Wow nick, didn’t think you read my comment, but im glad you did. I’m the guy who made the comment about metal being “eggman’s sonic” and I audibly squealed when you mentioned it
According to Marvel, there's a Watcher (someone who monitors a universe) for every universe in the multiverse. *What if Big is the Watcher for the Sonic universe?*
When I saw Metal try to infect himself with the virus and fail, I didn't actually see that as another way he's "inferior" to Sonic. I read it as him finally having something _over_ Sonic. Unlike Sonic, who's fighting for his life to fend off the virus, Metal seems to be immune, incapable of being hindered by something that's slowing Sonic down, making Metal "stronger". I think this goes to show how great silent art can be in general, so many ways to interpret them.
Would you say that you could be superior to someone that you are supposed to beat if you haven’t experienced what they did? He may be Immune to infection, but there is the possibility that he did that attempt at infection to see if he could fare better than sonic is. To metal sonic, fighting off an infection that sonic is barely surviving from without losing his life, it would make him superior. Being immune to the virus may be a plus, but being manipulated by the zeti is definitely a fail that sonic is immune to. In fact, even if not illustrated, i could see Metal try to replicate the mechanics that the zeti do and try to overcome it, try to become immune, so that sonic doesn’t have that advantage over him.
Metal Sonic "brain": _i've won but at what cost_ Metal was probably thinking at first "ha, I am immune, he is not" then "but if Eggman has a Zombot Sonic, where would _I_ fit?" to "Being immune makes sense, I am inorganic" to finally "I can't even suffer sonic's fate, and overcome it. He toils and troubles, not by my own hand, but Eggman's. I was created to defeat Sonic. If Sonic becomes lost, then there will be no need for me"
@@matthewwilliams8267 probably switch around “being immune” sentence with “but where would I fit” sentence, but other than structuring, you basically nailed it. It would be as you said- “I won, but at what cost?
@@superdewott3209 But why would he be curious about that? His purpose and drive is to defeat/kill Aonic. Infecting himself with a virus (had it been able to kill him) would've been moot to that.
I love how Big just exists, he is somehow everywhere you go, yet he never actually does anything, he's just there, its my favorite gag in this franchise
I just like to imagine Metal Sonic betraying Eggman and help the Resistance find a cure, not out of the goodness of his machine heart but just so Sonic doesn't become a Zombot and surpassing him even further.
Well... To Metal Eggman isn't just the one and only thing closest to a friend that he knows, he's more like a child like god that simply made him just to see if he could... That being said Eggman has already made MANY mistakes with Metal... Perhaps chief among them is giving Metal a complete understanding of his own consciousness! With that it's basically just a matter of time before Metal would deem the real Eggman as an aging relics of his own ambitions and replace him with a code of conduct for the Eggman empire... Eggman effectively replaced himself in Metal's body! 🤦
@@Gat720Dua Sorry yeah... Well truthfully THAT scenario is basically the plot of Sonic Heroes... Metal was updated to be Neo Metal (Super Form) and Eggman was dumb enough to install a complete understanding of himself should Metal get out of line... Metal then took it upon himself to copy Eggman's DNA and from there he was trying to use the Eggman empire as though he was the Doctor... (Machine Logic believing that he now effectively was)
@@Gat720Dua No kidding... The plot of Sonic Heroes is just about the only good thing about it to me... Omega is also one of a handful of robots that has really GREAT potential that's left to be squandered by the jealous fool who made them... You can't really blame Eggman at this point for watching over his own shoulder, but yeah if anything displays a potential he can't understand or control he's extremely quick to brush it off for anything he can... Not sure if you have ever read or watched a video about the Mega Man and Sonic crossover, but yeah there comes a point where Eggman is enslaved by the character Sigma... (Basically the first artificial being to have a soul) Kinda like a metaphor for his creations always having a higher potential to rule the world then he ever will...
"Reflections" is my favorite story from the IDW comics thus far. Metal Sonic not speaking has always been one of his best characteristics, meaning his actions have to speak for him, and this story shows that in spades.
For Metal Sonic not talking, IDW could take him the Transformers Prime Soundwave route. Being mute from now on and making a big moment for when he decides to break the silence.
The Neo (Super Upgrade) version of Metal was already just that... In Sonic Heroes he legit tried to replace Eggman with a software version of himself as an update for the Eggman Empire... The next time we hear from Metal will probably come like a tempest... I could see him using the Metal virus like a tool to "save the world" and keep it in check by linking it to his willpower... Only to then hear the screaming of his own soul through everything else but him...
Metal Sonic's hesitation in touching the Metal Virus is so humanizing, but also consistent with his character. Remember in Sonic Heroes; Metal Sonic is constantly living in fear.
I love that eggman has a man cave. This shows that even though he is a villain he is still a person. Plus metal sonic story after hearing that comment actually almost made me cry for him.
The Nite the Owl and Don the Rooster seem to have a great "Odd Couple" relationship. They're like... night and day. I really hope these two come back later as a cameo.
Metal: "What is my purpose?" Eggman: "You fight Sonic." Metal: *Looks at hands, and then down* "Oh my god..." Eggman: "Yeah, well welcome to the club, pal."
I think the Eggcave was less a "this needs to be told" story, and more of a "comic relief interlude" after the radio station gut-punch. The last two I think were just filler because they needed to pad out the annual. Also, am I the only one who read the voice of Night the Owl as sounding like Old Man Owl from the old Sonic OVA?
Metal Sonic’s Story in the Annual is my favorite and things like that is something I’ve always wanted to see in the games(Details that show him that he’s aware that he’s a Clone of Sonic)
Yeah I always found it weird that when you fight Metal Overlord in Heroes, he refers to Sonic as "my loathsome copy". Does he not know that he was created for the sole purpose of imitating Sonic? Is he programmed to think that Sonic is actually the fake version of him? Whichever it is, I'm all for it
"Heroes" had that taken to it's logical extreme: He's bluntly driven himself mad trying to best Sonic, to the point he both acknowledges he's a clone yet claims *he's* the real Sonic. And, even better, no matter how you want to look at both versions of Metal, both seem to endgame on one goal: To be out of Sonic's shadow.
