Sonic the Hedgehog #69: A Race That Matters
IDW Publishing took a big risk promoting Sonic The Hedgehog #69 as a race issue. Races haven't been successful in the Sonic comic franchise, but this time, the race surprisingly turned out to be important. It even led to Sonic and Dr. Eggman teaming up.
In Sonic #69, the Clean Sweepstakes race ends in disaster when Sonic, Tails, and Amy Rose's Extreme Gear malfunctions. Dr. Eggman appears and offers to help Sonic investigate what happened, in exchange for helping him investigate a company that mocked him.
This company, Clean Sweep Inc., is involved in a big conspiracy. They plan to use Sonic and Tails' cyborg replacements, Surge and Kit, to take down Sonic's Restoration from within.
Past Races In Sonic Have Been Terrible
Sonic #69 comes after a break from the main series, which focused on the Fang: The Hunter miniseries. The return issue might have been better off focusing on the alliance between Sonic and Dr. Eggman, which is rare and exciting.
Past Sonic race issues have been mostly filler stories. One race has Sonic and his friends participate in a Chao racing circuit to get parts for their friend Omega. Another race appears in a one-shot issue, Sonic Team Racing, but it doesn't have any impact on the overall story.
Races in Archie's Sonic series haven't been much better. One race was even a standalone story, taking up the entire issue (Sonic #242). It also interrupted a bigger story about Geoffrey St. John becoming a villain.
Sonic's Ego Wasn't Even At Risk
It's surprising that a comic about a hedgehog who races would have such lackluster actual races. The one good thing is that the previous issue focused on Extreme Gear, which foreshadowed the race in Sonic #69.
The problem with the race in #69 is that it lacks real consequences. It's just a charity event with no real risk. Sonic's speed depends on technology, not his own abilities, so there's no danger to his ego.
However, the race does play a big part in bringing together Sonic and Dr. Eggman, two of the most unlikely enemies in pop culture.
Sonic The Hedgehog #69 is available now from IDW Publishing.
