Sonic vs. The Phantom Rider?! - Sonic Speed Reading

[@Avatarbee]

Clutch not killing Belle makes perfect sense. She is obviously a very unique robot. Clutch was probably planning on selling her to a collector.

[@GameApologist]

You know what that makes perfect sense.

[@justinukah7441]

Makes you wonder who exactly is Clutch selling the extracted Egg tech to?

[@AstroTom]

I'm glad they explained that Whisper stopped recording with mask after defeating Mimic, and only started again after what happened with Silver and Duo in Green Hill

[@NightFuryLover31]

I love this arc isn’t just focusing on the main characters, but also bring in more of the IDW cast. Really connecting everyone. Even with Sonic’s identity being exposed, he doesn’t care and does what he believes is right. Very Sonic! And even the others realize there’s more going on.

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

This arc is perfectly written, evan stanley deserves writing her own game

[@Glitchedpixel5]

She cooked and we ate. Though I wish she'd continue her fan comic

[@reggielacey2235]

The only good idw character is surge anyway

[@galten7361]

@@reggielacey2235 Tangle is fine

[@ponderingForever]

0:53 Tails: " *What?* " Belle: "Now, I know that sounds *bad*--"

[@espelhodasconstelacoes]

LMAOOO classic XD

[@MothFable]

5:00 i need this to be like her permanent drip. This looks is waaaaaay too damn good on surge, I wanna see her hero drip looking like this.

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

Yess

[@Metatronio]

Tangle as well. Or really any character who wears sunglasses in their Riders design lol

[@GameApologist]

@@MothFable I actually kinda like the lack of permanence if that makes sense. I hope they keep exploring styles since they so rarely go off model for the game characters

[@MothFable]

@@GameApologist i think thats a valid point, but i do definitely want at least some aspects of the design to stay. it would suck to have such a great design only appear in one story arc and then just never again.

[@einfachpi5730]

I think Surge looks best with her hair down

[@jeiokimi70]

The hot chocolate with cinnamon and chili is actually a very popular form of hot chocolate in central America! Fun fact; hot chocolate in some cultures is "bitter, cold chocolate" and was invited by Native Americans in central America. The drink was called Xocolātl. Natives originally (and still do) use cornmeal and chili peppers in it. 🤗

[@connormarchand6302]

I love it when a former villain actually works for their redemption, seeing Surge get approached by that kid give me the warm and fuzzys 🥰

[@galten7361]

@connormarchand6302 Surge was only a villain to begin with from being forced into it by Starline's scheme and hasn't actually achieved anything of note as one.

[@IB_KIT]

4:30 It's not story progression, it was mentioned they have two kids in TMOSTH. This is the first time we are seeing one them, that being Ivy.

[@GameApologist]

@@IB_KIT fair enough! Thanks for the clarification! Either way good to see some lovely references to the universe they’re building up outside of the comics

[@AztecCroc]

@@GameApologist Also you know, Sage is in Murder, so it has to take place after Frontiers and thus after the IDW comics.

[@gagedsm]

@@AztecCrocedit: I misread the comment, and I’m wrong, sorry! (Leaving my original comment for context) well, that doesn’t actually confirm it. Them having kids in TMOSTH doesn’t mean they didn’t have kids before then. And knowing how the Sonic series doesn’t really have kid characters age, it’s still likely this is before Sonic Frontiers. If I’m honest, the only thing that’ll confirm it’s after Frontiers is Sage showing up, or characters referencing the events of Frontiers plot.

[@TARDISES]

@@gagedsm You're misreading the comment. The comment is saying that TMOSTH is after Frontiers and by extension also after IDW. IDW hasn't gotten to Frontiers yet (and if Sage shows up, I, uhhh... will have to find a way to become able to read it)

[@gagedsm]

@@TARDISES oh yeah I’m a dumbass, thank you

[@SXMDUB]

Didn’t expect another upload today, but I’m not complaining! Loving these Sonic IDW speed readings ✨

[@anthonyoliver418]

I love the difference between Surge and Sonic in this arc, Sonic doesn’t care about looking good so long as he help his friends and others in need. Meanwhile Surge ends up just wanting to be seen as an hero, only to be afraid of someone taking that away again. Makes their rivalry with of one another more ironic when you realize that at this point she is the only one of Sonic’s notable rivals to not really be interested in coming across that way, even with the similar powers.

