IDW Sonic The Hedgehog #24 | A Comic Review by Megabeatman 

IDW: *Establishes a fun, unique character into the new Sonic Comic world* Also IDW: *Horrifically mutates said character into a zombie*

"Evil must die! Prepare to die, Eggman!" Espio said something like this in Heroes.....pretty sure he wants him dead.

Tangle's sacrifice was really hard but incredibly made. The reason? Even though she was condemned to become a zombot, she faced her darkest hour with a smile on her face, because she knows everything will be okay. But poor Whisper, she went berserk for a moment and broke down. And Cream just lost her light, but at least she was able to be by Whisper side to let her cry

Sonic and Espio's argument reminds me of when the latter became a relucant villain in the Archie Comics.

These last 4 issues feel like a dark parallel to vol 1. Issue 21 has Tails, Issue 22 with Amy, Issue 23 in Barricade Town and Issue 24 in Spiral Hill with Tangle.

Poor Cream. First Eggman takes her family and now we lose her too. Eggman, this your biggest blunder you ever made.

At least she was smiling.... Poor Whisper though... 😢 & Cream? Jeebus...how long will this go on...

There’s also the fetch that Sonic’s been touching Zombots constantly as he fights them, accelerating the speed and strength of his infection. Add that to his exhaustion and the fact the metal virus is mutating the more often it’s spread, and it makes sense that he’s no longer able to fully run it off.

After all this, everyone on the planet will be after Eggman’s head.

Whisper became one of my favorite new characters for the IDW series. Even though they probably won't I hope for her to be in the games canon too (and Tangle). I really feel bad for her in these past few issues. Especially after getting through the side series with her and Tangle dealing with her past just for this to happen in the main series. I'm glad this arc has given us REAL stakes. Even though I know they'll all make it out ok in the end, there were some moments when reading the past couple issues that I kinda forgot about that and thought there is pretty much no hope. If Ian Flynn says that we reached the lowest for the heroes and we're about to see the rise for them then I really look forward to see what's next and how they fix this

Remember when Ian Flynn was writing for Archie, he said he wanted to create a story line where the heros would eventually win, but an long drawn story that would push the our fav heroes to the edge and break them which was the Mecha Sally arc, in which was getting darker and darker also, but then the reboot happened, now fast forward to today, now he is basically living up to what he wanted to create but in the IDW universe and I love it, I see how all the characters are already or are on the verge of some personal break down ie. Amy is so exhausted you can see it in her face she is on some verge of a mental break down, Cream after witnessing what happened to her mom seems to give no fucks anymore, Tails on the verge of not holding it together, Espio is just pure angry, and now Whisper is broke, after this Im like expect the unexpected

I just want to give Whisper, Espio, and Cream a comforting hug, given what they all have been through.

Poor whisper, once the faceship will be found the now mad wolf will hunt down eggman and torture him for what he have done to the Diamond cutters and especially tangle.

Sonic's friends actually start turning on him for his decision to spare Eggman. Espio really gets on him since he lost Charmy and Vector and even Cream seems to issue a non-verbal version since since losing Vanilla, Cheese and Chocola. When you even get one of the more optimistic members of the series against you like that, you know things are bad. Second time that it happened in a comic series, first was in the Archie series.

i mean, in sonic heroes when you beat eggman as espio during egg hawk, he says "death to the evil one! prepare to die eggman!" and during the intro to egg emperor he says "evil must die, beware my ninja power!" this guy had it out for eggman for awhile, it's only now he's found the perfect excuse.

Issue 24 of Sonic IDW was a very good story. I liked how the comic grasped the concept of the heroes trying to keep it all together in spite of the odds stacked against them. I liked how Tangle was able to give Sonic the slightest bit of strength he needed to carry on fighting, even with her Heroic Sacrifice. I liked how Sonic was able to realise that he was at fault for everything that happened so far, though I still choose to believe that sparing Mr Tinker was not the huge mistake he made. I also liked how Starline was able to present his idea to Eggman, but I fear that Eggman will either take over and ruin things for Starline or Eggman will discard the idea completely… like the buffoon he really is. I felt so sorry for Cream, as she hasn’t been herself ever since she lost her mother to the Metal Virus. To see an innocent, optimistic character give Sonic a cold reception upon seeing him is really upsetting. Could this be a sign that Cream is turning on Sonic for unintentionally bringing the Metal Virus to the world? Whisper has suffered THE WORST in this issue. She had been keeping herself away from people out of fear of losing another friend, and now Tangle, her closest friend, has been lost to Metal Virus. This scene really tugs on your heartstrings. Espio was upset that Sonic allowed Mr Tinker to be spared, only for the latter to revert to the mad scientist everyone knows and loves to hate. Amy is still struggling yet managing to keep things under control. And Tails… Hoo boy… Tails was THIS CLOSE to losing it. You could see the desperation on his face as he was hoping that Sonic didn’t mess up on his mission to collect the data for the cure, only for Sonic to admit that he botched everything up. And just when you thought Tails was going to explode and reveal that he and Sonic repaired and released Metal Sonic, the fox cub instead blames himself for not doing enough to make a cure and send the information to Restoration HQ. Overall, this issue was a good read.

