You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.note
| Written by: | Ian Flynn |
| Year: | Five |
| Saga: | Eggman's Legacy |
| Issue: | #51 |
The lone 51st issue of the Sonic the Hedgehog IDW comic, and the lead-out from the milestone 50th issue.
After his treasonous Fanboy Starline's death, Eggman is back in control and wastes no time taking advantage of a rare opportunity to unleash the full might of his empire: Sonic, Belle, and Tails are trapped deep in Eggperial City with a comatose Kitsunami, and the only way out is through an unending horde of Badniks. Meanwhile, Surge, M.I.A. and presumed dead, begins plotting her revenge.
Tropes
- Continuity Cavalcade: This story features Badniks from all across the franchise, with very first page featuring two types of Buzzbombers, a Motobug that closely resembles its classic design, and even an E-2000 appearing among the various assembled Badniks, and later on we get to see several ones from Sonic Unleashed and even an Egg Gunner. Sonic even lampshades it.Sonic: It’s been a fun jaunt down memory lane. I haven’t bashed some of these models in a while!
- Downer Ending: Sonic, Tails, and Belle end up back at square one with even worse odds, Kit has woken up, and Surge has survived to fight another day. Meanwhile, Eggman's position is now at its strongest yet in this comic.
- In the end, only Eggman gains jacksquat from Starline's failed coup, with his two main nemeses trapped, his Magnum Opus repaired, his home base still intact (overall), his traitorous Loony Fan dead, and newfound opportunities to exploit via Belle. The only casualties Eggman has suffered in return are the Egg Emperor, Egg Robo, a few dozen Badniks, a demolished building or two, and the shuttle Tails and Belle hijacked, most of which he sacrificed on purpose.
- Genre Savvy: Eggman quickly figures out the heroes' escape plan and plays along so that Metal Sonic can get the drop on them.
- Hope Spot: Sonic manages to make it onto the shuttle just in the nick of time, and it looks like smooth sailing all the way home. But Metal Sonic shows things aren't going to be that easy, as he cannonballs into the shuttle, ripping it apart and sending it hurtling back to the ground.
- I Want Them Alive!: Zig-zagged. Eggman orders Metal Sonic to retrieve Belle intact, but he still wants Sonic, Tails, and Kit dead. Furthermore, he doesn't specify whether "intact" means the same as "alive".
- Let No Crisis Go to Waste: Eggman couldn't resist appropriating Starline's trap and turning all the Badniks he summoned against Sonic, Tails, and Belle.
- Multi-Mook Melee: To stall for time, Sonic battles countless Badniks of almost every model yet seen in the franchise.
- Never Say "Die": Belle says Starline is "no more" when announcing his fate, rather than outright say he's dead.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Belle's decision to fix Metal Sonic (without even de-weaponizing him, as Sonic and Tails previously did) backfires horribly when the robot comes after the escapees. Even worse, confronting Eggman tipped him off to her abilities, opening up new opportunities for him to exploit down the line.
- No Sympathy: After all the trouble Starline caused, no one mourns his Undignified Death except for Belle, and even she gets over it before long. All Sonic can say is "big oof."
- Not Quite Dead: Surge is revealed to have survived her fall, though she almost bites it again as she awakens and finds herself on a Conveyor Belt o' Doom going toward an incinerator.
- Raised Hand of Survival: Surge does this before freeing herself from under a junk pile.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Eggman and Sonic trash-talk each other while the doctor observes the Blue Blur via a drone.
