Warning: Spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog #69It was a risk when IDW Publishing promoted Sonic the Hedgehog #69 as an issue about a random race when such events have not performed well in the overall comic franchise. But against all odds, the race itself, while unremarkable itself, actually turned out to be quite relevant because it led to Sonic teaming up with Dr. Eggman.

Sonic #69 by story writer Evan Stanley, inker Min Ho Kim, colorist Reggie Graham with assistants Jonathon Dobbs and Rik Mack, and letterer Shawn Lee, the Clean Sweepstakes race ends in disaster when Sonic, Tails and Amy Rose’s Extreme Gear all malfunction. Dr. Eggman shows up afterward to exploit Sonic’s desire to investigate what happened. In exchange for providing technology that would help Sonic in this endeavor, Dr. Eggman expects Sonic to also look into the company sponsoring the race, which has profited over its commercial that made fun of him.

It turns out that the company, known as Clean Sweep Inc., is part of a massive conspiracy to take out Sonic’s Restoration from within using Sonic and Tails’ cyborg replacements, Surge and Ki,t respectively.

Past Races In Sonic Have Been Terrible

Issue #69 marks the return of the series after being on hiatus for a few months. During that time, the Fang: The Hunter miniseries took center stage. It might have made more sense for the return issue of Sonic to capitalize on the compelling alliance between Sonic and Dr. Eggman, rather than the race. After all, the two enemies have only temporarily aligned in extreme situations, like the incredible battle royale in the wake of Sonic #50 and at the end of the epic Metal Virus saga.

Based on previous race issues being mostly used as filler stories, it’s surprising how relevant the race in Sonic #69 actually is. One major race from IDW’s main Sonic continuity proves how lackluster they’ve been in the past. In that first race many issues ago, Clutch coerces Sonic and his friends to participate in a Chao racing circuit in exchange for parts to rebuild their Badnik friend, Omega. Although the event helps set up Clutch as a major villain, the payout is too little and much too late. The other big race from IDW takes place in a one-shot issue that has no bearing on the actual continuity, in Sonic Team Racing.

Races also have a bad track record in Archie’s Sonic series. The most notorious one was filler, since it served as a standalone story that interrupted the main events of the comic, and it even took up the entire issue in question (Sonic #242). The first page of issue #242 even begins with the following statement, “Welcome to this exclusive Sonic and Olympic event! We take a break from the regular adventures of the world’s fastest hedgehog to find him and his friends preparing for the Olympics!” Worst of all, Sonic #241 had just dropped the massive bombshell that longtime Sonic ally Geoffrey St. John becomes a major villain, and this race just unnecessarily puts that revelation on hold.

Sonic’s Ego Wasn’t Even At Risk

It might be surprising that a comic centering on a hedgehog who’s known for racing around at high speeds would not have actual races that are compelling in his own comic. The one saving grace is that the issue before revolved around Extreme Gear, since that technology would eventually serve as the main mode of transportation for the race in the next and latest issue, Sonic #69, effectively serving as foreshadowing. Unfortunately, what Sonic #68 would eventually foreshadow wouldn’t be that exciting.

The problem for those critical of the race is that there are no real stakes, since it is just a charity event with no major repercussions. Moreover, Sonic’s ego isn’t even on the line, since his speed is completely contingent on technology, not his own quickness. And as all fans are aware of, Sonic is all about speed. At least, the events of the race play a massive consequential role in bringing together two of the two most ironic enemies in all of pop culture – Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman.