I’m always on the lookout for good quality children’s comics to recommend, because it encourages early readers and it’s great to share the love of comics with a younger audience. I’m not quite as critical of comics for kids, as long as they don’t try to talk down to their audience, or get preachy. An uplifting message in the story is always appreciated for impressionable minds. While I’m not usually a fan of comics based on video games, it makes more sense when the character is popular world-wide with young gaming enthusiasts.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #1 (IDW Publishing, April 4 release date) Written by Ian Flynn. Pencils by Tracy Yardley. Inks by Jim Amash and Bob Smith. Colors by Matt Herms. Letters by Corey Breen.
Like many of these comics, the plot is deliberately simple and straightforward. Sonic, just in case you need a reminder, is a blue hedgehog with super-speed, often enhanced through the use of springs, ramps and loops. He’s been fighting the evil plots of Dr. Eggman throughout the various video games and comics that have been released so far.
This new series begins after Sonic has completed yet another battle with Dr. Eggman, who has vanished since them. However, his robot army remains and terrorizes a small town of cartoon animals. Sonic comes to the rescue, is recognized by the townsfolk who seem in awe of his presence, and gets a welcome assist from his best friend Tails, also possessed of high speed abilities.
The story ends with an unidentified person watching the action on a monitor, and preparing to ramp up the robotic challenges even more in the next town that Sonic visits. I normally don’t like kids comics that have long stories continued from one issue to the next. I prefer a stand alone story, so that young readers can pick up any random issue and get a beginning, middle, and end. Since this story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger it’s not that upsetting. Also, this kick-off of new Sonic stories promises a new issue weekly for the month of April.
Some of the things I liked most about SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #1 are the bigger panels, vivid colors and engaging art - - with lots of text-free panels that let the movements tell the story. There’s just enough dialogue throughout this issue to keep the story moving and non-confusing.
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: A good beginning, spares the history lesson. 2 POINTS
ART: This is exactly the kind of art I like to see in comics for kids. 2.5 POINTS
COVER: Keep it simple yet draw attention. 1 POINT
READ AGAIN? I wouldn’t. But younger readers will. 1 POINT
RECOMMEND? There are better books for young readers out there, but this beats some of the toned-down all-ages superhero titles. 0.5 POINTS.
TOTAL RATING: 7 POINTS.
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