IDW Sonic The Hedgehog #50 | A Comic Review by Megabeatman 

What I find interesting is the kind of "complicated relationship" that could be started between Bell and her older half brother… Metal Sonic.

I got the impression that Tails only turned off the water pack and Kit actually passed out from his panic attack. Kind of sad, really.

In My Opinion That Was the Highest That Eggman Has Peaked Since His Archie Counterpart Burnt Knothole To The Ground.

The issue was incredible, completely worth the wait. Excited to see what will happen with Surge and Kit in the next issues!!

If anything, this issue was a culmination of everything that came before, and is the foundation for what may be to come. My overall thoughts on the matter are that this issue has exceeded a few of my expectations (although a change in the Status Quo would've been appreciated) The fights in particular are what sold it for me, it showed that newer isn't always better. Sometimes, it is far worse. Made even more so if experience isn't brought to the table. Eggman clearly established why he was able to win: He thought well ahead in advance after his power core facility was raised and the rest of the fight came naturally. As they say, Patience is a virtue. A virtue that can mean the difference between success and failure. Or as paraphrased from military leader Sun Tzu, War isn't won over the course of a day. It is won over the course of a thousand days. Something Starline was so oblivious to due to his extremely narrowed scope. Make no mistake, I admire what Starline wanted to do....but he really didn't have any reason to stay in power because he is still a new blood. A noob. Starline is only get more brazen and bold with time, and perhaps may actually learn a thing or two that he failed to realize the first time. Also, I want to keep seeing him come back going forward. Of the two knockoffs Starline brought to the table, Kit has the best chance of being saved from what can only be described as torturous attack therapy and brainwashing. Given that Kit is an extremely young child (I say this because compared to Surge, it took far less time to program him, and young kids, by and large, are far more impressionable than teens) I can see Tails and Kit being competitive rivals, though Kit will initially have a hard time trusting others. Surge, Imo, is perhaps the most spiteful of the three. Where Starline had the face of spiraling depression and Kit had absolute fear, Surge is consumed with rage and spite. She does make a very valid point: If Sonic had terminated Eggman, if he just axed him and Starline the first time, all of this could have been avoided. Sonic's nonchalant attitude and having fun with it REALLY doesn't help his case, and perhaps only exacerbates his argument. But Sonic isn't inherently wrong either. Yes, he let them go because he wanted them to see the world Sonic sees it. Yes, he wants everyone to live and the moment and take it as it comes and goes. Yes, he purposefully wants to leave the villain think about their actions and tell themselves that they want to be better. No, Sparing them doesn't mean they turn a corner. No, it doesn't make the hero look better, but rather an accomplice to the crimes in the eyes of the inexperienced. No, terminating the villain isn't always the best answer, but usually is for the long term. Because doing that is comparable to telling people how to think and live, something that is just as unheroic as the enemy (even if the enemy does it on the regular) and followers of the enemy will cry foul and demand vengeance. Outside of these fights, Belle finally coming to terms with her losses and resolving herself to aiding Badniks is actually a great idea. She effectively acts as one part mechanic, one part reformatory for those who were discarded so long ago, giving them a new purpose for a better world. I expect to see progress on this front as we move forward. I apologize for such a long essay with this issue, but there is just so much I needed to get out there on this issue. It does it's job. It does it's job VERY well.

This was an awesome issue to show why the imposters were just that “Imposters” And I can’t tell who got to show off more Sonic not even needing to focus hard to beat Surge or Eggman dominating against everyone Starline had. I’ve heard it was confirmed that Starline met his maker here, with a slim chance of returning. If that’s true, I hope they give us time to see other villains shining. No secret that he and Belle have had a lot of attention over the last few arcs. I can’t wait to see more of Surge and Kit and find out what the heroes do next. (And I’d hope maybe the Chaotix are still looking for missing people and that maybe Surge and Kit are on their list) Great Review

Adam Bryce Thomas is on point with the Linear Art when he does issues, it’s so detailed and feels like a graphic novel and you get the whole sense of speed during the fights when reading, I love the art in this issue esp during the fighting