You make some good points about Cream She had Cheese and Vanilla and your biggest point: It happened all too quickly...kinda.

I really do love the art for this issue. Like you said it’s got an anime feel to it, something I think really fits Sonic very well. One of my favourite shots is the final panel of Sonic and Tangle where Sonic leaves her and you see a massive shadow over him and can only see his eyes.

When Espio said that Eggman should have been dealt with then, he’s saying that Eggman should have been dealt with when the latter returned to villainy. However, when Sonic and Tails asked Rough and Tumble where Mr Tinker was, the two skunks vanished before they could say anything. So the question is ‘how were the heroes supposed to defeat Eggman, who just had his memories and personality back, if none of them knew where he was’?

This is by far the darkest Sonic storyline so far, a great feeling of hopelessness and dread fills the plot, how can the world be fixed now?

Eggman: effectively starts killing off the main cast one by one. Me: DOOM soundtrack Stops "Your free trial of life has ended." *DOOM SOUNDTRACK GET'S STRONGER*

Tangle's sacrifice will forever be remembered. So, what now? Now that the data is wreaked Sonic wore on his wrist, what can they do?

I love how Animalistic many of the characters become since they're being pushed to the brink of Survival

Welp Judging by the leaked image of Creams drawn map of the world the last place to go is Angel Island

I love that Tangled has an adventurous personality like sonic. :3

Poor Whisper.

Man this new issue of DCeased sure is great!

You know, when I heard about this new comic being based after the games, I assumed it’s going to be on the same tone as the games, but man it’s even darker than the original Archie comics. I wonder if the new games will be like this now that the comics tie into it.

Poor Cream. Also killing Eggman will end the series you say? Lol tell that to Palpatine!

Oh Adam's artstyle in this issue might look more anime inspired due to his recent work on IDW's Samurai Jack: Lost Worlds.

Poor Whisper She regain her trust to depend on people after losing her team Now she lost the person that helped her

A broken Cream comforting a devastated Whisper...good grief. Also Espio, poor guy don't thinking straight and is shut filled with rage. Oh my heart. Everything is just getting worse and worse. At least Tangle went out with a smile and saved many people. That is a positive. Still, poor Whisper. I read the Whisper and Tangle comics....oh my gosh. Give poor Whisper a break! ;-;

I'd like a kinda crazy final showdown. It is like the only way I'll accept a deus ex machina fixing everything in the end. Don't laugh. It starts with Sonic facing off against the Deadly 6, but not directly. They use their powers to shape and control the metal virus into doubles of them closed off safely from Sonic, but their link is so strong that when Sonic "defeats" a double they pass out from shock of mental feedback. Sonic then goes after Eggman, but is interrupted by Starline wearing a power suit that shields him from the virus. Sonic doesn't have time to humor and dispatches Starline like a mook since he isn't used to combat. Sonic corners Eggman and demands him to hand over the emeralds and they have an intense battle leading to Sonic losing control of his anger and smashing Eggman into the Metal virus production area with Eggman falling staight into a vat of the goo, but not before being exposed to Sonic's own strain of the contagion (which by now from touching so many other Zombots is a variable cocktail unpredictability). Eggman becomes a zombot of course, but still retains a bit of his personality. That being his hatred for Sonic. So Eggman starts absorbing or eating all the canisters of the metal fluid and grows to gigantic size screaming "hate hedgehog!" Sonic nearing his limit from fatigue and almost being consumed by the virus himself desperately defends himself from a doctor that has become death itself. When hope seems lost Silver appears (while carrying an unconscious and disarmed Starline) from above with the Chaos Emeralds and gives them to Sonic who burns off the virus completely and becomes Super Sonic. Round 2 then begins with Chaos powered Sonic and a giant Metal Eggman who falls from the faceship (from getting to big) and they battle on a now mostly metalicized Angel Island (which is forced into the sea due to the impact and weight of Metal Eggman) at the old Launch Base site. The abomination that is now Metal Eggman forms weapons and attacks with his new metal body with Super Sonic either dodging or tanking them. Eventually Sonic has enough and ends the battle by throwing a sphere of chaos energy that seemingly obliterates Eggman and the power washes over not just Angel Island but the entire world. Chaos Control eradicates all traces of the Metal virus and returns all the infected to normal. Silver goes to see Super Sonic asking him if he actual killed Eggman (thinking maybe he used chaos control to revert him out of existence and spared everyone else). Sonic points to the down and you see a unconscious doctor floating in the lake near Launch Base back to his old mustached self. Sonic states Eggman (and Starline) are going to a prison and that he needs a vacation before fading out of Super form and falling from exhaustion with Silver catching him. He meets up with his other friends and Cream goes to hug him, yadda, yadda, credits roll. The End. After credits: A week later a secret meeting is held among powerful dictators, assassins, and mercenaries. They all brainstorm to have Eggman eliminated for good.

