Sonic the Hedgehog has been having a bit of a comeback in recent years; he’s been the focus of blockbuster movies and video games alike. So has his supporting cast, including his frenemy, Knuckles the Echidna. With this year marking the 30th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which was Knuckles’ first appearance, IDW has stepped up to the plate with Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles 30th Anniversary #1.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles 30th Anniversary #1 finds Knuckles returning to his home of Angel Island, where he guards the Master Emerald. He then decides to visit the neighboring Northstar Islands to teach the sungazer lizard Trip how to be a proper island guardian. But Knuckles’ abrasive attitude, combined with Trip’s shy nature, isn’t exactly the best mix.
If you are crafting an anniversary special, you’ll need someone who understands the character, and Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles 30th Anniversary #1 is in good hands with longtime Sonic scribe Ian Flynn. Flynn manages to deliver exposition in an easy-to-digest way; whether readers are longtime Sonic fans or new to the franchise, they won’t have to play Sonic Superstars to get the gist of this story. Flynn even manages to sum up Knuckles’ history in two pages, which is a pretty incredible feat of writing.
IDW Publishing
Flynn also delights in highlighting the differences between Knuckles and Trip. Knuckles is confident to a fault, while Trip is not. But where Trip has her people to lean on, Knuckles is the last of his kind. Flynn toggles between the humorous (Knuckles thinking on why Trip isn’t taking to his training is juxtaposed with flashbacks of him butting heads with Amy Rose and Tails) to heartwarming (Knuckles and Trip finally connecting toward the special’s end.)
If the writing wasn’t enough, the art team also brings the classic Sonic flair to the page. Aaron Hammerstrom, who has the kind of name you’d expect from someone drawing a Knuckles comic, and Rik Mack manage to replicate plenty of moments from Knuckles’ history. Whether it’s Sonic and Knuckles’ first meeting in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 or Knuckles’ showdown with Metal Sonic during the IDW comics run, Hammerstrom and Mack have the visual flair of the Sonic universe down pat. So does colorist Valentina Pinto, as Knuckles has his signature bright red flair.
The standout sequence comes toward the middle of the story, where Knuckles puts Trip through a “Guardian training exercise”. Hammerstrom is able to get the movement of a Sonic game down pat; Knuckles and Trip dash through obstacles, their legs transforming into whirls of crimson or tan. Knuckles’ fists even leave a impact whenever he slams into the ground, or starts climbing walls.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Knuckles 30th Anniversary is an entertaining one-shot that captures the best parts of the Sonic games, especially when it comes to the titular echidna. Knuckles is one of my favorite Sonic characters, so it’s great to have a comic that does him justice.
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