DC x Sonic The Hedgehog #1
A Crash Course in Chaos
The premise is simple yet wild: Darkseid, the cosmic tyrant of Apokolips, punches through dimensions to invade Sonic’s turf, chasing the Chaos Emeralds’ power. Sonic, Tails, and Amy are holding their own against his Parademon goons—until the Justice League portals in to level the playing field. For newcomers to either franchise, this issue’s got a big job: introducing two iconic squads without bogging down the pace. It mostly pulls it off, tossing out quick character beats that’ll clue you in—Sonic’s a quippy speedster, Batman’s a grim tactician, you get the gist. But that balancing act comes with a catch.
Take the Batman-Shadow chat, for instance. It’s a moody moment where they bond over their tragic pasts—Bruce’s parents, Shadow’s Maria—but it lands like a lead balloon. “Hey, my folks are dead.” “Yeah, I lost someone too.” “Cool, let’s fight evil.” It’s exposition dressed up as depth, and it clunks hard. Same goes for Knuckles spilling his guts to Superman about the Master Emerald. I get it—newbies need the rundown—but it feels like the comic’s pausing to read us a wiki page instead of letting the action breathe.
Darkseid Fatigue and a Missed Opportunity
Here’s my big gripe: Darkseid as the villain. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a powerhouse, but he’s starting to feel like DC’s go-to bad guy for every crossover. Why not mix it up? Picture this—Lex Luthor and Dr. Robotnik, two bald, brilliant egomaniacs, teaming up to take down their super-powered nemeses. The parallels are right there: evil scientists with a grudge, scheming to outsmart Sonic and Superman. That’d be a fresh twist, dripping with personality, instead of Darkseid’s “generic doom lord” routine. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a swing and a miss when the setup screamed for something more inspired.
The Rule of Cool Saves the Day
Now, here’s the twist—I still had a blast with this issue. Crossovers like this live or die by the “Rule of Cool,” and DC x Sonic leans into it hard. Sonic racing the Flash? Electric. Batman and Shadow stalking the shadows together? Chills. Knuckles squaring up with Superman? Heck yes. You don’t crack open a book like this for Shakespeare—you’re here to see your faves bounce off each other, and it delivers that in spades. Silver popping up with Green Lantern for some telekinetic tag-team action was a surprise highlight—give that hedgehog more love, please!
Adam Bryce Thomas’s art is the jet fuel powering this ride. His Sonic work is top-notch—fluid, dynamic, and packed with energy. The DC crew gets a cartoony tweak that fits the vibe without losing their iconic edge—Superman’s belt logo might be overkill, but it’s a minor nitpick. Matt Herms’ colors, though, stumble a bit. The bright, poppy palette suits Sonic’s world, but it can make the League feel like they’re photobombed into the scene rather than fully part of it. It’s not a buzzkill, just a tweak that catches the eye.
A Solid Start—But Can It Stick the Landing?
Shoaib, this one’s tailor-made for cutitoy.com—a fun, flashy opener that hooks you with its premise. At 6.5/10, it’s not flawless, but it’s got heart and hustle. The intros are out of the way, so I’m crossing my fingers that issue #2 ramps up the stakes and smooths out the clunkier bits. If you’re a Sonic stan curious about DC, a League loyalist eyeing the Blue Blur, or just craving a light, out-of-continuity romp, this’ll scratch that itch. Recommended? You bet—especially if Sonic vs. Flash sounds like your kind of party. So, collectors, are you snagging this one, or waiting to see if the series picks up speed? Let’s chat!