@@loopydoop6033 I was using the literal definition in reference to the content. In other words, everything had a horror theme, except for the Starline story which was oddly comical. Overall, the comic was great.
"KTBR". That's such a subtle joke, I love it. Kintobor. That's a really fun annual. I really did love the Eggman's day off story. It's a lot lighter-hearted but I think it's a nice glimpse into Eggman's personality and a little bit of the Mr Tinker side coming through again. The clearly "metal" designs are also really neat, too.
An alternate version has been made of the moment where eggman remembers everything, but he chooses to remain as mr Tinker. Don’t know if it’s official but it was interesting.
Big the Cat side story was mix of heart warming and creepy too. The art really sells the devastation of the metal virus and that finale panel of big and frogy was super creepy. It was a surprisingly great read.
Omg, just realized, the radio stations letters “K-TBR” is a short hand Easter egg for Kintobor. Robotnik’s real name before he became the evil world conquering scientist we know today. And the stations numbers “199.2” is a reference to the year when the original Archie Sonic comics had its start. A four part mini series that was published in 1992!!! That is a deep cut reference!
17:20 that kind makes me think about Shard from Archie. Eggman did not know about what makes sonic so powerful. However, when Uncle Chuck ( someone who was close to to sonic ) fixed him up, Shard was better than he was before. Shard represents what will happen if metal gets out of Sonic’s shadow and makes his own destiny. Not as clone but someone who is his own person.
I've never been a big Metal Sonic fan, but his part of the Annual might be one of the most thought-provoking story moments in the Sonic franchise. Made me feel sympathetic for him for once.
@@CallmeKeyiii I remember buying Classic Sonic and Tails, their joints could barely move for shit, you had to loosen them up a bit, and when I tried to turn Tails’ tails, after a bit of a struggle they snapped right off... ouch
Big is a character with such potential. And we’ve seen in both this and Archie that Flynn recognizes that potential. So it’s a shame so far this annual is still his only major appearance in IDW which is about to release its 41st issue.
They could get the best writers around to write the perfect story for Big the Cat, yet still you'd get all the Sonic haters and detractors going "NOOO, I DON'T LIKE STINKY BIG THE CAT, GET RID OF HIM, REEEE!" And eventually, Sega will oblige, because these seem to be the kinds of people Sega are trying to appease these days!
@@bowmaj8666 it is what it is. To me, Big isn't really that interesting of a character. I only began to like the big guy thanks to Ian's writing. Outside that...I personally like Big as a background character, not a main one 😅
Y'know, there were dark moments in the Archie comics, alongside compelling characters, well developed arcs, and storytelling with depth. They showed us Sonic could give adult (not that kind) storytelling. But this...oooooffff. Your delivery is making this across as DREADFUL. There is this foreboding sense of nononoNONONO creeping inexorably onward. I absolutely loved the IDW Transformers (Lost Light in particular!) and this is another solid entry. Kudos to you, good sir, and kudos to the IDW staff!
Honestly, going forward I do hope we get some Resident Evil style call backs to the Metal Virus. Like a side story of what happened to the police or a HUNK like character. I’d love to see that
That little Metal Sonic story is probably my favorite story with him. An excellent showcase of show dont tell. He has so much to tell without actually saying anything
FINALLY I waited for this!!! Edit: I think that little eggcave bit is just to lighten things up a bit. You see poor innocent Big get infected with the metal virus after finally finding his lost friend, the dark tones of the story with the radio cast and the inevitable infection. I think the reader could use a laugh now and then
I subscribe to the theory that metal is the roboticized original sonic from a failed timeline in CD. So when reading the metal sonic short story, I interpreted it as metal truly believes that he is the real sonic because his failed timeline occurred before the successful one. So dipping his finger into the virus was the final confirmation that he wasn't the real sonic anymore and was finally forced to come to terms with that fact.
And good riddance, to be honest. They weren't any good to begin with. The general Sonic character design doesn't lend itself for good conversion into a good action figures, sadly. Joints don't look good on such a thin limbs, and big heads make figures waaaaaaaay top-heavy to even just stand upright on their own, let alone be posed in any way. I still feel buyer's remorse 10 years later, but I just love Sonic way too much to get rid of them.
@@WindigoTP Mine were totally fine, I haven't had any trouble standing them up (unless they were bought from Toys R Us where for some reason they were looser than ragdolls in the Source engine), the real problem was how fragile they were, several of my figures were either decapitated or outright mutilated after a single drop and had to be fixed with superglue which murdered possibility.
I definitely remember the chat between you and pup on the topic of metal, and Reflections still makes me sure that even a silent metal can give us a bunch of character depth if utilized well. Hopefully the comic gives us more of him.
I honestly really like ALL of these stories equally. The Metal one stood out to me though, because it really shows his personality well. I really like how he’s portrayed in the comics.
17:00 if Sonic never had 90s attitude and took after Mario, he would just be a fleshy version of Metal Sonic fighting for nature instead of your least favorite eggy boi.
I think I just like how Metal only speaks whenever he's NEO Metal Sonic, since now he's out of Eggman's control, he develops his own goals and takes on a literal new persona to be the "real sonic," to become what he couldn't and can't anymore. If Metal Sonic is Sonic without the soul, then NEO is Metal Sonic WITH the soul.
The IDW comics are some of the best written sonic stuff ever. With the games it's mostly mediocre with good moments here or there but, with the IDW comics this is just genuinely good stuff in general not just "good for sonic standards" it's straight up good as in I would unironically share this with people who aren't sonic fans.
Shiro and Kiyoko Yoshimura def do a better job with the story amd characters imo. The comics are mostly fine but the branding for characters like shadow, silver, and knuckles still dont feel one to one. Especially during the virus arc. And the arc itself was a bit repetitive with plotholes
I remember getting this annual not too long ago, and boyyyy this comic was an absolute treat to read for the first time. The panels and art were absolutely amazing.
