Guest Post -James M's review of IDW Sonic Issue 31

 

Part two of the Metal Virus Saga Aftermath Arc is upon us and boy its good.

Enough dilly dallying, lets get into the plot... skipping the recap.

Following the events of issue 30, Sonic is in Blaze's world and he's somewhat got amnesia. In fact, he and Blaze are having tea in Blaze's palace with Blaze wondering what's happening with Sonic and the blue hedgehog seems to be flirting with the fire cat. Welcome back Casanova Sonic, we have not seen anything romantic from you since sometime before the Archie Sonic series rebooted.

ARGH, curse SEGA's restrictions combined with Ian Flynn's dislike of shipping wars.

Moving along back to Sonic's world, everyone is recovering and cleaning up from the Metal Virus War. Amy's struggling with the Restoration while thinking about the old days when she chased Sonic before deciding to make Jewel the new leader of the Restoration.

Elsewhere, Tails and Tangle are assisting the newly returned to normal Rough and Tumble, the Skunk Bros, in escaping a refuse pit they ended up in at the start of the metal virus saga during year two. Instead of being nice, the skunks run off. On the Chaotix front, the Chaotix are busy with clean up as well when Vanilla and Cream show up. BTW, Ian Flynn did a great job, Vector and Vanilla actually flirt a little bit... for the first time since the last episodes of Sonic X. Whoa!*

*Update: SEGA actually asked Ian to include a Vector x Vanilla moment and he was going to do it anyway, Mr. Flynn confirmed it in a Bumblekast episode.

Far off, Rouge finds Shadow brooding to himself and talks to him, trying to invite him to a party obviously meant to celebrate the end of the metal virus saga. Shadow's actually thinking about what happened during the Crisis City two-parter, specifically, him getting infected due to his arrogance.*

Side note: Months ago, when Ian was asked a question about Shadow's behavior during a Bumblekast episode, he said that he had a specific moment planned which he hoped SEGA would approve. Just days prior to this issue's release, he in said that the Shadow moment would be in issue 31, it may not be what he planned it to be but he got the moment in nonetheless.

On the villains front, Starline is at one of Eggman's old bases and, amazingly, he still likes Eggman and wishes to help him rule the world. At Doctor Eggman's current base, the doctor has Omega in his custody and has just finished putting him back together and plans on using him against Sonic.

Finally we come to Spiral Hill Village where everybody, Sonic's friends without Shadow, are celebrating their victory over the Metal Virus. Everything's all fine and dandy (even without Sonic in the area) when Doctor Eggman arrives to attack in his new mech, ending the issue...

Thoughts:

This issue, like the others, was a blast to read and Ian Flynn does a phenomenal job even though most of the fans haven't gotten what they wanted yet i.e. the Freedom Fighters showing up.

Either way, the comic is a success and all is well!

-James. M!