Spoilers Ahead!
Initial Thoughts
DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #3 gave us a great issue in which we saw the Justice League fight with all their might against Dr. Eggman and his Metal Legion. The most pleasantly surprising of that is that Sonic’s main nemesis held his own against Earth’s best heroes. The issue as a whole was a great climax to the story that has been brewing over the last three issues. With seemingly one fight left, I can confidently say that this was the height of the series, and all Writer Ian Flynn has to do is land the plane for a satisfying ending.
The entire time, I expected the series to end with this fourth issue, but fortunately I was wrong! We will get at least one more issue that will lead to what will for sure be a satisfying ending. The majority of the concluding action seemed to have taken place here, which gives Metal Legion #5 breathing room to finish the series. Flynn gave himself ample space to work with and continues to support the idea that miniseries need to be five issues rather than four. DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: The Metal Legion #3 was a fantastic setup for the finale.
The Perfect Setup for a Finale
Even with the defeat of Dr. Eggman and the rest of his Metal Legion, this was always a battle on two fronts. Now it is up to the Justice League to take down Lex Luthor and the rest of the Legion of Doom. The threat isn't quite over yet, as Lex Luthor revealed that the multi-dimensional highway isn't as harmless as it was portrayed. The final mission before everyone can go home is to stop this interdimensional highway from having DC’s Earth draw energy from Sonic’s Earth. DC X Sonic: Metal Legion #4 was used to set up our final issue, which is why it makes sense that they took care of the foreign threat in this issue and then the familiar threat at the end.
It will be interesting to see how this sub-group of the Justice League takes care of the Legion of Doom, especially since some of their biggest hitters-- Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman-- aren't part of the group. That Legion has its back against the wall, and that is ultimately the most interesting takeaway from the ending of issue #4. There will have to be an interesting plot point to see how a fully powered Legion of Doom loses to an under powered Justice League.
Dr. Eggman is the MAN
The fight between Dr. Eggman and the Justice League was the best part of this issue and, for my money, the best sequence in the entire DC X Justice League series. Dr. Eggman has always come off as a goofy character, but writer Ian Flynn treated him like the biggest, most threatening bad guy this Earth has ever seen. He was even a greater threat to the Justice League than the Legion of Doom. He was prepared for all of the Justice League’s attacks, and his Metal Legion was perfectly built to fight off Sonic and his friends. Metal Legion was Dr. Eggman’s series, and even in a loss, he came out the big winner.
I would love to keep exploring this budding rivalry between Dr. Eggman and the Justice League in future iterations. Consider a more "adult" version of this dynamite to make this more interesting. However, I know that this comic book is designed for a particular reader; I thought this was told supremely, in a way that doesn't feel watered down. I know this story wasn't designed for a reader like me, but after the portrayal of Dr. Eggman and everything that led up to it, it has converted me and made me a believer.
This is Cartoony is the Best Way Possible!
The art by Adam Bruce Thomas continues to live up to the book's moment and is as dynamic and alive as ever. The heroes are so alive with motion that it almost looks like they are jumping out of the book, right at you. Thomas' art, accompanied by Matt Herms’ coloring, makes this a beautiful book to look at. The colors used by Herms are so bright, serving as the finishing touches that bring the characters to life. Even though there is an earth-ending event going on, you can't help but feel happy when you see the art of this book.
Something I have enjoyed throughout the series is the character drawings. The heroes look cartoonish, but not in a bad way, in a very complimentary way. Superman looks approachable, with his boyish good looks and piercing blue eyes. On the flip side, the villains, on the other hand, specifically Lex Luthor, look so cartoonishly villainous and very expressive. It's such a change of pace from the usual characterization of Luthor. It's almost as if he and Dr. Eggman switched bodies, except they both are over-the-top dramatic. The combination of Thomas and Herms is a winning one, and any future DC/Sonic projects need to be these two together.
Final Verdict
DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: Metal Legion #4 is the penultimate issue of a very fun, surprisingly good series that has made Dr. Eggman look like a competent, ferocious villain. This great chapter sets up the finale, where a portion of the Justice League takes on the Legion of Doom, who have one last card up their sleeve. This series has quickly become one of the titles I look forward to every week, as it adds elements that remind me why I love comic books in the first place.