19:38 ayo i actually own some figures that look dead accurate to the sonic one here i got sonic, tails and knuckles, rotating torsos and all knowing they referenced those in the idw comics among other things puts a smile on my face
The more I read IDW stuff the more I want a 2D animated series of it with Ian Flynn in charge of writing or him writing for games for the love of god I don't care what mandates he has to go through the end result would still be waay better.
i imagine the idw as an animated show everytime i read it. It's so vivid and expressive in its art and manages to have a perfect tone for the franchise. I'd love to see an adaptation.
Would you say that as a fact, that he has the exact same soul as sonic? He may gain one of his own, he may develop personality in a way that is similar to the hedgehog he is copying. But he truly isn’t sonic. When they reference to “Metal sonic is just sonic without the soul.” Try to See it from eggmans’ perspective. He has seen Sonics’ strength, he’s SEEN the hedgehogs’ speed. He has BUILT a robot that is supposed to match him in every way. He sees in sonic what he can utilize, but he doesn’t UNDERSTAND sonic the hedgehog. Doesn’t UNDERSTAND what makes the blue blur the way he is. NO amount of bot building and modeling will get eggman any closer to understanding his arch-nemesis.
@@lanluhylrean1122 but i also like metal,Not exactly as a villian but as a character of his own,Even shown when he overthrows eggman and does his own thing
@@Mephiles343 True. Especially when it takes into account Sonic Heroes and Sonic rivals 2. Metal sonic tries to push his own agenda, while having eggman imprisoned. and when Metal sonic ripped the chaos emerald out his core for shadow to use... Eggman may speak through his mouth, but I think eggman would have kept that secret to the grave to neutralize one of his threats. Can't stop him if you are stuck in another dimension.
I get what you mean about the virus getting on their clothes and such, but I think the virus can move on it's own when close enough to organic material so when it's on the gloves and such it seeks a way to reach the organic material and goes for the wrist. Or more simply, the stuff is already on their wrist and spreading, but the visual of goopy hands, gloves or not, is more impactful than a dribble on their wrist. They could have switched it up a little like caught in hair, splash on a cheek, or something like that, I'll admit. Over all a great vid and loved those same stories, too. Take care!
Fun Fact: Andes, the font used in the Sonic 3 Zone title cards, is also used in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ both for some of its varying logo and for a few of the show’s episode title cards, thus strengthening the Batman reference with the Egg Cave.
Not sure if its Night or Knight and Dawn or Don, but I can totally see these two becoming a duo where Night is like the navigator to Don as he goes out to save people. That would make for a good spinoff.
I Understand Why people like the Silent Version of Metal Sonic. But if to me if he has a Super Big Role in the Arc i wouldn't mind him talking. I still love his Lines from Sonic Heroes as it was the First indication of how Metal Was Really feeling that still stick with me to this day. Metal Sonic: I was created for the sole purpose of destroying you, but I can never seem to defeat you. That is why I rebuilt my own body with my own hands. See me as I am, no longer afraid of anything. Metal Sonic use to be Afraid? I felt That. While Kicking his Butt in Super Sonic mode
Words cannot express how much I LOVED the 2nd short story involving the owl and the rooster. Its just so subtle to the world building of sonic that everyday people where being affected by the virus outbreak. If theres one thing to take from this awesome annual is that I wish and hope that other issues be they specials or part of the mainline comics delve more into the everyday aspects of the world and it's people. I so friking adore that sort of stuff!
The Night and Don story legitametly gave me shivers when I saw their faces, it's literraly like any other zombie outbreak movie or series, where the news gets called by people witnessing the infection, and, dang, does it leave me with goosebumps.
when you got to that one with Starline, Eggman, and the Eggcave, it made me think. I can't be the only person who voices Starline like a James Bond villain, can I? Like, there's got to be other people out there, who saw the suit, the gloves, and the glasses, and just somehow defaulted to voicing him like a Bond Villain
I loved that big the cat spent his final moments looking at the sun with his freind froggy. It's like of mice and men, with lenny looking out at the sunset with his friend george. It's bittersweet and I absolutely love it.
9:35 ok. So when I saw this I immediately know what it was. First of all, DAAAANGGGG I see Ivo’s flexin! These are called Jazwares 3 inch articulated figures. The most popular sonic toy line ever. They had almost every character, but went out of business a couple years ago as far as sonic and stopped making sonic toys all together. They’ve become really expensive nowadays for no good reason.
I listen to these while I'm doing delivery work. I've already read the mainline series, but your little comments and input really adds a lot to it. Keep up the good work!
I think there might be another aspect to Metal seeing the Metal Virus slip off of him. I definitely agree with what you say, but there might be a positive thought about the situation that occurred to Metal in the moment. That being: HE can't get infected, but Sonic CAN, meaning even though he's lost to Sonic and Co so many times, he still has some advantages over his loathsome copy. He can do things that regular flesh and blood Sonic could never dream of. So, you could look at it as a bittersweet kind of moment for our Metalic Menace.
10:17 I don't know if this has been said but I LOVE the subtle detail of the more the sun sets, the fewer lights there are in the town shown below. Those are subtle details that I love.
I really do appreciate you doing these side stories and telling us about it. I’m overall shock by how Dawn and Night was night talked about way more. Like, I’m shock no one talked about to two and their story and not just the design of Dawn. Sad honestly, but is honestly glad you did. This is truly lovely 💕💕
I agree with your sentiment about Metal Sonic not speaking. It really gives him a menacing presence and represents Sonic only in physical ability. However once he gets his Neo form, he should start talking cause that's what Metal himself wants. He made that body himself. Sonic isnt the type of guy to sit there, take orders, and say nothing. He has the agency to talk when he wants and not talk when he needs to. That's what Metal wants to be and then some. His silence wasn't his own, it was forced upon him by somebody else (Eggman) simply out of convenience. His body is "modernized" and upgraded cause Sonic ever since CD has grown in appearance, personality, and power. Meanwhile Metal looks essentially the same, stuck in the past not fulfilling his only priority and Sonics growth only makes his purpose harder to realize. Metal is one of my fav characters and has alot of untapped potential. (can be said with alot of these characters lol)
Fun fact: Nite the Owl is reportedly inspired by Clint McElroy. As a result, if the fan-animated version of the series gets to covering these side stories I think it would be awesome to have Clint himself voice Nite. Either as himself or as Merle Highchurch; Then we can have Griffin McElroy using his John voice for Don the Rooster...