This is the dark storyline We should have got in the games... I'd buy it.

This got *dark* really fast 💨.

damn i dont remember the time that sonic give me the feels like this before like how idw does it but im happy to see that things may get better and i did say maybe bc what may happen to cream soon

Something tells me silver has got infected, and I sure am worried for him...

This is my favorite issue for the artwork alone.

That's when Cream the Rabbit doesn't love Sonic anymore.

I cannot wait to read the next chapter. This is what I found about the next chapters: (Maybe this could be consider spoiler, read it if you want) #25: “A Sudden Shift.” The world has fallen to the Metal Virus. Heroes, villains, and civilians have become Zombots. There’s only one place left to hide and the few survivors-good and bad alike-find themselves up against a new threat commanding the Zombot hordes. Who will Sonic turn to for help in his most desperate hour? Find out in this extra-length issue! #26: “All or Nothing,” Part One. This is it. The few remaining fighters from the Restoration and their allies are ready to launch a final assault to reclaim the Chaos Emeralds and finally eliminate the Metal Virus. Can they defeat the Chaos Emeralds’ new protectors, or will they all fall-and why isn’t Sonic part of the fight? #27: “All or Nothing,” Part 2. The remaining heroes of the Restoration have split-up to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds and hopefully save their world. Will Tails, Amy, Gemerl, and Cream be able to get the Emeralds, or will the Restoration’s last desperate plan fall to ruin?

That bloodlust from Espio was just 😄👌

First Whisper the Wolf lost the Diamond Cutters and now she lost Tangle the Lemur. Poor Whisper, I felt bad for her.

Rereading this comic at home, I realized something: In the same panel, when the Wisps came out to grab Whisper, in the same panel it looked like Whisper was ready to claw at Amy. If the Wisps had not held her, I can only imagine Whisper would feel a lot worse. Clever.

Many conflicts, many disasters, another ally lost. I don't blame Sonic for sparing Eggman back when he was Mr. Tinker, but sparing Metal Sonic? That robot has no heart or soul when it comes to other people, and he was the one that restored Eggman back to who he is. Granted, Sonic did acknowledge about regretting letting Metal Sonic go, but he still has yet to realize the "harmless" robot was the one who brought the doctor back and started this disaster. The only ones who did blame Sonic were Vector and Shadow in previous issues, as well as Espio and, to a lesser extent, Cream, due to losing her mother, in this issue. I don't want Sonic to get fully blamed though, since this situation is already disastrous is it is. With Tangle lost, that makes seven of Sonic's friends/allies infected by the Metal Virus. I respect Tangle a lot more due to sacrificing herself to have everyone escape in time, though Whisper's reaction was just heartbreaking. I wonder how they're going to rebound from this, as well as how the Deadly Six will play out. Regardless of these sad points, I enjoyed this issue and your review, and I'm anxious to see what comes next!

Sonic's been running for weeks without sleep... You'd get tired and slow down too... Good review though! 😁

I at least want to see Zombot Sonic....if only for an issue....it’s been teased too much to not happen for a tiny period of time. Maybe he’ll be the final obstacle to save the planet. Who knows. But a round of applause to Flynn and the team. And HOLY CRAP Adam Bryce Thomas’s growth. I was never fond of his art in the Archie comics for various reasons, mostly being a lack of expression. I now blame the rough art direction because HOT FREAKING D*** HE IS THE MOST EXPRESSIVE AND PRISTINE IN IDW alongside Evan Stanley’s work. I FREAKING LOVE HIS ART HERE. I legitimately cried with Whisper, and Tangle embracing Sonic. The only time I’ve ever come close to crying in previous comics was issue 234 with Antoine’s sudden fate, but I didn’t because I already knew he came back....ish. I’m excited. No matter how bad the games and SEGA are, especially right now, I will ALWAYS love and respect the comic team for delivering genuine, wholesome, and emotional material. Great job team! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

9:17 Not to mention, they're both bugs xD

So, first Cheese and Vanilla, then Shadow, then Vector and Charmy, and NOW TANGLE??!?!? Eggman, you're dead.

