With its debut issue having set the stage for the mega crossover, DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #2 wastes no time in getting to the action. Darkseid has gotten his hands on one of the Chaos Emerads, and seeks the rest of them to increase his already formidable power. It’s up to Team Sonic and the Justice League, alongside some unexpected help, to stop the Lord of Apokolips in his mad quest.
Most of DC x Sonic the Hedgehog is dedicated to the interplay between Sonic and the Flash, and once again it works far better than it has any right to. Ian Flynn writes some genuinely great back and forth between the Scarlet Speedster and the Blue Blur; they come up with an on-the-fly plan to stop Darkseid’s Omega Beams, and still retain their argument over who’s truly the fastest. Without a doubt, my favorite bit of dialogue is the moment where Flash and Sonic come face to face with Dr. Eggman; when it’s pointed out that Eggman is a balding mad genius with an affinity of machines, Flash muses, “Superman has one of those back home.”
Eggman’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to surprise appearances. In their quest to find the Emeralds, Team Sonic and the League encounter Darkseid’s minions, and given that this is a cross-dimension crossover, it’s only a matter of time until Sonic and friends visit the DC Universe. I won’t say anything else to avoid spoilers, but I will say that this is drawn very beautifully by Adam Bryce Thomas. Thomas leaps from scene to scene with the same speed that Sonic might employ, drawing some action-packed moments along the way.
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The standout fight scenes come at the beginning, where Sonic and Flash outrace Darkseid, and toward the middle when Batman and Shadow battle Steppenwolf. Adams plays to each character’s respective strengths, as Flash and Sonic turn into red and blue blurs respectively and bounce off Darkseid’s granite-like frame; Batman and Shadow, on the other hand, use darkness and stealth to their surprise.
Matt Herms definitely deserves credit for how he’s able to utilize a wide color swath to depict each character, once again playing off the different pairings. Wonder Woman’s gold-laced armor is a perfect complement to Amy Rose’s bright pink fur; Superman and Knuckles are both different shades of red; Tails’ lighter orange fur is a direct contrast to Cyborg’s silver and black armor. Darkseid benefits from it the most, as he’s often clad in shadows – save for his eyes, which burn a fiery red. The effect is extremely ominous.
DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #2 continues to be a blast, thanks to clever use of its core pairings and a few surprise appearances. And from the way the book ends, it feels like the crossover chaos is only just beginning.
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