[@wakeangel2001]

Belle couldn't be killed here because of comic book logic, and not just because she's a beloved fan favorite. Belle is Eggman's estranged daughter, whatever kills her would have to be able to stand up to Eggman after, a greater evil that is a major threat to everyone, and Clutch is NOT that threat. Remember, Eggman SPARED her, he knew she had abilities that could be a boon to him, but also a threat, yet he let her walk away when she refused to join him. I choose to believe this is a combination of Eggman's pride and regret, there was still a tiny piece of him that regretted abandoning his life as Mr. Tinker, but he can ignore it as long as he knows Belle is still out there to fill that role for him. It isn't enough for him to turn good, but it probably helps him sleep at night thinking "I did a good thing" (I remember a Doctor Who episode where he said that he's seen thousands of violent psychopaths use small acts of mercy like that to convince themselves they aren't monsters.)

[@galten7361]

@wakeangel2001 Belle just doesn't really hold up now that Sage is a thing. I don't single out IDW's staff here since to be honest her dynamic with Eggman in Forces is forced.

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

But Eggman doesn't care for his machines. Now his ai daughter, sure, but belle was made by Mr tinkerer, not Eggman. Eggman has already severed tinkers relationship to himself back in the pocket dimension and while he was hesitant at first but by starline's bow he's pretty much sick of zombot "loose ends"

[@galten7361]

@@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32 Eggman not caring about his machines as family should apply to Sage. Frontiers pretty much was trying to make Eggman's character more like Bowser and also cash in on games focusing on father-child dynamics like in the new God of War games.

[@HimitsuHunter]

@@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32 Thing is... no matter how little he cares about her, his Pride is still going to be linked to her. Anyone who kills her would be a DIRECT target for him, if just to avenge his ruffled pride.

[@AdamLongandTall]

Lanolin getting all that wool wet? She’s never gonna dry 😭

[@dextra_24703]

i wished Sonic would keep a few articles of clothing on him the scarf or different gauntlets or these cool as hell sunglasses, they could really spice his design up from time to time.

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

I think his riders design (and whoever drew this arc) is absolute peak

[@cecilthegallade5472]

7:10am upload? Satisfactory

[@TamerGhaniKSW]

Makes for an amazing new years gift

[@someone-yk7cw]

The numberplate of the car at 12:08 has the release date of sonic riders zero gravity

[@ToxicVex267]

:The last sonic riders game we got😭. What about Free :I SAID THE LAST.

[@pigifi]

Unmasking the Phantom Rider and his talking down of Surge and Kit basically turned practically the entire roster against him. Clutch literally is undoing his own scheme. However, the Chaotix not giving Jewel the heads up when they decided to investigate Clean Sweep after Issue #48 is a big mistake from their end, as their warning could've clued her in on her partner even after she signed the partnership contract.

[@KSKY2012]

they didn't know that Clutch ran Clean Sweep, he's been staying in the background, only Jewel knew that it was Clutch, and from what I've seen, Jewel doesn't know about what Clutch has been up to. She recognizes he's suspicious, but doesn't realize the full extent.

[@pigifi]

@@KSKY2012 Even if the Chaotix didn't know Clutch ran Clean Sweep, the fact that they were investigating Clean Sweep itself meant that it was already suspicious to them. When the announcement of the Sweepstakes became public in the months before the story began, they should've called her about the company she just signed up with. The fact that the boss was Clutch would've been a happy coincidence. That was what I meant by "her partner".

[@KSKY2012]

@@pigifi ah I see, I seemed to have misunderstood your comment, thank you for the correction :)

[@roguespectre9656]

I really hope they keep Mimic around for as long as possible. He’s absolutely diabolical with how he tricks others into acting in his best interest. Real smart of him to taunt Whisper as Surge too, that’s gonna keep things from going as smoothly between those two for a bit. With all that said, it will be that much more fulfilling when we finally see Surge and Kit pull through on redeeming themselves.

[@forgedfight5158]

I love the fact that no character thinks for a second that Sonic has turned evil or has betrayed them or something similar. Any other series would have done that but not here.