I do believe that this is sonic's darkest hour

This was a really good plot. I was completely into the story. It was dark, and one of the most saddest moments has to do with Cream and Gemerl. But wow it was done well.. Flynn really did good with these plots and subplots

Perfect timing for just before the new year! Great review as always!

Vanilla, Vector, Charmy, Rough, Tumble, Cheese, Chocola, Jewel, and now Tangle. GodDAMN. Tangle's sacrifice was very noble, and shall be missed. Whisper's Hysteria, Espio's Grief. And even Cream's blank scare are all relatable. Tail's woe was even justified. Emotions are running high, Sonic is being blamed and some people have even considered killing Eggman. Can't say I blame them for wanting to kill him. Poor whisper, though. She was devastated and inconsolable, like losing the Diamond Cutters all over again. Sonic's condition is nearing a complete infection. If Gemerl is to be believed, he will be forced into containment in issue 26. Honestly, this is definitely the Saga's darkest point. Angel Island is their last bastion of hope, but we know it will be set straight again. Some people are broken, can't think straight, or are starting to considering killing Eggman. Dark. Though I wonder, what surprises does Flynn have on the way that even he is in for?

I’m sure that everything will be resolved, and Tangle, and the rest of the team that became infected, will turn back to normal....right?

Considering Espio's boss quotes in Sonic Heroes, I think he's always thought Eggman should die.

I can forgive issues for being delayed. It's a little harder since the rock bottom issue came out on Christmas Day!

Holly Crap! This is getting dark. Also Merry Christmas to Everyone even after all of this. SERIOUSLY THIS IS DARK FOR SANIC!

Happy new year 2020, Matt, excellent review of the 24th issue of IDW Sonic and the finale to year 2. I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us for the year ahead! Thanks for entertaining us!

Cream....no...plz hold on to hope plz! Everything is going to alright it always going to be alright! Just..plz..*hugs cream* don't lose hope..don't die..plz*crys

Espio's right. Though Eggman was technically something else, the ease of his return proves that, even if Starline hadn't done anything, he would've eventually returned to his old ways. Though he makes the excuse he's trying to bring "peace" to the world now, it's clear has a very twisted perception of things and is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way, uncaring for who they are or what they've done. Before he took over most of the world and committed several heinous acts that almost resulted in the destruction of the planet he was terrorizing. He's an evil, manipulative, and cruel person who has no right to live, all this pretty much cements that.

Happy New Years, pal!

This arc needs to be a sonic game

idw is able to do unique things with franchises that sometimes define the character like megatron becoming an autobot ultra magnus being too serious and getaway being pure evil also drift

The cover A of this issue is very interesting.We have two sides.Left side: all characters in their normal state(except Sonic, he's still infected by Metal Virus). But on right side: all of them as Zombots! Not only Sonic,Tails,Knuckles,Amy, but Silver, Blaze, Whisper, Big(reference of Sonic Adventure concept art), even Starline. But look of the right side of the name, at moon. Familiar silhouette, right? It's Dodon Pa! The Space Tanuki himself! I wonder,which role he will be played, if he appears in comic series, of course.All thanks to cover artist Jonathan Gray and colorist Reggie Graham. After reading this isssue,i thought: is this really the end for our heroes? But no, they have a six Zeti. Really interesting to see how Sonic and all remaining heroes will be fight with them.But this story for another time...

Issue 24 shows that it keeps getting worse. When we next see Cream, she's very depressed, Espio has lost faith in Sonic, Tails and Amy begin to lose hope once they learned that Sonic lost the data recorder, the virus is starting to mutate around Sonic's speed-based resistance, Jewel became a zombot off-screen and infected Tangle, and Whisper goes into a Broken Tears-fueled breakdown once she learns that Tangle is staying behind to help them escape.

Now this is an Archie level threat!

6:14 wow things gonna get spicy!

Tails: (pulls out Luger) Alright guys, new cure.

