Ever since I was small, I’ve had a particular fondness for unusual crossovers. Whether it’s Jurassic Park dinosaurs attacking my Polly Pockets, or Link from The Legend of Zelda and the Biker Mice from Mars joining forces to liberate the rec room’s pool table, I knew in my heart that worlds were meant to collide. Rws
So upon hearing about Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla, my surprise was less about the actual concept of them crossing over, but more "what took so long?"
Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla Issue 1
Written by: Nick Marino
Artwork by: Jack Lawrence
Colours by: Reggie Graham
Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
Issue 1 releases 15 July; pre-order by 8 June to guarantee copy.
Review
Nick Marino weaves both of these worlds together seamlessly, hooking the reader with the high energy action you’d expect from Sonic the Hedgehog, right from the very start.
A routine battle between Sonic and Doctor Eggman in Station Square is cut short by a struggle of a much much larger scale as a massive fissure in reality directs an explosive conflict between Mothra and Mechagodzilla into Sonic’s world. This first issue focuses on how the characters react to the kaiju-level surprise.
Despite the dire situation, the dialogue is lighthearted and silly, allowing everyone’s personalities to shine through without taking away from the seriousness of the growing pandemonium. As a long-time Sonic the Hedgehog fan, I did find some of the lines to be a little over the top, but for a newcomer to the franchise it does an excellent job of conveying who the characters are without taking up too much time and space.
The exception is Doctor Eggman, whose (relatable) enthusiasm very much steals the show in this issue. His uncontainable glee with the situation serves as a way to set and describe the scene while still keeping the action flowing and keeping the tone light in the process.
Artist Jack Lawrence shows some of his best with this issue, expertly conveying the incredible scale between the monsters, the city, and Sonic and his friends without compromising the story. It’s impressive just how much detail was put into each panel without distracting from the action or making everything look too busy.
Colourist Reggie Graham ties it together with his vivid style capturing the strong atmosphere of chaos and disaster while leading the eye right into the action, where it needs to be, all while maintaining the energy of Sonic’s colourful world.
The action itself is fluid and persistent— there isn’t a single moment where something isn’t moving and even Mechagodzilla feels full of life and energy. It’s as close to an animated cartoon as a comic can get!
This is strongly reinforced by Ed Dukeshire’s lettering. Every sound effect brings with it scale and impact, every strike felt like it should be shaking the book itself. It is one of the loudest comics I’ve ever read and I love it.
What I liked
- My knowledge about Godzilla is minimal and surface level, however I had no problem understanding what was going on and following along with the story.
- The pacing was quick, however I never felt like I was being left behind or dragged along.
- The large panels and full page art were very fun and pleasing to look at and really set the mood.
- It got right into the action from the beginning, with things exploding from the very first panel.
Keep in mind
- The story seems to be tailored to a younger audience and readers who might not be familiar with Sonic the Hedgehog lore, which affects characterization and dialogue.
- The dialogue carries a more “classic comic” whimsy to it than I’ve seen in the ongoing IDW Sonic the Hedgehog series, which felt very nostalgic, but isn’t going to be for everyone.
- This is the first part of a series, not a stand alone issue, so the story is established, but incomplete.
- The plot so far isn’t very deep or complex and has a light tone
In closing
Issue 1 of Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla has exceeded my expectations and I believe it will continue to deliver throughout the rest of the series. The story and visuals are impressive and fun and do a wonderful job combining both sides of the crossover into an organic and believable world. I am very much looking forward to what’s coming next!
Sameth Starr is a writer, artist, and volunteer for IDWSonicNews, contributing for Tails' Channel.
Discussion