[@vi6ddarkking]

When this chapter first came out. For some stupid reason, on first read it didn't click at first that there were 2 Phantom Riders. And I know I wasn't the only one. Which made no sense, different Extreme Gears and different color schemes, it was obviouslly Mimic. It was weird.

[@typicalfella]

There's exactly why there's a scene explaining that

[@Vennex319]

It took me a few pages to realize too. Rather the artist did a good job with the design and pacing of the Phantom, or I’m stupid😅

[@metalsonic3845]

10:18 skip sponsorship :)

[@FatalZero711]

I swear the Rider's design is so amazing and underutilized. I'm so glad that it's being used in IDW. Cause ever since the Sonic Riders intro. These designs in 2D SLAPS. And ESPECIALLY Surge's design. The yellow jacket and the glasses chefs kiss

[@molifrobinson270]

14:10 That hot chocolate recipe is based on an old Mezo-American version; it's probably the first version in known history, which makes a lot of sense considering how much inspiration Sonic takes from Aztec and Mayan civilizations

[@MrGamerMan-vs7fc]

Hm... I feel like I wasn't supposed to see this quite yet lol, video says 1 view, I'm the only one that liked, and the video is listed as unlisted... very very strange indeed lol. Guess I'm the fastest creature now XD.

[@GameApologist]

I lost internet while finishing the details, all good!

[@Jacotronic]

Close behind in second

[@kuraihikari5785]

You are the chosen one.

[@kuraihikari5785]

@JacotronicYou are the chosen second.

[@meoelemental3721]

This man transcends time.

[@akdreamer6497]

"People doing normal friend things or being roommates makes them a couple" What

[@dranoradragonqueen1494]

guards calling for back up?! Who would have guessed. Jk-ing also making a reference to titan A.E. It was a fun movie. Their line is, "An intelligent guard didn't see that one coming." As he zaps said guard. lol

[@amyleigh7624]

14:10 Confirmed that Mexican hot chocolate exists in Sonic's world. And it is quite good. 🔥 Come to Las Vegas, I'll show you the best places.

[@GameApologist]

I’m there every so often, hot chocolate sounds rad!

[@amyleigh7624]

​@@GameApologist Let’s do it!

[@mr.skateandwatch]

⁠wouldn’t it be called chili chocolate, with “Hot chocolate” being already patented and all?

[@BlackFlash09]

One thing I do notice is that they dropped the subplot of Jet being jealous of Surge quickly. Either way, I hope Surge meets Ivy again.

[@jaysolaris06]

Never noticed this until now, but the license plate of the car that Storm rescues at 12:08 is the North American release date for Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity. Neat little easter egg.

[@marquiseemthembuu997]

"There's something very familiar about that board." TWRP - Phantom Racer

[@shinkai9kami162]

Surge and Kit should have dealt with Clutch a long time ago in 72. They didn't need to do all of that planning. Clutch can't expose her if he's dead. Like you can't even use trauma as an excuse. She clearly is not afraid of attacking anyone who uses her. I don't know what made her think she couldn't do anything about it when in character she would get rid of clutch right then and there. They did my Surge dirty here.

[@Flamme-Sanabi]

4:14 The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog???

[@dark-ninja1678]

I really love the recent world building Sega’s been doing.

[@That1One-Guy]

I really like how sonic is characterized sonic in this arc. I only recently learned that Ian wasn’t writing this arc.

[@benogle4951]

8:51 you got to give him credit for an evil pimp Heath remarkably chill recognizing that this is not his minions fault I'm taking a moment to say hey sorry for scaring you go back to doing your thing I'll take care of this

[@BritBox777]

I'm embarrassed that I didn't realize there was any difference between these two riders until Whisper points it out.

[@ArtsyJet]

Am I trapping or are Sonic's quills drawn longer than usual in these Riders issues? I like it, Sonic looks better this way, imo. Edit: Tripping*

[@keyboardkets379]

Wondering if surge is going to become a protagonist, but just isn't allies with Sonic

[@DarkCQRE]

Where da vid at???