Until we see a body, I don't believe Starline is gone; mentally destroyed: absolutely. Every battle was done perfectly. I still can't believe how clever Eggman is, by planning to use the Egg Emperor as a countermeasure to Starline Tricore Power, but I keep forgeting that Eggman is capable of planning traps way ahead of his enemies in order for them to fall in them. And that huge slam he did on Starline was amazing. Tails and Kitsunami's fight wasn't really about power but talk. Tails never met him and wanted to talk and if it weren't for Starline and Surge, maybe Kit would've been able to calm down and speak everything. Still, that finishing part I didn't understand. Did Tails shut him off via the backpack or Kit suffered a mental meltdown that put him off the battle? Hope next issue we get to see that answered. Sonic vs. Surge was the main event. They were matched in many aspects, but experience ultimately led to the hedgehog's victory. Still, Surge words were interesting. She doesn't know who she was in the past, but the feeling of betrayal might've come because of her past friends never went to find her nor Kit. And now that Starline is MIA she can't have the answers she and Kit desperately need. Strangely, I don't want to know their past and I hope to see this duo in many future issues, keeping this role of rivals with no past.

I loved everything about this issue. From the artwork to the story. From the action to the dialogue. The confrontations and character moments were all magnificent. This is peak fiction right here. Ian Flynn, Adam Bryce Thomas, and everyone else who worked on this issue, thank you.

Anyone else wondering what's going to happen to Kit, now that he's all alone and Surge is MIA, while Starline is probably KIA?

Starline's comeuppance reminds me of when Eggman had a mental breakdown in Sonic Archie #200 except Starline was crushed by rubble. I wonder if we will ever see Starline again.

What's interesting is Sonic's "I won't kill" mentality is actually contradicted a couple of times, As he was willing to kill the Djinns, Knights of the underworld, and King Arthur.

It’s was really interesting seeing Eggman just Let Belle do what she wanted. Idk I just really liked that scene

I'd like Starline's death to be pernament. Maybe introduce a spirtual succesor; a new "imposter" for Knuckles. Instead of taking a page from Goku, Sonic should've taken a page from Aang. You don't have to kill your enemies, but you can make sure they won't hurt anyone again. Hmm... maybe Goku should take that lesson too.

I noticed the Shadow the hedgehog reference. It's appropiate, with how Sonic mentions him.

Sonic's refusal to kill is one of his most interesting qualities.

Surge is basically Shadow from his game minus his moral compass (Maria) that lead him throughout the game.

Yeah, Ian Flynn confirmed Starline is dead, though he did offer the idea of bringing him back if the fan response is big enough. I do kind of wish he had a more climactic death, like he loses to Eggman, but sees Surge as a last resort, and she overwhelms Eggman, and when Starline is reveling in his victory at the main Eggman tower, Surge destroys the main tower, killing him. Either way, it’s obvious Flynn plans on replacing Starline with Surge and Kit as the big comic antagonist, so they’re definitely staying as villains.

I disagree, while sure it gets Sonic into all kinds of trouble, I really like IDW!Sonic's steadfast commitment to being merciful. It makes him stand out more.

Issue #50 shows that Eggman is still the man with the master plan. Also, I can't wait to see where Kit goes now that he is separated from Surge.

I have a feeling in later issues, Kit will sacrifice himself in defending Sonic and his friends from a newly powered up Surge.

Ending still felt like a throwaway to me. Snively did lose in his final hurrah but as a consequence, Robotnik added a character named Regina to his army (Techno Mage). Dr. Finitevus lost Enerjak but the damage was already done with the loss of Locke and the other events during the Fourths rampage. Starline and Surge as for now exit the stage without really doing that much in the end. Granted I have yet to see what the next chapter will be at this time so there's still a chance Surge at least will do more.

I have a feeling that it will be a LOONG time before IDW sonic ends. Like that I will be an full fledged adult by the time it ends and I’m 19 now. I mean the original transformers IDW comics continued for 13 years. The Archie comic lasted what 20-30 years? So I see a LONG road ahead of us.

