SPOILERS AHEAD!
Initial Thoughts
The finale of DC X Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #5 is here, and it delivers a satisfying ending to a fun, light-hearted series. The Justice League and Sonic’s crew end Lex Luthor’s dastardly plot while saving both their worlds. For me, the lasting legacy of these books is that they were a romp of a read. Sonic and his crew are so naturally bubbly that, from the outside, it might look like a monumental task to get the Justice League to blend in. Fortunately, writer Ian Flynn did a wonderful job making these two very different worlds work together.
The chemistry among the characters works and is one of the series' highlights. At first, the two worlds seem to have nothing in common, but I think that is what made the series so much fun. While nothing was particularly spelled out for a third chapter of this crossover, I have no doubt we will eventually see these characters work together again in some capacity. There is still so much meat on this bone that having these characters in a series again makes total sense, and not only that, but this has been so much fun that I would welcome a third one.
The End?
The Justice League and the Sonic the Hedgehog crew successfully saved both worlds from collapsing on each other while fighting off the Legion of Doom. I didn’t think we could have gotten more out of that ending, or at least I wasn't expecting it, as after the end of issue #4, almost everything seemed wrapped up. Flynn added enough new story—the second fight between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom and the collapse of the interdimensional highways—that it felt like a great wrap-up, and a good stopping point for the next chapter.
However, by making sure neither dimension collapsed, they closed the portal that kept them together. Those are the sacrifices heroes have to make, and one of them was to completely — for now — cut off communication with their new best friends. Metal Legion #5 was a great ending to this crossover chapter, and it wrapped up neatly. Even if the ending felt rushed, it still matched the story, since it felt like if they didn't accomplish the mission, it would be the end of two worlds. Delving deeper into this series with smaller-scale missions in response to this would be a great idea.
Dynamic Characters Deserve Dynamic Writing
For me, what ultimately stood out in this issue, and in the series as a whole, was how writer Flynn aligned the natural dynamics between all the characters. The Justice League was a little more campy, but it ultimately worked for what the story was going for. For example, it was only a few panels long, yet Aquaman and Black Manta’s fight was intense and filled with years of hatred. In contrast, Big the Cat in the Background, just watching them fight like two siblings, legitimately made me laugh. The entire series was a great mix of characters and personas, and it was a masterclass in writing dozens of characters in a chaotic environment while keeping it coherent.
The moment that stood out most was the ending. Most Justice League crossovers are heavily led by Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman. Making The Flash the point of contact lets us expand the purview of Justice League leadership —which makes sense, since he is a speedster. The Flash being the last hero to say bye to Sonic makes him the tentpole character in this universe, which is a nice change of pace. Whether that remains true in future sequels is yet to be determined, but for now, The Flash stands tall at the end.
The Art Is As Unhinged As It Is Bubbly
Adam Bryce Thomas's art was the best in the series, which is saying something because he's been cooking all series long! The character designs in this, especially the Sonic characters cosplaying as Justice League members, were spot on. I think it could have been real easy to keep the Sonic characters as the status quo, but adding them as honorary JL members was a nice touch, and it continues to speak to the family-friendly themes of this series. From the villains' side, Cheetah stood out to me again; she was my favorite rendition. I mean, look at her. She looks unhinged, and I love that contrast with the other characters' bubbliness.
Matt Herms' coloring brings everything to life and makes it feel warm and alive. Even when the news hits that the two dimensions could cave in on each other, it never felt like it. Herms' coloring made me feel very comfortable, and it never felt like anyone was in trouble. That would usually be an issue with the setting; however, for this book, it was the perfect tone. Maybe for the next installment, we can go a little darker on the art and coloring; I would love to see that dynamic with the characters.
Final Verdict
DC X Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #5 legitimately made me laugh and, at points, had me super immersed in the story, which isn't something I expected from this series when I first picked it up. This was one of the most fun titles of the year so far, but it also had a lot of great story plots and made me realize I'm a big fan of Dr. Eggman. The story was cohesive and had me waiting patiently for the next issue. So, even if you don't think this is up your alley, I recommend picking up the Trade Paperback and having some fun with the Justice League and Sonic.