As the world finds its new normal, the joys of an opening night movie and one-shot promotional comics start to return. As a part of opening night for Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic 2, a cinema exclusive comic was handed out to the audience in my hometown theatre. Partly functioning as promotional material and partly acting as a way to kill time in line before the show this comic was a joy to both receive and read. A few other comic book films have had promotional comics of one sort or another over the years. But there was something special about being able to share this one with my son as we waited for the movie to start. The issue is split into two parts: “Fallout” by Ian Fly and Tracy Yardley introduces the reader to the storyline of the regular comic run, encouraging them to pick up where they left off in next month’s issue. The second story, “Jet Set Tornado” by Caleb Goellner and Jack Lawrence (the exclusive bit of this pairing), gives us a look at the dynamic duo of Sonic and Tails.
Sonic The Hedgehog: Sonic 2 Cinema Exclusive
Fallout, Part 1: Ian Flynn (Story), Tracey Yardley (Art), Jim Amash and Bob Smith (Inks), Matt Herms (Colours), Corey Breen (Letters)
Jest Set Tornado: Caleb Goellner (Story), Jack Lawrence (Art), Leonardo Ito (Colours), Shawn Lee (Letters)
IDW Publishing
April 2022
There are a few comics fandoms that ride the line between new fan engagement and existing reader nostalgia well. They create worlds that families can enjoy together, sometimes for different reasons. Sonic The Hedgehog has been one of those fandoms for my family. This Cinema Exclusive issue, along with the movie it promotes, is an example of how the Sonic franchise uses the powers of nostalgia and intrigue to tell a creative story that readers will enjoy, and can share with their families.
Fallout Part 1
“Fallout Part 1” is a lovely little comic with all the pieces that make Sonic special. You have appearances from Tails and girls fawning over Sonic from the sidelines. Panels are often framed from a side-angle view, making it feel like you’re inside the original Sega side scroll video game which popularized the character in 1991.
Its colors are vibrant and fun. The classic whirlwind woosh that is Sonic does an amazing job of expressing dynamic motion, and the witty one-liners for which Sonic is known are on point. Moments like Sonic saying “Swing Batta- batta- Batta…swing” while running out of the way as he shouts the second swing. Or defining the word hedgehog as he pops out of a hole in the ground having gone underground to escape attack by the mallet welding robots.
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“Hedgehod.” Noun. A burrowing animal.
Choosing this story to showcase in the issue pairs amazingly with the themes of the movie. Both “Fallout Part 1” and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are classic coming-of-age stories. Tails and Sonic are in that awkward teen phase where they feel as though they can take on the world but don’t yet realize how untrue that can be.
My favourite scene from the issue suggests that Tails has feelings for Sonic, ones that are possibly more than platonic. Tails looks longingly at a couple embracing after the main fight scene as Sonic tells him of his plans to head to the next village alone. A look of consideration crossed Tails’ face while he appears to debate asking Sonic to stay. However, Tails thinks better of it and takes a moment to close his eyes and put on his chipper smile and encourages Sonic to depart.
The gravity with which Tails’ reaction is handled is remarkable. The colours shift to only show their eyes as Tails’ fear, grief and longing truly grip him. The attention Yardley pays to the small details is remarkable; for example, Tails is typically drawn with his eyebrows as hard lines, which peak towards the center of his face. But while Yardley is illustrating Tails’ more vulnerable side, the eyebrow moves to an exterior of his eyes and the line is softened. So much detail goes into conveying every piece of Tails’ emotional state and his journey to acceptance across these two pages.
The movie focuses more on platonic friendship and “bromance,” but the same overall moral of love winning and needing to be a team player still comes through strongly. In both, the villain considers the friendship a weakness and intends to exploit that as part of their plan. I would bet that by reading “Fallout Part 2” we will see that plan backfire in a similar way to the movie.
This issue embraces the classic ‘90s vibe and creates a space where parents can read this comic alongside their children, as I did with my son, and reminisce about what Sonic used to be while embracing and enjoying what it has become in the cinematic universe. It creates a bridge between the two which points out the core similarities of the franchise while still allowing for enjoyment of the difference. Whereas the comic series is set on a planet somewhere out in space with many hedgehog beings, the heroes a part of supporting the Resistance, and doctor egg man being egg-shaped, the movie features Sonic’s adventures on the planet earth. Sonic is adopted, effectively, by a human family in the first movie and the second movie is about Sonic finding his place in their home. Subplots in the movie include Sonic’s need to find friends his own age, the USA Army trying to hunt sonic down to study him, and Sonic learning how to function in his new dynamic, on a new planet, with only an adolescent level of privileges and authority as Sonic has parental figures in his life he needs to listen to.
Jet Set Tornado
This fun exclusive short focuses on telling a classic Sonic story while finding the pieces of the universe that branch from comics in the cinematic rendering of the characters. It brings in Tornado, the plane Sonic and Tails pilot in both the comic and movie, for some stunt flying. My son’s favourite movie moments involved Tornado and his eyes sparkled with joy when he saw the rocket red double-winged plane in the comic book.
Out for a test drive of a newly installed booster that will make Tornado’s speed Sonic fast, Tails and Sonic encounter a Stealth Balkiry carrying a box. They pursue it in a high-speed chase, with the booster jammed at full speed. Eventually, the dynamic duo defeats the robotic bird and continues their test flight, allowing the booster to burn out before returning home.
Sonic uses his speed and recklessness to do things only Sonic can. Tails (despite complaining that sometimes his brain is a burden) uses his tech know-how to pull his plan off without a hitch.
Again, this story is filled with bromance (possibly coded as a little more) and witty one-liners. It ends with a line that made both my son and I chuckle as Tails and Sonic ride off into the sunset. After a successful mission, Sonic states, “Landings aren’t really my thing after all…you gotta go slow.”
The framing of this story is more head-on, feeling more immersive than a side panel framing. With this framing, the comic is given a more cinematic feel, rather than a call back to the side scroll game. But the bright colours and classic whirlwind spin hit the nostalgia notes needed for the older readers.
In combination, the two pieces provide an enjoyable reading that is best shared with the younger generation. With the work successfully bridging the gap between 90s nostalgia and the modern CGI reincarnation. The way in which the closing panel of “Jet Set Tornado” mirrors the movie poster, but with classic sonic imagery and colours nails the last of the link better both fandoms.