Since nobody seems to notice it or rather at least talk about it, I would like to point out that the fact that Eggman let Belle go is absolutely a ploy. The fact she said she made herself a secure router while directly interfering with Metals code is absolutely a red flag. Like she basically gave Eggman the access codes to herself because Metal at this point is still connected to her. For someone who is really smart... that was really dumb.

Congrats to IDW for 50 issues of its Sonic the Hedgehog comic book incarnation outside of specials and annuals and miniseries, and here's to 50 more (even when I still hope Sally Acorn's Freedom Fighters would ever come to IDW Sonic comics someday in the near or not so near future).

Don't worry, I'm sure Starline will come back in 20-ish issues from now in the form of an alternate dimensional counterpart.

Didn't expect the comic to officially solidify itself as the best sonic thing in the last decade, but oh lord did it

Apparently I heard that Ian Flynn said that Starline is dead.

Ian Flynn has confirmed it himself…Starline is dead. This is the end of his story. Unfortunately for the rest of the planet, he made Surge very hard to kill.Considering how she was made to counter Sonic and Scourge as her inspiration she has the potential to be a much bigger threat than what he Starline could ever be.

I've seen such "deaths" enough to not believe for a second that this was the last we saw from Starline and Surge. I think their "deaths" serve as a little reset to have the Status Quo changed without actually changing it. Basically to make sure they can operate from the shadows again without having Eggman try and fail to hunt them down. And with Mimic and Clutch still out and about and a pool of nameless on the run-convicts to draw from for some new villains, I think it'll take some time until they reappear as main villains of a story again. Which I'm fine with since I think they are definitely big shot material, on the level of the Zeti if not even second only to Eggman himself. Though I do wonder what they are going to do with them in the meantime. With Starline's mental breakdown, they could take his character into a lot of directions, from freeing himself from the burden that is his admiration for Eggman to going completely insane and everything in-between (also redemption but I doubt anyone would want that). Aand since he doesn't know Surge and Kit wanted to betray him, he'd still see them as his loyal minions. So Surge and (if she reunites with him) Kit could exploit that to use him for their own ends. And speaking of Surge: Sonic proved to be her superior. I wonder how that's gonna affect her. I'm really looking forward to what comes next.

5:15 Surprisingly strong, but also not so surprisingly stupid too

It does really feel like Sega told Flyn that Sonic should have a strict "no kill" policy, and he just went like "ok, but I'll make it a character flaw and explore realistic consequences of that philosophy" Malicious compliance, my beloved

Man I really love these sonic comic. The new interesting characters design’s, the characters being in character, and the excellent story telling and amazing battles. Thank you for reviewing this comic

If Starline does return, I think he'll be some sort of cyborg since it looked like Robotnik's Badniks were lifting ruble (though it could have been in his headquarters) and he did have that figure of a Mecha Starline that could be foreshadowing but who knows, would be neat. Surge is obviously alive as they've already hinted that she can recover from massive/fatal damage and will likely go back for Kit at some point (as all those two have is each other). Really eerie that Tails may have "offed" Kit for the moment >.>

I like how surge and Sonic’s fight ended. Sonic offers mercy as he did countless times before in the comic book; And surge is easily annoyed about it that she retorts with a zap. Understandably so, given how she developed before meeting the hedgehog. I feel like her character from this point will be “petty” contrasted to Sonic’s “stubborn will” - - - - - - - - - - - And spoilers: I hope the silent talking canis lupus isn’t the first in surges line of victims

Feels like Sonic the Hedgehog (himself) got things too carried away, and he's also corrupted.

7:12 yeah there’s no way he’s surviving that he’s dead rip Starline you were a great villain while you lasted

Eggman defending his throne as the top villain of the franchise

This whole issue definition of peak fiction.

This chapter went so hard, especially with that Eggman fight, that scene might just define him as the best version of eggman to date.

I’m with you on Surge’s point. Killing or incapacitating your enemies will save more lives down the road. Nope, Sonic refuses because of his moral code. He could’ve kill the Deadly Six and Eggman at various points, but Sonic doesn’t kill. It will be a amazing to see some of Sonic’s friends who we haven’t seen (Silver, Blaze, Whisper, Shadow) fighting Surge and kit. Ian flynn, please make it happen

Amazing as always

Fights, fights, moral grandstanding, and more fights. It’s a great penultimate issue. With the new antagonists out of the way it is time for a city scramble.

