#wu11

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Aw yeah, return of Super Sonic and Super Armor Mega Man! If there’s one thing that’ll stop Sigma 3.0 from curbstomping the entire cast, its definately these two!

Though its kinda eyerolling that Sally Acorn and Mega Man X had to be regressed to damsel/dude in distress for this act. What’s super egregious is that X and Sigma don’t even get any banter despite the former being the latter’s arch enemy! The story either didn’t find any significance of their longtime hero/villain relationship or this issue was just so stuffed that they didn’t have the time.

According to writer Ian Flynn, they originally planned for X to have a Super form too, resembling his Fourth/Force Armor from X4, but Sega of all people prevented that from happening. I can’t figure out why, maybe they only wanted Sonic characters to have Super States and Mega Man was already kinda stretching it...?? It would have honestly been cool seeing X get back at Sigma for all the chaos he has brought to his world and others, but this time as a cool golden boi.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

The Street Fighter guys can’t take on giant Sigma, but thankfully the Big Bad’s releasing these smaller copies of himself for them to fight. I appreciate the small things where the dialogue actually means something, what with Ryu and Chun-Li having to begrudgingly put aside their differences to fight alongside parent-killer M. Bison.

Obviously I’m skimming over a lot of this issues repetative fight scenes. I do love the characters and especially how it gives long-obscure peeps something to do, but I like it less that the moment all these colourful and unique characters enter the battlefield, the comic has to gloss over all of them and give them equal screentime. The flaws of having SO MANY franchises crossing over is starting to show.

I do like this page a lot, though.

Something about seeing a hero and their nemesis forced to work with each other, all of them feeling different things about their alliences, its honestly really appealing to me.

I wonder if this wasn’t a grand crossover, it might have been able to fit in moments where Sonic has banter with his metal counterpart, or Mega Man resolving issues he has with his then-unannounced brother. Ah, one can dream.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Sigma reveals his fully-transformed body that was inside the giant version of himself. Its got the colourschemes of Eggman and Wily (and Zavok’s horns at the back?), but its more subdued than before. Though its a little too similiar to his “Psycho Sigma“ body from X5, I kinda dig it and the “single glowing eye“ look.

Continuing with his portrayal in his first form, Sigma’s still not about Reploids taking over and evolving past humanity, instead announcing he wishes to become a god and leave each of their worlds barren. A far cry from his might makes right motivations, but I guess that’s just a thing when villains suddenly get a surge of power.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Ah yes, this page is here to remind us that the pair of bad guys wanna join Xander on his unknown cruisade against the universe in the name of “destiny“. This B plot is SO disconnected from the main story that I’m surprised they keep bringing it up and giving Destiny Man so much importance. Hell, he gets more focus in this crossover than most of the Sonic and Mega Man cast.

Perhaps if they connected it to what was going on in the final fight it would have been less of a goddamned footnote? Have Wily thinking about Dr. Light and how he’ll finally overshadow him, or Eggman contacting Metal Sonic in the middle of battle and physically see the carnage that’s going on? Or have them outsmart Mr. Destiny, using his knowledge to give the good guys an unexpected edge in the Sigma fight?? Anything is better than simply a bunch of issues of the evil geniuses unquestionably following Xander!

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

If there’s one thing that I can appreciate about this issue, its the really cool splash pages! Seriously, Tyson Hesse can make any battle look extremely epic.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Its almost overwhelming how many different characters appear in this crossover from different franchises. Is it admirable? Yes!

Does it make up for this unfocused story, tiring fight scenes and bloated yet undercooked story? Not really.

[robotnikholmescomicblog]

Oh wow, its the last milestone issue Archie Sonic ever had! ...And it takes place during the convoluted crossover.

We’re almost at the end, we only have a couple more legnthy pages of endless battles.