Spoiler Ahead
Initial Thoughts
They said the title! They said Metal Legion! DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: Metal Legion #3 has reached the midpoint of the series, and it has not disappointed. With the Legion of Doom on the run from Dr. Eggman, the entire series has been turned on its head. While not the most consequential series, this crossover event has broken the mold of how traditional crossover events are usually written. The villains have taken the baton in this series and have shone. I have even gained some respect for Dr. Eggman. In my eyes, he was transformed from an idiot into a real mastermind who goes toe-to-toe with Lex Luthor.
The third chapter of this latest installment of the crossover was a really fun read that brought all the behind-the-scenes backstabbing out of the shadows and into the room. This was the best issue so far in the series, and writer Ian Flynn has ramped up the series' quality. While the outcomes are very convenient and border on deus ex machina plotting for our heroes' escape, there is enough “believability” and fun with the end result. Overall, DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: Metal Legion #3 is really fun and has completely sold me on this title.
The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend
Our main characters are now out of the Null Space; however, they were released by one of the men who put them there in the first place — Lex Luthor. Luthor subscribes to the notion that the “enemy of my enemy is my friend” and hopes that the Justice League and Sonic can take down Dr. Eggman and his new Metal Legion. He was beaten to the punch by Dr. Eggman in a double-cross, and I think that makes this series infinitely better. It has completely sold me on this crossover. DC X Sonic: Metal Legion #4 made the series' story more complex, which makes it much more interesting.
There are still elements that make this super campy and a fun read, but adding more complex storytelling will keep more seasoned readers entertained and engaged. Now our heroes have to deal with a few more plates than before. Not only do they have to stop the Metal Legion and the Legion of Doom, but also L.E.X.E.G.G’s interdimensional highway from taking from the good people of both universes. Maybe, if our heroes are lucky, the Legion of Doom and the Metal Legion will take each other out, paving the way for them to stop the interdimensional highway.
I Wasn’t Familiar With Your Game, Dr. Eggman
Truly, the best part of this issue for me is Dr. Eggman’s changed perception (at least in mine). I was a child of the 90s, and Dr. Eggman has always been a bumbling moron to me, who always got in his own way. In this series, he was 2 steps ahead of Lex Luthor, who is supposed to be 2 steps ahead of everyone. This characterization of Dr. Eggman set the path we will be headed down for the rest of the story. There are now three factions going to battle against each other, and all because Dr. Eggman proved to be a formidable opponent to not only the Legion of Doom, but the Justice League and Sonic as well.
Did they pull the trigger on the betrayal a little too early? The next two issues will determine that, but since the series is titled Metal Legion, it was a good idea to introduce the robots as soon as possible. I didn’t even think to imagine that that is what Metal Legion was, but with this “new” Dr. Eggman, it makes sense that he was a few steps ahead of the Legion of Doom. Now the Justice League AND Legion of Doom have to team up to take down the good Doctor.
The Cartoony Art is Amazing
DC X Sonic is so vibrant and full of life, thanks to Adam Bruce Thomas's penciling and Matt Herms's coloring. The character expressions are flawless. In this book, I fell in love with the characters' facial expressions, especially the villains'. Their over-the-top reactions let you know exactly how they feel about a situation. Case in point: Lex Luthor. He has been incredibly campy in this series, and in this issue, he amplifies it. Luthor's modern representation has been as a non-nonsense hard ass. It's been a nice change of pace to see him a little goofy, and it starts with how well he's drawn.
There is so much going on in DC X Sonic #3 that one could forgive the artist if there was too much on the page to follow. That wasn't the case with Thomas’ artistic decisions. Everything drawn on the page came across as chaotic but necessary. It's a messy look, but with how crazy everyone is in this universe, it fits the narrative perfectly. This, combined with Herms's colors, gives DC X Sonic #3 the look of a vibrant universe that is welcoming to any reader. There is little criticism of the art in this series, and this issue is no different.
Final Verdict
DC X Sonic #3 is my favorite issue of this series so far. Its campiness and storytelling have given me a newfound appreciation for the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, specifically Dr. Eggman. Having Dr. Eggman and the Legion of Boom fall out might have felt like jumping the gun with two issues still left, but I do like that there will now be some room to play with the story. This is a short series, only five issues, so I hope that with so much going on, there can be a satisfying conclusion. However, for now, this is building up my excitement for a fun and fulfilling finish.