I wouldn't mind seeing metal try and replicate sonic in the act of helping people since his immunity in an attempt to show his superiority to sonic in situations like this, and would given him potential that he could either surpass sonic in means of stamina and immunities to biological illnesses or in sonics own game of being a hero.
God I adore this comic. The metal virus has really surprised me. I never expected sonic the hedgehog to produce the most emotional, psychologically dark, and downright dreadful zombie story i’ve ever read. Emotional, terrifying, the decay of hope. The deconstruction of characters we’ve grown up with. Watching the usually quipping Sonic, the mindful Tails, the cheerful Amy, the content Whisper, the energetic Tangle, the fearless Shadow, the hopeful Silver, the joyous Cream, the charming Chaotix... all hopeless, broken, at an absolute loss. Utterly fantastic.
Actually Game Apologist. I remember me and my cousin having those type of toys. My cousinhad the small Super Hedgehog Trio of Super Sonic, Super Shadow and Super Silver. An I decided to get one of those at Toys R Us. I still remember how the arms and legs look like and they had those EXACT same circles on them. Man what a nice little reference to those toys and it makes me love this comic even more. Edit: And that Star Shirt Kid looks like Lars from Steven Universe. Not only the hair references it, but the shirt with the star references too. Sweet! Another Edit: And the title has Amy having what seems to be a small Sonic in her mouth and it looks like it's referencing the freaking Popsicle! Oh my God so many references!!
One I noticed with the Dawn and Night story...as the day goes on you see fewer and fewer lights on in the city. I know it's a dramatic way to show the virus spreading but it looks like everybody who succumbed to the virus decided to turn all the lights off in their house either before becoming a zombot or after.
Wow nick, didn’t think you read my comment, but im glad you did. I’m the guy who made the comment about metal being “eggman’s sonic” and I audibly squealed when you mentioned it
Then let me at least pin this comment. I thought you made a fantastic point, thank you again for sharing.
Super well thought out comment, man.
Luck
@@Apro101 it wasnt luck, as one of the replies states, it was a detailed answer for a claim that got this comment pinned.
No mouth and must scream. Idk about you, but that is a reference
Big the cat: I am everywhere, anywhere, at any time. I WAS THERE
He is speed
It’s fun to think of Big as an Easter egg character, a big fun goofy guy to just look for in the background just fishing with his Froggy
According to Marvel, there's a Watcher (someone who monitors a universe) for every universe in the multiverse.
*What if Big is the Watcher for the Sonic universe?*
@@Blu_Moon_VA In marvel, it’s uatu the watcher. Big the watcher confirmed
@@Blu_Moon_VA but he doesn't pay any attention
When I saw Metal try to infect himself with the virus and fail, I didn't actually see that as another way he's "inferior" to Sonic. I read it as him finally having something _over_ Sonic. Unlike Sonic, who's fighting for his life to fend off the virus, Metal seems to be immune, incapable of being hindered by something that's slowing Sonic down, making Metal "stronger". I think this goes to show how great silent art can be in general, so many ways to interpret them.
Would you say that you could be superior to someone that you are supposed to beat if you haven’t experienced what they did? He may be Immune to infection, but there is the possibility that he did that attempt at infection to see if he could fare better than sonic is. To metal sonic, fighting off an infection that sonic is barely surviving from without losing his life, it would make him superior. Being immune to the virus may be a plus, but being manipulated by the zeti is definitely a fail that sonic is immune to. In fact, even if not illustrated, i could see Metal try to replicate the mechanics that the zeti do and try to overcome it, try to become immune, so that sonic doesn’t have that advantage over him.
Metal Sonic "brain": _i've won but at what cost_
Metal was probably thinking at first "ha, I am immune, he is not" then "but if Eggman has a Zombot Sonic, where would _I_ fit?" to "Being immune makes sense, I am inorganic" to finally "I can't even suffer sonic's fate, and overcome it. He toils and troubles, not by my own hand, but Eggman's. I was created to defeat Sonic. If Sonic becomes lost, then there will be no need for me"
@@matthewwilliams8267 probably switch around “being immune” sentence with “but where would I fit” sentence, but other than structuring, you basically nailed it. It would be as you said- “I won, but at what cost?
Funny thing, that story is so vague, you could be right or wrong. I like to think Metal was just curious.
@@superdewott3209 But why would he be curious about that? His purpose and drive is to defeat/kill Aonic. Infecting himself with a virus (had it been able to kill him) would've been moot to that.
"Hey Big Guy"
'Hey, little guy.'
Okay that's adorable and I love it.
The callback is so cute.
"Can you tell me who came fiiiiiirst"
I love how Big just exists, he is somehow everywhere you go, yet he never actually does anything, he's just there, its my favorite gag in this franchise
And also he can pick up and throw cars
@@M_Alexander and he's a master at using a fishing rod, what a lad
@@skinnywhitedude8765 Big the chad
@Hooty HOOT HOOT I would prefer if his age was unknown I think that be funny
Bro big hit his peak in sonic adventure 1 and has just existed ever since
I just like to imagine Metal Sonic betraying Eggman and help the Resistance find a cure, not out of the goodness of his machine heart but just so Sonic doesn't become a Zombot and surpassing him even further.
Well... To Metal Eggman isn't just the one and only thing closest to a friend that he knows, he's more like a child like god that simply made him just to see if he could...
That being said Eggman has already made MANY mistakes with Metal... Perhaps chief among them is giving Metal a complete understanding of his own consciousness!