[@jeremy1860]

I know long-running stories get a lot of flak when they delve into arcs concerning comparatively smaller stakes, like tournaments and races and so on, but personally, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them :)

[@TardigradeInAHumansSuit]

I always wondered after this issue, where did Mimic get the Phantom Rider Suit From? At first I just brushed it off as him doing his whole shapeshifting schtick, but I noticed, there are no suckers on the gloves, and even if he managed to put on fake gloves and boots like the Duo disguise, where did he get the same type of gloves and hard light generators Eggman gave Sonic? Maybe I'm looking too deep into this, but I'll take any chance I can get to revisit the Phantom Rider alter ego in the future.

[@picawood]

The owl and bbc is a cute couple

[@slimsalads3491]

Hey! I just wanted to point out that you forgot to add the start of the current riders story in the sonic speed reading playlist!

[@GameApologist]

Thanks for the heads up!!

[@dark-ninja1678]

This makes me want them to make a new riders game so bad 😭 it could be an excellent place to put the IDW characters in the games, they’re canon so why not!

[@tonibudimir4266]

You still kinda look like you eat exclusively string cheese

[@typicalfella]

LOL

[@JarenJohnson-rb4dt]

I hope we get a plot like this in Cross Worlds

[@tracyndiyob162]

love that reference to sonic not caring about being an outlaw being very luffy from one piece like.(have had spicy cocoa & it's WAY better than that chocolate by itself.:3) enjoyed the idw cast is getting connected(like tangle/whisper investigating alongside the babylon rogues of clean sweep & don and night meeting sonic in that cool visual of the cars/vans flying through a dark as night storm into the milestone issue's rainbow canyon.) and clutch losing control over sonic getting involved/surge(after her epic tension cooldown) and kit not intimidated by him.

[@BlanksNames]

Here's a suggestion for mecha March madness you could talk about the variants in sonic speed simulator

[@DiddyxLuigi]

Okay but actually when will you be back? I NEED to see how this ends.

[@meta13gaming]

Day 3 of asking Game Apologists to cover the E-100 series robots!👍

[@Taydar]

That was quick.

[@IQAProductions]

Happy New Years!

[@Barnaby-c5w]

Nite and Dawn are engaged?

[@lordx8844]

Where is Shadow?

[@Vennex319]

On the big screen

[@Zcott1]

I love this riders arc. It's so good.

[@mariagarcia1063]

My only criticism is that it’s clear the writers have never played or watched sonic riders or aren’t huge fans of the series bc jet and sometimes the other two still feel mischaracterized

[@galten7361]

@mariagarcia1063 Yeah. Jet in the actual Riders games was not a cheater. He always played the rules.

[@johanstenfelt1206]

Huh, did two this time, okay.

[@meoelemental3721]

Two days of comic

[@torrencesampson3584]

Love these back to back issues

[@420jw]

Is it supposed to say "roll" in the description?

[@waterfally]

my guy just woke up started recording editing, lowkey kinda crazy

[@ToxicVex267]

Meh im not really interested in the whisper and Tangle ship I'm more interested in Silver and Blaze but I do find Silvers intersections with Whisper adorable. But on a different note if we ever get another Riders game which is probably unlikely the Phantom Rider NEEDS to be a skin.

[@Agent_Extreme]

6:16 RIGHT????? PREACH

[@ch-animatestudios]

Dang, that was fast

[@benogle4951]

I wonder if we will ever see belle go to scrapnik island and help out there

[@inkchariot6147]

So we got Kamen Rider now?

[@IlliterateMan69]

Why did you post this at 4:00 AM

[@IlliterateMan69]

Time zones but still

[@Cyberpunkninja92]

Me just realizing I stayed up till 5

[@CHANIMATES]

It's nickmas

[@justinmyers7587]

This arc was amazing because it focusing on so many characters that are well characterized and very entertaining.

[@akiramystic3596]

Just woke up too this

[@extremmefan7305]

Good to know we still have Sonic's mentality from Black Knight intact even after years of "comedic" writing. I'll forever stand by the opinion that IDW writes a great Sonic, despite the "mascot restrictions".

[@galten7361]

@extremmefan7305 I too associate Sonic with speeches on redemption and refusing to kill villains (rather than just not being bothered to).

[@extremmefan7305]

@@galten7361 I mean, when he's done this song and dance so many times (so many of his friends and allies were once antagonists or even straightup villains in the case of ONE of them), at this point I'm not NOT expecting a speech. '^^ It's still the same ideology, but it's presented as being from someone who did this multiple times before already. He never refrained from killing villains "because he didn't feel like it", but rather because he enjoys the freedom of *living* (and thus obviously wants others to feel it too).

