Warning: If you don't want to get spoilers, then don't click further.
Hello again. It's Gemlik speaking once more! If you've been normal and barely used internet last week, then I want to tell you that the preview pages of this comic released few days ago ignited something I've never seen from the fandom. Many people (myself included) got angry about it because the Babylon Rogues are mostly written OOC (out of character) for the whole IDW run. I mean, I think it was normal that people would get critical about it and the noise we've made on the socials were heard. I appreciate whoever partecipated into this without being bullies to the creators of said comic, but I think now it's time to admit that we've jumped to the conclusion too quickly, even if it was in good faith.
I still think criticizing the Rogues in IDW was a good call, because it's time for the creators understand that the Rogues fans exist worldwide and we care about these colored birds so much. The Babylon Rogues should be balanced between cool and goofy moments when you want to write them. Writing the Rogues just goofy (doing always meme expressions, being incompetent and being dumb 24/7) or just serious (being too violent, melodramatic and too edgy) is OOC. They are not Team Rocket from Pokémon but they are not Shadow The Hedgehog too (thankfully).
This comic is pretty normal, even fun at some points, so I'm glad I was wrong and could enjoy this one-shot without getting furious, as I predicted from the preview pages.
So, let's talk about it. As usual I will focus only on the Babylon Rogues parts.
Long story short: Dodon Pa invited Sonic and friends to join a beta race with the warp rings. He would give vehicles to all of them and promised some great prizes to whoever wins the race.
I'm not sure why Wave's so annoyed in this panel. I think she would be excited to race as much as her fellow team mates. Also talking of incredible technology to study should excite her.
I already talked about these panels. but repetita iuvant.
I think the should tone a little with Jet being a gremlin when he sees Sonic. Last thing Jet wants is to show himself as cool and superior racer. He would die in humiliation if ANYONE in that group would see him as an inferior and a loser. Do you get what am I saying? I also tried myself to rewrite those 3 panels to be more in-character with Sonic, Shadow and Jet. You can find it in my fan-art blog on Tumblr!
If I want to be honest with you Wave, I think you aren't normal. In fact, I think you're a crazy girl with a love for technology and explosives!
This is where the previews stopped. Now, let's see what the rest of the comic looks like.
Huh. Looks like Storm wants to be Jet's best friend. I thought he already was, but I think there is the Rogues hierarchy tree in-between them and Storm always need to talk formally to Jet.
I mean, if Jet didn't see him like a friend or someone important to him, then he wouldn't draw stuff like this to show how cool he is to others. Maybe Storm doesn't know it because everytime Jet talks about him he's never there. I hope Storm will find out someday or just be assured he's important to everyone in the Rogues!
Anyway, back to the comic.
Ohhh, what's this? Actually banter between Rouge and Wave? Sparking this rivalry I thought I would never see develop after Free Riders? Also tell her, Wave. Your 2yk look is unbeatable!
Wow, I AM surprised here. Positively, I may add.
It's like Wave finally woke up from her mama/life coach BS she was on for all the IDW Riders arc. Thank God. Wave likes genuine and silly fun too or her job would be too boring. Love how both get so competitive in this. Ahah
It's like Sonic is no more the centre of Jet's attention in this comic. He's playing the same game Sonic tried to play at the start of the comic. Is it actually ... good Jet writing in IDW? What? What's going on? Am I in the same universe as this?
These girls are dumbasses to eachother, I like it!
Oh my GOD. AHAHA! Cream is savage. Relatable to be honest. I played the game for over 200 hours since it released and this happened too many times. I never thought to see Wave and Omega the pancakes talking about this. Wave's funny.
As we italians would say: it's a fagiolata! Idk how Jet ended up getting the Type-J Jota on his face like this, but I will close an eye this time.
Dodon Pa... I think you are a millionaire with all the technology you have. Would it hurt to give some money compensation to everyone?
...Some Dodon Pa tickets, at least?
Jet will lore dump his defeat to Wave until Hell freezes over, count me on that. Ahah.
Also Storm is a cutie patootie. All you care about is being helpful and good to Jet. So cute!!!
I love this panel. I feel warm seeing Jet just grabbing both and walk away from this race.
10 years old me would've loved this moment. Before Riders came out, Cream was my fav Sonic character and seeing Cream and Wave standing close for the photo is heartwarming to me, personally.
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So, what about this story? I think this was a very fun story to promote the game. I have this feeling SEGA actually gave the OK to this one because the Rogues are all in-character after the first 5 pages. I dunno how that happened, but I'm extremely surprised by it. I wish they would check out the writing of the book more often if the quality is this. There are still too many meme faces with Jet and Storm but for a fun race I think it's fine.
So yes, I think this is on par with Endless Summer. A fun story to promote the chaotic game that is Crossworlds, where characters actually have fun and their writing is for the most part respectful to everyone.
We've jumped to the conclusion too quickly, but as I said before, it was useful that we started to discuss about the Rogues writing in this comic series. Not to seek drama between fans and creators, but to get even better stories in the future with proper care and guidelines to follow.
We've got too many mixed bag Rogues stories in the past, so it's kind of normal we were very defensive at the first sight of "meh" Jet and Wave writing, but if things are changing, then I'm just happy.
I've got one small nitpick tho: They should stop releasing preview pages or just decrease them to two pages. Excluding the fact they could avoid people getting this angry to one panel out of context, I think showing too much will kill the client's expectation and thus lose money. I've seen people skipping this book just for that Jet interaction in the preview. Just my 2 cents.
Ok, now the IDW project is officially over. See you next time!
Ciao!