With that it's basically just a matter of time before Metal would deem the real Eggman as an aging relics of his own ambitions and replace him with a code of conduct for the Eggman empire...
Eggman effectively replaced himself in Metal's body! 🤦
@@Bakanineinstein I don't know much about Metal beside what I've seen in the games (which is not a lot) but it's an interesting thing to think about.
@@Gat720Dua Sorry yeah... Well truthfully THAT scenario is basically the plot of Sonic Heroes... Metal was updated to be Neo Metal (Super Form) and Eggman was dumb enough to install a complete understanding of himself should Metal get out of line...
Metal then took it upon himself to copy Eggman's DNA and from there he was trying to use the Eggman empire as though he was the Doctor... (Machine Logic believing that he now effectively was)
@@Bakanineinstein I played Sonic Heroes, I had to deal with annoyingly difficult stuff but it did introduce me to Omega.
@@Gat720Dua No kidding... The plot of Sonic Heroes is just about the only good thing about it to me...
Omega is also one of a handful of robots that has really GREAT potential that's left to be squandered by the jealous fool who made them...
You can't really blame Eggman at this point for watching over his own shoulder, but yeah if anything displays a potential he can't understand or control he's extremely quick to brush it off for anything he can...
Not sure if you have ever read or watched a video about the Mega Man and Sonic crossover, but yeah there comes a point where Eggman is enslaved by the character Sigma... (Basically the first artificial being to have a soul)
Kinda like a metaphor for his creations always having a higher potential to rule the world then he ever will...
"Reflections" is my favorite story from the IDW comics thus far. Metal Sonic not speaking has always been one of his best characteristics, meaning his actions have to speak for him, and this story shows that in spades.
I legit cried when reading it
Like Soundwave in Transformers Prime
@@eur0be4t3r My favorite decepticon
@@eur0be4t3r *Metal Sonic superior. Freedom Fighters inferior.*
@@eur0be4t3r (both proceed to do a silent murder robot high five)
For Metal Sonic not talking, IDW could take him the Transformers Prime Soundwave route. Being mute from now on and making a big moment for when he decides to break the silence.
“Metal Superior, Sonic Inferior”
The Neo (Super Upgrade) version of Metal was already just that... In Sonic Heroes he legit tried to replace Eggman with a software version of himself as an update for the Eggman Empire...
The next time we hear from Metal will probably come like a tempest... I could see him using the Metal virus like a tool to "save the world" and keep it in check by linking it to his willpower... Only to then hear the screaming of his own soul through everything else but him...
Man I like soundwave he is such an interesting decepticon
@@ShibuNub3305 ahah
@@ShibuNub3305 *Metal Sonic superior. Freedom Fighters inferior.*
Metal Sonic's hesitation in touching the Metal Virus is so humanizing, but also consistent with his character.
Remember in Sonic Heroes; Metal Sonic is constantly living in fear.
I love that eggman has a man cave. This shows that even though he is a villain he is still a person. Plus metal sonic story after hearing that comment actually almost made me cry for him.
"Big's Big Adventure"
Dear god, it's real and I didn't know
Big’s Big Fishing Adventure 4 is in Lego Dimension’s
@@Mikey64 I'm glad I'm not the only one that still remembers Sonic Dimensions.
Bigs story genuinely had me tearing up towards the end of it all
I got more of a horror vibe from it
Yeah me to
It’s a comic book for kids about an obese feline walking around looking for his frog. Same bro
In the midst of all of this chaos and tragedy, Robotnik is in his lair playing with his dolls like Dark Helmet. That is truly a special kind of evil.
The Nite the Owl and Don the Rooster seem to have a great "Odd Couple" relationship. They're like... night and day.
I really hope these two come back later as a cameo.
Issue 72, yep
Metal: "What is my purpose?"
Eggman: "You fight Sonic."
Metal: *Looks at hands, and then down* "Oh my god..."
Eggman: "Yeah, well welcome to the club, pal."
Rick and Morty did it better
@@superhydra8873 RiCk AnD mOrTy DiD iT bEtTeR
@@jonatasisraeldebastiane9646 lol whats your damage?
unfunny
No metal Was like
Metal: ...
Eggman: You Will Kill Sonic
Metal: ...
I think the Eggcave was less a "this needs to be told" story, and more of a "comic relief interlude" after the radio station gut-punch.
The last two I think were just filler because they needed to pad out the annual.
Also, am I the only one who read the voice of Night the Owl as sounding like Old Man Owl from the old Sonic OVA?
Owl from Winnie the pooh
Metal Sonic’s Story in the Annual is my favorite and things like that is something I’ve always wanted to see in the games(Details that show him that he’s aware that he’s a Clone of Sonic)
Yeah I always found it weird that when you fight Metal Overlord in Heroes, he refers to Sonic as "my loathsome copy". Does he not know that he was created for the sole purpose of imitating Sonic? Is he programmed to think that Sonic is actually the fake version of him? Whichever it is, I'm all for it
"Heroes" had that taken to it's logical extreme: He's bluntly driven himself mad trying to best Sonic, to the point he both acknowledges he's a clone yet claims *he's* the real Sonic. And, even better, no matter how you want to look at both versions of Metal, both seem to endgame on one goal: To be out of Sonic's shadow.
Let's check back on the Zombot Apocalypse. Is everything still horrible? ...................Yep.
Obviously?
We... Are not through the worst of it yet
@@loopydoop6033 I was using the literal definition in reference to the content. In other words, everything had a horror theme, except for the Starline story which was oddly comical.
Overall, the comic was great.
@@GameApologist e x c u s e m e ?
OH BOY THE QUARTZ IS ON THE FACE
"KTBR".
That's such a subtle joke, I love it. Kintobor.
That's a really fun annual. I really did love the Eggman's day off story. It's a lot lighter-hearted but I think it's a nice glimpse into Eggman's personality and a little bit of the Mr Tinker side coming through again. The clearly "metal" designs are also really neat, too.