I hope the remaining members of the Restoration can keep it together a little while longer. With tensions already reaching the breaking point,the LAST thing we need to see right now is our heroes turning against each other,doing something rash, or WORSE,doing something they might regret.

I really want this comic to be canon. It literally did great everything Forces didn't.

7:22 Finally somebody says it

Damn idw is really going all out with this saga

Have a nice New Year Megabeatman! *hugs*

I believe Sonic will develop an antibody for the metal virus at the near end of the arc.

Seeing issue 27's cover, I know Cream getting infected will be by her mom. Her own zombot mom will infect her and she'll turn into a zombot. Maybe Blaze will get infected and turn to one. And even espio.

I feel like Espio, Cream, Knuckles and Silver will be the last ones that have to fix this. Seriously, where the heck has Knuckles been this whole time? Has Angel Island just not been infected?

DOGGGG!!!! CREAM IS NOT GIVING A FUCK ABOUT LIFE ANYMORE!!!😂😭😭😭

The last day of the decade

I wonder what happened to rouge

I guess imprisonment should've been the solution. But then again. Who knows when will Eggman get his memory back. I guess the predictions can't be seen.

I’m betting silver or Blaze will be the person who saves the day at some point.

We havent seen Knuckles in this arc yet have we? Thinking about it now

Mimic is gonna love this issue.

That is sooooooooooo good Can't wait for the rest.

i want Tangle and Whisper in the next games...ASAP

If they were correct, this is THE END The thicc Visitor-2019

Bybthe end of this arc Eggman might taunt Sonic with the fact that Metal Sonic fact but we'll see.

Mario: enough is enough!!!! Ligui:we have it with these mf zombot in the mushroom kingdom Flaky (sonic lost sitter form htf): everyone bukle in!!! Pikachu:we about to open some fuking windows

What can sonic and friends do save everyone from the metal virus since gemerl scanned sonic he might turn into a zombot but if that happens amy and the others have to keep sonic contained without getting infected. this is getting good by the moment if they find a cure they would save everyone

I really hope that it's going to go uphill from this because I think that this whole "Zombot" arc has gotten way too dark for my tastes (I'm still going to watch the reviews though). I'm guessing that sonic will become a zombot before this arc ends and the remaining resistance will have to fight to save him.

OML SIX CHARACTERS DEAD IN FOUR COMICS- Some of them physically, some of them not.

Chaos Emeralds are the key

I can’t be the only one who thinks this arc would be a great way to reintroduce Infinite again! He would become an associate and use the phantom ruby on the zombots to buy Tails some time to make a cure!

Sonic himself will come out of this a very different person I'm willing to bet. And I'm not expecting the good kind.

Tangle's sacrifice reminds me the Bill's sacrifice from left 4 dead and i think it's a little bit similar at some points

Hold up for a quick sec, Either I'm mistaken or the image at 1:52 clearly shows Sonic grabbing Espio's tail right there. Anyone else think that will bleed into the next issue.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎆🎊🎈

I hope Eggman gets infected next issue. I need to see it comeing to him

10:46 I'm glad to hear because HOLY CRAP WAS I GETTING SICK OF THIS!!!! For the first 3 game characters that where turned into zombots it was impactful. Charmy because it was unexpected, and Cheese and Chacola because they tried to save Cream and her mom. After that is when it went down hill. Shadow's was predicable because of the way he was acting and thus little to no impact was felt by non-Shadow fans, Vector while he did go down trying to protect everyone was also stupid because he's the one who brought Charmy to RHQ, Cream's mother-well we all saw what it did to Cream which was un-needed because they already did that with the Chao, and Tangle HAHA, That was the BIGGEST FU to the readers that read the mini series and make it pretty obvious why they decided to do it at this time, make people like me feeling like they played us. Sigh* Sorry I was just really angry with this issue, and issue 27's b cover didn't help matters, but I need to stress why I think this arc was doom to fail for non-zombie fans that read this comic. It has limited appeal to anyone that doesn't like zombie stories, I can and won't speak for everyone but my reason why I don't like this stories is because they're bland and generic, because the stories almost always copy each other and the zombies themselves are boring because the things that people like about them can be attributed to many other things so this arc lost my interest when it started and the only reason why I kept reading was to see who would get infected next.

the idw writers are mad lads for add a zombie arc like marvel and dc

I truthfully love this story arc... way more then i thought. I was disappointed when i heard about archie with the loss of all the characters whos arcs wasn't finished, but i do believe, or at least hope, that with idw that these comics can as heart warming and as heart breaking as the archie comics if not more so. Though i have change my favorite sth comic character from nicol to whisper.