53 replies to this topic

[RedAuthar]

I liked Scourge Better as Anti-Sonic. A sometimes Villain.

[LogiTeeka]

From what I've seen so far in these type of forums, nearly all the characters in the Sonic series are deeply hated for various reasons. We're all fans of the series, right? It certainly doesn't feel that way.

Personally, I'm sorta hoping for that rumored reboot of the series. Just start from scratch, take the best aspects that worked, and avoid the mistakes made in the past. Sure, we may end up loosing a lot of characters and setups; but for most complaintive fans out there, it'll be a load off their sorry backs.

[Prime]

Personally, I'm sorta hoping for that rumored reboot of the series. Just start from scratch, take the best aspects that worked, and avoid the mistakes made in the past. Sure, we may end up loosing a lot of characters and setups; but for most complaintive fans out there, it'll be a load off their sorry backs.

Ah, but then you're going to have those who wouldn't welcome a reboot at all. Fans who have invested years of reading and following a title only to be told "Reboot is coming along now, bitches! Deal with it." A reboot isn't gonna please everyone, just like the comic isn't doing now.

Thing is, reboots are an easy way out for writers. Don't like what came before? Don't worry, reboot that shit away and pretend it never happened! Start fresh! Sure it might seem like a logical thing to do, but it can also be a slap in the face to what came before. I've read some comics where one writer has done an excellent time on their run, yeah there's been a few bad issues or stories now and then, but overall they did a great job. Then some other writer comes along who didn't like what the previous writer had done, or wants to do his own thing but pre-established continuity would make it nearly impossible unless they figured out a really creative way around it (and not "oh look, that character you thought had died? Yeeeah, turns out they survived with the help of someone off panel!" bullshit) and sometimes these new writers have been so god damned awful that when their replacement comes along, all the shit that they had done has been retconned/rebooted away.

But for a new writer to come onto a long running book and continue on with what has happened before? I think I can give a little respect to the writer. They might have a more difficult time working around with things they don't like, but they ani't giving in to that big glowly reset button which calls out to them. Retconning some things here and there? Yeah that can be okay and it can be annoying, but to just give up, throw in the towel and hit the reset button? Sure you'll get rid of all the shit, but you'd also get rid of all the gold.

Plus I think at this point if a reboot was considered, there's the probability of Sega might want the title to reflect solely on the games. Discard anything that's unique to the comics and any of the other spin-off material and have the writers limited to the game material. No saying it's for sure, but it could be possible. When the comic first started we had the games, AoStH, SatAM and some other little bits and pieces like novels and so on. Now it's really just the comic and the games. No real spin off stuff at all. There's nothing really stopping them from demanding a reboot at this point, other then perhaps the comic is the longest running comic based off a video game series, something which they might be proud of a little, bit hard to find a licensed comic that has run for this long. But if it were to be rebooted, that'd reset the number and would be a new series really.

[RedAuthar]

Why not have a rebooted series running alongside the regular series. Sort of like Ultimate Marvel Comics and Regular Marvel Comics.

[LogiTeeka]

I was mainly referring to the games themselves. They're the foundation that the comics and everything else were built upon. But considering the games current status of becoming a bit staler, I wouldn't mind a fresher start with lesser problems to worry about.

I respect Ian's determination to continue working on the comic's continuity, but it may also be his bane. Previous writers had more freedom and wrote whatever they wanted, contradicting each other, so it was up to him to clean up their mess and keep everything simple. But there was another problem. One one side, you have the comic containing material like Sonic's parents, Robotnik's origins, and Sonic's romantic relationship with Sally. But when Ian started his run, Sega started showing interest in the series and decided to set up certain ground rules for the series to fallow (mainly to keep it in alignment with the games); like not mentioning Sonic's relation to his family, keeping Eggman's origins a mystery, and Sonic not having a full on relationship with any girl. Since Ian has to put up with both sides, it puts more load on his shoulders and it also effects the series' current depiction.

That's one of the reasons why I liked the Genesis arc. It allowed Ian to break away from that material and start all over. He kept certain elements from the comic that worked (e.g. Sally, Antoine, Rotor, Snively, Robotroplois) but based it more on the original games and Sega's direction. That's mostly why I think the "Mega Man" comics are much better by comparison. Ian knows the rules, yet still manages to create something out from them.

[RedAuthar]

That's why I think there should be a reboot comic along side the old one. More freedom in the new one, plus they don't abandon the story and characters that fans already know and love from the old one.

[Shadow]

I personally don't like either. Shadow reeks of narcissism and self importance. His debut sort of started the ball rolling on the recolor boom. His story is nothing special, and tends to be a bland anti hero who is brooding just 'cuz. Scourge I feel is even more shallow. He started out as the typical evil twin anti universe thats been done to death in every single comic and cartoon. At least Shadow had a backstory, but Scourge has absolutely no reason why he does what he does. Ebil for ebils sake. Plus he tends to hang around too much and isn't always fun.
I dunno, I guess I'll go with Shadow.

[Janus]

Shadow is okay as his own character. I wouldn't really say he an Anti-Sonic though. I'd consider him more of a rival. As for Scourge, while his transformation was an interesting development, there are so many things about him that give the impression of a mediocre fanfiction character. Metal Sonic, as many have already stated, is perhaps the best Anti-Sonic. He's not composed of flesh and blood, and in his initial appearance at least, had little of a personality. This makes him the complete opposite of Sonic.

[RedAuthar]

Scourge actually used to be known as Anti-Sonic, as he was an Sonic from a version of Mobius where all the alignments had been reversed (Robotnik being the good guy and all that).

[Janus]

He was sometimes known as Anti-Sonic. Archie went back and forth referring to him as Anti-Sonic or Evil-Sonic. I always did like how a few of the parallel universes Sonic visited had good Robotniks.

[RedAuthar]

I've always liked the concept of alternate universes in comics/movies/games.

Specifically if they're What ifs.

What if Sonic was evil? What if he was a girl? What if he chose not save so-and-so?

[Janus]

I usually like those too. The idea of an evil version of the main character is interesting to say the least. That's probably the main reason that I like Scourge somewhat. And at least Flynn changed him away from being just the anti version of Sonic.

[RedAuthar]

That's where I disagree.

See an evil version of Sonic is interesting, but it would have been more interesting if it was evil Sonic not by choice, not just reversed. And Scourge, well not that he's not just a cheap knock off, he's more of one. He's just a mean green Sonic. It was more tolerable in my opinion if he had stayed anti-Sonic or Evil-Sonic.

[Janus]

That's where I disagree.

See an evil version of Sonic is interesting, but it would have been more interesting if it was evil Sonic not by choice, not just reversed. And Scourge, well not that he's not just a cheap knock off, he's more of one. He's just a mean green Sonic. It was more tolerable in my opinion if he had stayed anti-Sonic or Evil-Sonic.

Do you mean "by choice?" If so, I seem to recall some dialogue where Scourge states something to Sonic about how he could choose to be like Scourge. But I could be mistaken. It's been a few years since I've read some of the issues.