6:11 not in vain eggman was once the professional wrestler El Gordo

I think other reasons for the Imposters's defeat is a lack of foresight, Starline's plan was good but he forgot to bring extra supplies. Back-up power cores or a new weapon for himself he hadn't shown Eggman, extra water reserves for Kit, and well any sort of power-up for Surge. Also Starline never really made use of the Badnik horde he had called to the city, having the hacked Badniks backing them up in the three separate fights would've actually won the imposter trio the day but like Eggman said Starline got tunnel vision and focused too much on trying to beat the originals at their own game. Not to mention for all the "training" Starline put Surge and Kit through they never actually fought against opponents like Sonic and Tails before, mostly just Badniks and obstacle courses and they did beat Metal Sonic they did so as a team.

I'm also excited to see What's next. Also makes me wonder as to how starline would react to this experience. Cuz that's his biggest crucial flaw right there underestimating everyone around him seriously believing that nothing or no one could ever surprise him or trip him up. So I wonder what he would do with this reality check he just got from Eggman

It was a mix bag for me, the Starline vs Eggman storyline was expertly concluded in a very effective manner that brought closure not just to that storyline but to Bell's arc too, I agree that it gave Eggman some of his old Archie self vibes, that said the imposters fights fell a bit anticlimactic, not because the main characters won, that was expected, but it made it feel Kit and Surge didn't left as much of an impression on Tails and Sonic, which feels dissapointing, specially with Surge. But it is true that the experiencie gap is too wide right now, and the imposters still have great potential. Still I personally would had preffered if the imposters had fought in their own issue and the doctors had their own to deal with their battle.

Yep, I'm getting into the comics again this sounds awesome.

Surge making the points is basically the blame game. She could have taken out Starline herself and even force him to reveal.more of her past and figure it out by he rage and aggronace prevented her from doing that and just pins it on Sonic. Sonic has a point of Surge trying to become a problem to some one cause she couldn't figure out her past.

An interesting comparison with Sneevly and Starline. Also, them fighting each other makes me think of foils for each other.

Eggman got HANDS!!!

9/10, my man, the IDW Sonic era truly is amazing & this issue is the peak of awesomeness. Also, Sonic has wicked good advice.

This has became my favorite comic book series of all time

While it is a point that Sonic's mercy has caused some conflicts, I don't think toning it down is the answer. Let's not forget that he was about to spin-dash into Belle before Tails convinced him she wasn't like other Badnicks, so it isn't very far on him. It's like you're expecting him to be two different things. I think Serge is just going to a tough but to crack. I think you've been to critical on Sonic during these issues.

Sonic & Tails took out Surge & Kit, Kit’s hydro pack runs out, Kit could be friends with Sonic & crew, Surge is still alive & plots revenge on Sonic & friends, Starline is dead.

So excited to dub this Issue!

Let's not forget that they didn't make sonic stomp surge

I hope shadow interacts with surge, I think he has a better chance to help her since they have similar backgrounds.

Eggman becomes kingpin by slamming starline to the ground

To think I just finished reading this issue about 12 minutes ago because I saw it was up on YT already 😂

Hm, interesting, i will look forward to see how things will go from here. Anyway, i gotta say, about the Issue, i was expecting certain reveals to happen, but ended up not happening and i don’t really know how to feel about that, regardless it was pretty worth the wait overall, in my opinion.

This issue lived up to every possible expectations I had with a all 3 of the fights being amazing and honestly being so good that it's making me mad that Flynn is not actually writing Frontiers.

I loved it

I mean who knows for all we know surge might have a whole family out there

Awesome issue

1:17 oh cool, eggman and starline on the cover sorta resemble the eggman/neo metal sonic statue from sonic heroes, neat.

I'm glad they went ahead and established in imposter synonym #3 that Surge, thanks to starline's metal virus altercations an "upgrades", can now with stand deadly attacks/situations without even a scratch. This way when they bring her back (bc they obviously will) it won't feel so much like the "BUT WAIT-" character revivals that they've already rehashed with so many of the sonic characters 🤦🏽‍♀️

Seeing Eggman bodyslam Starline makes me wonder, why does he need all these robots to take on Sonic?

