REVIEW: DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #2

Dr. Eggman and the Legion of Doom make their move against our heroes in DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #2. You read that right, the Legion of Doom! We’re being treated to an all-star cast of DC villains in this crossover. However, it doesn’t look like Eggman or Luthor have any intention of making this easy for each other.

Adam Bryce Thomas’ cover has Eggman sealing his deal with Luthor in the presence of original Legion of Doom members Captain Cold, Sinestro, and Black Manta. It’s been teased, but now we finally have Dr. Eggman in his DC counterpart’s costume. He even has the Lexcorp emblem, it must have taken restraint to not put his little Robotnik icon on it like everything else in the games. There’s no way he put his ego aside, he must be up to something.

R1c0’s variant cover is a great piece for the Wonder Woman and Amy Rose collection. With the pinkish sky and rising sun, this cover oozes super heroinism with two of the foremost characters who demonstrate such. Usually prefer rough and tough looking Wonder Women, but a Disney princess style one never hurts. Shading is beautiful here too.

Daniele Di Nicuolo’s cover spotlights our big three heroes for this crossover. These are actually all three Sonic characters who have had their own game (we always remember Knuckles Choatix). Batman’s blue in the main continuity is great, but seeing the black and grey makes me miss it. The Sonic characters in DC superhero costumes are still some of the best things to come out of popular culture in recent years.

Lex Luthor has taken Eggman to meet the rest of the Legion of Doom, this includes the aforementioned original members as well as Gizmo and Cheetah, as they plan to us the LEXEGG gates linking the two worlds to get rid of the Justice League and Sonic and company so that they may freely conquer them. However, none of the Legion trusts Eggman, knowing a true villain when they see one. At the same time, Catwoman and Rouge the Bat are keeping tabs on the both of them. The villains’ hunch is well placed as both plan to betray each other in the end. The question remains how?

The next day, as Lex Luthor gives a press conference on the LEXEGG gates, he gives Eggman control of Lexcorps while the Legion of Doom attacks the different places the gates are located to draw out the heroes. Knuckles and Superman head to Metropolis to stop Eggman, Wonder Woman and Amy go to DC to fight Cheetah, Batman and Shadow find Black Manta in Gotham, The Flash and Sonic get to Central City and find Captain Cold, Green Lantern and Silver got to Soleanna and to get Sinestro, and Cyborg and Tails go to Chemical Plant Zone where Gizmo is. All they need to do is not fall into their trap.

If this was a Sonic game, then this issue would’ve been part of the dark side story because Ian Flynn throws us in a world of super geniuses, super deception, and super spies. It’s a good intro for Rogue the Bat and Catwoman after them being teased on variants for so long. It’s a poetic introduction too because Rogue’s first appearance in the games was spying on Eggman. I’m happy to say that Superman and Knuckles were given more pages than some characters and really shows the advantages of this team up. Got to love that they still include Soleanna in the Sonic Universe. Letters are by Becca Carey.

Adam Bryce Thomas, with colors by Matt Herms, do some great villain designs. Cheetah looks absolutely terrifying and creature-like, Vandal Savage (in a cameo panel with Zavok) is truer to his caveman roots appearance wise, and the shadow work with Eggman is so good it makes me wish they did that in the games and not just art. Some panels also reveal Easter Eggs like The Question and Vector the Crocodile and Joker and Zazz. How Rouge and Selina’s faces are handled as they coyly get the information, they want from Luthor and Eggman are full of smug adorableness. Superman and Knuckles confronting Eggman at Lexcorp would be the highlight for me. 

(8/10) Play the dark story with DC X Sonic The Hedgehog Dark Legion #2 as the villains make their move. But who exactly here will be the final boss?