Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 7: All or Nothing by Ian Flynn

Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 7: All or Nothing Reviews

• 
  Noah

  I’ve been rolling through this series at the speed of sound and I really wasn’t planning on saying anything substantial about it because I really only write reviews if I have opinions, and well… it looks like I have some opinions on Sonic the Hedgehog. Hurray! The thing is, I used to read a few of the Sonic Archie Comics when they were still doing them, and I’ve got to say that my main consensus is that they were mostly… meh. I actually think reading them was the first time I realized that things could be bad. So, kudos for managing to be an imprinted memory for me, I guess. What I’m getting at is that, as of a couple months ago, I’ve pretty much completely fell off of this franchise. I’m sure a lot of people can say that they like Sonic, the character, without actually liking anything he’s in. From the overly convoluted plot-lines and problematic nature of the Sonic Archie Comics (don’t ask), to the increasingly terrible video games (and this is coming from someone who didn’t mind Sonic ‘06), I just had to get off of this messy ride at some point. But, as these things tend to happen, I’ve been going to comic shops a lot recently and have been picking up issues of this IDW series at random because I'm a sucker for a pretty cover. And after definitively deciding to read it in chronological order like a normal person (and due to the fact that it’s in continuity with the games), I’m once again fully on board with all things Sonic. I’ve awakened from my slumber! This comic accomplishes the uphill battle of breathing some new life into the series by simply going back to what made the games that I loved so great; it’s sincere. Wait, I guess that means it breathes old life into it? Anyway, Sonic media got way too self-referential for my liking. Every story-beat needs constant snark and eye-brow raises and the property never felt like it was allowed to do anything other than Deadpool style commentary. It’s okay Sega, your silly hedgehog games don’t need to be irony poisoned like everything else.
  
  Maybe I’m just bitter because this new mandate is also why they started removing Shadow the Hedgehog from the games and outside media. If they’re going to go for irreverent Marvel humor, then of course they’ve got to get rid of Mr. Edgy… Mr. Mid-2000’s, the one and only black-and-red Hedgehog who also rides a black-and-red motorcycle. Just doesn’t make sense, right? Yeah, well guess what, it makes sense to me because Shadow the Hedgehog is sooo~ooo cool, and it’s cool when characters are designed to be cool with no other reason other than to be cool. Um, where was I going with this? Oh yeah, this IDW version is cool again because of the fact that it starts taking itself seriously. It's genuine and I promise that this series really is all the better for it. As for the plot, er, I hate using the term "darker in tone" as a compliment (it's played out), but this arc is darker in tone and has some serious emotional weight to it. In my opinion, all stories are best when they push their heroes to their absolute limit. Sonic can run really fast, but can he run from his past sins? Ha ha, just kidding! …Or am I? The story has stakes (I mean, it does borrow a lot from Dragon Ball, but Sonic’s always done that. R.I.P. Akira Toriyama.), all the characters act like they did in the games that I loved, and most importantly… the artwork is absolutely beautiful. Sometimes I’ll just stare at the covers for several minutes, they’re so breathtaking. And finally, I know I just said that they got the characters right, but If I had one complaint, they got Shadow the Hedgehog wrong. He’s basically a Vegeta clone in this, and as much as I love Vegeta, they are NOT the same!!! Sure, Shadow calls himself "The Ultimate Life Form" and Vegeta, "The Prince of all Saiyans," but they're very different. They are! I swear it!! I won’t spoil it, but the way he acts is “character assassination” at its finest. Hm, if you don’t have any knowledge of this stuff, then this whole review probably sounds like complete nonsense, huh? No worries, I’ve got you! All you need to know to catch you up to speed (badum tsss) is that Shadow the Hedgehog is the cooo~ooolest.
• 
  Chris Lemmerman

  It all comes down to this - the Metal Saga comes to an explosive conclusion, but when the dust settles, who will still be standing?
  
  ...I really wanted to like this more than I did. I mean, if you take it as a solo story then it's great stuff. But as the conclusion to the Metal Saga, it feels like a bit of a bait and switch. The Metal Virus becomes secondary to the Deadly Six, who turn up and kind of take over, so defeating them becomes more of an issue than dealing with the virus.
  
  The way they do deal with the Virus feels very on brand for Sonic, as does the 'cliffhanger' ending, but given how good all the build-up for the Metal Virus stuff has been, how much the tension has risen across the issues, it just feels kind of disappointing to have it take a back seat. It's fun to have everyone working together again though, especially some of the more obscure characters, though.
  
  There's not much to say on the art front - the Sonic series has a rotating series of artists who are all fairly similar (probably because they have to be in order to embody the aesthetic of the characters), so it looks pretty great, but no better or worse than it's been before.
  
  All Or Nothing is a good way to describe how I feel - I liked the Metal Virus Saga very much overall, but the conclusion leaves a little to be desired.
• 
  Rach

  Y’all, this is the bleakest I think I’ve seen a Sonic comic get but it is. So good.
  
  ”I ain’t afraid to hit an old man!”
  “Stay classy.”
  
  They really have brought everyone in to fight this metal virus, including the Babylon Rogues which were a delightful feature. Knuckles stays having the best facial expressions though, I love him. And the dialogue between everyone when they’re all in the same space is just spectacular. Flynn definitely has a good hold on all their personalities and has made it flourish! Sonic’s quips get me each time.
  
  What a ride this has been! I sense we’re likely getting close to an end with this series, and I’ve really been enjoying it. With that cliff hanger, I wonder how it’s going to wrap up!
• 
  Hannah Thaggard

  Not IDW putting out another banger!!!! When will the hits end!!!
• 
  Deshawn Vasquez

  They really need to get Ian Flynn to write the games, because this is how you do it.
• 
  B!!!

  WHY IS THIS STUPID BLUE HEDGEHOG COMIC THE MOST STRESSFUL THING I HAVE READ
• 
  Will Brown

  The grand finale to the Metal Virus Saga! While I don’t find The Deadly Six to be really compelling characters, they provide a good reason narratively for Sonic and Eggman to work together. The Six have a bone to pick with both sides, and their technopathic abilities in the context of a metallic plague makes The Deadly Six the most threatening they have ever been! And while Team Sonic makes their last stand, Flynn manages to pull a few more tear jerking moments that will pull on your heartstrings and make the big finale feel so incredibly cathartic.
  
  Hats off to the art team as well! Adam Bryce Thomas and Evan Stanley are no strangers to the Sonic franchise and they both do a magnificent job making these characters feel like they have weight and depth to them while keeping them on model and expressive. I’m not as familiar with Priscilla Tramontano’s work, but she does a good job with the scenes she’s given.
  
  All in all, a wonderful conclusion. Absolutely worth picking up if you’ve stuck it out this far.
• 
  Grace Z

  I had previously read all the issues in this volume (except the last one), but dang, I’d forgotten how much I love IDW Sonic. and the issues work really well as a unified story when read all at once. Rouge and Cream’s parts were definitely the highlights for me, but all of the characters had really fun and interesting parts to play. and the art... man, the art is incredible. a lot of really good expressions and cool pages. plenty of panels with meme-potential, too. love this series.
• 
  Connor C

  This book was awesome! It's the final battle between Sonic and the Metal Virus! An old enemy also comes: Zeti! Now Sonic's friends must survive the Metal Virus and defeat Zeti!
  
  *Spoiler Alert* At the final battle lots of Sonic's friends get infected, my favorite infection scene is the one with Dr. Eggman.
• 
  Kelleysgirl

  Very good book, incredible art, and some really exciting scenes. The cliffhanger is thrilling! I recommend this book, and all the others in this wonderful series, to everyone who loves Sonic the Hedgehog. Can't wait for number 8-Out of the Blue!
  Review written by EnderGirl24 ~ Age 10
• 
  Timothy Pitkin

  So really to see Starline pushed out of the way like that but nice conclusion and a nice little cliff hanger for the next part of the story. Granted does not really do much to make the Deadly Six any more appealing as villains.
• 
  Stella

  I love the covers and the alternate covers. Speaking of the art, the emotions have gotten so good. Whisper sobbing after not being able to avenge Tangle and having to face zombified Tangle once again-- One thing I do have to criticize is at how quickly it was resolved. The zombot virus was lifted so quickly, and the cliffhanger was kinda meh. I would have also liked to see the extra drama of the crew vs zombot crew. Like c'mon, with the line "Can you see them...Sonic? The faces of all the friends you've failed?" The wasted potential drama is killing me!
  
  Knuckles finally appears after so long! Rouge is finally back too, though Knuckles has been absent for longer. I loved the interaction between Espio and Knuckles, just because I feel like it's unusual for them to interact. Espio's fight scene was so good! This comic is my first exposure to Team Chaotix and I love how his invisibility plays into fights. And that bittersweet moment where he looked at the Chaos Emerald and thought of his fallen team--ahhhh
  
  I was finally starting to like Cream for the first time (which is a feat considering I didn't like her already after watching the first two seasons of Sonic X), but then she had to be a dumbass and jump in after Gemerl. Speaking of dumbasses, why would they send a robot to defeat someone who can control robots? Cream gained my respect after she was able to actually hold her own, though she did use the tired trope "I know you're still in there somewhere!" Then I disliked Gemerl for being a hypocrite.
  
  Once again, I am out of the loop when it comes to the Babylon Rouges' existence.
  
  I love how angry Metal Sonic looks all the time. But don't blame him, Sonic. He's not bad--he was just drawn that way. And the fact that his character description is "metallic menace" is just so funny to me.
• 
  myblackbookish_life

  Nothing to say except time to find the next one!
• 
  Klarrissa

  Fine enough conclusion to the arc!
• 
  Dustin

  even the deadly six cant ruin this comic
• 
  brianna

  Answers to the zombots situation
• 
  Emmy

  Whew! Lot going on in this volume. Great conclusion to the Metal Virus arc. I can't wait to see what happens next!