Well played, IDW…well played. This coming Wednesday, the latest arc in IDW Publishing’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics series reaches a surprising new peak with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog #86. This forthcoming issue of the series will entertain (and aggravate) readers through its completely engaging and entertaining story. The writing incorporated into the story adds to the book’s success. The book’s artwork puts the finishing touch to the whole as it adds a key hint at who may be the individual behind the mask. If it is who one thinks, it could be a huge way for IDW to lead up to the series’ huge 100th issue. Keeping all of this in mind, the whole of this issue of Sonic the Hedgehog a gripping new chapter in the series’ latest arc.
Sonic the Hedgehog #86, the forthcoming latest chapter of the series’ current story arc, is a strong new entry in this presentation. That is due in no small part to its featured story. Crafted once again by the pairing of Evan Stanley and Ian Flynn. The story picks up where Issue #85 left off. Sonic and Belle are searching for metal Sonic after it kidnapped Sage and took her who knows where. After a discussion with Sonic as to how to locate Sage – since she could not connect with Metal Sonic – Belle manages to connect instead, with Sage herself. This allows Belle and Sonic to track down Sage and Metal Sonic, leading to a confrontation that eventually allows Sage to deprogram Metal Sonic and escape the control of whomever had been controlling him.
In the ensuring confrontation, Sonic unmasks the figure, but neither Stanley nor Flynn allow the individual’s identity to be revealed to readers just yet. This will certainly infuriate plenty of readers, but not necessarily in a bad way. Rather in a good/bad way. It’s the whole “so close yet so far” sense. Readers have come so far but the conclusion is still so far away. It will have to wait until the next issue. However, there is a hint in the writing and art as to who the mysterious figure might be and that hint is sure to generate plenty of excitement and discussion, especially considering that IDW is building up to the series’ big 100th issue. All in all, the story featured here proves to be a solid climax and reason enough for audiences to check out this issue of Sonic the Hedgehog.
The foundation established by the story herein is a solid starting point for the book. Building on that foundation is the writing incorporated into the book. As noted already, Belle is able to track down Sage after connecting directly with her. This comes after Belle and Sonic talk about Belle’s connection with Sage. Sonic calls them “sisters.” This actually excites Belle, and just as interesting, Sage seems to show some pleasure at thinking of Belle as “family.” This is clear, welcome character development exhibited in the book’s writing and is an interesting “development.” Considering the division between the two “sisters,” who are each a creation of Eggman/Robotnik, it is almost a sense of closure so to speak. It is a small item but, is still a nice touch as the arc nears its end.
Staying on the matter of Sage, she gives one of two hints at who Metal Sonic’s “captor” might have been. She says in the book’s final pages, “As for the nature and identity of the assailant I’m afraid I have nothing to report. The only individual that remotely resembles their modus operandi has perished.” Now, in the bigger scheme of this series, knowing the characters that have been “killed off” so far in the series, that could lead to supposition that maybe the “assailant” was either Dr. Starline or maybe even Mimic. However there is a key moment presented in the art that hints at a far more dangerous character.
The moment in question is the appearance of a large black star. That star, and the single eye of the hooded/masked figure points to one other hugely dangerous figure. That figure is Black Doom, who was actually brough back in the most recent Sonic video game, Shadow Generations. Considering that IDW’s who Sonic The Hedgehog comics series followed the events of another Sonic game, Sonic Forces, this would make even more sense. What better way to help promote the franchise’s latest game than to bring in a character that was “resurrected” in said game? That is just this critic’s thought. Keeping that in mind, the artwork, especially here, proves so important to the story. When this moment and the rest of the familiar look of the book is considered along with all of the positives of the writing and the story in general, the whole makes the book overall well worth reading and one more strong entry in the buildup to Sonic #100.
Sonic the Hedgehog #86, the forthcoming latest issue of IDW Publishing’s hit comics series, gives readers a whole lot to like, beginning with the story, which sees Metal Sonic finally freed from the clutches of its evil, mysterious hooded controller. It also sees perhaps a new emotional connection between Sage and Belle that could potentially play out more as the series continues. The hints given as to the identity of whomever was controlling Metal Sonic both in the writing and art put the finishing touch to the book. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of this book. All things considered they make Sonic the Hedgehog #86 another solid entry in this latest chapter of the series’ current arc.
Sonic the Hedgehog #86 is scheduled for release Wednesday in comics shops everywhere. More information on this and other titles from IDW Publishing is available at:
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