[@galten7361]

@@extremmefan7305 Sonic didn't make a speech at all against Merlina or Chaos or Shadow when he was actively fighting them. And more importantly there's no evidence in the games Sonic has any actual opposition to killing. Flynn and Co. were just trying to be meta on Sonic's dynamic with Eggman alongside trying to "examine" Sonic's heroism while also writing his character as more of a messiah figure ala Naruto or Steven Universe or superhero like in Archie.

[@extremmefan7305]

@@galten7361 Sonic DID give Merlina a pep talk after their battle; and both Chaos and Shadow were earlier adventures so he wasn't as experienced with it yet (before them he really only had Knuckles let's be honest). We see that with Blaze in Rush as well, where he would confront her but not want to FIGHT her since their goals *do* align. There's also no evidence in the games that Sonic is entirely up for killing bad guys. He's mostly neutralizing threats or containing them at the most (see: Erazor Djinn). He talks big and is pretty strong but he ultimately isn't interested in taking life away. I'd say the conclusion reached by Ian Flynn & co. is a more than reasonable one, especially given they do need to portray Sonic in a positive light (as, y'know, a company mascot).

[@galten7361]

@@extremmefan7305 He killed King Arthur with no objections. Sonic in game canon has never expressed any real wish to redeem his enemies rather than him just being fine with them hanging around if they stop being villains (he even welcomes Metal Sonic to come fight him again despite knowing well what Metal is like). He already had Merlina as a friend. He's never at any point in the games ever tried to redeem Eggman even after he repeatedly helped stop other villains. In the actual game canon, Sonic wouldn't try to redeem Eggman since he looks forward to the havoc he wreaks. This is not noted at all in IDW.

[@ScrappyArt]

Nite and Don are confirmed to be married 🎉

[@ryanjones358]

Why is it two characters of the same gender who are really close with each other in entertainment have to be a couple? Why can't they just be BFFs?

[@BkansBR3]

tbh I just think these videos should be filled by your opinions and thoughts on the comic as much as a plot summary. But it's cool if you're saving that for the end of the arc

[@IlliterateMan69]

Yooooo

[@jeffreyrumery6768]

👍

[@jeromemccalla9520]

Sonic has gay birds now??

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

WHAT THE PARADOX

[@cds3703]

I bet the other Phantom Rider is Metal Sonic

[@SonicTheHedgehogX15]

What? It’s obviously minic, why would eggman send metal?

[@FlightStudios-w7j]

This shit is getting crazy.

[@BluShiGuy]

Epic

[@Howlabunga]

I still dont see Whisper and Tangle as more than friends. They seem to have the same chemistry Sonic and Tails have

[@IQAProductions]

Nah bro you trippin'

[@Howlabunga]

@ I’m not. They just act like siblings. They’re not a couple, they’re family

[@TerenB1]

​@@Howlabunga There's a panel a while back where they hold hands in front of a lesbian pride colored background. It's ok to miss this stuff. A lot of it is coded and I see a lot of folks who don't know what to look for misinterpret that sorta thing as siblings. Only reason I care to chime in here is cus that denial can sometimes come across as homophobic for some. Doubt that's what you were going for but you might run into a hard time with some folks.

[@Howlabunga]

@ that’s just the sunset. They hold hands because they’re happy they won. The two aren’t lesbians, they’re sisters

[@GameApologist]

Nah dude these two act like a longstanding couple. Lots of subtlety in little actions.

[@BDeerhead]

What makes you think Nite and Don are a couple? They're coworkers. Just because they're working together, doesn't mean they're romantically involved.

[@SapphicSara]

It would have been nice if Clutch had a reason to keep Belle alive. It wouldn't have been hard for him to have captured her cuz she is Egg Tech, like a different kind of rare one of a kind egg tech that he might be able to use and so she was captured but had to be hastily stuffed into a locker cuz Jewel was coming around or something and they needed to be quick. Boom, bam, it makes more sense and it really doesn't add more time.

[@SapphicSara]

The Tangle and Whisper scene was so damn cute in this issue I was just gushing when I read it, I love those two so much, Sega please take an easy pride win and let them confirm it for like Pride Month or something.