Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island Issue 4 is the fourth and final issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island miniseries published by IDW Publishing.
Official solicitation[]
- We all go a little mad sometimes…especially when you were created by an evil scientist. Poor Mecha Sonic never stood a chance. As his plan reaches its final stages, Tails, Sigma, and the Scrapniks race around the Death Egg to save Sonic.[1]
Featured stories[]
Story one[]
- Story: Daniel Barnes
- Art: Jack Lawrence
- Colors: Nathalie Fourdraine
- Letters: Shawn Lee
- Editors: Riley Farmer, David Mariotte
- Special thanks to: Mai Kiyotaki, Michael Cisneros, Sandra Jo, Sonic Team, and everyone at Sega for their invaluable assistance
Synopsis[]
Mecha Sonic reviews the preparations he made to to do a mind transfer with Sonic. Sonic asks what Mecha means by "mind transfer", and Mecha explains the helmet Sonic is wearing is the Egg Noggin, a prototype mind control device created by Dr. Eggman. Mecha modified it so he can download his mind into Sonic's body, with the help of Tails' tablet. Sonic is shocked that Mecha is actually going to "suck his brains out". Mecha goes on to say the Scrambled Egg Carrier will never fly and his only way out is with Sonic's body. He says he will make sure Dr. Eggman never forgets him again. Sonic reminds him of his Scrapnik friends and he's going to ditch them like Dr. Eggman did with him. Mecha pauses, only to say friendship is a weakness, a glitch in his software, and they were never his friends. Sonic calls his bluff, but Mecha has had enough of hearing him and throws the switch to began the mind transfer.
Electricity jolts through Sonic and Mecha Sonic as the mind transfer commences. The Scrapniks who were watching the scene from the rafters pounce on Mecha, begging him to stop. In the confusion, the computer blows up, ending the mind transfer and making the room go dark. Mecha stands over the ruined computer and laments on failing his plan to escape the island. He turns to the Scrapniks and anger and says they ruined everything and charges at them. Meanwhile, two Scrapniks help Sonic get out of his restraints. Sonic holds his head and he starts hearing another voice. He hears fragments of what appears to be someone else's memories, but they're broken and hard to process. He finally realizes the emotions he's feeling are not his own. Sonic watches as Mecha tosses a Scrapnik against the wall, which makes him angry. As Mecha goes to grab the trembling Scrapnik, Sonic his Mecha with a Spin Attack.
Sonic and Mecha Sonic run side by side, with Sonic in pain because of his still broken ankle. Sonic keeps his confidence up, but Mecha's thoughts intervene. Mecha says the pain Sonic feels is nothing compared to what he has endured; being robbed of his purpose. Sonic realizes the Egg Noggin linked their brains. Mecha admits Sonic bested him in their last fight, but he will win this time since Sonic is alone, wounded, and at his limit. Sonic replies by saying that limits are meant to be broken and runs past Mecha with a Super Peel Out. The two then run into the central furnace of the Death Egg and battle. Sonic finally gets an open hit on Mecha and kicks him in the head, causing the metal cast on it to shatter. The hit causes Mecha to replay a memory of him embracing other Scrapniks. Mecha then tumbles down near the center of the furnace, with Sonic urgently following him. He reaches his hand out to Mecha, only for the robot to swipe it away. Mecha says it must be nice for Sonic to explore the world freely without regret. He asks Sonic to leave him and he deserves his demise. Mecha says he failed in his original directive to destroy Sonic and his new directive to protect the Scrapniks. Mecha calls himself a worthless failure and trash.
Sonic yells at Mecha Sonic to cut the crap and begins berating him, saying that only he can give himself value and purpose. He tells Mecha he has to live life for himself, which he says is what it really means to be free. He demands Mecha to take his hand, which Mecha willingly does. Sonic tries to pull him out, but then realizes he pushed his broken foot too far and can't move. Mecha complains about him not being able to get them out after his big talk, but Sonic says he is working on it. A hand then grabs Sonic's, and it is revealed to be Tails. Sonic smiles at him and Tails jokingly says he should of stayed back and rested. He gives Sigma the signal, and Tails and a chain of Scrapniks pull Mecha and Sonic out of the furnace. Sigma and an horde of Scrapniks embrace Mecha, with Sigma asking for his forgiveness for not seeing Mecha's turmoil. Sonic and Tails look on, and Sonic starts shedding tears. Tails asks if Sonic is crying, but Sonic says they aren't his.
Later, Tails finishes removing Mecha Sonic and Mecha Knuckles' Dr. Eggman programing. Sigma thanks Sonic and Tails for their kindness and bravery and that the Scrapniks will never forget their help. Sonic and Tails say they were glad to help as Sigma rubs their heads. They then leave to repair the Tornado. Before leaving, Sonic and Mecha Sonic spend a quiet moment together, with Mecha talking to Sonic with his thoughts. As he holds his sunflower, he thanks Sonic for helping him realize the value of someone's existence is not determined by their successes or failures, but if they had the courage to keep moving forward. Mecha says he does not know what the future holds for him or anyone else, but he will face it head-on with the help of his friends. Tails then haves down the two and they go to the Tornado, where a leaving party of Scrapniks is there to watch them leave. As Sonic and Tails leave the island, Mecha says he is done being controlled by yesterday and he is going to live for tomorrow.