I did not realize that until now...
An alternate version has been made of the moment where eggman remembers everything, but he chooses to remain as mr Tinker. Don’t know if it’s official but it was interesting.
Big: oh yeah that battle on angle island was rough
Everyone: *confused stares*
"Are your sensors malfunctioning?! I said GET OUT!"
Easily my favorite sentence so far in this series.
Big the Cat side story was mix of heart warming and creepy too. The art really sells the devastation of the metal virus and that finale panel of big and frogy was super creepy. It was a surprisingly great read.
Omg, just realized, the radio stations letters “K-TBR” is a short hand Easter egg for Kintobor. Robotnik’s real name before he became the evil world conquering scientist we know today. And the stations numbers “199.2” is a reference to the year when the original Archie Sonic comics had its start. A four part mini series that was published in 1992!!! That is a deep cut reference!
17:20 that kind makes me think about Shard from Archie. Eggman did not know about what makes sonic so powerful. However, when Uncle Chuck ( someone who was close to to sonic ) fixed him up, Shard was better than he was before. Shard represents what will happen if metal gets out of Sonic’s shadow and makes his own destiny. Not as clone but someone who is his own person.
God, yes! Props to sonic universe #50 for showing off this dynamic perfectly. Not coincidentally, also written by Ian Flynn
CURSE YOU PENDERS
I will forever lament what could have been
I loved Shard and was so upset he couldn't come back
yes feed my game apologist addiction.
I never thought of Metal Sonic like that. The way you described him just makes so much sense in hindsight.
I've never been a big Metal Sonic fan, but his part of the Annual might be one of the most thought-provoking story moments in the Sonic franchise. Made me feel sympathetic for him for once.
It looks like Eggman’s sonic toys are based off the discontinued Jazzwares Sonic figures!
Because they are
Those were the best
@@CallmeKeyiii They were fragile af tho 😕
@@boxinthejack2166 Stop manhandling them ig
@@CallmeKeyiii I remember buying Classic Sonic and Tails, their joints could barely move for shit, you had to loosen them up a bit, and when I tried to turn Tails’ tails, after a bit of a struggle they snapped right off... ouch
Metal Virus was uh…something…..something depressing.
Everybody died
Big is a character with such potential. And we’ve seen in both this and Archie that Flynn recognizes that potential. So it’s a shame so far this annual is still his only major appearance in IDW which is about to release its 41st issue.
They could get the best writers around to write the perfect story for Big the Cat, yet still you'd get all the Sonic haters and detractors going "NOOO, I DON'T LIKE STINKY BIG THE CAT, GET RID OF HIM, REEEE!" And eventually, Sega will oblige, because these seem to be the kinds of people Sega are trying to appease these days!
@@bowmaj8666 it is what it is.
To me, Big isn't really that interesting of a character. I only began to like the big guy thanks to Ian's writing.
Outside that...I personally like Big as a background character, not a main one 😅
@@superdewott3209 eh, fair enough.
He reminds me of Lenny from Of Mice and Men.
I cried at that last panel with Big covered in the Metal Virus telling Froggy that he's finally home. I love Big the Cat so much! 😭😭😭
Yep.
Metal still has depression. Someone give him a hug...
I believe the Red/Super Metal Sonic at 19:18 is a reference to Metallix, who was a major villain in the Fleetway comics.
this metal sonic plot is almost as good as Kameo: Elements of Power
Y'know, there were dark moments in the Archie comics, alongside compelling characters, well developed arcs, and storytelling with depth. They showed us Sonic could give adult (not that kind) storytelling. But this...oooooffff. Your delivery is making this across as DREADFUL. There is this foreboding sense of nononoNONONO creeping inexorably onward.
I absolutely loved the IDW Transformers (Lost Light in particular!) and this is another solid entry.
Kudos to you, good sir, and kudos to the IDW staff!
The radio birds story in particular is a great idea
Honestly, going forward I do hope we get some Resident Evil style call backs to the Metal Virus. Like a side story of what happened to the police or a HUNK like character. I’d love to see that
I kinda personally like how little they do with metal sonic since it makes it more fun to think about potential stuff they could do :p
That little Metal Sonic story is probably my favorite story with him. An excellent showcase of show dont tell. He has so much to tell without actually saying anything
FINALLY I waited for this!!!
Edit: I think that little eggcave bit is just to lighten things up a bit. You see poor innocent Big get infected with the metal virus after finally finding his lost friend, the dark tones of the story with the radio cast and the inevitable infection. I think the reader could use a laugh now and then
The adrenaline dub's metal sonic one hits different
the lil urban rescue ranch clip is much appreciated
I subscribe to the theory that metal is the roboticized original sonic from a failed timeline in CD. So when reading the metal sonic short story, I interpreted it as metal truly believes that he is the real sonic because his failed timeline occurred before the successful one. So dipping his finger into the virus was the final confirmation that he wasn't the real sonic anymore and was finally forced to come to terms with that fact.
Poor Big, becoming infected because saving his friend.
And Metal´s story said a lot, even tough there was only a couple of dialogues
19:40 we used to have that but the figures has been discontinued for a long time.
And good riddance, to be honest. They weren't any good to begin with.
The general Sonic character design doesn't lend itself for good conversion into a good action figures, sadly. Joints don't look good on such a thin limbs, and big heads make figures waaaaaaaay top-heavy to even just stand upright on their own, let alone be posed in any way.
I still feel buyer's remorse 10 years later, but I just love Sonic way too much to get rid of them.
@@WindigoTP Mine were totally fine, I haven't had any trouble standing them up (unless they were bought from Toys R Us where for some reason they were looser than ragdolls in the Source engine), the real problem was how fragile they were, several of my figures were either decapitated or outright mutilated after a single drop and had to be fixed with superglue which murdered possibility.
...I kinda wonder what the Metal Virus goop feels like, though?
Like...It looks incredibly satisfying to squish...
I believe the metal virus goop has the same consistency of liquid mercury.