I think I have an idea of how Starline "might" make a return later on, back during the metal virus saga/arc Eggman showed off his man-cave to Starline in "Eggman's day off". In it there were toy models of different characters one of which was a toy Mecha/Metal Starline, anyway once the Egg city arc warps up and the Badniks find what remains of Starline while cleaning up, Eggman could remake/rebuild Starline turning him a Badnik similar to Metal Sonic. Although perhaps one more focused on engineering then combat since Belle turned down Eggman's offer.

I wonder if any of the restoration or maybe team dark will show up to help. Sonic and Tails can't be the only ones who noticed the mass migration of badniks, right? And even though Sonic and Tails could fight through this, there's probably more badniks here than they are used to, not to mention they have a civilian with them. On a side note, Belle mentions when she meets back up them that the badnik she's riding is being tame towards her, which indicates to me that Eggman maybe wants Belle alive. Double that with his smirk when he hears she connected with Metal, it seems like Eggman might have a new mole implanted in the restoration, whether she likes it or not. Belle's suffering will never end, it seems. In the future cover you showed, we see Whisper! She might be one of the allies who joins the fray, and with Whisper there, there's a mighty good chance Tangle will be close behind. Imagine every ally we've met in the comic joining this fight, that would be sick. Of course that probably won't happen, Silver and Blaze don't really have a good reason to join so late into the fight. But who knows. The morality debate continues on. It's interesting that the writers keep highlighting it instead of dancing around it. Dancing around it would certainly paint Sonic in a better light, but people would obviously grow agitated at the elephant in the room. By addressing the "no-kill-rule" they sort of make Sonic feel... naïve? I'm not saying he looks bad, and there are people who agree with him, both in story and IRL. But people keep confronting him about it, and it refreshes the debate in the fandom. I actually like that the writers bring it up when it's relevant, it almost feels like they're not handling this topic with kid gloves. That might just be me, though Ian Flynn has said somewhere that he intended this issue to be where Starline died. But I hafta call BS. Even if Ian intended for Starline to be dead, eeehhhh, this is comic books and even if Starline's outta the picture for now, there's a chance that he'll show back up far down the line. Depending on how long this comic runs, it might be later rather than sooner.

After reading the issue 50 yesterday i almost forgotten that Surge survived the smash in issue 2 or 3 from imposter syndrome btw so… 16:23/16:24 Tf Surge just becames *_Shelectro_* (electro of course From the ultimate comics) She still alive and my head canon started in my head in the night before i sleep that i dream that surge meet E-105 Zeta or E-102 Gamma in the underground that she accidentally turned on the last E-series robots in my head canon dream of course!

I don't think they need to tone down Sonic's mercy, but you can force him into an ultimatum situation.

Wonder what would have happened if sonic fought kitsunami and tails fought surge

I am sure eggman was a wwe wrestler like what the heck he turned starline into soup can

I realy like to see what happen whit surge in the moment she got a chaos emerald or the 7 emerals will be a brutal fight

Best issue thus far

Eggman in this issue was at the top of his game. Not only did we see a return of his menacing side, something that's been absent for *years* since Pontac and Graff took over as the main writers for the series with Lost World giving a rather weak attempt at a threatening Eggman, but we also see that he does learn from his mistakes and previous attempts. Even though he knows Sonic's weaknesses, even though he had multiple attempts to kill Sonic when his guard was down (looking at you Sonic Labyrinth), he lets the hedgehog live just so he can have some fun. Though I question Eggman calling Infinite out on letting Sonic live when he himself has done it multiple times. Being bit of a hypocrite in that game, huh Eggman? Regardless, in this issue we see why Eggman calls himself the best. I'm still shakey on Sonic Frontiers, but with Ian Flynn writing the game and after seeing this, I'm still a bit cautious. Definitely hyped, but cautious because this is SEGA we're talkin' about. They'll find some way to lessen/ruin the experience.

So, you're telling me that the future secretary of Silver. Dies entering in depression?

