pocky, Rocky, Flicky, Pocky, Cucky, Pecky, Ricky), Badniks (Buzz Bomber, Moto Bug, Burrobot, Jaws)
Locations: South Island (Scrap Brain Zone, Labyrinth Zone)
Items: None
Continuity: Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Synopsis: Eggman kidnaps three of Sonic’s friends as bait to lure him to his base in the Scrap Brain Zone. Sonic successfully navigates the Zone but, as he draws closer to his target, finds himself dropped into the Labyrinth Zone. Narrowly avoiding a watery grave, Sonic comes face to face with Eggman, who threatens to crush Sonic’s friends in the mechanical pincers of his Flying Egg hovercraft. Moving faster than Eggman can even see, Sonic rescues his friends before unleashing a rapid barrage of Spin Attacks on the Flying Egg, destroying it completely. Peace returns to South Island and everyone is delighted with Sonic- save for Eggman, who wearily throws in the towel.

CREDITS

Writer: Currently unknown
Artist: Currently unknown

Review

As with the previous two chapters in this continuity, this third and final instalment sees elements from the first Sonic the Hedgehog video game transposed to the page in loving detail. This time, the game’s final Zone- Scrap Brain Zone- and the one conspicuous by its absence so far- Labyrinth Zone- are given the appropriate treatment and time to shine in the spotlight. With that said, the story does face a similar problem to that seen in the previous chapter, specifically the small page space means Sonic ends up rattling through the Zones before they get chance to leave much of an impression.

Unfortunately, this also has a somewhat detrimental effect on the actual storytelling as the enormous promise of the sprawling underwater Labyrinth Zone is effectively reduced to Sonic struggling in water for a few panels before pulling himself to safety, a bit damp but essentially no worse off. Likewise, aside from a few Badnik encounters, we barely have enough time to enjoy the Scrap Brain Zone at all, with Sonic falling prey to a trap pretty well immediately (though players of the original Sonic game will still be able to raise a smile at the way in which that trap is realised, clearly bringing to mind a similar section in the game).

Instead, then, we focus more on the characters which may well be the smart decision anyway. Once again, Sonic is rendered so charmingly on the page it’s impossible not to smile at pretty much whatever he gets up to, with even perilous situations made amusing by the fashion in which Sonic is thrown through them. Sonic’s personality absolutely shines as he’s given an impossible chance to either submit to Eggman or watch his friends get hurt. In true Sonic fashion, he finds a third option- rescue his friends without a hair on their heads being harmed. It’s certainly true that Sonic effectively saving the day by moving quickly will become somewhat overused in early adaptations of the series before slightly more intelligent climaxes would become the norm, but it’s a little hard to be mad about the initial use of the trope, especially as it’s coupled with Sonic being so darn heroic and cool.

Eggman, meanwhile, is every bit as love-to-hateable as ever. It’s not a chapter as filled with laughs from Eggman this time around, but there’s still comedy to be had at his expense. Given this is the climactic finale for the story, it does make sense that Eggman has ramped up the seriousness somewhat. It’s a shame that once again he’s dispatched of rather too quickly, but at least this time Sonic was fired up so it makes sense he was able to overcome the doctor so easily.

As with the previous two chapters, this is a lovely little peek into the world of the Sonic video game, even if that sometimes means elements have to be glossed over or reinterpreted in a manner which breezes past them. There would be many more great Sonic adaptations to come, many of which of a notably high calibre. But for the first go around, this series is well worth a look and certainly manages to nail Sonic’s character with no problem at all.