The road to 100 issues kicks off in Sonic the Hedgehog #81, out this week, and someone is stealing the Chaos Emeralds! Along for the ride is Sonic, Tails, Shadow, and Rouge, but first, it’s time to party!
Sonic the Hedgehog #81 kicks off at the Grand Carnival, where a Chaos Emerald is being shown off at a masked ball. On site is Sonic and Tails – Tails has got a plan, and Sonic is totally bored. Soon, we see Shadow and Rouge are around, which surely will complicate things if it all goes sideways. And as usual, it goes sideways fast!
Things go from exciting to downright criminal after the Brightest Stars troupe enters, creating a distraction and setting in motion a chase. It’s a fun sequence that takes up much of the issue, with Rouge and Shadow sort of teaming up so as to avoid Sonic and Tails getting the Chaos Emerald. The usual “they should be teaming up, not fighting” trope is used, though for an all-ages sort of comic, it works.
Writer Evan Stanley and artist Min Ho Kim keep you invested in the chase, with scary moments for Sonic and Tails, who both think fast to keep themselves in the chase. It all leads to a cliffhanger that keeps you guessing, with the promise of a major confrontation to come.
What a bunch of weirdos.
Credit: IDW
When it comes to character personalities, the team does a great job. Tails is ever the positive influence on Sonic, who’s got a bit of an attitude and a big chip on his shoulder. Shadow is calm and collected, but also lets Sonic get under his skin, while Rouge has plenty of attitude and style to throw around. You can tell all these characters have plenty of history, though it’s easy to tap into their dynamics quickly.
Art by Kim is super pleasing with a cartoony style that suits these characters. The chase sequence takes the cake for entertainment value when it comes to visuals with cool moves and lots of big emotions. When Rouge lands in a popcorn vendor’s cart, you’ll feel it, but also root for Tails, who gave her a taste of her own medicine.
For new readers, there’s a brief six-panel “story so far” that opens this issue, although I could have used a bit more regarding the storied history of some of these characters. Like I said above, it’s not hard to understand the dynamics, but some text could have gone a long way to make me feel like I’m not missing out. Then again, that’s what trade paperbacks and back issues are for!
Sonic the Hedgehog #81 is a breezy, action-packed start to a new arc that keeps things fun while raising the stakes with stolen Chaos Emeralds and character clashes. Stanley and Kim strike the right balance of humor and tension, giving both longtime fans and casual readers something to enjoy, even if the recap doesn’t fully catch new readers up. With its energetic art and character-driven dynamics, it’s a promising launchpad for the road to the landmark 100th issue.
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