Something deep down in me is saying that Amy's talert cards has something to do with belle we know that Amy picked a card for belle and she saw something bad. That bad card might happen real soon. Is it death or siding with eggman.

Wait...so if the backpack on Kitsunami caused him to shut off when it got shut off, does that make him a cyborg?

On an unrelated note, do you think idw will pick up mega man and make comics?

Sonic is faster than the speed of light in base W

Eggman goin crazy yo

STH Issue 50 Then: Robotnik Annihilates Knothole Village with a Laser and Sonic fight him while Robotnik's Base EXPLODES!!!! Ending the ARC!!! and then it was revealed to be weird temporal shenanigans by Snively undercutting the moment in a vacuum for First Time Readers STH Issue 50 Now:

I hope they put super sonic vs that shock girl

Since Ian Flynn is (probably) going to write Sonic Frontiers, do you think there's a chance for the game's new character Sage to appear in the comic?

It was so nice seeing the wannabe be put in his place. If Starline does come back I hope it won't be for a very long time. About Sonic, he is right. You should always show mercy unless you are given little choice otherwise and Sonic has always been on the side of life, freedom, and adventure. He is not responsible for the actions of those he spares. Just as Surge has the freedom to choose pointless destruction, Sonic has the freedom to choose to stop her. By ending a life he denies that person the opportunity to enjoy life, something that is antithetical to his very nature. Surge's "good argument" just boils down to blaming Sonic for the actions of other individuals. It is the classic and pitiful villain trope where the villain tries to guilt trip the hero by pinning all the blame and responsibility for the villain's actions onto the hero. This is of course a load of bull because it wasn't the hero that did all those terrible things, it was the villain who did it out of their own volition. Sonic is only responsible for his own actions and choices and that is why his response is so effective against Surge's "good argument". He spares others because he wants them to enjoy life, unlike Surge he does not pin responsibility on himself or anyone else for the actions of others. It is virtuous that Sonic acknowledges the sanctity of life of even the most vile.

I’m kinda hoping surge and Kit become heroes lol

They know metal sonic made Eggman remember everything Eggman told them in the Zombat arc

You are right in a extent but in a way that's how sonic is, no matter what the hero dilemma is always a problem like giving villains a second chance but that's not really a problem anyway sonic gives people their own choices to do and sure there are some hypocrisies there but which moral doesn't? If anything if sonic would just kill eggman or anything that would make him the opposite of who he is and that would be hypocrisies by default no matter what if sonic gives eggman a second chance or get rid of him for good there is also hypocrisy in either way and I think that sonic understands that

Sonic not taking responsibility for letting metal sonic go really bugs me.

This milestone issue trumps the recent Dragon Ball Super manga chapter.

I like how everyone is telling sonic to just get rid of Eggman and other villans and sonic says No It's almost like sonic is the soul of every sonic fan and all the characters are tired of fighting the same battles. They want to rest but if there's rest there's no sonic world. Maybe at the end of the comics, sonic just let's it happen or he disappears

I didn't really get an "evenly matched" impression from the fight. it looked utterly onesided the entire time. Surge never even gets a clear shot in at him.

Insert electros theme for surge

Hey what mix do you use and how do you make it sound good?

I don't know why but I would like to see a imposter Knuckles too

Eggman man truely is the most justified one or at the least the one that should have the mos pre precautions against him "But no its just hey whatever happens happens" its weird they dont have to kill eggman. Maybe lock him up to where he'll never escape and he escapes anyways, people keep saying "its like the joker guys sonic cant live without eggman", which...is kinda boring cause thats the quality everyone hates about batman, and "oh sonic doesnt kill people" until you forget all the main and storybook games are cannon

You know I just realized that whole situation with Mr tinker would have been worse either way like for example if they took mr tinker(aka eggman) to prison starline would have found him there and then it would be the same situation with the metal virus since back then they didn't know anything about starline or what he was up to plus what we see in bad guys starline is good at breaking into prison even without the tri core glove and the other option is that if they killed Mr tinker starline would have found out about the metal virus anytime soon orbot and qubot was with him no matter what happens the situation would have lead to the same thing

What happened to surge