Appearances[]
Characters:
- Dr. Eggman (flashback)
- Badnik Horde
- Caterkiller (flashback)
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Scrapniks
- BBPBB (first appearance)
- Ben
- Benedict
- Bill (first appearance)
- Carina (first appearance)
- Carlisle
- Casper
- Chaz
- Cyril
- Dave
- Dylan (first appearance)
- E-117 Sigma
- Emily
- Florentine
- Freddie (first appearance)
- Gilbert (first appearance)
- Hottie (first appearance)
- Judd
- Junio
- Lloyd
- Malissa (first appearance)
- Maximilian (first appearance)
- Mecha Knuckles
- Mecha Sonic
- Michael (first appearance)
- Mitch (first appearance)
- Nevin
- Rancheros
- Tom
- Triple ER (first appearance)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Death Egg
- Egg Carrier (mentioned)
- Tornado
Other features[]
- Sonic Letters Squad: Sonic Letters Squad is a section where the comic staff can post fan artwork and fan letters that have been sent in to them. Instead of fan art, the two pages feature character designs of Mecha Sonic, Mecha Knuckles, and E-117 Sigma, along with the design of Scrapnik Island. The other pages showcase raw artwork of the variant covers for the issue.
- Sonic the Hedgehog Reading Guide: A two page spread of trade paper backs of the comic series placed in sequential order.
Quotes[]
- Mecha Sonic: It's gone... it's all gone... all my work... Now I'll never get off this island... (turning to the Scrapniks) You ruined everything. (he then proceeds to attack) I'LL CRUSH YOU!!!
- Mecha Sonic: You may have bested me the last time we fought, but not this time. You're all alone, you're out of options, and you're wounded. You've reached your limit.
- Sonic: Ah, but see, that's the thing about limits, though. They're meant to be broken!
- Mecha Sonic: Leave me. This is what I deserve...I am a failure. I am worthless. I am trash...
- Sonic: CUT THE CRAP, WILL YA?! You give yourself value and purpose! No one else! You gotta live for you! That's what it really means to be free! NOW TAKE! MY! HAND!
- Mecha Sonic: The value of one's existence isn't determined by successes and failures. Both are fleeting and impermanent. What truly matters is having the courage to keep moving forward...I see that now. Thank you, Sonic.
- Mecha Sonic: I'm done being controlled by yesterday. I'm going to live for tomorrow.
Trivia[]
- Mecha Sonic's quote "I'LL CRUSH YOU!!!" is a direct reference to Super Mario Bros. Z, a fan series by Mark Haynes (formerly Alvin Earthworm) in which Mecha Sonic is the main antagonist. Specifically, the quote references the sixth episode, where Mecha Sonic says the same thing as he transforms into Super Mecha Sonic, using Cooler's voice lines from Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. This reference was intentional by Daniel Barnes.[4]
- The shot of Sonic and Mecha Sonic's faces separated by a blast of electricity on page three is a reference to the cover of Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volume 10.[5]
- The moment where Sonic lends his hand to save Mecha Sonic from being incinerated and the latter smacks his hand away is a reference to Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, where Sonic lends his hand to Hyper Metal Sonic to save him from melting and the latter smacks his hand away as well.
- Sonic's line to Mecha Sonic to "cut the crap" is one of the few instances where Sonic himself swears. Another instance came from Shadow the Hedgehog: upon failing the hero mission of the Lethal Highway stage, Sonic will comment "Damn! They got away! Leave it to me, I'll chase them down!", another instance, though unused, where Sonic would have said 'Hate to piss off G.U.N," instead of "Hate to tick off G.U.N,", and another instance, though only exclusive to the Sonic X Japanese dub in “Sonic to the Rescue” when Sonic and Cream are detected by laser cameras, making Sonic utter “Shit! Let’s go!”.
Gallery[]
Cover artwork[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Cover A colors. Art by Nathalie Fourdraine.  Cover B inks. Art by Mauro Fonseca.  Cover B colors. Art by Mauro Fonseca.  Cover RI colors. Art by Jack Lawrence. Colors by Nathalie Fourdraine. |
Early covers[]
Concept artwork[]
Preview pages[]
| Gallery |
|---|
 Credits page ScrapIslandPreviewPage.jpg "Sonic(IDW)ScrapIslandPreviewPage.jpg (262 KB)") Page one ScrapIslandPreviewPage2.jpg "Sonic(IDW)ScrapIslandPreviewPage2.jpg (451 KB)") Page two ScrapIslandPreviewPage3.jpg "Sonic(IDW)ScrapIslandPreviewPage3.jpg (597 KB)") Page three ScrapIslandPreviewPage4.jpg "Sonic(IDW)ScrapIslandPreviewPage4.jpg (675 KB)") Page four ScrapIslandPreviewPage5.jpg "Sonic(IDW)ScrapIslandPreviewPage5.jpg (502 KB)") Page five |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island #4 Variant A (Fourdraine). Penguin Random House (21 October 2022). Retrieved on 21 October 2022.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island #4 Variant B (Fonseca). Penguin Random House (21 October 2022). Retrieved on 21 October 2022.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island #4 Variant RI (10) (Lawrence). Penguin Random House (21 October 2022). Retrieved on 21 October 2022.
- ↑ Daniel Barnes on Twitter. Twitter. ✪ daniel barnes ✪ (17 January 2023). Retrieved on 17 January 2023. "Daniel Barnes: never ask me for anything ever again"
- ↑ Daniel Barnes on Twitter. Twitter. ✪ daniel barnes ✪ (17 January 2023). Retrieved on 18 January 2023.