(Befitting that since both are dangerous)
I definitely remember the chat between you and pup on the topic of metal, and Reflections still makes me sure that even a silent metal can give us a bunch of character depth if utilized well. Hopefully the comic gives us more of him.
I honestly really like ALL of these stories equally. The Metal one stood out to me though, because it really shows his personality well. I really like how he’s portrayed in the comics.
17:00 if Sonic never had 90s attitude and took after Mario, he would just be a fleshy version of Metal Sonic fighting for nature instead of your least favorite eggy boi.
Then again, Sonic's attitude in the West is different from Japan.
Toys like that do exist but they are rare. One of my old friends had a Sonic toy just like that.
I think I just like how Metal only speaks whenever he's NEO Metal Sonic, since now he's out of Eggman's control, he develops his own goals and takes on a literal new persona to be the "real sonic," to become what he couldn't and can't anymore. If Metal Sonic is Sonic without the soul, then NEO is Metal Sonic WITH the soul.
Looking forward to you getting to Belle, particularly with the heart wrenching interaction with Eggman in this last issue.
Same. Next issue has me legit hyped to see the deadly six again since they were written so well
I genuinely wish. They made Sonic animation, games. Just like the Sonic Metal Virus story
Man I've really enjoyed these speed readings. Great work man!
In regards to the metal sonic short, it is the epitome of the phrase: "A picture is worth a thousand words!"
The IDW comics are some of the best written sonic stuff ever. With the games it's mostly mediocre with good moments here or there but, with the IDW comics this is just genuinely good stuff in general not just "good for sonic standards" it's straight up good as in I would unironically share this with people who aren't sonic fans.
Shiro and Kiyoko Yoshimura def do a better job with the story amd characters imo.
The comics are mostly fine but the branding for characters like shadow, silver, and knuckles still dont feel one to one.
Especially during the virus arc.
And the arc itself was a bit repetitive with plotholes
That why I started reading sonic comics
I remember getting this annual not too long ago, and boyyyy this comic was an absolute treat to read for the first time. The panels and art were absolutely amazing.
Zombot Charmy in the rain looked so cool, I’d love a sonic horror manual spoof
19:38
ayo i actually own some figures that look dead accurate to the sonic one here
i got sonic, tails and knuckles, rotating torsos and all
knowing they referenced those in the idw comics among other things puts a smile on my face
Love these speed readings even better at bedtime.
The more I read IDW stuff the more I want a 2D animated series of it with Ian Flynn in charge of writing or him writing for games for the love of god I don't care what mandates he has to go through the end result would still be waay better.
i imagine the idw as an animated show everytime i read it. It's so vivid and expressive in its art and manages to have a perfect tone for the franchise. I'd love to see an adaptation.
Thank God I'm happy with a new video from one of my favorites 💗
"Metal Sonic is just Sonic without a soul" Sonic Rivals 2 Metal Sonic disagrees with you sir.
Would you say that as a fact, that he has the exact same soul as sonic? He may gain one of his own, he may develop personality in a way that is similar to the hedgehog he is copying. But he truly isn’t sonic. When they reference to “Metal sonic is just sonic without the soul.” Try to See it from eggmans’ perspective. He has seen Sonics’ strength, he’s SEEN the hedgehogs’ speed. He has BUILT a robot that is supposed to match him in every way. He sees in sonic what he can utilize, but he doesn’t UNDERSTAND sonic the hedgehog. Doesn’t UNDERSTAND what makes the blue blur the way he is. NO amount of bot building and modeling will get eggman any closer to understanding his arch-nemesis.
@@lanluhylrean1122 but i also like metal,Not exactly as a villian but as a character of his own,Even shown when he overthrows eggman and does his own thing
@@Mephiles343 True. Especially when it takes into account Sonic Heroes and Sonic rivals 2. Metal sonic tries to push his own agenda, while having eggman imprisoned. and when Metal sonic ripped the chaos emerald out his core for shadow to use... Eggman may speak through his mouth, but I think eggman would have kept that secret to the grave to neutralize one of his threats. Can't stop him if you are stuck in another dimension.
I get what you mean about the virus getting on their clothes and such, but I think the virus can move on it's own when close enough to organic material so when it's on the gloves and such it seeks a way to reach the organic material and goes for the wrist. Or more simply, the stuff is already on their wrist and spreading, but the visual of goopy hands, gloves or not, is more impactful than a dribble on their wrist. They could have switched it up a little like caught in hair, splash on a cheek, or something like that, I'll admit. Over all a great vid and loved those same stories, too. Take care!
This is the only channel that I watch as soon as they upload. Keep up the great work Nick!
Fun Fact: Andes, the font used in the Sonic 3 Zone title cards, is also used in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ both for some of its varying logo and for a few of the show’s episode title cards, thus strengthening the Batman reference with the Egg Cave.
We do actually have this kind of figures I had a lot as a kid with the rotating torso and everything
Not sure if its Night or Knight and Dawn or Don, but I can totally see these two becoming a duo where Night is like the navigator to Don as he goes out to save people. That would make for a good spinoff.
They‘re called Nite and Don, which are puns on night and dawn
THE URBAN RESCUE RANCH REFERENCE WAS KIIING
You wanna talk about good characterization?
Why Sonic Heroes Matters
You know this zombot thing reminds me of Roboticization in am way. Except, more extreme.
did you make a "I DONT HAVE A MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM" reference? nice xD
16:31 was beautifully delivered. Describes Metal perfectly.
I Understand Why people like the Silent Version of Metal Sonic. But if to me if he has a Super Big Role in the Arc i wouldn't mind him talking. I still love his Lines from Sonic Heroes as it was the First indication of how Metal Was Really feeling that still stick with me to this day.
Metal Sonic: I was created for the sole purpose of destroying you, but I can never seem to defeat you. That is why I rebuilt my own body with my own hands. See me as I am, no longer afraid of anything.
Metal Sonic use to be Afraid? I felt That. While Kicking his Butt in Super Sonic mode
Words cannot express how much I LOVED the 2nd short story involving the owl and the rooster. Its just so subtle to the world building of sonic that everyday people where being affected by the virus outbreak. If theres one thing to take from this awesome annual is that I wish and hope that other issues be they specials or part of the mainline comics delve more into the everyday aspects of the world and it's people. I so friking adore that sort of stuff!
I love that they got around the whole no romance mandate by having Don and Nite be a couple from the start.
The Night and Don story legitametly gave me shivers when I saw their faces, it's literraly like any other zombie outbreak movie or series, where the news gets called by people witnessing the infection, and, dang, does it leave me with goosebumps.
when you got to that one with Starline, Eggman, and the Eggcave, it made me think. I can't be the only person who voices Starline like a James Bond villain, can I? Like, there's got to be other people out there, who saw the suit, the gloves, and the glasses, and just somehow defaulted to voicing him like a Bond Villain
*God* I love Metal Sonic as a character. It's sad that almost every time he gets personality, he gets destroyed in the same day. #MetalSonicHasAHeart
I thought Metal took the Virus slipping off him like this:
"Sonic is weak to this, I am not. I am therefore, the superior sonic."
Can we talk about the "Hey, big guy! Hey, little guy!" reference?
Can you tell me who came first?
My man got a sponsor. Well done. You deserve it man.
Didn’t expect to see an urban rescue ranch clip here lol
I loved that big the cat spent his final moments looking at the sun with his freind froggy. It's like of mice and men, with lenny looking out at the sunset with his friend george. It's bittersweet and I absolutely love it.
9:35 ok. So when I saw this I immediately know what it was.
First of all, DAAAANGGGG I see Ivo’s flexin!
These are called Jazwares 3 inch articulated figures. The most popular sonic toy line ever. They had almost every character, but went out of business a couple years ago as far as sonic and stopped making sonic toys all together. They’ve become really expensive nowadays for no good reason.
I listen to these while I'm doing delivery work. I've already read the mainline series, but your little comments and input really adds a lot to it. Keep up the good work!
I think there might be another aspect to Metal seeing the Metal Virus slip off of him. I definitely agree with what you say, but there might be a positive thought about the situation that occurred to Metal in the moment. That being: HE can't get infected, but Sonic CAN, meaning even though he's lost to Sonic and Co so many times, he still has some advantages over his loathsome copy. He can do things that regular flesh and blood Sonic could never dream of. So, you could look at it as a bittersweet kind of moment for our Metalic Menace.
10:17 I don't know if this has been said but I LOVE the subtle detail of the more the sun sets, the fewer lights there are in the town shown below. Those are subtle details that I love.
I really do appreciate you doing these side stories and telling us about it. I’m overall shock by how Dawn and Night was night talked about way more. Like, I’m shock no one talked about to two and their story and not just the design of Dawn. Sad honestly, but is honestly glad you did. This is truly lovely 💕💕
I agree with your sentiment about Metal Sonic not speaking. It really gives him a menacing presence and represents Sonic only in physical ability.
However once he gets his Neo form, he should start talking cause that's what Metal himself wants. He made that body himself. Sonic isnt the type of guy to sit there, take orders, and say nothing. He has the agency to talk when he wants and not talk when he needs to. That's what Metal wants to be and then some. His silence wasn't his own, it was forced upon him by somebody else (Eggman) simply out of convenience.
His body is "modernized" and upgraded cause Sonic ever since CD has grown in appearance, personality, and power. Meanwhile Metal looks essentially the same, stuck in the past not fulfilling his only priority and Sonics growth only makes his purpose harder to realize.
Metal is one of my fav characters and has alot of untapped potential. (can be said with alot of these characters lol)
I like how on the cover of Big’s adventure both sonic and tails is helping big go fast so the metal virus can temporarily disappear
i was expecting ridge when he started talking about wallet
Fun fact: Nite the Owl is reportedly inspired by Clint McElroy.
As a result, if the fan-animated version of the series gets to covering these side stories I think it would be awesome to have Clint himself voice Nite. Either as himself or as Merle Highchurch; Then we can have Griffin McElroy using his John voice for Don the Rooster...
Eggmans figures definitely look like the old jazwares ones, but specifically the 5 inch action posers
I wouldn't mind seeing metal try and replicate sonic in the act of helping people since his immunity in an attempt to show his superiority to sonic in situations like this, and would given him potential that he could either surpass sonic in means of stamina and immunities to biological illnesses or in sonics own game of being a hero.
God I adore this comic. The metal virus has really surprised me. I never expected sonic the hedgehog to produce the most emotional, psychologically dark, and downright dreadful zombie story i’ve ever read. Emotional, terrifying, the decay of hope. The deconstruction of characters we’ve grown up with. Watching the usually quipping Sonic, the mindful Tails, the cheerful Amy, the content Whisper, the energetic Tangle, the fearless Shadow, the hopeful Silver, the joyous Cream, the charming Chaotix... all hopeless, broken, at an absolute loss. Utterly fantastic.
16:31
"I have no mouth and I must go fast"
Actually Game Apologist. I remember me and my cousin having those type of toys. My cousinhad the small Super Hedgehog Trio of Super Sonic, Super Shadow and Super Silver. An I decided to get one of those at Toys R Us. I still remember how the arms and legs look like and they had those EXACT same circles on them. Man what a nice little reference to those toys and it makes me love this comic even more.
Edit: And that Star Shirt Kid looks like Lars from Steven Universe. Not only the hair references it, but the shirt with the star references too. Sweet!
Another Edit: And the title has Amy having what seems to be a small Sonic in her mouth and it looks like it's referencing the freaking Popsicle! Oh my God so many references!!
i see what you're doing
trying to avoid talking about the Deadly Six
One I noticed with the Dawn and Night story...as the day goes on you see fewer and fewer lights on in the city. I know it's a dramatic way to show the virus spreading but it looks like everybody who succumbed to the virus decided to turn all the lights off in their house either before becoming a zombot or after.