‘Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla’ Issue 1 Review

After a huge marketing campaign, one of the most unique Godzilla comic crossovers has finally been released! Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla Issue 1 is fast, fun, and surprisingly takes a major risk by not having the titular King of the Monsters appear in the story just yet. I think moving the focus of this issue away from Godzilla, while a move that may dissuade kaiju fans from picking up the book, ultimately pays off, as two mostly unrelated kaiju in Toho’s “Big 5” pantheon who have hardly shared the screen together get to have an epic battle. The writing feels so much like a Sonic the Hedgehog game, with the kaiju thrown in like they’ve always been a thorn in the side of the Green Hill Zone. The communities behind both properties will have great fun with this book, although I do believe the reception of the book will lean slightly more towards Sonic the Hedgehog fans rather than the Godzilla sphere.

This comic immediately starts with a bang, throwing us in headfirst at hyperspeed. Dr Robotnik is attacking a city, being thwarted by Sonic, when suddenly Mothra and Mechagodzilla (1993) appear! This is a really interesting matchup for Godzilla fans, as these two icons have never really shown up together. Godzilla Tokyo S.O.S. is the only time the two have shared the screen together, and yet they never actually interact with each other in the film. The Mothra design is wonderfully fluffy and evokes the Heisei incarnation, but she gets to really show off some power! The fight between Mothra and Mechagodzilla is definitely the focus here as, unfortunately, Sonic and Friends don’t get much to do. Mothra has some cool new moves though, including her fairy-like dust that shatters technology and my new favorite Mothra move, a wing clap!

Godzilla fans will adore this fight, but I’m not convinced the Sonic cast will grab you (aside from Robotnik). If we boil it down, all Sonic really gets to do is save some random civilians with Tails and Amy while the kaiju battle goes down. For a while I wasn’t sure if Tails would even talk, which was a bummer because he was always my childhood favorite. Eventually, Tails does get some exposition, but he never gets characterized in this issue, or even shows an interest in the absurdity of two giant monsters attacking. Amy, on the other hand, gets to connect with Mothra and even has a brief moment where she talks to the giant insect. This scene to me is the highlight, as it showcases the kind heart of both Amy and Mothra, and links them together in a cute way for fans of both. 

Sonic however, just kind of runs around pushing people out of the way, occasionally mentioning a chili dog and insulting Robotnik. He’s classic Sonic, but it seems like he’s here out of obligation and not passion. This is disappointing because as I said at the beginning, the story doesn’t require Godzilla itself yet so it hasn’t appeared, but this feels like the writer just wasn’t allowed to do that with Sonic. I can’t say with any certainty that is what happened, but it’s the vibe the comic gives to me as a reader. Lastly, Robotnik steals the show. He’s delightfully evil and full of himself, but the hints that he wants to build his own Mechagodzilla-type robot is certainly a threatening one. Robotnik consistently praises the craftsmanship and destructive capability of Mechagodzilla, really showcasing the writer’s love for the mechanical titan as well as the intelligence of Robotnik himself. The set up is fantastic, though we aren’t sure where the kaiju came from, or where the story is headed yet.

The last aspect I want to discuss is the art. I adore the art style here; Jack Lawrence expertly uses thick lines, creating a nice cartoony aesthetic, and the movement is unmatched. Everything here has weight and looks fast, as Sonic the Hedgehog should. The colors by Reggie Graham are just as good, at times looking like watercolor. Everything looks soft, faded together and yet incredibly vibrant. This is something I’ve never seen in print outside of an actual watercolor painting. Mothra specifically looks like she has subtle brush strokes as the texture of her fuzz. The colors make this feel like the world of Sonic, and the Kaiju fit perfectly inside it, beautifully melding two very different aesthetics into a consistent tone. Mothra especially stands out even beyond her amazingly textured fluff, looking like both a cartoon and a puppet prop from a live action film, thanks to the amazingly well-done proportions and dynamic movement. This style just clicks so well with both franchises, and I think the art alone makes this worth it for a fan of either or both franchises.

Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla’s first issue is absolutely worth checking out. The book has some major levels of fanservice, but it feels like the story is mostly being prioritized above the gimmick itself, and that is wonderful for a crossover book like this. I will, however, warn anyone who isn’t familiar with these franchises not to start here. Sonic’s characterization is never explored, so if you don’t know anything about the long-running Sonic franchise, the characters might not feel very compelling. This comic feels more like an intro to Godzilla than an intro to Sonic. I think Sonic the Hedgehog X Godzilla has the potential to be my favorite of these crossovers so far, as it features two childhood icons combining, but it definitely skews towards Sonic fans who don’t know Godzilla at this time. This is a definite 7/10, what it does right is great, and what it does wrong (in my opinion) isn’t really a hindrance to a casual Sonic fan. As a Godzilla fan, the Mothra vs. Mechagodzilla fight is worth the price!