Comic Books

‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ #56 review

A bombastic, fun, visual feast of a book that serves as a good climax to this arc.

January 5, 2023

Hello again, my fellow Sonic enthusiasts! We’re back with another issue of IDW’s ongoing Sonic the Hedgehog series. I’ve been pretty focused on side issues for Sonic as of late, so it’s nice to get back to the main book again. Today’s issue has story and art handled by the one and only Evan Stanley, and brings us the climax to this current mini-arc about Surge’s rampage. So let’s grab a chili dog and dig into it, shall we?

The story of course is following up the past couple issues, with Surge using Eggman’s Dynamo Cage invention to absorb more and more power to try and outmatch Sonic and take him out – which led to a team-up between Sonic, Tails, Eggman and Metal Sonic. This issue follows that idea with Sonic and Metal tag teaming Surge, a really cool sight to see for sure. I can’t think of too many times that’s happened in any Sonic media, quite frankly; it’s a rare event, and Stanley doesn’t waste it. The fight is superb, with intense inking and colors (courtesy of Reggie Graham) that draw out the intensity of Surge’s overflowing power. She looks and feels like a walking lightning storm here, and it’s amazing to behold. You can feel the emotion and impact in every move she makes, and the issue does a great job selling her manic, all-out fighting.

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Of course, it ends in a somewhat anticlimactic, though not narratively unsatisfying way. You don’t actually get to see Sonic get the win here, as Surge’s power just overloads and she fizzles herself out. It’s not the most exciting end, but it does drive home a point about her destroying herself with her own rage and misguided hatred. It works for what it was going for, I think.

IDW Publishing

Character writing is good here, too – everybody feels like they have a small chance to show off their personalities a bit. Sonic is beaten down but still his ever optimistic, snarky self even in the face of near-doom, Tails is still the optimistic idealist trying to appeal to the inner good of Kit, Eggman is frantically trying not to get fried with all these super-powered beings jumping all over the place (and still showcasing his quick thinking and genius mind all-the-while), Surge is being… Surge, and Kit is conflicted and colored by paranoia. They all act exactly how they should, and things get left off in a decent place for the story to take a breather and let these events sit for a bit, both for the characters and us as readers.

IDW Publishing

The artwork is the biggest standout of this issue. I honestly think this is some of the greatest work Stanley’s ever done as an artist, it’s just downright stunning to look at. The detail, the expressions, the line art, the dynamic inks and fantastic popping colors… amazing. Just a downright treat of spectacle. This is one of the best looking Sonic comics I’ve ever seen, and I mean that.

IDW Publishing

I would say this was a really good issue to wrap this story up on. Surge and Kit have been going on a pretty wild nonstop journey since their first full appearances in Imposter Syndrome, and I hope we get to see more of them in the future… after a short break, because we’ve gotten a LOT of them now, and I want them to come back in a meaningful way when they do. That being said, this was a bombastic, fun, visual feast of a book, and serves as a good climax to this arc. I hope whatever is next gives this story the room to breathe it needs. With that said and done, pick this book up and have a good time reading.