#project shadow files

[project-shadow]

do you agree with what people say about IDW Sonic? That he's nothing like the game version, and that hes selfish and lets his enemies go without just punishment?

I've seen this take quite often, and even got some questions about this on Discord.

The short answer; No, I do not agree with that statement.

The long answer?

I don't see why people seek to compare the Comics Sonic with the Game Sonic. They're not the same universe, first of all, and second of all, Ian Flynn, who wrote for Archie after Ken Penders left and currently writes for IDW, is also the writer of Sonic Origins and Sonic Frontiers. He's been writing for Sonic longer than most people in the fandom have even been consuming Sonic media (from 2006-present)

If you hate Sonic's characterization, then you've hated him in any paper media since 2006. And some people prefer Archie over IDW (another take I do not agree with)

If there's any version of Sonic that was selfish, it was definitely Archie era Sonic. He was admittedly a poorly written character, mostly because he was written as infallible most of the times.

IDW Sonic is nothing like Archie Sonic, and probably the closest to the games as we're going to get (excluding Frontiers Sonic, of whom we don't have much information on character wise)

IDW Sonic goes through phases. Yes, he lets his enemies go, but he doesn't do so to the point of "letting them go without punishment". The punishment Sonic gives his enemies is the battle they engage in. And some of his enemies are sent to prison/hauled off to other planets/etc. None of his enemies escape "unscathed" except arguably Eggman. And this itself is explained in the comics.

After the battle that caused Eggman to lose his memories, he became Mr. Tinker. Shadow had come seeking Eggman out to kill him. Literally, he wanted to kill Eggman. Or at the very least, imprison him. The reason why Sonic stopped Shadow wasn't because he was sparing his enemy. He was literally sparing an innocent man. Mr. Tinker had lost all of his memories. He knew nothing of his time as Eggman, and was still dead set on repenting for a side of himself that he didn't even remember. He helped people, built rides for children, and even created Belle, the antithesis to Metal Sonic.

Sonic tells Shadow that if no one is worth redemption and should be killed, then why was it okay for Shadow to be running around free? Shadow understood the logic behind this and allowed Mr. Tinker to continue on. The only reason why this becomes a problem is because Starline (whom no one knew of at the time) wanted to bring back Eggman. He kidnapped Mr. Tinker and tortured him until he became Eggman again, which directly leads into the Metal Virus arc.

In the Metal Virus arc, Sonic is one of the first people to get infected. And Sonic blames HIMSELF for everything that happens in that arc. He apologizes to the victims, he apologizes to Tails and Amy. He even shows some signs of survivor's guilt/depression, because Sonic realizes that if he had killed/imprisoned Eggman or let Shadow handle Tinkerer, none of this would have happened. The world as he knew it and everyone he loved were potentially going to die because Sonic made the wrong call. How in the world can anyone say that's selfish? Or that he doesn't care about his friends or the world he protects everyday with his life?

And in the Surge arc, Sonic thinks back on his mistakes and the villains he deals with, and STILL CHOOSES TO SPARE SURGE. Surge owes Sonic NOTHING. She wants to kill and replace him. And Sonic still chooses her life and her happiness over everything. Because that's the kind of person he is. He doesn't want her blood on his hands, he doesn't want to be the kind of hero who kills his enemies. He wants to be the kind of hero who always extends a helping hand no matter who the person is.

Sonic the Hedgehog believes in love and friendship. He believes no one is truly evil, and as long as he can be there for someone, hold their hand, show them that there's always going to be a home and a friend waiting there, that he can change their life for the better and in turn, make the world they live in a better place.

Sonic is someone who suffered so much and saw so many people he cares about suffer, and still choses love as his weapon of choice. Not violence, not murder. Love.

How can you sit there and truly think someone like that is selfish?

[project-shadow]

have you read IDW 50 yet? if so, what is your opinion on it?

I have read it, yes. I personally enjoyed it, though I heard some people disliked or even hated some of the characterization within it.

Spoilers for IDW Sonic the Hedgehog #50 below the cut

The battle between Surge/Sonic and Kitsunami/Tails were exactly what I was expected. It was refreshing to see Tails have someone to relate to in terms of technology, and I was hoping that it would be enough to break Kitsunami's programming. I was disappointed to see just how big of a hold Surge had on him and his emotions, because it sort of negated all forms of character development for Kit as long as Surge was hellbent on her "revenge" against Sonic.

I was also happy to see that although Sonic was in danger of losing his life, he still remembered his development from the Metal Virus arc. He still valued life over everything, even if it meant leaving someone around who may end up doing something awful later down the line. He offered Surge something she may have never experienced before; genuine Friendship. All she knew was the master/weapon relationship she had with Starline and her synthesized master/servant relationship that she has with Kit.

It was unfortunate to see that no matter what Sonic said, Surge found the most pessimistic parts to pick apart, to the point where she renounced the world itself for throwing her aside. And still, despite all of that, Sonic's first reaction was to help her. To heal her. He wanted to give her a second chance, just as he had given one to Shadow and to Eggman/Tinkerer.

Also the entire interaction between Starline and Eggman was amazing, where the Doctor proved that no matter how logical you try to be, it means nothing if you set yourself in stone and refuse to adapt to all possibilities, no matter how outlandish. As well as Belle learning that her father truly will never come back and that it was up to her to find her own way and carve her own path.

All in all; I can see why some people were disappointed with the issue. The fight was very one-sided (towards Sonic and Tails), and the resolution to said fights were a bit lacking. But to denounce the comic, which gave such wonderful nods to past character development and interesting and profound banter? I can't agree with that.

Sonic the Hedgehog #50 was a great read. I wouldn't change a thing about it, and if you haven't read it yet, you're missing out.

[project-shadow]

favorite comic arc????

Metal Virus/Zombot arc.

Well-written, wonderful amount of "zombie apocalypse end of the world" angst, and one of my favorite arc conclusions ever. A lot of my favorite characters got some big roles in the arc, so it just really hit all of the best notes for me.

Though as much as I love angst, I would rather not see another arc where character "death" was written with that much gusto.

[project-shadow]

What are your opinions on Starline? Would you ever draw him?

I actually like him as a character. He's interesting, but not on the theatrics level that we expect from other villains (like Eggman) or hellbent on violence (like Metal Sonic). I also love his humor and how they write him as having his own distinct character/personality.

As to whether or not I would draw him, I'd have to really think about it. I've never been good at drawing duck/platypus Mobians.

[project-shadow]

I saw some of your posts lean towards shadamy/sonadow/sonamy, which do you ship personally? and whos your favorite character?

I ship all of them, though the intensity depends on the premise and my mood for the day/week/month. I don't really like one ship more than the other. I draw all three often or even draw the three together as an OT3 (either romantically or platonically)

As for my favorite characters. . .

These two hold a very special place in my heart. I don't think I like any character more than I do Silver and Shadow, and I admittedly get very giddy when I see them in comics or games. I hope this adequately answers your questions.

[project-shadow]

Allegro is so pretty! i love that the wings are sparkly! are they a boy or a girl?

Allegro is a female Vampire Bat. I enjoy the idea of drawing Mobians with indiscernible genders, but she also looks like that as part of her character and backstory.

Her wings are certainly sparkly as well, but for a reason. When she flies at night and you look up at her from ground level, her wings blend into the night sky. It looks as if she's flying upon nothing.